NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Work Hours

Diseases and Long Hours

Long Work Hours Increase Risk for Several Types of Diseases and Negative Reproductive Outcomes

Compared with studies of shift work, fewer studies have examined the health and safety risks associated with long work hours, although the number of studies has recently grown.

Like shift work, long work hours appear to increase risk for several negative health effects such as these:

• Decrease in self-perceived general health quality⁸⁰;
• Increase in risk for hypertension⁸⁰; increased risk by approximately 40% for coronary heart disease⁸¹
• Increase in time to become pregnant⁸²
• Possible weak relationship with preterm birth⁸³