Election stress linked to more heart attacks and arrhythmias

Researchers at Northwestern University analysed data from people who already had an implanted cardiac rhythm monitor. They found a 77 percent higher rate of arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) in the six weeks surrounding the 2016 US presidential election compared with a control period. The pattern was similar across age, sex, race, and pre-existing health conditions, and was comparable between Democrats and Republicans. This was a retrospective observational study conducted in North Carolina.

A second study, from Kaiser Permanente Southern California, examined hospital admissions for acute cardiovascular events after the 2020 election. The researchers found a significantly higher rate of heart attacks in the five days immediately after election day compared with the same five-day window two weeks earlier. This applied to people with and without a prior history of heart disease.

How stress affects the heart

Neither study could establish cause and effect, only an association between health events and exposure to political campaigns. The researchers do explain the mechanisms through which stress can affect the heart. During acute stress, adrenaline rises, the sympathetic nervous system ramps up, and the calming influence of the vagus nerve drops. That combination can disrupt the heart’s electrical activity and trigger irregular rhythms in people already prone to them. Stress hormones such as cortisol and stress-related behaviours (poor sleep, skipping medications, eating more fat and salt, drinking more alcohol) are also likely contributing factors.

Who is most at risk?

People with known heart conditions are most vulnerable. But the researchers note that nearly half of US adults have some form of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure. Chronic stress is also an established risk factor for heart disease over time.

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