Home>News Center>Life
         
 

Overwork shortens life span of professionals in Beijing
(people's daily)
Updated: 2004-03-11 10:38

Excessive workload, exhaustion from overwork and heavy burden to support their families endured by middle-aged professionals in Beijing have, among other reasons,shortened their life expectancy by an average of 20 years, according to a survey conducted by the Academy of Social Sciences of Shanghai.

The outcome of a recent survey concerning the State of Health of Intellectuals released recently by the Shanghai Municipal Academy of Social Sciences indicated that the average life expectancy of intellectuals in the Chinese capital Beijing dropped to about the age of 54 from 59 a decade ago, while the average life span for common Beijing residents was 76 years.

Prof. Zhang Yanjin with prestigious Beijing Normal University, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said Tuesday that the increased workload is endangering the health of intellectuals.

In contrast, a similar survey conducted in 1994 showed that theaverage age for the deceased scientific and technical personnel inShanghai, the largest metropolis in the country, stood at 67 years,3.2 years younger than the average age of local deceased professionals.

A large number of eminent scientists and other professionals, including superb Chinese mathematician Zhang Guanghou and composerShi Guangnan, passed away when they were just around the age of 50.

Wang Banqing, another CPPCC member and vice-principal of a medical college in east China's Jiangxi province, acknowledged that the tragedy of these outstanding personnel were resultant from their excessive workload, aggravated intensity and abrupt worsening of health conditions.

 
  Today's Top News     Top Life News
 

China puzzled over US filing tax complaint at WTO

 

   
 

Chen, Annette Lu slightly wounded in shooting

 

   
 

Specific reform objectives set for banks

 

   
 

Bush urges allies to stick with united mission

 

   
 

Marriage bells toll in cyber churches

 

   
 

Chinese, French women hold dialogue

 

   
  China on show in song and story
   
  Girl, 14, becomes a mother
   
  Dazzling art works catch collectors' eyes
   
  Liver-transplant patient gives birth
   
  China final of Miss Universe to be held in "Spring City"
   
  Computer game cracked down on for discrediting China's image
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Feature  
  HK pop star Edison Chen punched by youngsters  
Advertisement