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Working a 42-hour week and working overtime increases the risk of stroke and cancer

2022-06-28T10:45:06.144Z


Working full-time: According to studies, the risk of stroke, heart attack and cancer increases Created: 06/28/2022, 12:39 p.m By: Natalie Hull Drawbar Very few Germans want to work more than 40 hours a week. Studies show that too much work is actually bad for your health. Munich – There is currently a heated discussion about retirement at 70 and the 42-hour work week. Business representatives


Working full-time: According to studies, the risk of stroke, heart attack and cancer increases

Created: 06/28/2022, 12:39 p.m

By: Natalie Hull Drawbar

Very few Germans want to work more than 40 hours a week.

Studies show that too much work is actually bad for your health.

Munich – There is currently a heated discussion about retirement at 70 and the 42-hour work week.

Business representatives such as Siegfried Russwurm, President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), and Michael Hüther, Director of the Employer-related Institute of German Business, advocate an increase in weekly working hours to 42 hours with full wage compensation.

The aim is to compensate for the shortage of skilled workers in this way and to keep the pension system stable in our aging society.

However, studies show that just two hours of extra work per week increases the risk of back problems, sleep disorders and gastrointestinal diseases.

Work more, work longer?

Overtime and retirement at 70 are not without health consequences

Working full-time more than 42 hours a week with overtime has health implications.

(Iconic image) © Daniel Ingold/Imago

Even if BDI President Siegfried Russwurm expressed “great sympathy” for longer working hours and Federal Chairman Friedrich Merz (66, CDU) publicly spoke out in favor of the 42-hour week years ago, according to scientists and doctors, this should not be ignored : An increase in the number of hours worked per week, as well as the near-regularity of overtime in many industries, can have a dramatic impact on the health of individuals.

Although increasing the retirement age to 70 could result in similar illnesses, politicians – above all Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (49, SPD) – are clearly against working longer.

Working full-time: according to studies, the risk of cancer, heart attack and stroke increases

A study published in The Lancet entitled "Risk of coronary artery disease and stroke from long working hours: A systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished data from 603,838 people" showed that the risk of stroke is up to a third increased if the working time per week already reaches 45 hours.

As a reference, a 35 to 40 hour work week was assumed.

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The study, led by Professor Mika Kivimäki from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, also demonstrated a direct connection between increased working hours and sleep disorders as well as psychological stress such as depression.

Working full-time: two hours of overtime per week have an impact on health

According to Frank Brenscheidt, working hours expert at the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), two hours of overtime per week would have a major impact on heart problems.

This is shown by various surveys quoted in the BAuA publication "Long working hours and health".

It is not without reason that the Working Hours Act stipulates a working day of eight hours or 40 hours per week, Brenscheidt told the "Rheinische Post".

You can find even more exciting health topics in the free newsletter from 24vita.de, which you can subscribe to right here.

A longitudinal study by the University of Texas, based on 18,000 employees, was able to determine that the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke would increase by 42 percent if they worked more than 50 hours a week, and the risk of cancer by 62 percent Percent.

The study examined people with a weekly workload of 35 to 51 hours.

This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication.

In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor.

Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.

Source: merkur

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