Financial Debt Causes Real Physical Health Problems, Concludes Survey

According to the findings of a recent media survey, the stress caused by debt worries is a serious health risk that has been linked to a number of health problems.

For some time now, scientists have been aware of the damaging effects that stress can have on the human body because of the activities of stress hormones. These hormones are intended to prepare the body for the “fight or flight response.” As stress continues to pile up over extended periods, the damage to systems includes the heart, the immune response, reproduction, memory, growth as well as digestive.

Researchers conducting phone polls across the country have concluded that those with higher levels of debt-related stress have a 44% chance of suffering from severe headaches and migraines when compared with those people that have a far lower level debt-related stress.

The risks of ulcers and other digestive problems was also much higher in those with great levels of debt-related stress. Severe anxiety and depression also figured higher in the polls.

More figures paint a stark picture: Those suffering lower back pains and other forms of muscle tension came in at 51% for those with higher debt-related stress. The chances of heart attacks were ranked twice as high for those with serious debt based stress than without it.

The gist of these findings suggests that as the growing percentage of people dealing with significant financial stress continues to increase, the possibility of a serious public health crisis may follow.

Figures compiled by researchers have already noted that debt stress has increased 14% since 2004, rising along with debt levels themselves. Total consumer debt, mostly from credit cards, has increased to $957 billion from the 2004 figure of $800 billion. This represents an almost 20% increase.