Some claim that this Monday (January 20, 2020) is the most depressing day of the year. It’s really just a day made up by a PR firm to advertise winter vacations. However, there are specific times of the day when your health is more vulnerable.
Good thing Monday is holiday for many, it’s the third Monday in January which is always celebrated in Illinois as MLK day.
Heart Attacks: Research shows that the most common day for heart attacks is Monday. Statistics spike on Monday mornings, since heart attacks occur between 4 and 10 AM more than any other six-hour period. Apparently blood platelets are stickier in the morning hours, which can contribute to an attack. British research says heart attack risk may increase any day your favorite sports team is playing. They say an emotional upset—such as watching your team lose—could trigger a heart attack.
Heart attacks in the hospital: It’s unfortunate that Saturday is the second most common day for heart attacks since survival rates for in-hospital cardiac arrest are lower during nights and weekends. A 2008 study found that a patient’s chances are substantially better during daytime hours than at night. Weekday survival rates were better than weekend rates, too.
Morning migraines: When asked to identify the time of day when most migraine headaches start, subjects in a study most commonly answered “anytime.” But the first runner-up was “morning,” which is supported by other studies as well. Reports also suggest that migraines in children are more likely to occur on Mondays. Maybe returning to school after a weekend?
Hump-day statistic: A study found that the Wednesday effect on suicide was much stronger than for any other day. Wednesday incidences accounted for a full 24.6 percent of reported suicides. Monday, by contrast, was at only 14.3 percent and came in third (following Saturday). The same study showed that suicides among both men and women were more prevalent in the summer than any other season, controverting earlier research that men were more prone in spring and women in spring or autumn.
Susan Saunders 1/16/20
