People working long hours are almost a THIRD more likely to suffer a stroke

People working long hours are almost a third more likely to have a stroke, a study has found.

Working more than 10 hours a day for at least 50 days a year saw people more likely to suffer a devastating attack.

Under 50s who had regularly worked more than 10 hours a day for more than 10 years were most at risk a French study of 144,000 people found.

Some were more than twice as likely to have a stroke, which can lead to death or disability.

Those regularly working more than 10 hours a day were compared to full time employees who worked less than that.

For “low skilled” office workers increased risk of 70%, while for “high skilled” office workers it was 77% (Getty)

When increased risk was altered to factor in age, weight, family history and smoking, the increased chance of suffering a stroke was 29%.

Working age adults who had worked long hours for more than 10 years were overall 45% more likely to have a stroke.

Blue collar workers with physical jobs were 59% more likely to have a stroke after a decade of putting in long hours.

Blue collar workers with physical jobs were 59% more likely to have a stroke after a decade of putting in long hours (file pic) (Getty)

For “low skilled” office workers increased risk of 70%, while for “high skilled” office workers it was 77%.

The British currently work the longest hours in Europe. A study by the Trades Union Congress found full-time employees in this country worked an average of 42 hours a week last year.

This is almost two more than the typical EU employee.

Study author Professor Alexis Descatha, of Paris Hospital, France, said: “The association between 10 years of long work hours and stroke seemed stronger for people under the age of 50.”