Presidential Elections May Be Bad for Your Health–New York Times, October 20
The stress of presidential elections may increase the incidence of heart attacks and strokes, say researchers from Kaiser Permanente looking at the 2016 US election. The study, in PNAS, found that hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease in the two days following that election were 61% higher than in the same two days of the preceding week. The rate of heart attack increased by 67% and of stroke by 59% in the two days following the election.
Daylight Saving Time Is Actually Bad for You–Elemental, October 30, 2020
There’s a war going on against the frustrating, outdated, and arguably ineffective and unhealthy artificial time warp that is Daylight Saving Time. The studies reveal that this forced mini jet lag fuels everything from stress and sleeplessness to a surge in car crashes. It messes with our internal biological clock: For instance, heart attacks spike 25% on the Monday after springing forward and dip 21% on the Tuesday after falling back. Provides an overview of the science and the calls to eliminate it.
The Swedish COVID-19 Response Is a Disaster. It Shouldn’t Be a Model for the Rest of the World–Time, October 14, 2020
For non-experts, it’s becoming exceedingly difficult to make sense of different policies pursued around the world to contain the pandemic. Often, Sweden is hailed as a unique and interesting example of a country willing to pursue a strategy of herd immunity. This well-researched and authoritative article puts to rest the idea that Sweden’s experiment was a success—quite the opposite. Read on to understand why…
Time To Ditch Those Awful Zoom Calls, CEOs Say–NPR, October 14, 2020
This sheds some light on why tomorrow’s world will be digital AND social (i.e., based on in-person interactions). Virtual interaction is great, but only as a second-best option. As human beings, we crave social interaction and human contact. We are increasingly aware of the shortcomings of virtual interactions, such as the endless Zoom calls, and our collective tolerance level of them is lower and lower.
How Solitude and Isolation Can Affect Your Social Skills–BBC Future, October 23, 2020
As we are deeply social creatures, socializing is the equivalent of a mental workout, suggesting that long-term solitude (this endless pandemic) impairs our ability to interact with others normally. The benefits of solitude are known, but withdrawing from society also entails some unintended consequences, even when done purposefully. It is only the regular interaction with others that teaches us to feel valued and helps us to accurately interpret their intentions. This, in turn, helps us to have more positive social experiences.
A Striking Stat: Gen Z Most Stressed during Pandemic
Gen-Z adults (aged 18–23) are the age group in the US taking the biggest mental wellness hit during COVID-19. More than 70% report stress and common symptoms of depression, such as feeling lonely, miserable, or being unable to concentrate.
Source: American Psychological Association’s 2020 Stress in America survey, October 2020
