Seven in ten Americans report election anxiety as midterms near

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, seven out of ten Americans report feeling stress or anxiety about the results, according to October data from LifeStance Health. This figure slightly exceeds the 69% of U.S. adults who identified the presidential election as a major source of stress in 2024, per the American Psychological Association. The surge in reported tension arrives as medical researchers continue to link political uncertainty to physical health outcomes.

The connection between electoral stress and cardiovascular health appears in multiple studies. A 2022 study found that hospitalizations for acute cardiovascular disease rose in the five days following the 2020 presidential election compared to the same period two weeks prior. Similar patterns emerged after the 2016 election, with research from 2020 and 2021 showing spikes in cases of acute cardiovascular disease and cardiac arrhythmias. While these studies establish a strong association, they do not prove that elections directly cause these health complications.

Experts recommend specific strategies to manage the physiological and psychological impact of the upcoming vote. Dr. Megan Kamath, an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist at UCLA, advises voters to decide in advance how much news they will consume. She suggests prioritizing regular meals, movement, sleep, and enjoyable activities to maintain a sense of agency. Kamath also recommends turning off nonessential news notifications and checking for updates at planned intervals rather than continuously.

Lindsey Rosman, an assistant professor of medicine at Northwestern University, notes that close races often take days to count. Knowing this in advance can make the uncertainty easier to manage. Rosman advises putting screens away an hour before bed, explaining that refreshing updates all night keeps the stress response active without changing the outcome. She adds that results will be the same if viewed the next morning.

Physical activity and social connection serve as additional buffers against anxiety. Ashley Huggins, a psychology professor at the University of Arizona, states that exercise, spending time with loved ones, and cooking can help manage stress. Chris Chanyasulkit, a public health expert, offers a simpler guideline: a walk beats a third hour of scrolling. Huggins also recommends guided breathing or progressive muscle relaxation to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which signals the body to relax.

Experts warn that heightened emotions during election season make individuals more susceptible to misinformation. If a claim triggers a strong emotional reaction, such as anger or validation, it may be a red flag for inaccuracy. Voters are encouraged to be wary of claims about rigged elections or voting problems on either side of the aisle. Checking facts against reliable sources like PolitiFact can help prevent the spread of incorrect information during high-stress periods.

The 2020 election offers a recent example of prolonged uncertainty. Most news outlets did not call the race until four days after Election Day. That delay contributed to the cardiovascular stress documented in subsequent studies. As the 2026 midterms near, health professionals suggest that setting clear boundaries around media consumption and physical habits is the most effective way to maintain well-being during the counting process.