CALIFORNIA, USA — There are songs about it. “Rainy Days and Mondays” by the Carpenters in 1971 was a soft rock hit. YouTube is loaded with videos dedicated to our general dislike for one particular day of the week.
The movie "Office Space" had a great line: "Looks like somebody's got a case of the Mondays."
If the end of your restful weekend and the beginning of another work week isn't enough for you to frown at the arrival of another Monday, here's something else to consider. This is serious.
Your risk of having a heart attack is higher on a Monday than on any other day of the week. Some studies estimate the risk is as much as 20% higher. Here's why.
Cardiologist Dr. Majid Basit says a heart attack feels like someone is sitting on your chest. He points to stress as a primary factor. Mondays jolt us back to the reality of work and responsibility.
Physical and emotional stress can spark the release of adrenaline increasing your heart rate, and cortisol, which can cause high blood pressure.
Stress is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Alcohol is also a player. The weekends bring the opportunity to imbibe and some overdo it.
According to the American Heart Association, heavy drinking can raise the fat levels in your bloodstream, which can lead to high blood pressure and heart failure.
So, a weekend of heavy drinking right before you deal with the stress of a new work week can prove to be too much for the average ticker.
The good news is the yearly death rates from heart disease are on the decline.
Still, on average, someone in the United States has a heart attack every 40 seconds.
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