ATLANTA — The beginning of another work week will give you a case of the “Mondays,” but the end of the weekend can also bring a health risk.
Your risk of having a heart attack is higher on Monday than any other day of the week. There are studies that indicate it could be as much as 20% higher.
Why?
Dr. Jyoti Sharma, a specialist in cardiology at Piedmont Hospital, points to stress as a primary factor for heart attacks.
“Stress is a known risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease,” says Dr. Sharma.
Dr. Sharma says “jolt of going back to work, facing reality once again” each Monday following a restful weekend can bring added stress.
“Both physical and emotional stress cause a release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol that can trigger heart attacks,” says Dr. Sharma.
There’s the added risk brought on by the consumption of alcohol.
Weekends bring the opportunity to imbibe, and some people overdo it. According to the American Heart Association, heavy drinking can raise the fat levels in your bloodstream. It can lead to high blood pressure and heart failure.
“Heavy drinking on weekends may be related to higher rates of heart attacks that occur on Mondays,” says Dr. Sharma.
The good news is that yearly death rate from heart disease is on the decline. Still, on average, someone is having a heart attack in the United States every forty seconds.
MORE HEART RELATED STORIES |