Many people consider hard work, overtime, and long hours to be part of the demands of productivity. However, excessive work habits can impact overall health, including increasing the risk of coronary heart disease.
Coronary heart disease due to overwork generally doesn't occur suddenly. This risk develops slowly due to prolonged stress, lack of sleep, irregular eating patterns, and lack of physical activity. These various factors can affect blood vessel health and increase the heart's workload in the long term.
Unfortunately, early symptoms of heart problems are often dismissed as simple work-related fatigue. As a result, many people only realize they have a heart problem when the condition is more serious and requires immediate medical attention.
Overwork and Its Impact on the Heart
Overwork is a condition where someone works too long or has an excessive workload so that the body does not get enough recovery time, either physically or mentally.
This condition isn't limited to office workers. Shift workers, healthcare workers, entrepreneurs, and even freelancers with irregular working hours are also at risk of overwork .
Some habits that are often signs that someone is overworked include:
- Often work overtime until late at night
- Continue working when your body is not in good condition
- Sleep less than 6 hours every day
- It's hard to get away from work even when you're resting.
- Constantly feeling pressured by work targets or demands
When the body is under constant stress, the production of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline increases. Over the long term, this can lead to increased blood pressure, metabolic disorders, chronic inflammation, and blood vessel damage, all of which contribute to coronary heart disease.
Sedentary Work Habits Secretly Increase Coronary Heart Disease Risk
The following are habits that often occur at work and without realizing it can increase the risk of coronary heart disease due to overwork .
1. Sitting Too Long
Jobs that require long hours of sitting in front of a computer can slow down the body's metabolism. This habit is linked to an increased risk of obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
2. Irregular Eating Patterns
Skipping breakfast, eating lunch late, or choosing fast food because of busy schedules can affect blood sugar levels and metabolism. These eating patterns and habits can trigger diabetes, which is a major cause of coronary heart disease.
3. Excessive Consumption of Caffeine and Cigarettes
Some people rely on coffee, energy drinks, or cigarettes to maintain focus while working. However, excessive consumption can increase blood pressure and heart rate, increasing the workload on the cardiovascular system.
4. Lack of Physical Activity
Busy work schedules often make it difficult for people to find time for exercise. Lack of physical activity can cause blood vessels to become less elastic and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
5. Irregular Working Hours
Shift workers , or those who frequently work late into the night, are susceptible to circadian rhythm disruption. Disruptions to sleep patterns and the body's biological clock are known to affect metabolism, blood pressure, and heart health.
6. Presence of Other Risk Factors
The risk of coronary heart disease will increase if a person also has:
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes mellitus
- Obesity
- Smoking habit
- Family history of heart disease
Coronary Heart Disease Symptoms That Are Often Mistaken for Normal Fatigue
Symptoms of coronary heart disease often develop gradually and are easily mistaken for the effects of work-related fatigue. Some symptoms to watch out for include:
1. Easily Tired
Feeling tired quickly even though you haven't done any strenuous activity can be a sign that the blood and oxygen supply to the heart is starting to decrease.
2. Pain or pressure in the chest
Complaints of chest feeling heavy, pressured, or painful during activity or when stressed are often considered to be a cold or ordinary fatigue.
3. Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath during light activities, such as brisk walking or climbing stairs, can be a sign of impaired blood flow to the heart muscle.
4. Heart palpitations, dizziness, and cold sweats
These symptoms may appear when the heart is not working optimally and require further medical evaluation.
5. Radiating pain
Pain that radiates to the left arm, shoulder, neck, back, or jaw is one of the typical symptoms of coronary heart disease that should not be ignored.
6. Symptoms that come and go
Because symptoms often come and go, many patients delay testing until the disease has progressed to a more serious stage.
How to Keep Your Heart Healthy Despite the Demands of Work
Even though work often demands significant time and energy, heart health should still be a priority. Here are some steps you can take to help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to overwork :
- Setting a work schedule and giving yourself enough rest helps your body reduce the effects of constant stress.
- Getting 7–9 hours of sleep per night is important for maintaining blood pressure, metabolism, and heart health.
- Light physical activity such as walking, stretching , or regular exercise for at least 150 minutes per week can help maintain optimal blood circulation.
- Consuming a balanced nutritious diet by reducing saturated fat, excess sugar, and foods high in salt helps reduce the risk of blood vessel blockages.
- Managing stress through relaxation, hobbies, meditation, or quality time is also important for maintaining overall mental and physical health.
- Regular health checks such as checking blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol help detect risk factors early before they develop into serious heart disease.
When Should You See a Cardiologist?
Don't delay getting checked if you experience recurring chest pain, especially during activity or when you are under stress.
Cardiologists can perform various examinations to assess the overall condition of the heart, such as:
- Physical examination
- Heart recording (ECG)
- Treadmill test or heart exercise test
- Echocardiography
- Laboratory tests to assess cardiovascular risk factors
Early detection and treatment are crucial to help prevent serious complications, such as heart attacks, heart rhythm disturbances, and heart failure.
If you have risk factors or frequently experience symptoms that indicate coronary heart disease, don't hesitate to consult a doctor for proper evaluation and treatment.
The article was written by Dr. Dede Moeswir Sp.PD-KKV, FINASIM, FAPSC, FSCAI (Internist – Cardiovascular Consultant at EMC Pulomas Hospital).