How the Monday blues are seriously affecting your physical health - even if you're retired
According to The Independent, a new study has found that feeling anxious at the start of the week is linked to higher levels of long-term stress hormones, with effects lasting for months and raising the risk of heart disease.
Experts have long noted that stress impacts nearly every part of the body - with the sensation linked to a host of conditions including heart disease and bowel problems.
The research, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, followed over 3,500 older adults from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
Participants who reported Monday anxiety had nearly 25 per cent higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their hair samples compared to those who felt anxious on other days.
Even retirees showed signs of the dreaded Mondays, indicating that the blame goes beyond just workplace pressure.
Researchers say this points to 'societal rhythms' linked to the start of the week affecting the body's stress response, with potential long-term health risks.
Previous studies have already shown stress hormone levels tend to rise on weekdays.
Mondays are already known to see a 20 per cent spike in heart attacks.
Experts believe the body's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which controls stress hormones like cortisol, plays a role in this.
When stress hormones remain elevated over time, they can contribute to high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and immune problems, all of which are linked to cardiovascular disease.
'The increase in CVD events on Mondays is unlikely to be a random phenomenon,' researchers wrote.
They found a clear association between Monday anxiety and dysregulation of the body's stress system, regardless of whether people were still working.
'For some older adults, the week's transition triggers a biological cascade that lingers for months,' said study author Tarani Chandola from the University of Hong Kong.
'This isn't about work – it's about how deeply ingrained Mondays are in our stress physiology, even after careers end.'
Researchers hope that by addressing Monday-specific stress, it may be possible to find new ways to reduce heart disease risks in ageing populations.
Last month, a leading psychologist warned against the trauma of daily 'micro stresses' such as being stuck in traffic that have detrimental effects on your health.
Dr. Becky Spelman, UK licensed psychologist, explained to Femail that human brains 'aren't wired for constant low-level friction' such as losing your keys and being in a rush.
'Repeated minor stressors can lead to the same physiological and emotional exhaustion as a single major stressor,' she explained.
'When the small stresses pile up with no opportunity to decompress, they create an emotional static that affects concentration, patience, and even physical health,' Dr Spelman said.
Dr Spelman suggested people 'incorporate small, daily rituals that restore calm', adding that overall management of stress should also focus on 'staying steady' during brief moments of strain.
Micro stresses are defined as small daily annoyances that, though seemingly small at the time, can weigh heavy on overall wellbeing when experienced in culmination.
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'Sitting slouched at a desk or looking down at a screen for extended periods may lead to tension in the upper and lower back, neck and shoulders,' says Clara. 'Leaning on one leg or having rounded shoulders can cause imbalances over time that contribute to discomfort. 'When sitting, use a chair with good back support to maintain the natural curve of your lower back. 'Sit upright and avoid slouching or leaning to one side. 'Keep feet flat on the floor and elbows at a 90-degree angle with your forearms parallel to the floor.' Get up and move around every hour and do some simple stretches to avoid stiffness and keep joints mobile. Try Deep Heat Muscle Massage Roll-on Lotion (£5.85, Tesco) which helps to ease tight muscles. Clara adds: 'When standing, stand tall with shoulders back. 'Avoid slouching; instead, engage your core, gently drawing in your lower abdomen. 'Keep your feet shoulder-width apart and weight balanced on the balls of your feet, with knees slightly bent.' I was left on the brink of total paralysis after doctors dismissed by back pain as 'anxiety' By Katrina Turrill, Health News Editor A DAD-of-three was left fearing he'd never walk again after doctors repeatedly dismissed his excruciating back pain as anxiety. Mark Doe, 36, from Swindon, endured months of agony, pins and needles, and leg weakness, initially attributed to a small disc bulge. Despite his worsening symptoms, including needing a walking aid, a neurologist told him his issues were "all my anxiety" and upped his mental health medication without further scans. Mark felt "really let down and lost," believing he "just had to put up with the symptoms." The terrifying truth emerged three months later when a "pop" in his back left him unable to move, with radiating pain and a loss of bladder function. He recalled: "I couldn't move with the immense pain. I would scream out every time I moved." At the hospital, doctors suspected Cauda Equina Syndrome, a condition where nerves at the base of the spinal cord are compressed, which can lead to paralysis. An emergency MRI revealed the small bulge had "grown much bigger and was crushing my nerves." Mark was rushed into nearly five hours of surgery. His recovery has been "very difficult". He was bed-bound for six weeks and unable to hold his five-month-old daughter. He still suffers pain and may need further surgery, but he emphasises: "If the doctor I had for the second appointment had sent me for a scan, maybe this could have been prevented or not been so bad." Mark added: "Don't give up, keep on at doctors, don't do it alone."
