The Japanese Karoshi, or sudden death from overwork, isn't an isolated syndrome specific to the Japanese work culture anymore. Based on a new study, University of California researchers say that Americans now work longer hours than the Japanese. Not surprising, considering that the US is the only industrialized country that allows its workers to overwork. Most other countries have a mandatory limit on the amount of time a worker can work, and the required amount of vacation needed to be taken each year. Although we might take pride in the hardworking ethic of working long hours without much reprieve, it takes a toll on our heart in the form of high blood pressure. According to the researchers, people who worked 40 hours per week were 14 percent more likely to have high blood pressure than people who worked 39 hours or less. The risk was 17 percent greater in those working 41 to 50 hours weekly, and 29 percent higher in those working 51 hours or more.
In the US, we could call this dying to get ahead or trying to stay afloat. For heart health, maybe we need to restructure our work day. Power nap anyone?
1. I think it's very important.
Posted at 11:09AM on Aug 30th 2006 by Roland