Did you know that your financial struggles could be putting your health at risk? A recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychological Association revealed that 1 in 5 Americans have either thought about skipping, or have skipped, a visit to the doctor because of financial concerns. Moreover, those who participated in the survey said that they had stressed over money matters within the past month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s examine how stress is related to debt, and can affect your emotional, physical, and behavioral wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EMOTIONAL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Excessive debt can fill the mind with negative emotions. Irritability, moodiness, and the inability to relax are all common side-effects of stress and are all contributing factors to depression. A recent article posted on WebMD found that 73% ofthe subjects surveyed by the American Psychological Association identified money as the main source of stress in their lives. In fact, according to the Federal Reserve\u2019s Survey of Consumer Finances, 3 out of every 4 American families are in debt. In another study from Northwestern Medicine, \u201chigh financial debt was associated with higher diastolic pressure and poorer overall general and mental health in young adults.\u201d Clearly, being worried about how to get out of debt or how to pay off credit cards can take its toll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PHYSICAL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Worrying about how to get out of debt or how to pay off credit cards can literally make you sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is overwhelming evidence that mind-body balance is an important factor in maintaining one\u2019s physical well-being. A recent study in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine cited that \u201cThose with increasing credit card debt described themselves as having worse physical functioning, worse health and greater helplessness.\u201d Mental health unquestionably affects an individual\u2019s physical health. Nausea, chest pain, hair loss, skin problems, and even dental problems are some of the most common warning signs. If left unchecked, these symptoms can lead to further health complications such as heart disease and high blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The need for debt help can affect anyone. The stress of credit card debt on an individual\u2019s physical wellbeing affects more seasoned adults as well as younger ones. A random study of undergrad and grad students at the University of Minnesota found that those with at least $1,000 in credit card debt were associated with unhealthy risk factors that included overweight\/obesity, unhealthy weight control, and violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n