Red or blue or purple, we've all got election jitters

Plus: Can a mammogram test your heart disease risk?

View this email online October 27, 2024 by Andrea Muraskin This week: This gif of Kermit the Frog biting his nails backstage really captures the national mood right now, as does a new study showing that Americans of all political stripes are high-key stressed about the election. Also: The stunts performed by high school cheerleaders have gotten increasingly impressive, and injuries are rising in turn. Doctors are concerned. Plus: Would you like a heart disease assessment with your mammogram? The pros and cons of analyzing breast imaging for signs of cardiovascular illness.   A divided country agrees: The election is stressing everyone out LPETTET/Getty Images Peter T. Coleman is a psychology professor at Columbia, an expert on conflict resolution and a pretty measured, reflective guy. But even he is far from zen when it comes to the 2024 election.  “Look, we're a country that has 440 million guns for 330 million people,” Coleman said in an interview with the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation. “This is a highly armed, highly angry, frustrated society where a lot of the leaders are using divisive, hostile, violent discourse to blame the other side or to blame the institutions. So I would say it's time to be very afraid.” Yikes.  According to a new report by the American Psychological Association, one thing the population of our split nation has in common right now is being stressed out over politics. APA publishes its Stress in America report every year. This year, the usual suspects like money, health and family are of course in the mix, but politics tops the charts, with 77% of adults surveyed citing “the future of our nation” as a significant source of stress in their lives.  And as NPR’s Katia Riddle reports, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike say they’re experiencing high levels of anxiety. “Oftentimes people are feeling concerned or stressed when they’re not seeing politicians working on the issues that really make a difference in their day to day lives,” says psychologist and APA leader Lynn Bufka – things like safe communities, good jobs, and well-maintained roads and bridges.  To help manage that stress, Tania Israel, author of Facing the Fracture, How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation, recommends taking a break from social media and getting civically engaged. It could be “working at the polls on election day, volunteering in your community, coaching soccer,” Israel says. “Anything that’s working toward a common goal with other people is really not only good for that cause, but also for our mental health.” Meanwhile, united we worry. Read more. ICYMI: Political disagreements giving you grief? Here’s 7 tips to help you bridge the divide Newsletter continues after sponsor message Youth cheerleading is getting more athletic, and riskier. It’s still not officially considered a sport Harold Hoch/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle/Getty Images A viral meme that circulated during the summer Olympics showed two women performing springboard gymnastics on a split screen. In the first video, shot in black and white decades ago, the gymnast performs a few gentle dancerly moves, and does one backflip. In the same six seconds, the modern-day gymnast in the second video executes a dizzying series of flips and jumps at breakneck speed.  As NPR’s Pien Huang reports, youth cheerleading has also seen a steep rise in difficulty level and athleticism – and that has some pediatricians concerned. The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued an updated statement this week on the risks of injuries related to youth cheerleading. The group is calling for cheerleading to be formally recognized as a sport, and for cheerleaders to get the same resources and support as other athletes. “The concussion risk has gone up quite a bit” in the past ten years, says Dr. Gregory Canty, a co-author of the new statement who says he sees cheerleaders in his medical practice on a daily basis. Injuries in cheerleading often happen when athletes doing multi-person aerial stunts collide with each other or the ground.  Canty says the fact that cheerleading is not widely recognized as an official sport makes it hard to collect comprehensive data on injuries and ultimately improve safety. The AAP also says formal recognition would also improve access to qualified coaches, training facilities and injury care. Here’s why doctors are calling for more recognition and protection for youth cheerleaders. Also: 'Why We Fly' flips dusty old cheerleader stereotypes upside down Get Informed with the NPR Politics Podcast Newsletter Washington smarts, essential election context, and clear breakdowns delivered right to your inbox. Join the NPR Politics Podcast newsletter, where you'll stay on top of the campaign trail - with concision, sanity and confidence - every week. SUBSCRIBE NOW Can a mammogram offer a window into heart disease? BSIP/Universal Images Group/Getty Images Mammograms are recommended as routine breast cancer screening for women age 40 and up. These days, some radiology practices are offering something extra: A radiologist can analyze the image for signs of arterial calcification. Calcifications, though unrelated to breast cancer risk, may be associated with someone’s heart disease risk, as Michelle Andrews reports for KFF Health News.  Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States. Many women don’t recognize their heart disease risk or the many factors that increase it, and mammograms that come with this kind of analysis may encourage women to talk to their doctors and become better informed.  But some imaging experts are skeptical of breast artery calcification screening, which is sometimes offered for an additional fee. Coronary artery calcification is recognized as a strong marker of heart disease risk. But breast arterial calcification is another question. Studies have shown a link with the risk of cardiovascular disease, but questions remain.  “I wouldn’t feel comfortable telling people they have a higher or lower risk of heart disease based on their breast arterial calcification,” said Sadiya Khan, a preventive cardiologist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago “I think this is an exciting area, but we need to move cautiously.” Learn more about the research on breast arterial calcification and cardiovascular disease.  ICYMI: 3D mammograms show benefits over 2D imaging, especially for dense breasts Before you go: Ciarra Siller/DK PB&J again? Banish lunchbox boredom with these 6 creative, kid-approved recipes The CDC now recommends people over 50 get vaccinated for pneumonia McDonald's E. coli outbreak grows, with 75 people sickened in 13 states Lead in cinnamon: Here’s where things stand one year after a scary recall She was terrified waiting for surgery. Then her anesthesiologist began to sing   We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism online. All the best, Andrea Muraskin and your NPR Health editors Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from Central Florida Public Media (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: health@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Goats & Soda, Up First, Life Kit and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy