A new
study shows working long hours increases your risk of stroke!
A study
published this week in the Lancet
revealed that employees who work 55 or more hours a week have three times a higher
risk of stroke than those working standard hours. We’ve all known a colleague,
friend or relative who has had a heart attack or stroke and we may have
believed that it could never happen to us.
People tell
themselves it won’t happen to them because “when I get through this busy period
at work or finish this project, I will take better care of my health.” Or “in
the fall, I will start living a healthier life, so I’ll be fine.” Sound familiar?
Although we tell
ourselves we’ll be all right, the data does not agree. Putting in long hours at
work dramatically increases the chances of having a stroke and that stroke will
not wait until it’s a convenient time to start living better.
Our everyday
lifestyle here in the Maritimes is also a major contributor to our risk of
stroke and it increases over time. Our overeating, inactivity and excess
alcohol consumption puts us at a greater risk for having a serious
cardiovascular event or stroke. Half the Maritime workforce has at least 2 risk
factors for cardiovascular disease and more than 70% are overweight.
Long-term
disease may be slowly developing in our bodies without us even knowing about
it. The build-up of cholesterol, shrinking muscles, wearing out our pancreas,
and weight gain are some of the contributing factors to the development of
long-term disease.
Do you
really know if you are healthy? The best way to find out is through a detailed
medical, physical and fitness evaluation. From there, you can better understand
your current state of health and identify any areas where changes should be
made.
Making
changes is not easy. However, you may be encouraged to know that small gradual
changes over time will make a profound difference in your health. This can best
be achieved through education and coaching from certified health experts who
can guide you toward optimal health.
You may
already be on board with such a program, but have you talked to your family,
friends and colleagues to see how they are managing their health?
At Optimal
Health, our mission is to educate and empower people
to actively manage their own health, so they can significantly reduce their
chances of chronic disease and improve their overall longevity and quality of
life. Our team of specialists can diagnose your overall health and fitness and identify
your individual risk factors. More importantly, we can then tailor-make a
fitness and health program suited to your exact and unique needs.
Don’t wait until some future time when that big project is complete or
the seasons change, contact us today.
Our health professionals can guide you to
Optimal Health!
