Why most people die of heart attacks on Mondays

UK    Help		Mondays 'bring heart attacks Hearts attacks 'more likely to happen on a Monday' Weekend booze binges and the stresses of going back to work could be contributing to a higher rate of heart attacks on a Monday, according to research.A 10-year study carried out in Scotland suggested that up to 20% more people die from heart attacks on a Monday than any other day. Experts have now called for more investigation into the links between excessive drinking and coronary heart disease.  The researchers are calling for further study  A report in the British Medical Journal also suggested the stresses of returning to work after a weekend's socialising could also be to blame for the number of Monday heart attacks. Almost 80,000 men and women who died of heart disease in Scotland were studied between 1986 and 1995, and it was found the mortality rate peaked on Mondays. Deaths of women under 50 with no previous history of heart disease rose by a fifth on Mondays compared to the daily average.Important implications' And among men under 50 with no earlier heart trouble, there was a 19% excess on the first day of the working week. In contrast, the researchers found the lowest number of heart-related fatalities on a Tuesday.  Work related stress is a potential trigger  Report author Dr Christine Evans said: "The Monday peak in deaths from coronary heart disease in Scotland may be partly attributable to increased drinking at the weekend, although other mechanisms, such as work-related stress, may be important. "The possible link between binge drinking and deaths from coronary heart disease has potentially important public health implications and merits further investigation." Deaths of people with previous admissions for heart disease showed no significant increase on Mondays. Over-indulgence This was attributed to people with heart disease being more likely to recognise warning signs over the weekend and going to a hospital if necessary. The researchers also suggested people with a history of heart disease were probably on medication which regularised their condition. Weekend partying also meant a massive rise in the number of people taken to casualty departments suffering from over-indulgence. The study found that 64% more people were admitted to casualty suffering from the effects of alcohol on a Saturday than the daily average.