close
close

Apre-salomemanzo

Breaking: Beyond Headlines!

    • Stick to a routine, listen to others, and follow other tips for dealing with the election.
    aecifo

    Stick to a routine, listen to others, and follow other tips for dealing with the election.

    Umito Posted on

    play

    Anger outbursts, lack of motivation and poor eating habits may be signs of election stress that will put some people at higher risk of cardiovascular problems this week, experts and research suggest.

    Phoenix cardiologist Dr. Abed Asfour said he’s prepared to see an increase in people seeking treatment for heart problems in the days after the election.

    Election stress, Asfour says, is real. That’s because stress can increase hormones like adrenaline and cortisol and lead to increased heart rate and blood pressure, according to Asfour, medical director of the cardiovascular service line for Dignity Health in Arizona.

    “When these symptoms persist, the patient may be at risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, among other life-threatening complications,” he said.

    The risks are particularly high for anyone with an underlying health condition such as sleep apnea or who engages in behavior that puts additional stress on their physical health, such as smoking or not eating well, said Asfour.

    “Any emotionally charged event accompanied by an unhealthy lifestyle could increase the risk of cardiac events,” he said.

    Signs of a cardiac event include chest pain, irregular heartbeat and shortness of breath out of proportion to the activity being performed — or if any of these symptoms occur at rest, he said.

    Study warns of cardiovascular risk during ‘notable political events’

    April 2022 study Researchers at Kaiser Permanente in California found that the hospitalization rate for acute cardiovascular disease among 6.4 million adults enrolled as members of two large health systems, Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Kaiser Permanente Northern California, was 17%. higher in the five days following the 2020 United States presidential election compared to the same five-day period two weeks prior.

    The conclusions of the study, published in JAMA Network Open“suggest that awareness of increased cardiovascular disease risk and strategies to mitigate risk during notable political events are needed,” the authors write.

    “If you look at the physiology of the heart and the impact of stress on the heart, it increases heart rate, it increases blood pressure. It increases inflammation,” Asfour said. “All of these things also contribute to increasing the risk of something happening, like a plaque rupture leading to a heart attack.”

    Behaviors people engage in during times of stress, such as smoking or drinking a lot of alcohol, increase the risk of cardiovascular events, Asfour said.

    “How can we, as an individual, take care of ourselves over a long period of time? That kind of dictates or implies how we’re going to respond to the type of stress that we’re exposed to,” Asfour said.

    As for “miracle solutions”, since election day is already here, Asfour advises eating healthily, not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption and if you are stressed, going for a walk.

    “In general, it is a good practice to try to practice relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga and any form of activity that can bring peace to people and help them get out of the cycle of stress,” he said. he declared.

    Expert: Show respect and compassion for those with different viewpoints

    In addition to potentially harming cardiovascular health, stress can cause fatigue, headaches and upset stomach. It can also threaten relationships and mental health.

    The American Psychological Association “Stress in America 2024: a nation in political turmoil” The report found that nearly 70% of adults surveyed said the U.S. presidential election was a “significant source of stress” in their lives. This percentage was slightly higher than in the 2020 presidential election and significantly higher than in the 2016 presidential race, according to the report.

    Eighty-two percent of 3,305 U.S. voters surveyed were concerned that people based their values ​​and opinions on false or inaccurate information and nearly a third of adults said the political climate had created tension between them and members of their family. About 30% said they limit the time they spend with family because they don’t share the same values, according to the report.

    Rodrigo Olivares, call center director of the EMPACT Suicide Prevention Center in Tempe, suggests showing respect when family members and others express political views that are different from yours. Understand that everyone has a different perspective on situations and practice compassion and tolerance, he said.

    “Avoiding that argument is OK when you can,” he said. “Sometimes you just have to listen. Sometimes someone just wants to be heard and the best response is silence.”

    Every time there is a national event, more people contact the call center, said Olivares, whose call center is run by La Frontera Arizona.

    “It’s fair to say we’re seeing more calls as the election approaches,” he said. “Life brings many different challenges and this is just one more thing that could have an impact.”

    Stick to a routine and know how you don’t want to deal with it

    Olivares recommends that anyone in mental distress call 9-8-8, the national suicide and crisis lifeline. Callers do not need to be suicidal to get help from 988, Olivares stressed.

    Vibrant Emotional Health, which operates the 988 line, offers other tips for election-related anxiety and stress, including:

    • Stick to routines. Even if you don’t feel like going to work, studying, or exercising as usual, stick to your routine as much as possible. Routines ground us in the here and now and remind us of the things within our control that don’t need to change.
    • Seek social support. Talk about your thoughts and feelings with others. Take time to share experiences that can help you deal with your emotions or temporarily distract you from them so you can take a break.
    • Consider limiting or balancing your exposure to election-related media. Be aware of how media habits may affect your sleep or mood.
    • Know how you not want to face. Train yourself to be mindful of things that could lead to negative behaviors and emotions. When you are upset, stressed, or overwhelmed, do you tend to argue, drink too much alcohol, complain about work, hurt yourself or others, or eat too much or too little? These are just a few examples of things you might end up regretting.
    • Take compassionate and caring actions to support others. Be the one to help a friend in crisis or a stranger in need.

    Contact healthcare reporter Stephanie Innes at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter: @stephanieinnes.

    Umito
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like