Maintaining that working night shifts can raise risk of stroke by over 52 per cent, industry body Assocham has said nearly 72 per cent of corporate employees become more prone to cardiovascular diseases due to their demanding schedules, high stress levels, lack of physical activity and poor eating habits.
Releasing findings of a recent survey conducted in a dozen cities across India D. S. Rawat, Secretary-General, said a majority of these employees were overweight and prone to heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases due to unhealthy blood pressure, cholesterol or blood sugar levels.
Assocham Health Committee Chairman B. K. Rao said night shift work disrupts the body clock and is linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Nearly 200 employees were selected from each city. Delhi ranked the first in affliction to heart disease followed by Bangalore, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Hyderbad and Pune, in that order.
The survey targeted corporate employees from 18 broad sectors, with maximum share contributed by those from IT/ITes and BPO sector (17 per cent).
Shift work was associated with a 52 per cent increased risk of heart attack, 28 per cent rise in coronary events and 10 per cent extra strokes. According to Assocham estimates, cases of cardiovascular disease may double to 6.4 crore in 2015. Similarly, the number of deaths may also double.