Named the day of the week most dangerous for the heart

Scientists have revealed the secret of the "Monday syndrome": anxiety at the beginning of the week increases stress levels for months ahead. Researchers from the University of Hong Kong led by Professor Tarani Chandola found that elderly people who experience anxiety on Mondays show elevated levels of stress hormones even two months later. Surprisingly, this phenomenon affects not only working citizens but also retirees, indicating a deep psychological connection between the beginning of the week and the body's physiological responses. The research results were published in the authoritative Journal of Affective Disorders (JAD).

During a large-scale study, scientists analyzed data from more than 3,500 participants from the British Longitudinal Study of Aging. To determine long-term stress levels, specialists used an innovative method - analysis of hair samples, which allows measuring the concentration of cortisol and cortisone accumulated in the body over several months.

The results were striking: people experiencing anxiety specifically on Mondays had cortisol levels on average 23% higher compared to those who experienced anxiety on other days of the week. Notably, this effect was observed regardless of age, gender, employment, and other factors. Even after ending their working lives, retirees continued to show biological signs of stress associated with the beginning of the week – a kind of "imprint" of many years of working life.

Interestingly, such a biological response to anxiety was not observed on any other day of the week. This confirms that Monday is a special psychological trigger for many people, capable of causing a persistent hormonal response.

Although the study does not prove a direct causal relationship, it provides a new explanation for why heart attacks and strokes occur more frequently on Mondays.

The authors plan to continue their work: to study why some people are resistant to the stress of the beginning of the week, while others are not. Possibly, certain habits, personality traits, or routines can help reduce anxiety levels and improve health.

"Stress is not just an emotion. It has a real impact on the body," emphasized Chandola.