Can Long Working Hours Cause Heart Attack: In today’s workaholic culture, staying up late at night and working long hours has become a symbol of achievement for many people. But behind this hustle and bustle, a silent danger is growing. Recent research shows that irregular sleep and working for 55 hours or more not only increases fatigue but also puts serious pressure on the heart.
of America Center for Disease Control and Prevention According to , working long hours, night shifts and irregular schedules are among the major risk factors for heart disease. Joint analysis of WHO and ILO found that in 2016, millions of people died from heart disease and stroke due to reasons related to long working hours. People who worked 55 hours a week or more were found to have a significantly higher risk than those who worked 35 to 40 hours.
Experts say that sleep is not just rest, but the time when the heart and blood vessels repair themselves. Consuming less sleep continuously increases inflammation, increases the risk of plaque accumulation in the arteries and can disturb blood sugar and metabolism. This also increases the risk of obesity and diabetes, which are major causes of heart disease.
What is the problem with night shift?
Our body runs on a 24-hour circadian rhythm, but night shifts or irregular sleep-wake hours disrupt this rhythm. National Institutes of Health Research conducted in support of this found that the risk of heart disease can almost double in people whose sleep time is very irregular. Due to poor sleep, blood pressure increases, stress hormones like cortisol increase, inflammation increases and cholesterol and sugar control deteriorates, all of which put additional burden on the heart.
What are the symptoms?
According to experts, if a person sleeps less than 6 to 7 hours continuously, then the body remains in a state of stress. This increases heart rate and blood pressure and in the long run may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. It is important to pay attention to some early signs, which include high blood pressure even at rest, chest discomfort or rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath with light exertion, persistent fatigue or drowsiness throughout the day. If such symptoms appear again and again, it is important to consult a doctor.
What should you do?
To keep your heart safe, try to get 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep every day. Maintain regular sleep-wake time, reduce heavy meals and screen time at night. Even if you have night shift, maintain a fixed time for meals, exercise and rest. Light activity or walking during the day improves blood flow. Avoid alcohol and excess caffeine, reduce stress with yoga or meditation. Also keep getting your blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar checked regularly.
Read this also- Is it right or wrong to take Omega-3 with BP control pills? Experts gave important advice
Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.
Check out below Health Tools-
Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Calculate The Age Through Age Calculator

