Why Narayana Murthy's 72-hour workweek suggestion is dangerous for health: Neurologist breaks down impact on brain, productivity

Narayana Murthy’s call for a 72-hour workweek has triggered a nationwide debate. Doctors warn that extreme work hours can cause chronic stress, disrupted sleep, heart disease, anxiety, and burnout.

Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has sparked a fresh debate on work culture by proposing that young Indians should be open to working 72 hours a week to boost the country's economic growth. Drawing parallels with China’s former '9-9-6' model — working 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week, Murthy argued that extended hours are essential to strengthen India’s work ethic.

Although health experts refute these claims. Doctors warn that glorifying extreme work schedules has serious consequences for physical and mental health, and that overwork ultimately harms productivity rather than driving it.

What a 72-Hour Workweek Does to the Body

Doctors point out that working more than 60 hours a week on a regular basis puts the body under constant stress keeping cortisol levels high for long periods. This affects mood, metabolism, immunity, and emotional resilience.

“Working 60–72 hours a week puts the body under chronic stress, and the effects start much earlier than most people realise,” says Dr Nishtha Jain, Neurologist, CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur.

Dr Jain tells Moneycontrol that long workdays cause the body to remain in a heightened stress-response mode, which in the short term causes fatigue, headaches, muscle stiffness, irritability, and impaired concentration. The autonomic nervous system is eventually impacted by this imbalance, which results in ongoing anxiety, mood swings, and emotional tiredness.

Also Read: 'Listen to your body': Ex-WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan on 70–90-hour workweeks

Sleep Loss is The First Casualty

With such demanding schedules, sleep is the first aspect to get compromised. Long work hours disrupt circadian rhythm, reduce deep non-REM sleep, and increase the frequency of waking up during the night.

Dr Jain explains that chronic sleep deprivation affects memory, cognitive clarity, emotional regulation, and overall brain function. It is also associated with migraines, chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, and lower immunity.

Consistent sleep loss creates a ripple effect: slower cognitive processing, decreased alertness, and impaired decision-making — all of which directly reduce workplace performance.

Cardiovascular and Metabolic Impact

Doctors also highlight the significant heart-health risks associated with extended workweeks. Sitting or standing for long hours without proper breaks raises the risk of:

• High blood pressure
• Chronic inflammation
• Heart disease
• Stroke

Erratic eating patterns make the situation even worse. Long work days often result in missed meals eating late at night, and a greater dependence on ready-made foods — increasing the chances of fatty liver, high cholesterol, and unstable blood sugar.

Impact on Brain Function and Productivity

Too much work has a big effect on the brain. Excessive stress reduces the brain’s ability to regulate emotions, manage impulses, and make effective decisions.

“Contrary to popular belief, productivity does not increase with longer work hours”, says Dr Jain. "Research shows that cognitive performance plateaus after 45–50 hours a week and often declines sharply beyond that due to mental fatigue and reduced creativity", adds Dr Jain.

This leads to more errors, interpersonal conflicts, misunderstandings, and burnout — the opposite of what long workweeks are intended to achieve.

China itself eventually banned the 9-9-6 model, citing worker burnout, falling creativity, and declining productivity. Experts say India should learn from this experience, not replicate it.

More Sustainable Approach

Doctors emphasise that sustainable productivity depends on balanced work hours, adequate rest, movement, and proper nutrition. For professionals with unavoidable workloads, Dr Jain suggests:

• Taking structured breaks every 90 minutes
• Maintaining consistent sleep schedules
• Avoiding caffeine after noon
• Staying hydrated and physically active
• Practising deep breathing or short mindfulness sessions
• Ensuring 1–2 full rest days every week
• Setting realistic boundaries with work

“Only when the body and brain get the rest they need can sustained productivity be achieved,” Dr Jain adds.

While Murthy’s comments may aim to inspire discipline, doctors caution that a 72-hour workweek is neither healthy nor sustainable. The long-term costs — burnout, chronic disease, impaired cognition — far outweigh any short-term gains.

FAQs on Health Impact of 72 Hours Work Week

1. What are the immediate health impacts of working 72 hours a week?

Immediate impacts include fatigue, headaches, muscle stiffness, irritability, and impaired concentration due to the body's heightened stress-response mode.

2. How does working 72 hours a week affect sleep?

Long work hours disrupt circadian rhythm, reduce deep non-REM sleep, and increase the frequency of waking up during the night, leading to chronic sleep deprivation.

3. What are the cardiovascular risks associated with working 72 hours a week?

Prolonged work hours are linked to high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, heart disease, and stroke due to long periods of sitting or standing without proper breaks.

4. How does working 72 hours a week impact productivity?

Research shows that productivity plateaus after 45-50 hours a week and often declines sharply beyond that due to mental fatigue and reduced creativity, leading to more errors and burnout.

5. What are some sustainable work practices to mitigate the health impacts of long work hours?

Taking structured breaks, maintaining consistent sleep schedules, avoiding caffeine after noon, staying hydrated, practising mindfulness, and ensuring full rest days are recommended for sustainable productivity.