Minus 25 years of life: therapist Lapa spoke about the real harm of overwork.

      July 27, 2026 16:29 Society Workaholism and constant stress have become part of modern life, and scientists warn of serious health consequences. Top-category therapist Lyudmila Lapa told 360.ru in an interview how many hours a day one can work without harming health and how to actually maintain youth and activity in old age.

      The dangers of overwork

      Scientists claim that overwork and chronic stress can lead to the development of serious diseases. Constant fatigue disrupts the functioning of the cardiovascular system, disturbs sleep and nutrition, which weakens the immune system. As a result, a person's heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, and the brain experiences oxygen deprivation. All of this increases the risk of heart attack and stroke by almost 30%. Researchers suggest that workaholics may lose up to a quarter of their lives, shortening it from 85 to 60 years.

      Longevity and physical activity

      Longevity experts also offer their recipes for maintaining health. For example, renowned researcher Eric Topol believes that the key to an active life in old age is regular physical exercise starting at age 30—not cardio, but strength training—and proper nutrition. He recommends consuming more vegetables and fruits, reducing red meat intake, and engaging in strength training for at least 30 minutes two to three times a week.

      How many hours can one work?

      However, Lyudmila Lapa disagrees with such conclusions. Her practice shows that many people who do not engage in strength training, including composers, writers, and doctors, live long, lead active lives, and continue to work even in old age.

      According to Lapa, a standard eight-hour workday is the optimal and safe option. Overtime and rush jobs should be limited so that the body has time to recover.

      "You can allow yourself to overwork for one day a week at most. Time for rest is essential; that's seven hours. This also includes travel time from work to home. If we use this time for health, walking for half an hour from the subway station to home, we replenish our mental and physical strength," emphasized the therapist.

      Modern medicine offers many ways to maintain health and rejuvenate cells. Normalizing sleep, nutrition, and rest has been proven to contribute to increased longevity. However, completely quitting work can harm mental health.

      Attitude towards work and youth

      An important role in maintaining youth is played by a person's attitude towards their work. If a profession brings emotional satisfaction and a person feels needed, they can self-regulate the rhythm of their workload.

      "I call myself young because, according to the Japanese calendar, youth only begins at 80. I think if we maintain our health, lead a normal lifestyle, and continue to work, there will be nothing wrong with that," said the specialist.

      At the same time, Lyudmila Lapa is skeptical about the idea of creating vaccines against aging. She believes that influencing the immune system can be dangerous and not ready for humans. Instead, she recommends focusing on maintaining health, leading an active lifestyle, and finding a balance between work and rest.

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