Overtime 'is as bad as tobacco' for dementia

[baldrick]

Britons work some of the longest hours in Europe but while staying late may
make the boss happy, it may also increase the risk of dementia later in life.

The stress and exhaustion of working overtime is as bad as the effects of
smoking on the brain's ability to process information, a study suggests.

Middle-aged workers putting in 55 hours or more a week had poorer brain
function than those who clocked up 40 hours.

Their scores were lower on tests to measure intelligence, short-term memory
and word recall, according to research at the Finnish Institute of Occupational
Health.

They tracked 2,214 British civil servants who signed up to a long-term health
study in the mid-1980's. In the years since, volunteers have undergone a
succession of tests.

Reporting on their findings, the researchers said: 'The link between cognitive
impairment and dementia later in life is clearly established. The difference
between staff working long hours and those working normal hours is similar
in magnitude to that of smoking, a risk factor for dementia.'

Passive smoking can raise the risk of dementia by nearly 50 per cent, a recent
study revealed.

Prof Cary Cooper, a stress expert from Lancaster University, said: 'Long hours
are not just bad for your health, they are also bad for your performance. Staff
need a chance to rest and recuperate.'

By Miles Erwin
The London Metro
Wednesday 25 February 2009

[DGP1]

I was going to say something about this topic but I forgot what it was

[smok3y666]

Im going to print that off and stick it up on our Parcelforce notice board then maybe some of the idiots who do 10-12 hour days, sometimes without taking a break, might think again.

[stokes11eg]

Britons work some of the longest hours in Europe but while staying late may
make the boss happy, it may also increase the risk of dementia later in life.

The stress and exhaustion of working overtime is as bad as the effects of
smoking on the brain's ability to process information, a study suggests.

Middle-aged workers putting in 55 hours or more a week had poorer brain
function than those who clocked up 40 hours.

Their scores were lower on tests to measure intelligence, short-term memory
and word recall, according to research at the Finnish Institute of Occupational
Health.

They tracked 2,214 British civil servants who signed up to a long-term health
study in the mid-1980's. In the years since, volunteers have undergone a
succession of tests.

Reporting on their findings, the researchers said: 'The link between cognitive
impairment and dementia later in life is clearly established. The difference
between staff working long hours and those working normal hours is similar
in magnitude to that of smoking, a risk factor for dementia.'

Passive smoking can raise the risk of dementia by nearly 50 per cent, a recent
study revealed.

Prof Cary Cooper, a stress expert from Lancaster University, said: 'Long hours
are not just bad for your health, they are also bad for your performance. Staff
need a chance to rest and recuperate.'

By Miles Erwin
The London Metro
Wednesday 25 February 2009

I'll stick to my baccy, thankyou.

[belle smith]

Im going to print that off and stick it up on our Parcelforce notice board then maybe some of the idiots who do 10-12 hour days, sometimes without taking a break, might think again.

They will probably be too demented to notice!

[Spedley]

So RM is trying to help us by making deliveries bigger. Less overtime and more duty time. Thanks RM! :)