Work and Blood Pressure
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Working Long Hours Can Raise Your Blood Pressure
A new research paper has been published looking at the effect that long work hours has on blood pressure.
More than twenty four thousand working men and women in California were assessed.
The research found a strong link between high blood pressure and a greater number of hours worked - the more hours a person worked each week, the higher his/her hypertension risk was.
Compared to people who work less than thirty five hours a week:
But the researchers also found that challenging and mentally stimulating jobs tended to protect people from developing hypertension.
Those with highest risks of suffering from high blood pressure as a result of doing too many hours of work were clerical and unskilled workers.
A new research paper has been published looking at the effect that long work hours has on blood pressure.
More than twenty four thousand working men and women in California were assessed.
The research found a strong link between high blood pressure and a greater number of hours worked - the more hours a person worked each week, the higher his/her hypertension risk was.
Compared to people who work less than thirty five hours a week:
- a person working 40 hours had a 14% increased risk of suffering from high blood pressure
- someone working 51 hours a week had a 29% increased risk
But the researchers also found that challenging and mentally stimulating jobs tended to protect people from developing hypertension.
Those with highest risks of suffering from high blood pressure as a result of doing too many hours of work were clerical and unskilled workers.
