I am not unique in the fact that there are several sources of stress in my life. It is easy to push stressful events to the side and not think twice about how our life is really impacted by them. It isn’t usually until we start getting headaches, backaches, not sleeping well, or at worse suffering a nervous breakdown that we acknowledge just how much stress is affecting us.
Everyone deals with different situations, but in the end, the truth is that stress really does affect our health. The good news is that one of the biggest contributors to stress is one that can be remedied.
A recent poll by the Associated Press tells us that having debt contributes to stress, which causes serious health problems in an estimated 10 million to 16 million Americans.
When you suffer from stress, your body reacts with a “fight-or-flight” response, releasing adrenaline and the stress hormone cortisol. If your body stays in this mode too long, those chemicals can be harmful to your health. The result could be a rise in blood pressure, problems with memory, mood, digestion, and even the immune system.
The number of people who may be suffering from health problems due to debt is ever increasing. Consumer debt, mainly from credit cards, now totals $957 billion. The average car loan is $27,397, up nearly $3,000 from four years ago.
The Associated Press survey found that upwardly mobile, middle-class families were among those who had the most debt stress. Those least likely to be stressed by debt included men, retirees, and empty nesters.
If you suffer from debt stress, like so many other Americans, the best place to start is to develop a budget. By living on a budget, you will feel much more in control of your money and you will be better equipped to deal with the everyday stresses that debt can cause.
You owe it to yourself to take control of your health by improving your financial situation. Being in good health is impossible to put a price on.
Rachel Lukasavige is a Health Coach at Lukas Coaching. Visit
www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life!
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