According to a new study out of France, researchers have determined that working excess hours and a higher incidence of stroke are linked. The research team defined long hours as more than 10 hours for a period of at least 50 days a year.  

Those who made a habit of working long hours over a ten-year period or more were in the highest risk bracket. According to the UK’s Stroke Association, however, there are possible ways to counter this risk factor. Chief among them, were eating healthier and finding more time to exercise. 

Working ten hour days or longer over a period of ten years can nearly double your risk of stroke.

The team, comprised of researchers from Angers University and the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research examined multiple categories in those they studied, including smoking status, amount of hours worked and age. Over 140,000 adults were observed. Of those, less than a third made a habit of working longer hours and 10% worked long hours over a decade-long period or more. Out of the 143,000 adults involved in the study, 1,224 had experienced a stroke. 

Researchers deduced that the group of longer hour workers had a 29% higher risk of stroke and that number jumped to 45% if those workers had made a habit of working long hours over a decade-long period or more. Additionally, the stroke-overwork link was stronger in people under the age of 50, which was surprising to the team of researchers. 

Although they’ve reported more research is necessary to pinpoint exactly why that demographic is more at risk, the team offered some insight into simple techniques which could curtail it somewhat like quitting smoking and getting the recommended amount of sleep. If you’d like more information about what you can do to prevent stroke, be sure to check out my main website.