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LONDON, July 10 (Kyodo) - Working more than 60 hours a week and constant sleep deprivation may double the risk of having a heart attack, according to a survey conducted by researchers at Japan's National Cancer Center.

The study, published in the British medical journal ''Occupation and Environmental Medicine,'' looked at 260 Japanese men aged between 40 and 79 who had survived a first-time heart attack, comparing them with another group of 445 men with no history of heart attack.

The researchers obtained details of the men's weekly working hours, the number of days off and the amount of sleep within the last month and during the past year.

They also looked at potential risk factors for heart attack, including lifestyle, weight and conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

The results showed that men working more than 60 hours a week faced double the risk of a heart attack when compared with those who worked 40 hours or less each week.

Sleeping an average of five or less hours a night and having a frequent lack of sleep, defined as two or more days a week of under five hours, were also associated with a doubling or tripling of the risk.

The authors, led by Ying Liu of the National Cancer Center in Tokyo, said: ''Overtime work is known to increase blood pressure and heart rate, and induce cardiac or psychological symptoms such as chest pain, depression and fatigue.''

The study, which ran from 1996 to 1998, suggests that the optimal working week is a maximum of 40 hours and those who work longer should ensure they get enough sleep and have at least two days rest a month.


 
07/09/02 20:04 EDT
   
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