According to a study by Irish doctors, one day of the week is more likely to cause heart attacks. And for good reason, they noted a sharp increase in admissions for cardiac arrest that day. But how to explain it?
If we are not all equal when it comes to the risk of heart attacks, neither are the days of the week. Indeed, according to the conclusions of an Irish study presented at the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS) conference in Manchester, the risk of a heart attack could increase on a particular day of the week.
As reported The echoesthis study conducted by doctors from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and the Royal College of Surgeons concluded that the likelihood of having a heart attack would be 13% higher on Monday compared to other days of the week.
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Myocardial infarction cases increase on Monday
To reach this conclusion, the researchers relied on an in-depth analysis of data from patients admitted to several Irish hospitals between 2013 and 2018. They examined the files of 10,528 people, including 7,112 in Ireland and 3,416 in Northern Ireland, and specifically considered the most severe cases of myocardial infarction, called ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions are often associated with acute, complete occlusion of a coronary artery, indicating a critical blockage in blood flow to a portion of the heart muscle. These cases of heart attacks are considered particularly serious and can lead to serious complications, often requiring emergency medical intervention.
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“We found a strong statistical correlation between the start of the work week and the incidence of STEMI”explained to Science Alert cardiologist Jack Laffan, director of the study. “This phenomenon has already been described, but remains a curiosity”, he also indicated. Admissions were also higher than normal on Sundays. On the other hand, researchers do not consider them as significant as Monday from a statistical point of view.
Why are heart attacks on the rise on Mondays?
According to the authors of the study, several factors can explain this increase in heart attacks on the first day of the week.
- Stress: Monday often marks the return to work for many people after the weekend. This return to work may be associated with increased levels of stress and anxiety, particularly for individuals facing significant tasks or responsibilities. Gold, “Increased stress, which leads to increased cortisol levels, is linked to a higher risk of heart attack”specified Jack Laffan.
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- Changes in lifestyle habits: During the weekend, sleeping, eating and activity habits may change compared to weekdays. There is therefore a disruption of the circadian rhythm (or biological rhythm). “Based on what we know from previous studies, it is reasonable to assume that there is a circadian element,” confirmed Jack Laffan. Indeed, people may tend to go to bed later, consume more alcohol or eat differently during the weekend, which can influence cardiovascular health.
- Delay effect: Some stressful or disruptive events that occurred over the weekend might not immediately affect heart health, but could have an impact later, including on Monday.
- Resumption of physical activity: For some people, returning to work on Monday could also mean a return to higher levels of physical activity, which could increase the risk of heart attack in those with little experience of a such level of activity.
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