Long working hours and high levels of stress do no good to anyone, but a new study has shown that it affects women much more negatively than men.
According to research from Ohio State University, health problems like heart disease, cancer, arthritis and diabetes are far more dangerous for people who work regularly over 40 hours a week. There was also a noticeable link between gender and the level of risk for these diseases, for those who work full time for a long time.
For men, long working hours only affect the risk of arthritis, other effects of long working have not been found. For them even, working harder can improve heart condition and other health parameters.
Women, on the other hand, appeared more sensitive, as long working hours negatively affected many aspects of their health; diabetes, cancer, heart, arthritis. The researchers found that women who worked more than 51 hours a week (averaging 8.5 hours a day for a week) had problems with high blood pressure or asthma.
However, this has nothing to do with the term 'fragile gender', on the contrary. According to researchers, it is the commitment that women have even outside of work, in the family or household chores, that significantly increases stress levels leading to hormonal disorders, which are seen as the leading cause for cancer and other diseases.
Often, housework and childcare are called 'second shifts' because it is a commitment that requires a lot of dedication, both mentally and physically.
Source: Psychology Today
