When it comes to days of the week, Monday isn’t the favorite of many, but it turns out, they’re not great for your heart either. New research from the British Heart Foundation finds that the most dangerous type of heart attack, known as a STEMI, is more likely to happen on a Monday than any other day of the week.
Researchers also found an increase in STEMI heart attacks on Sundays, and there’s some evidence that they could be related to stress hormones. “It is likely to be due to the stress of returning to work,” explains cardiologist and study author Dr. Jack Laffan. “Increased stress leads to rising levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is linked to a higher risk of heart attack.”
Laffan also points out that heart attacks are more likely to happen in winter and in the early hours of the morning. He says it’s also true of strokes and that previous studies have found a higher rate of heart attacks in the days after the clocks move forward for daylight saving time. “The exact mechanism for these variations is unknown,” Laffan explains, “but we presume it has something to do with how the circadian rhythm affects circulating hormones that can influence heart attacks and strokes.”
Source: NY Post