Cardiovascular diseases are one the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Among them, coronary artery disease hits the list. Recently there has been an increase in number of heart attacks among young people, especially in the age group 25-40 and around 25 percent of this heart attacks occur in less than 40 years of age. Contrary to the myth that heart attacks occur among older individuals with risk factors like diabetes and hypertension, the fact is that the younger population is equally affected and that is a reality. This is a cause of concern as in the last few years we’ve even seen heart attacks occurring in people in their 20’s.
There are several factors contributing to this situation. Important ones include increased stress levels in younger people, higher incidence of smoking and lack of adequate physical activity. Adding to that is the large number of people diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol levels at a very young age. This plays an important role in the development of coronary artery disease. A large section of the Indian population is genetically predisposed to cardiovascular disease. This genetic transmission is most commonly observed to be transmitted through the aternal side and affects the younger generation probably 5-10 years earlier than their previous generation.
It is aptly said that “Prevention is better than cure” and most important thing to prevent a heart attack is to take care of risk enhancers. If you are a diabetic, you should be extremely concerned about sugar control. Acceptable levels in India are fasting sugar level less than 130 with HbA1c less than 7.0. Younger people with hypertension should keep their blood pressure well controlled and preferably below 130/90 most of the times. High cholesterol levels are a concern and more so if you have a family history of the same. In such cases one should get a yearly lipid check-up done and consult your physician at regular intervals. However, if you are healthy and do not have the above issues, regular physical activity 30-45 minutes a day for at least five days a week is recommended. Exercises such as cycling, running and swimming are good for heart. Smoking should be stopped completely. One may develop a heart attack on consuming even one cigarette per day. One should be extremely careful about mental health and avoid excess stress. Including a good proportion of vegetables and fruits in your diet and use of unsaturated fatty acids in food and oil remains a good practice. At the same time keep a tab on salt intake and avoid sugary beverages like soft drinks. Do consult your physician if you have issues to chart out a good exercise routine.
Preventive healthcare should be the focus for everyone.
Long working hours are known to be responsible for about one-third of the total estimated work-related burden of disease and is established as the risk factor with the largest occupational disease burden. According to data published by WHO and ILO, working 55 or more hours per week is associated with an estimated 35% higher risk of a stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease, compared to working 35-40 hours a week. So, is the “work intensification” new normal for many?
A possible explanation is that persons who have long working hours are more stressed and high concentrations of stress hormones can raise the risk of clogged arteries and the development of blood clots which can cause strokes and heart attacks.
Harmful effects of long working hours
Apart from the stress, there are many other ways by which working too much can impact your health.
1. You are not getting adequate sleeping time of 8 hours a day
2. Either you are not eating food properly or having unhealthy food habits
3. You are not exercising
4. You are neglecting relationships
5. Indulging in habits like smoking and alcoholism
6. You are predisposed to other risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, overweight, high cholesterol and sedentary lifestyle activity
7. Ignoring the warning signs leading to delay in treatment
How to manage work stress and excess working hours
One should always watch for signs of burnout or unhealthy work-life balance which includes self-neglect, not focusing on mental health, unmeaningful work, constant worry of job performance, difficult balancing between work and family life and developing loneliness.
It’s important to have a work-life balance that will make you not only productive but overall healthier. It is important to set boundaries and make a routine. At the same time giving some hours of the day to activities like walking, cycling, swimming or yoga and meditation will be grateful to remove the work stress and keep the mind diverted. One should get out of the guilt of clocking out of the office when everyone else is at the workplace. No amount of guilt is larger than your wife, parents or child. At the same time, the government should regulate the working hours.
(The author, Dr M Sudhakar Rao, is a Consultant in cardiology, at Manipal Hospital Sarjapur)
