Study: Longer Work Hours
Increases Heart Attack Risk

A recent study found that those who spend more than 11 hours at work increase their chance of having a heart attack by two thirds, according to DailyMail.co.uk. Researchers say the risk is so great that doctors should ask patients what hours they work, along with how much they drink or smoke.

The team from University College London looked at more than 7,000 civil servants working over a period of 11 years and established how many hours they worked on average a day. They also collected information including the condition of their heart from medical records and health checks.

Over the period, a total of 192 had suffered a heart attack. But the study found that those who worked more than 11 hours a day were 67% more likely to have one than those who worked eight hours.

The researchers say their findings could potentially prevent thousands of heart attacks a year as they would help doctors get a better idea of how likely a patient was to have one. ◆