Monday isn't just a symbol of a new week, it's also a day that can carry real health risks. According to a new international study, the start of the week causes prolonged stress, even in people who aren't working, and can lead to cardiovascular disease.
Monday Stress: Not Just Mood, But Biology
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong, analyzing data from more than 3,500 participants from the UK (ELSA study), found that older people who reported anxiety on Monday had almost a quarter higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in their hair samples. This suggests that stress is not just momentary, but accumulates in the body for months.
Interestingly, the “anxious Monday” effect was equally evident in both working and retired people. This suggests that the problem is not in the work itself, but in the psychological and biological significance of Monday as the “starting point” of a new life cycle.
Monday and the heart: not a coincidence
Researchers link Monday stress to disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the system that regulates cortisol levels. When chronically activated, the body suffers devastating effects: blood pressure rises, insulin sensitivity decreases, and the immune system is disrupted.
This may explain the fact that it is on Mondays that doctors record an increase in heart attacks by almost 20%.
Mondays are ingrained in us deeper than we think
One of the authors of the study, Professor Tarani Chandola, emphasizes that even after the end of work, Monday continues to trigger a biological response. "It's not about the office or morning meetings. It's about the rhythm of life that we absorb over the years, and which leaves an imprint on the physiology," he explains.
Implications for medicine and prevention
Scientists hope that a better understanding of Monday stress will help develop new strategies for preventing cardiovascular disease, especially among older adults. This is not only about psycho-emotional well-being, but also about the long-term effects of the day of the week on physiology.
