Did You Know? Long Working Hours Cause 745,000 Deaths -US Study
Long working hours led to 745,000 deaths from stroke and
ischemic heart disease in 2016.
This is according to estimates by the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) published on
Monday.
Ischemic or ischaemia is a restriction in blood supply to
tissues, causing a shortage of oxygen that is needed for cellular metabolism
(to keep tissue alive).
The WHO and ILO estimate that 398,000 people died from
stroke and 347,000 from heart disease in 2016 due to having worked at least 55
hours a week.
Between 2000 and 2016, the number of deaths from heart
disease due to working long hours increased by 42 per cent and from stroke by
19 per cent.
This work-related disease burden is particularly significant
in men as 72 per cent of deaths occurred among males, people living in the
Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions and middle-aged or older workers.
The study concludes that working 55 or more hours per week
is associated with an estimated 35 per cent higher risk of a stroke and a 17
per cent higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease, compared to working
for 35-40 hours a week.
The study also notes that the number of people working long
hours is increasing and currently stands at nine per cent of the total global
population.
