It really is possible to be bored to death, scientists have found, after research showed those who live tedious lives are twice as likely to die young.

People who complain of “high levels” of boredom in their lives are at double the risk of dying from from heart disease or a stroke than those who find life entertaining, researchers at University College London found.

Of more than 7,000 civil servants who were monitored over 25 years, those who said they were bored were nearly 40 per cent more likely to have died by the end of the study than those who did not.

People who are bored are more likely to turn to unhealthy habits like drinking and smoking, which can cut their life-expectancy, the scientists said.

Specialists from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London, studied the responses of 7,524 civil servants aged between 35 and 55 who were interviewed about their levels of boredom in the mid eighties. They then found out whether they had died by April last year.

The original survey found that one in ten civil servants had been bored within the past month, with women more than twice as likely to suffer than men. Younger employees and those with more menial jobs were also more prone to boredom.

Martin Shipley, who co-wrote the report published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, said: “The findings on heart disease show there was sufficient evidence to say there is a link with boredom.

“It is important that people who have dull jobs find outside interests to keep boredom at bay, rather than turn to drinking or smoking.”

Graham Price, a psychologist, said those who are bored should lift their spirits by thinking more about the needs of others.

“From being all me, me, me, they should be thinking, what can I do for my family, my friends, my colleagues, even my boss,” he said

科学家日前称，人真的可能会无聊至死。因为有研究显示，生活单调乏味的人英年早逝的可能性为正常人的两倍。

伦敦大学学院的研究人员发现，那些抱怨生活“极度”无聊的人死于心脏病或中风的风险是那些觉得生活愉快的人的两倍。

研究人员在25年间对七千多名公务员进行了跟踪调查。调查结果发现，那些称生活无聊的人在研究结束前死亡的可能性比生活愉快的人高近40%。

科学家说，觉得生活无聊的人更容易染上抽烟喝酒等不健康的生活习惯，而这些不良习惯会缩短他们的寿命。

来自伦敦大学学院流行病学与公共卫生系的专家们对7524名年龄在35岁到55岁之间的公务员的情况反馈进行了研究。研究人员于上世纪80年代中期就这些人的无聊程度对他们进行了访问。去年四月份，又对他们的死亡情况进行了跟踪调查。

最初的调查发现，十分之一的公务员在过去一个月中感到无聊，女性感到无聊的可能性为男性的两倍多。较年轻的职员和那些做辅助性工作的人更容易感到无聊。

该研究报告在《国际流行病学期刊》上发表。报告撰写人之一马丁•叙普利说：“心脏病方面的发现表明，有充分的证据证明心脏病与无聊有关。

“工作比较枯燥的人应该找些业余爱好来打发无聊，而不是去抽烟喝酒，这很重要。”

心理学家格兰姆•普莱斯说，那些觉得无聊的人应该多想想他人的需要，以此来振奋自己的精神。

他说：“这些人不应该总想着我，我，我，而是我能为家人、朋友、同事甚至老板做些什么。”