Working too many hours increases heart attack risk

The study of 6,000 British civil servants found that those who worked three to four hours of overtime a day ran a 60% higher risk, even after accounting for known heart risk factors such as smoking.

Experts said the findings highlighted the importance of work-life balance.

According to the researchers people who spent more time at work have less time to exercise, relax and unwind – consequently causing them to be stressed and anxious.

A career-minded person will also tend to have a driven, aggressive or irritable personality, they say.

“Employees who work overtime may also be likely to work while ill – that is, be reluctant to be absent from work despite illness,” they add.

Lead researcher Mianna Virtanen, said: “This study raises further questions about how our working lives can influence our risk of heart disease.

“Although the researchers showed a link between working more than three hours overtime every day and heart problems, the reasons for the increased risk weren’t clear.

“Until researchers understand how our working lives can affect the risk to our heart health, there are simple ways to look after your heart health at work, like taking a brisk walk at lunch, taking the stairs instead of the lift, or by swapping that biscuit for a piece of fruit.”

Dr John Chancellor, from the Society of Occupational Medicine, said: “In many ways it confirms what we as occupational health doctors already know – that work/life balance plays a vital role in well-being.

“Employers and patients need to be aware of all the risk factors for coronary heart disease and should consider overtime as one factor that may lead to a number of medical conditions.”

By Deepika Dudakia