THE political season is just around the corner. For those seeking national positions, the campaign has actually started long ago. Politics is a great stressor, that there is no doubt. It is such a great source of negative stress for most politicians; and for a few one, it can cost them their lives. The toll on one?s health and life may not be immediate, but the prolonged sustained stress the ugly face of politics brings may take its toll later on, even when the campaign is over and the last ballot has been counted.

Although we can ascertain the physical fitness of politicians and wannabe politicians who consult us with the basic question: ?Can my heart or my body handle the rigors of the campaign??, we cannot totally determine the impact of severe stress on an individual. People vary in their responses to stress. Given the same amount of stress, one may respond positively whereas another one may respond negatively with adverse consequences on one?s health.

Initially, stress may be a good stimulus that keeps one on his toes. It activates the fight or flight response which keeps one?s adrenaline high, ready to respond positively and constructively to any issue one is confronted with. However, sustained stress left to its own devices, wears out one?s coping mechanisms and gradually erodes one?s health. It can kill sooner or later.

Risk factor

Medical researches are now showing evidence on how stress increases the risk of heart disease, which may lead to heart attacks and strokes. Some data suggest that stress itself might be a risk factor, or it could be that high levels of stress aggravate other known risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and elevated cholesterol. Some also have a tendency for eating disorders as a compensatory mechanism when under stress leading to obesity. Some resort to smoking to calm down their nerves, and this only complicates matters.

Political campaigns in the Philippines promote a health destructive behavior. Sleep deprivation, unhealthy eating, smoking, a drink of local wine here and there, political intrigues, and all sorts of negative feelings and emotions can gradually erode whatever pinkness in one?s health had before the campaign. We had one patient who ran for mayor in his hometown several years back. In his precampaign checkup, he passed all tests with flying colors. He was hypertensive and diabeteic, but his blood pressure and blood sugar levels were well controlled with medications.

A few months into the campaign, he was rushed to the hospital with an evolving stroke. His blood pressure almost hit the ceiling, and his blood sugar was also off the mark. It turned out that because of his busy schedule and with no one reminding him of his medicines, he has not been taking the pills prescribed to him.

An important thing we advise politicians is to detect early signs of stress, which should tell them that they need to pause for a while and reverse the effects of stress on them. These early signs may include physical symptoms such as dizziness, general aches and pains, grinding teeth, headaches, indigestion or upset stomach, muscle tension, sleeping difficulty, palpitations, ringing in the ears, easy fatigability, weight gain or weight loss.

Mental symptoms include constant worrying, difficulty in concentrating and making decisions, forgetfulness, lack of creativity and loss of sense of humor. Emotional symptoms include anger even over trivial matters, anxiety, depression, feeling powerless, mood swings, irritability and negative thinking. Behavioral signs include bossiness, compulsive eating, critical attitude of others, impulsive decisions, explosive actions and increased use of alcohol or drugs.

How to relax

Equally important as learning the skills of public speaking or social networking, a politician should learn the skill on how to relax. Experts say that relaxing is a learned skill, and for it to be effective, one must make a commitment to practice it regularly.

Sitting back and being quiet do not necessarily lead to relaxation. One must regularly initiate an active process involving techniques that calm one?s body and mind. True relaxation involves being sensitive to one?s response to stressors, and one?s basic needs for peace, self-awareness and thoughtful reflection.

For a politician, it also involves sincerely believing that one has the right reasons for seeking whatever public office one is aiming for. If one knows too well in his heart and mind that his reasons are more self-serving than selfless service, the stress only heightens as one?s subconscious mind, which can never be made to negate or cover up what one has in his mind, will constantly prick one?s numbed conscience and cause emotional stress brought about by the conflict in purpose.