Overtime puts women at risk of serious health problems

Research by the University of Ohio shows women who work more than 40 hours a week in overtime are at greater risk of serious illnesses, such as heart disease and cancer.

The study, which analysed data collected over a 32-year period, revealed that women who worked more than 60 hours a week in overtime for more than 30 years tripled their risk of diabetes, cancer, heart problems and arthritis. But it’s not just workaholics who are in trouble – the probability of suffering poor health increases when women put in more than 40 hours a week.

Study participants – all aged between 40 and 50 – were asked to report on their working hours, which researchers compared to the incidence of chronic diseases – heart disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, chronic lung disease, asthma, depression and high blood pressure.

Researchers suggest the health risk is lower for men because they don’t have the same struggle to balance work and family commitments. In fact, men who worked between 41 and 50 hours were at lower risk of diseases than those who worked 40 hours or fewer.

Study leader Professor Allard Dembe said: “The early onset and identification of chronic diseases may not only reduce individuals’ life expectancy and quality of life, but also increase health care costs in the long term.”

Read the original article by The Mirror at bit.ly/28JoYgO