Election Worry May Cause Mental Disease And High Blood Pressure

According to analysts, significant elections, like the recent presidential and National Assembly elections in Nigeria, can have an adverse effect on a population’s mental health.

According to experts, stress brought on by election-related anxiety might raise one’s risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression.

Following the compilation of the election results and stakeholder complaints about possible anomalies in the process, tension has been apparent throughout the nation since the Saturday presidential and National Assembly elections.

The procedure has been criticised by the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party as being compromised.

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Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, also issued an open letter to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), expressing concern over the integrity of the elections.
In the letter, Obasanjo claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission had allegedly compromised its officials to manipulate the election process and revert to the manual transmission of results, instead of using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and Server for immediate transmission of results from polling units.

Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, the President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, Taiwo Obindo said there are chances of increased mental illness, palpitations, and frustration if people’s expectations are high.
“If the expectation is quite high, there are chances of frustration, developing significant emotional challenges, and high blood pressure because the anxiety may make them have palpitation, increased blood pressure, and sleeping disorder,” he said.

Also, a health practitioner, Dr Obi Igbokwe said election-related stress and anxiety can affect the digestive system, leading to nausea, diarrhoea, or constipation.

Igbokwe also said chronic stress caused by election anxiety and excitement can suppress your immune system, leaving one more vulnerable to infections and illnesses.

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“Stress can trigger headaches and migraines, which can be debilitating and interfere with your daily life. Some individuals may turn to substances such as alcohol or drugs to cope with election anxiety and excitement, which can lead to addiction and other health problems.

“Political differences can lead to relationship problems, which can cause stress and anxiety and affect your mental and emotional health,” Igbokwe added.

The experts, however, called for calm and urged Nigerians to practise stress-reducing techniques.

“You can practise stress-reducing techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, and exercise. Additionally, seeking support from friends, family, or a mental health professional can help you cope with election anxiety and excitement,” Igbokwe noted.
Obindo also urged people to have realistic expectations as they await the final results of the elections.

“It’s either you win or lose, so let’s expect that it can happen the other way so that the negative impact will not be too much. People should avoid social media, television, and radio because the news will further heighten their anxiety.

“If possible they should find something else to distract them, those who can watch football should do so, and those who can watch a movie can do so or can switch off completely from watching anything related to the election or the result collation.

“If they can’t control the symptoms of the anxiety, they can see an expert,” he advised.

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