Jaipur, Sept. 30 -- While weekends bring relaxation and celebrations across the world, Mondays appear to be taking a heavy toll on the heart. Doctors at Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital have flagged a worrying trend that heart patients in the OPD rise by nearly 15% on average every Monday compared to other days in a week. The finding comes as the world observes World Heart Day on September 29. Senior cardiologist and Principal of SMS Medical College, Dr. Deepak Maheshwari, explained that most working professionals face the burden of meetings, deadlines, and anxiety on Mondays. The sudden shift from a relaxed weekend to a busy routine increases stress hormones, which directly affects the heart. According to him, this transition - commonly called the "weekend effect" - is one of the reasons why SMS sees a spike in heart-related cases at the start of the week. Doctors point out that weekends often disturb the body's natural rhythm. Late-night parties, alcohol consumption, junk food, lack of proper sleep, and irregular habits strain the heart. When individuals suddenly return to hectic schedules on Monday morning, the stress level rises sharply, creating additional pressure on the cardiovascular system. This leads to more cases of chest pain, high blood pressure, blockages, and rhythm disturbances, with young professionals increasingly among those affected. Maheshwari expressed with concern that in the last few years, a significant rise has been observed in younger age groups. He said that stress spikes on Mondays often cause sudden surges in blood pressure, faster heartbeats, breathlessness, and restlessness. Hospital records support this worrying trend. In 2022, SMS Hospital received 140,689 heart-related patients. The number rose to 180,580 in 2023 and slightly further to 182,176 in 2024. Till July this year alone, 104,093 patients with heart issues had already been registered. Doctors warn that ignoring this trend could result in an even sharper rise in cardiovascular disease among the younger generation in the coming years. Stress and lifestyle management, they say, are no longer optional but essential. Experts recommend simple yet effective preventive measures: avoid staying up late during weekends, limit junk food and alcohol, start Monday mornings with light exercise or yoga, plan work calmly without overloading, and ensure regular health checkups for blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol. Maheshwari emphasized that timely lifestyle changes and better stress control can help ensure that Monday morning pressure does not turn into a long-term danger for the heart. He underlined that managing the "weekend effect" is as important as maintaining diet and exercise in keeping the heart healthy....