Karōshi

Karōshi (過労死) is a Japanese term that translates to "death from overwork" or "occupational sudden death." The major medical causes of karōshi deaths are heart attack and stroke due to stress and a starvation diet. This phenomenon is also widespread in South Korea, where it is referred as gwarosa (과로사).

History

The term karōshi was coined in 1978 to refer to an increasing number of people suffering from fatal strokes and heart attacks attributed to overwork. The first case of karōshi was reported in 1969 with the stroke-related death of a 29-year-old male worker in the shipping department of Japan's largest newspaper company.

Causes

The primary cause of karōshi is stress resulting from high workloads and long working hours. This can lead to a range of health issues, including hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Other contributing factors may include poor diet, lack of exercise, and insufficient sleep.

Prevention

Preventing karōshi involves addressing the work culture that encourages long working hours, as well as promoting a healthy work-life balance. This can include implementing policies to limit working hours, encouraging regular breaks, and promoting physical activity and healthy eating in the workplace.

See also

• Occupational stress
• Work–life balance
• Occupational Safety and Health