Working is better for you

Researchers have found out that people who retire and do not do any work have a greater chance of having heart attacks and contracting cancer and other diseases compared to those who still work in some capacity.

The researchers from the US National Institute on Ageing studied the results of more than 12,000 people in a health and retirement study. The volunteers ranged between 51 and 61 and were assessed every two years for six years. With an average retirement age of 58, all the volunteers were interviewed on various topics over the years including health, employment history, money and work or retirement. Also included in the study was a monitoring of medical problems such as high blood pressure, cancer, lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, strokes and mental problems.

The results showed that people who work then stop suddenly are more at risk of dying. Study leader Dr Mo Wang from the University of Maryland called for what he terms “bridge employment” and said: 'Given the economic-recession, we will probably see more people considering post-retirement employment,' said Dr Wang. 'These findings highlight bridge employment's potential benefits.'

  What's this?