OREANDA-NEWS. The cause of nearly 745,000 deaths from stroke and coronary heart disease in 2016 is a too long working day, according to WHO. The persentage of related deaths has grown by 29% since 2000, according to the latest estimates from WHO.

The results of the new study were published in the scientific journal Environment International.

This is the very first research of the global health and life risks posed by over-long working day. Scientists counted that at least 55 working hours per weekresult in the development of stroke and heart disease, which in 2016 claimed the lives of 398,000 and 347,000 people, respectively.

Back in 2000, deaths from heart disease for the same reason were as much as 42% less, and from stroke - 19% less.

The burden of disease caused by the length of the working day fell mainly on men: they accounted for 72% of all victims of overwork. The majority of deaths have been reported among people between the ages of 60 and 79 who worked 55 hours or more per week and were over 45 years old.

At the same time, in recent years there has been an increase in the number of people who work "for wear and tear." As a result, this trend is putting more and more people at risk of loss of work capacity and early death.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adanom Ghebreyesus stressed: "No job is worth risking stroke or heart problems for it. Governments, employers and workers must work together to set rules for workers' health."