Studies have shown that spending long hours at your workplace could lead to major health issues. People who constantly work long hours for years and decades are putting themselves at risk. Working long hours may help you achieve your career goals, but ultimately it takes a toll on your overall well-being.
The risk involved are:-
Strokes and Heart attacks
Working long hours could increase the risk of heart diseases – heart failure, heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke.
Overweight and Obesity
Obesity is a risk factor for a number of chronic diseases – hypertension, fatty liver, diabetes and ischemic heart diseases. Obesity also leads to some types of cancers – prostrate, breast and ovarian cancers
Stressed and Overworked
The number of extra hours put in working increases stress levels. Job security, meeting deadlines and targets, conflict with co-workers and bosses leads to high levels of stress. Symptoms of stress are fatigue, headaches, heart palpitations, sleeping difficulties, depression and anxiety.
Damage to muscles and joints
Repetitive movements disturbs the delicate muscles and ligaments in the hand causing cumulative-trauma disorders (CTDs) Working long hours in awkward positions and postures takes a toll on your muscles and joints leading to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the long run. It damages joints, nerves and muscles. Nerve compression causes neck, back, forearm, wrist and finger pain.
Mental Problems and Brain Damage
People spending more time at work face problems like short-term memory loss and mental problems like depression.