The 2016 presidential election has made people not just sick and tired — but medically ill. Researchers are warning people about the long-term health consequences of the emotions and stress they’ve felt about political events. As noted in a recent piece in The New England Journal of Medicine, anxiety and stress have been steadily increasing along with premature births and deaths — and an increased risk of disease.
We all know stress kills. Symptoms include elevated blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease, complicated pregnancies, increased mortality rate, and more. But stress from an election? Yes, and it gets worse. Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health reported on a U.S. survey of 2,000 K-12 teachers — and found that some students expressed fear about what may happen to them or their family members in the wake of the election.
“There is a steady drumbeat of incidents of hostility in the news,” said lead author David Williams, a Harvard professor. “So there is a pressing need to make health care providers aware of the health consequences.”
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Dr. Harriet Kiviat, Ph.D., a South Florida family therapist, said, “One hundred percent of our clientele were affected by the election … All of our supervisors were warned about the fallout.”
In addition, a 2017 study by The American Psychological Association found that two-thirds of Americans are stressed about the future of the country. Are we going backward? Have the great strides and efforts to improve health, race relations, and overall acceptance of our fellow human beings … disappeared?
Related: The Crazy Election Season Has Made Parenting Harder
Tom Lynch served as mayor of Delray Beach, Florida, from 1990 to 1996, and he’s a former Palm Beach County school board chair as well. He told LifeZette, “There’s a growing lack of respect and frustration among young people across the country. The immature, unprofessional behavior of [certain] political candidates has encouraged the public to believe this is appropriate conduct.”
Additionally, Lynch said, “Racial issues are becoming what I experienced while in high school and college. They’re coming back stronger than ever before.”
Dr. Richard Raborn, a South Florida retired physician, weighed in on the matter. “People have too much screen time and don’t spend enough time outdoors,” he said — and referenced the importance of so-called “forest therapy.” This refers to the positive effects of nature on stress and hormone levels, according to a Japanese study.
Related: The Stress Fighters That Can Save Your Life
Said Raborn, “People are spending too much time on electronics and allowing others to determine their future. You must self-empower to get away from it.”
Kiviat agreed with the act of “stepping away.” She said there should be “no online political bashing. Unfriend ugliness from both sides of the fence. Squash it and use your emotional intelligence.” Otherwise, she said, “The amount of hatred [out there] — it kills. It kills from within and can eat you up like a parasite.”
Experts offered some effective wellness solutions.
Said Kiviat, “Start a small round table with those closest to you. Begin with learning and practicing compassion, tolerance, acceptance, and inclusion.”
Related: Seven Expressions That Reflect the Healthiest Lives
Lynch offered, “Simply put, America needs a paradigm shift. Don’t assume that what you read is true. Start small with those closest to you, your children, and build from there. Ask questions: ‘Are you sure that’s true?’ Do your research. While the school system plays a role, parents are the ones who need to begin the conversation.”
Based in Boynton Beach, Florida, Christine King is founder and CEO of Your Best Fit, a health and wellness company that provides fitness, nutrition, and design and management services for individuals, private clubs, luxury communities, and corporations.
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