Election Day is right around the corner. We are sure that by now you’ve heard plenty from the candidates and proponents of both sides of the issues. In fact, 2012 may well be a record year for political advertising.
Some are tired of it. For instance a web-wiz has actually developed a browser extension that blocks political posts by exchanging a photo of a cute kitten whenever the terms “Obama” or “Romney” are used in a post. It’s pretty popular!
This and more got us wondering: is health and voting related in any way?
We can’t find much concrete research to answer the question “is voting healthy”, but the website Nonprofit VOTE has an interesting take on it:
“Voting correlates with certain health benefits. Beyond the psychological benefit that results from a feeling of personal efficacy, high levels of social and physical health are associated with communities that are engaged in voting and civic participation. Communities that vote are better represented in government and receive more attention as a result, reaping benefits such as greater social capital, less crime, more connectedness, better health, and better services. Furthermore, as civically engaged communities begin receiving these benefits and become more healthy, they are likely to participate even further in the political process, and by doing so, continue to improve their societal well-being. In this way, the correlation between voting and health becomes a self-perpetuating cycle of benefits.”
As your healthcare professionals we certainly support the ideas expressed in the above paragraph and strongly urge you to exercise your right as Americans. VOTE! It may or may not have any direct effect on your health, but the results certainly will affect your lives.