Khaberni -A new study has shown that the anxiety about Monday, the first day of the week, may have a unique and lasting effect on the body's stress system.
Researchers indicated that the anxiety at the start of the workweek might not fade as the day progresses, but could be associated with stress hormone patterns that persist in the body for up to 3 months.
Increased cortisol
In the study conducted at the University of Hong Kong, elderly individuals who reported feeling anxious on Mondays had long-term cortisol levels approximately 23% higher compared to those who felt anxious on other days.
According to "Study Finds", the researchers analyzed samples of scalp hair to assess stress hormone levels over two and three months, providing a longer-term picture than traditional blood or saliva tests.
The study showed a correlation, not causation, between the anxiety at the beginning of the week and the body's stress system.
Heart attacks on Monday
The study referenced previous research showing that heart attacks and deaths following sudden heart attacks happen 19% more on Mondays compared to other days, a phenomenon known as the "Monday effect".
Importantly, the study noted that this effect appeared both in those who are still working and in retirees.
The researchers found no evidence that this pattern weakened in those who had left work, suggesting that the biological impact of Monday start-of-work anxiety may continue even without the direct source of work-related stress.
Chronic elevation of cortisol is associated with health risks such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and weakened immunity.
