You're More Likely To Have A Heart Attack On This Day Of The Week, Study Finds

Chances are, you're familiar with the Sunday scaries—you know, that familiar pang of anxiety you get before kicking off another workweek. Well, we'll see your Sunday blues and raise you menacing Mondays. 

Researchers analyzed hospitalization records from 10,528 patients who suffered the most severe type of heart attack—an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)—over a five-year period.

After examining those records, they noticed a significant increase in the rate of STEMI heart attacks at the start of the workweek, with a 13% increase specifically on Mondays. 

Why Mondays, you might ask? "The cause is likely multifactorial; however, based on what we know from previous studies, it is reasonable to presume a circadian element," notes Dublin-based cardiologist Jack Laffan in a news release. 

As you may know, sleep is integral for your overall well-being; poor quality and inadequate amounts of sleep can impact cardiovascular and metabolic health1. 

Try to standardize the time you go to bed and wake up, if you can. "Ideally your wake and rise time should not vary more than an hour (or even a half-hour) each day," naturopathic sleep doctor Catherine Darley, N.D., previously told mbg—even on the weekends! 

It can be so tempting to treat yourself with extra hours of sleep, but it may harm your circadian rhythm in the long run. By waking up at the same time each day, you'll get sleepy at a predictable time each evening. 

Get your fill of fatty acids—specifically, marine omega-3 fatty acids EPA & DHA, which are found primarily in fish and fish oil supplements. Research shows these are basically synonymous with heart health and longevity.

From supporting healthy triglyceride levels2 to enhancing circulation, these holistic (and seriously under-consumed) healthy fats deliver profound cardiovascular benefits3 that have a lasting impact on your heart health.

For optimal heart-health benefits, find a sustainably sourced fish oil supplement that's tested for purity and delivers a minimum of 500 milligrams (ideally, closer to 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams, or 1 to 1.5 grams) of EPA plus DHA.

Research shows that regular exercise can help manage blood pressure4, and another recent study5 found that the amount of fat-free mass (like muscle) women carry may play a bigger role in heart health than body fat or total body weight. 

Translation? Muscle mass may influence heart health in women more than body weight and body fat.