Mondays can be a downer as we leave the weekend fun behind. But did you know it may also be a day when the most severe heart attacks are more likely to happen? A new study has revealed that the deadliest heart attacks happen at the start of a working week. Scientists aren’t sure why this is, but they believe it could be related to a circadian rhythm or the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
The researchers from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland studied data from 10,528 patients over five years. They found that ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) rates, which occur when an artery is completely blocked, and the heart muscle can’t receive oxygen, were higher on Mondays than on other days. This is considered the deadliest type of heart attack.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Jack Laffan, said: “We aren’t sure why these events happen at the beginning of the working week, but we know that they are more common in winter and the early hours of Monday morning. Therefore, these incidents may be related to alcohol consumption at the weekend or maybe other factors such as stress levels.”
Despite this, it wasn’t just Mondays that saw the highest incidence of STEMI heart attacks – rates were still higher than expected on Sundays. Scientists have been unable to pinpoint the reason for this, although previous studies suggest that it might be linked to a circadian rhythm or the body’s natural sleep-wake pattern.
Another study recently suggested that people are more likely to experience a cardiac arrest on a Monday because of the build-up of stress hormones in the body due to anticipating a busy and stressful day at work. Cardiac arrests, unlike heart attacks, cause the heart to stop beating and can cause death. Researchers have previously suggested that the stress of the upcoming working week on Sunday could also raise adrenaline and cortisol levels, increasing blood pressure and triggering clotting. Neither condition can be prevented by medication, but doctors can offer treatment, including emergency angioplasty, which is used to open blocked arteries and restore blood flow to the heart. This can help to minimize damage caused by the blockage and reduce deaths.
However, more research is needed to understand precisely why heart attacks occur at specific times of the day and what can be done to prevent them. This includes further investigations into the correlation between a heart attack and Monday and understanding what causes them. This would allow medical professionals to develop targeted interventions to save lives and improve cardiovascular health outcomes. If you want to learn more about keeping your heart healthy, click here for advice from the British Heart Foundation.
