You wake up on Monday with a knot in your stomach. The week hasn’t started yet, but something about the shift from weekend to weekday stirs unease. Turns out, that feeling isn’t just in your head—it’s in your biology.

New research published in the Journal of Affective Disorders shows that Monday-specific anxiety doesn’t just spike your mood for the day—it leaves a biological trace for months. Scientists studying over 3,500 older adults found that those who reported anxiety on Mondays had significantly higher levels of cortisol—the body’s main stress hormone—two months later. Not just the next day. Not just that week. Two months.

This biological imprint, referred to by researchers as the “Anxious Monday” effect, hints at something much deeper: a cultural and physiological bond between the start of the week and long-term health risk—especially for the heart.

Here’s the kicker: this isn’t just about hating your job. In fact, the study showed that even retirees—people who no longer face Monday morning meetings, work emails, or deadlines—showed the same spike in stress biomarkers.

This suggests that our nervous systems have been conditioned over a lifetime to associate Mondays with stress. The researchers propose that repeated exposure to structured weekly rhythms—decades of Monday wake-up calls, commutes, and school schedules—may wire our physiological stress response to treat Monday like a danger signal.

Professor Tarani Chandola, lead author and medical sociologist at the University of Hong Kong, explains, “Mondays act as a cultural stress amplifier. For some older adults, the week’s transition triggers a biological cascade that lingers for months. This isn’t about work—it’s about how deeply ingrained Mondays are in our stress physiology, even after careers end.”

How Does Monday Blues Have A Deep Biological Impact?

The study, based on data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), analyzed hair samples to detect long-term cortisol levels. Here's what stood out:

23% Higher Cortisol Levels: Participants who felt anxious on Mondays had 23% more cortisol in their hair, a biomarker of long-term stress.

Only Partially Linked to Mood: Interestingly, only 25% of this effect was explained by feeling anxious on Mondays. The remaining 75% was due to how strongly the body reacts to Monday anxiety, compared to other days.

Not Limited to the Workforce: The same cortisol patterns appeared in both working individuals and those who had long retired.

The physiological pathway at the center of this research is the HPA axis—the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis—which regulates how our body reacts to stress. Chronic dysregulation of this system (like from persistent cortisol elevation) has been tied to a wide range of health conditions:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Insulin resistance
• Immune dysfunction
• Mood disorders

Why Mondays May Be Linked to Heart Attacks?

If you’ve heard that heart attacks tend to spike on Mondays, this research may explain why. Previous epidemiological studies show a 19% increase in heart attacks on Mondays compared to other days. While we’ve often blamed this on workplace pressure or weekend lifestyle choices, the new data suggest a deeper biological reason.

The stress we associate with Mondays isn’t just an emotional reaction—it’s a neuroendocrine event. And repeated, low-grade Monday dread may create an invisible stress load that adds up over time, increasing cardiovascular risk long before we feel any symptoms.

The implications of this study go beyond personal wellness. If a single day of the week can consistently activate a harmful biological stress response across a population, then addressing Monday-specific anxiety could become a novel lever in reducing chronic disease risk—especially among aging adults. It also raises new questions for health practitioners:

• Should stress management advice be tailored for the start of the week?
• Can interventions that ease the Sunday-to-Monday transition actually lower long-term cortisol exposure?
• Could community-based programs or calendar redesigns mitigate this cultural imprint?

We're looking at a public health opportunity hidden in plain sight.

Tips To Ease Stress and Anxiety Starting On Sunday

If Mondays are quietly sabotaging your biology, it makes sense to shift the strategy upstream—to Sunday. Here are evidence-backed ways to dial down Monday dread before it peaks:

1. Preempt the stress narrative

Instead of mentally loading Monday with tasks and expectations, treat Sunday evening as a soft ramp into the week. Avoid telling yourself “I have a mountain of work ahead.” That mental rehearsal activates the stress response prematurely.

2. Create a Sunday ‘cool-down’ routine

A Sunday evening walk, warm bath, or 15-minute meditation session can reduce cortisol levels and ease the transition. Studies show that even 10 minutes of slow breathing can trigger the body’s relaxation response.

3. Don’t let sleep slide

Poor sleep on Sunday night (sometimes called “Sunday scaries insomnia”) makes your body more vulnerable to stress hormones on Monday. Prioritize a consistent sleep window and limit screen time 2 hours before bed.

4. Reframe Monday mornings

Make your Monday morning gentler where you can. Even small tweaks—like delaying meetings until mid-morning, eating a nourishing breakfast, or listening to music—can modulate the HPA axis response.

5. Check your calendar pressure

Over-stacking Mondays with responsibilities may reinforce the stress imprint. If possible, distribute demanding tasks throughout the week to create a more balanced cognitive load.

What this research really reminds us is that culture shapes biology. The seven-day week is a human invention, but our bodies have adapted to it in surprisingly profound ways.

As we age, the decades of rhythms—school bells, shift changes, family routines—don’t just fade. They form a sort of physiological memory that can quietly drive health outcomes well into retirement and among those rhythms, Monday holds a special place.

So if you’ve ever felt that Mondays hit harder than they should, you’re not imagining it—and now, science is backing you up. The challenge isn’t just to push through the day, but to understand how deeply it’s embedded in our biology. The opportunity? Start by reshaping your Sundays. Your heart may thank you months from now.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging British tourists to take one simple step to prevent their autumn holiday from being "ruined" by illness. Amid a potential rise in infections this year, the agency is advising travelers to make sure they are protected against measles before heading abroad.

What is Measles?

Measles is a very contagious illness that can make you feel quite sick. It's caused by a virus and can be serious, sometimes leading to dangerous problems like brain swelling or pneumonia. The best way to protect yourself and others is to get the measles vaccine. The first signs of measles can feel like a bad cold or flu. You might have:

• High fever
• A cough
• Runny nose
• Red or watery eyes
• Tirednes
• Sore throat and muscle pain

Are Measles Cases Rising Globally?

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can cause a fever, a cough, red eyes, and a rash. It can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that measles cases in Europe have reached a 25-year high, with over 127,000 cases reported last year. More than half of these cases required hospitalization, and there were 38 recorded deaths.

The UKHSA issued a message on social media platform X, stating, "Planning an autumn or winter getaway? Don't let measles ruin your holiday. Two doses of the #MMR vaccine give you full protection, and you can catch up at your GP practice if you've missed any."

Why Vaccination Is Key For Measles

Getting vaccinated against measles is a critical step in staying healthy. Measles isn't just a simple rash; it's a serious illness that can lead to severe, life-threatening problems like pneumonia (a lung infection), meningitis (brain inflammation), and even blindness.

The good news is that the MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles, as well as mumps and rubella. In the UK, all children are offered this vaccine, and two doses can give you protection for life. If you're not sure if you or your child has had the vaccine, you can contact your local doctor's office (GP surgery), which can provide it for free. Health experts emphasize that when more people are vaccinated, it protects everyone, especially those who can't get the vaccine themselves.

What Measles Looks Like: How To Identify Measles?

According to Center of Disease Control and Prevention, a measles rash is a key sign of the illness, and it has a very specific pattern. It usually begins as flat, red spots on your face near the hairline. Over the next few days, it will spread downwards to cover your neck, body, arms, and legs.

Facial Rash: The rash often appears as small, red, raised spots on the forehead and cheeks. It might look different depending on a person's skin tone. as small, red, raised spots. It can look different on various skin tones.

Body Rash: The rash won't stay on your face; it will spread across your entire body.

Other Symptoms: The rash is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as a runny nose, watery eyes, and a cough.

Healing: As you start to recover, the rash will fade, and your skin may begin to peel or flake off.

Koplik spots: One of the earliest signs of measles is tiny white spots with a bluish center that show up inside the mouth. These are called Koplik spots and often appear a few days before the main rash.

If you smoke or around people who smoke, you may have heard them exclaim how smoking makes them lose appetite and helps them lose weight. If you are a person who struggles with weight gain, this logic may appeal to you, however, it could affect you in a completely different way than you realize. Type 2 diabetes is more common than you may realize, more than 38 million Americans have diabetes and 90% to 95% of them have type 2 diabetes (CDC data).

One of the best ways to contain type 2 diabetes is by losing weight. If you think that smoking could be a way to lose this weight, you may want to re-think that.

New research suggests that smoking increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, regardless of the specific subtype a person might have. This study, which combines data from Sweden, Norway, and Finland, also found that people with a genetic risk for diabetes are even more vulnerable to the negative effects of smoking.

What Are The Sub-Types of Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is not a one-size-fits-all condition. Researchers have proposed that it can be broken down into four distinct subtypes, each with different characteristics and health risks.

• SIRD (Severe Insulin-Resistant Diabetes): The body's cells do not respond well to insulin.
• SIDD (Severe Insulin-Deficient Diabetes): The body does not produce enough insulin.
• MOD (Mild Obesity-Related Diabetes): Linked to obesity, often starting at a younger age.
• MARD (Mild Age-Related Diabetes): Develops later in life.

How Does Smoking Affect Diabetes?

The study, which analyzed data from over 3,300 people with type 2 diabetes and almost 3,900 healthy individuals, found a strong connection between smoking and all four diabetes subtypes.

Increased Risk for All Subtypes

People who had ever smoked (current and past smokers) were at a higher risk of developing any of the four diabetes subtypes compared to non-smokers.

What Diabetes Was Linked To Smoking?

The connection was particularly strong for SIRD, the type of diabetes where the body resists insulin. Smokers were more than twice as likely (2.15 times) to develop SIRD than non-smokers. Smoking was also responsible for over a third of all SIRD cases in the study.

Heavy Smoking Increases Risk Further: Heavy smokers (those who smoked at least 20 cigarettes a day for 15 years) had an even higher risk for all four subtypes, with the risk for SIRD being 2.35 times higher than for non-smokers.

Smokeless Tobacco: The study also found a link between heavy use of snus (a smokeless tobacco product) and an increased risk of the more severe diabetes subtypes (SIRD and SIDD) in men.

Could Your Genetics Put You At Higher Risk of Diabetes?

The research also explored how smoking affects people who are already at a high genetic risk for diabetes. The findings showed that heavy smokers with a genetic predisposition for poor insulin production were particularly vulnerable. For example, a heavy smoker with a high genetic risk for impaired insulin secretion was over three times more likely (3.52-fold) to develop SIRD compared to a person without these risk factors.

The study's overall conclusion is clear: smoking raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, regardless of which subtype a person is prone to developing.

If you are in Delhi-NCR and have recently been coughing, sneezing, or running a fever, you are not alone. A recent LocalCircles survey shows that 69 per cent of households in the region currently have one or more members experiencing Covid, flu, or viral fever-like symptoms.

The report, titled “Viral illnesses soar in Delhi NCR as 69% households surveyed confirm one or more members experiencing symptoms,” highlights a sharp increase from 54 per cent in March 2025 to 69 per cent now. Here’s a closer look at the H3N2 virus, its symptoms, and the precautions you should take.

What Is the H3N2 Virus?

The virus spreads rapidly through droplets from coughing, sneezing, or even talking. It can also spread when a person touches contaminated surfaces and then touches their face. H3N2 can be particularly dangerous for young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that in these groups, H3N2 can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and hospitalization.

ALSO READ: Global Warming Is Driving a Surge in Dengue Cases, Study Warns

Symptoms of H3N2 Virus to Watch ForAccording to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), H3N2 has been the predominant strain causing the recent surge in flu cases across India. Data from hospital admissions for Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) indicates that 50% of these patients tested positive for H3N2.

Common symptoms include:

• Sudden high fever (often above 38–39°C) with chills
• Persistent cough and sore throat
• Severe fatigue, weakness, and body aches
• Headache and nasal congestion
• In children: nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

ALSO READ: West Nile Virus Isn't Over Yet, New Cases In US On Rise

Precautions Against H3N2 Virus

• Wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Wear masks in crowded or poorly ventilated areas
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; dispose of tissues immediately
• Avoid close contact with sick individuals; isolate infected household members if possible
• Keep living spaces well-ventilated
• Maintain good nutrition, hydration, and adequate rest
• Consider the seasonal influenza vaccine, which often protects against H3N2 strains—especially important for children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses

H3N2 in the United States

The WHO continues to stress that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza, particularly for high-risk groups and their caregivers.