Working for 55 hours or more weekly increases chances of getting heart diseases and stroke, a new study published in the Lancet journal has revealed. The findings show that working for 11 hours or more a day is linked to a 33 per cent chance of stroke and a 13 per cent increased risk of developing coronary heart disease, compared to the normal working time of 35 to 40 hours a week.
These two conditions alone contribute to over 70 per cent of deaths arising from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Working trends in Kenya have changed over the years with a majority of employees working for more than eight hours a day. Some work through the weekends.
The study’s researchers analysed data from 603,838 men who were followed for up to eight years. All these people were free from either stroke or coronary heart disease at the beginning of the study but those who worked long hours later developed any of the two conditions. In Kenya, CVD is the second leading cause of death after infectious diseases. Some causes of CVD – such as obesity or diabetes – are known but many are unaware that overworking is also a major risk factor.
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Elijah Ogola, a consultant cardiologist at Kenyatta National Hospital, said awareness on the symptoms and prompt medical intervention as soon as people experience the symptoms is paramount to managing the condition. “The earlier one comes to hospital, the lower the risk of death and the higher the chances of full recovery and return to normalcy,” he said.
He noted that stroke patients often need to go through additional medical interventions like speech therapy if the illness interfered with their ability to speak, as well as physiotherapy to reverse partial paralysis. According to the World Health Organisation, pressure at the workplace is unavoidable due to the demands of the contemporary work environment. Sometimes minimal pressure perceived as acceptable by employees may keep them alert, motivated and able to meet set deadlines and targets.
Job should match skills
But when that pressure becomes excessive or unmanageable, it leads to stress which can damage employees’ health and business performance. To curb the adverse effects of stress, the WHO urges organisations to ensure that job demands and pressure matches employees’ knowledge and abilities.
Supervisors should also support employees to attain organisational goals while allowing them to participate in decisions pertaining to their jobs. Allowing employees to own and control projects assigned to them is also encouraged since overbearing and controlling bosses heighten stress levels.
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