26-year-old Ana Sebastian, who worked in Pune’s Ernst & Young (EY) firm, died. She was a CA. The girl’s mother wrote a letter to the company’s chairman and alleged that her daughter died due to workload. She said that the daughter was working continuously day and night without sleeping and without any leave. Ana had joined the company on 18 March 2024. CA Ana’s sudden death due to cardiac arrest has raised questions on today’s corporate work culture. There is a debate on whether workload can really take one’s life.
Stress harms heart health
Author of Rewire, Rework, Reclaim: How to Manage Stress and a consultant at Sir Gangaram Hospital, Delhi Psychiatrist Dr. Rajiv Mehta It is said that the brain controls every activity of the body. When the body is under stress, blood sugar and blood pressure increase, which increases the burden on the heart and heart-related problems begin. Sometimes blood clots also start forming due to stress. A person gets burned out due to workload.
53% Indians suffer from workload stress
All India Management Association A survey found that 53% of Indians are stressed due to workload and long shifts. Environment International World Health Organisation and International Labour Organisation A report was published. According to this, in 2016, 745000 people died due to stroke and heart disease due to working long shifts. Such cases increased by 29% in 2000. Most of these people were working more than 55 hours a week.
Workload is not the enemy of everyone’s life
Of Delhi Deepti Karl, occupational therapist in the neurology department of GB Pant Hospital She says that it is not the case that someone dies due to work load. But stress can definitely become an enemy of life by becoming another reason. Every person’s personality is different from each other. A person manages the workload according to his personality. Some people are unable to bear this stress, which affects their body. If a person works for a few days, then there is no problem, but if a person does this for more than 6 months, then it can become a serious problem.
According to the rules, Indian employees cannot work more than 9 hours a day (Image-Canva)
Stress hormones spoil health
Deepthi Karl She says that when the stress in the mind increases, a stress hormone called Cortisol starts getting released in the body. This deteriorates the immune system of the body and the person starts falling ill quickly. If a person is facing workload for a long time, then he starts having cardiovascular problems. Such people become patients of high cholesterol and blood pressure. Due to low immunity, their body is not able to absorb even the necessary nutrients. That is, the cortisol hormone gradually makes the heart sick.
A break is necessary every 30 minutes
Nowadays most people work on laptops for 12 to 17 hours a day. Sitting in one place continuously makes the muscles tired. When a person moves, i.e. does any physical activity, the muscles contract due to which the brain releases happy hormones like serotonin and dopamine. Therefore, it is important to take a break every 30 minutes while working. Body movement is necessary in this break. Get up from the chair and walk 10 steps. If you cannot get up, then while sitting on the chair, rotate your neck in a circular motion making the figure 8, also rotate your legs and shoulders. This will prevent muscle fatigue and stress will also not dominate.
According to the Factory Act 1948, workers must be given 24 hours rest in a week (Image-Canva)
The body gives signals of disturbance
Dr. Rajiv Mehta It is said that when the workload increases, both the body and behaviour of a person give signals. By understanding these signals, a person can save himself from stress. When a person is burdened with work, he becomes irritable. He does not give time to the family, he misses his hobbies, starts drinking alcohol and smoking. These are practical signals. On the other hand, when there is pain in the eyes, back and shoulders and cholesterol increases, then understand that the workload has started harming the body. To avoid workload, it is important to give yourself time. If possible, learn to say no to extra work and if this is not possible, then it is wise to change the company.
Be careful if you can’t sleep
Stress affects sleep the most. If sleep is not complete, most people start gaining weight. This is also a warning signal. When the brain is tired, the muscles are also tired. Sleeping less or not sleeping at all affects the brain’s ability to work. The physical ability to work also decreases due to which a person’s self-image changes. When a person starts thinking that he is not the same as before, then he should be careful. Work is important but along with work, it is also important to sleep for 8 to 10 hours continuously.
quality of life is important
With the increasing hybrid culture after Corona, now everyone has to be ready to work for 7 days. But if a person improves his quality of life, then the workload will not let him fall ill. Occupational therapist Deepthi Karl She says that quality of life improves with leisure activity and recreational activity. It is important to do these activities every 15 days in between work. Recreational activity means any work that you used to do earlier but cannot do now. You used to get a lot of happiness by doing that work. Like in childhood, one used to get happiness by swinging or roaming with friends. Start such activities again. At the same time, leisure activity means your favorite hobby like painting, singing, trekking or gardening. Taking out time for yourself for 2 days in a month from the workload will never cause stress.
Tags: heart attack, pune news, Trending news
FIRST PUBLISHED : September 19, 2024, 19:24 IST
