Heart health: A World Health Organisation (WHO) study found that working 55 or more hours per week increases the risk of stroke by 35 per cent and the risk of dying from heart disease by 17 per cent. “Long hours lead to chronic stress, which triggers the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, elevated cortisol levels can increase blood pressure and heart rate, both of which raise the risk of heart disease. Chronic high blood pressure is a key risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure,” says Dr Mukesh Goel, cardiothoracic and heart and lung transplant surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi.

Diabetes risks: Working long hours can impact your blood sugar in several ways. “Stress hormones like cortisol change the body’s ability to break down sugar and make fat and muscle cells less sensitive to insulin, which regulates blood glucose. Persistent high cortisol can contribute to insulin resistance,” says Dr Saptarshi Bhattacharya, endocrinologist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi. “During long hours at work, people tend to skip meals, which can cause your blood sugar to fluctuate or drop. Low blood sugar can lead to low energy and unhealthy eating later in the day. People may turn to quick, high-carbohydrate foods for convenience, which can cause spikes in blood sugar, followed by rapid drops, leading to energy crashes and cravings,” he adds.

In one study, women who worked 45 hours or more per week had a higher risk of diabetes than those who worked 35–40 hours per week. Another study found that participants who worked more than 52 hours per week had a higher risk of diabetes than those who worked 35–40 hours per week.

Sleep and brain fog: In addition to stress, sleep deprivation disrupts the body’s ability to recover and heal. “Sleep is essential because that’s the time when the body does its house-keeping, clearing out toxins that accumulate in cells through the day,” says Dr Goel. Sleep deprivation can weaken the immune system by reducing the production of cytokines, proteins that help fight infection and inflammation. “Sleep regulates the body’s metabolic functions, including the control of blood sugar, blood pressure and inflammation. When sleep is insufficient, it can lead to weight gain, hormone imbalance, increased cholesterol and elevated blood sugar levels. It can lead to brain fog, moodiness, affect your cognitive function and make you extremely sluggish, averse to exercise,” says Dr Goel. Improper sleep is known to lower libido and affect fertility.entary lifestyle. “Prolonged sitting and lack of physical activity increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, all of which are harmful to heart health. The lack of movement also contributes to poor circulation, muscular tension, Which causes pain and discomfort in the body, and slows down digestion, compromising gut health, which results in persistent digestive issues,” says Dr Goel.

Mental health: Mental health is another casualty of extreme workloads. “The constant pressure and exhaustion can lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression, which have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease,” says Dr Goel.

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