People who overwork are more prone to stroke: study

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If you're someone who is driven by your career or work, you might want to sit down and consider the hours you put in for that title. A new study has linked too much work hours to higher risk of stroke.

BBC reports that a recent study published in the Lancet medical journal showed that in comparison to working 35 to 40 hours a week, working 48 hours and beyond increases one's risk of stroke by 10 percent. Those who work up to 54 hours increase their risk by 27 percent, and those who work 55 hours or more in a week increase their risk for stroke by 33 percent.

University College London's Dr. Mika Kivimaki explained that the group who worked 35 to 40 hours in a week had five strokes per 1,000 employees in 10 years. This increased to six strokes per 1,000 employees in 10 years for those who worked 55 hours or more in a week. Researchers believe that the risk for stroke has something to do with the sedentary lifestyle that comes with working at the office.

Dr. Shamim Quadir of the Stroke Association said: "Working long hours can involve sitting for long periods of time, experiencing stress and leads to less time available to look after yourself."

This is in line with the views of Kivimak, who told BBC: "People need to be extra careful that they still maintain a healthy lifestyle and ensure their blood pressure does not increase."

Additionally, cardiologist Dr. Tim Chico of the University of Sheffield said: "Most of us could reduce the amount of time we spend sitting down, increase our physical activity and improve our diet while working and this might be more important the more time we spend at work."

The Herald Sun reports that according to Professor Dino Pisaniello from the University of Adelaide, physical inactivity for extended periods of time is a a risk factor for not only stroke, but also heart disease.

"Long working hours is a proxy for other risk factors, which may be more common in workers of low socio-economic status," he said.

Additionally, ABC News reports that midlife women are 50 percent more likely to get strokes than men, and that new research links depression to women's stroke risk.

To help lower the risk of of stroke, ABC News recommends taking a brisk walk for 20 minutes every day (two hours of brisk walking per day lowers your risk for stroke by as much as 30 percent), get at least seven hours of sleep, and keep your blood sugar and blood pressure in check. It's also best to quit smoking, limit alcohol intake, and create a work-life balance through making a schedule solely for exercise and relaxation.