The Side-Effects of Monday Morning Syndrome
STEF ALINA MIHAELA
Cardiologists call this phenomenon the syndrome of “Monday morning” because, for most of the people, going to work on Monday morning, is like going to a battlefield. No wonder why heart attacks happen mainly in this period. Stress is the bad guy here and shortly you will find out why!
When people ignite emotion, something inside happens, it could be anything.
In 2002 Swiss doctors have discovered that mental stress can cause constriction of the blood vessel internal walls, which can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Their study was the first proof that stress induces tissue malfunctions.
Anger, chronic stress, depression, social isolation are all major risk factors, that are usually hidden and not taken in consideration by doctors.
Under chronic stress – like an unfulfilling job – stress hormones causes the constriction of blood vessels, high blood pressure, increased heart rate. This can also can cause blood clotting. Now if you were a soldier this may be useful for your survival. For instance, if you get hurt your blood coagulates faster to slow down or stop blood loss.
The daily conflicts and dissatisfaction at work generate a similar process!
Blood becomes sticky. As the blood becomes more viscous and sticky, the greater the risk of cardiovascular problems.
Our autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a very complex machine. ANS it is a network of nerves. These nerves activate one of the most important reflexes that we have: fight or flight and rest-alert. This system controls almost 90 percent of internal processes and functions.
The sympathetic nervous system activates the body for fight or flight response. And parasympathetic nervous system generates a state of calm and serenity.
The fight or flight response is the body's internal response when a threat is presented. When this happens, the nervous system is invaded by a lot of biochemical substances that, in time, can become toxic to the body.
Stress hormones come rushing and can make people want to fight or flight. But this type of mechanism may have been suitable in the cave-man era, where man must hunt and kill for food or survival. However, this seems irrelevant in the 21st century. Most threats you face these days tend to be psychological and cannot be managed by fight or flight.
Hans Selye, a Canadian doctor, has shown that the body reacts to stress today like he still confronts the fight for survival.
Thereby, when a sympathetic nervous system is overloaded leads to poor immune functions. And the consequences range from a common cold to cancer.
So, choose a calm response. When you are calm, your heart beat slows down. Oxygen consumption is reduced, billions of cells work together to take care of your body.
How you can remain calm, you may ask? Living in NOW is the answer. Be mindfulness. Try Transcendental Meditation (TM). Be aware. Laugh more often. The real difference is your reaction towards any situation.
How do you choose to react? Either through a fit of anger, either calm or joy.
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Stef Alina Mihaela is a Clinical psychologist, Family psychotherapist, Nutritionist and Dietitian. She is also an exercise lover. A whole foods connoisseur. And a health enthusiast. You can find out more on social media and her self-authored webpage.