Risk of heart disease double in unfit men

Unfit men who work long hours double their risk of dying from heart disease, a study has concluded.

The research in the journal Heart argued that, by contrast, fit men who work long hours are not more likely to die of heart disease.

The findings were based on a study of 5,000 Danish men aged 40 to 59 working in 14 companies, whose heart health and physical fitness were tracked over 30 years.

Participants completed a cycling exercise stress test and provided details on the average number of hours they worked every week.

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Men working 41 to 45 hours a week were 59% more likely to die of heart disease, but not more likely to die of other causes, than men working fewer hours.

Physically fit men working longer hours were 45% less likely to die of heart disease and 38% less likely to die of other causes than those who were unfit, it found.