0 
QHHL 
Stress is a serious problem in the modern world. It can be caused by problems at work, in relationships or by financial troubles. It’s a serious issue for your personal health because stress causes a number of changes in the body which can lead to serious illnesses or even death. Financial stress in particular is a problem for many people. Worrying about paying your bills, or whether you have enough money to last the week may seem like a regular part of your day, but it has serious implications for your personal health. To help you understand these implications, we’ve created this article on the link between financial stress and your heart health.
About Heart Health
Heart disease and heart attacks are a serious problem in the modern world. Heart attacks are still the number one cause of death for men and women in the United States, and about 610,000 people die of heart disease in America every year. This applies across most ethnicities. There are a number of risk factors of heart disease including excess weight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, poor diet and low activity levels. However, stress, and the effects it has on the body, are also a major risk factor for heart disease.
Stress and Your Heart
Everyone reacts differently to stress and to stressful events. That’s why it’s so difficult to accurately evaluate the effects of stress on your personal health. Some stress is natural and healthy, it keeps us alert and can even have some positive effects on your health. However, studies show that prolonged periods of excessive stress can cause increases in blood pressure as well as other changes in the body which can affect overall health and wellbeing. Stress can also affect behavior in ways that leads to decreased heart health. People who are stressed often overeat, neglect their exercise routine, and smoke or drink, and this can increase their risk of heart disease.
The Effects of Financial Stress on your Heart Health
It seems to be part of the modern world that everyone is stressed about their finances. A recent study found that 72% of Americans reported financial stress in the past month, with 22% reporting extreme stress. These are worrying statistics considering the connection between stress and heart disease. A recent study has found that financial stress can increase the chances of a heart attack by up to 13 times as much as normal. This study evaluated the stress levels of patients who had suffered a heart attack and found that they reported significant stress in the time leading up to the attack compared to a control group who had not suffered a heart attack. The results have prompted researchers to call for further interventions before hospital admission and for doctors to investigate the stress levels of their patients when evaluating their heart disease risk factors.
This study and others like it indicate why evaluating your stress levels should be an everyday part of your health tracking routine. It has become clear that, although physical illness and disease are serious risk factors for heart disease, stress can also have serious implications. That’s why you need to closely monitor your stress levels and implement preventative measures if you notice any problems.
What Can you Do?
If you’re suffering from stress due to financial problems there are a number of preventative measures you can take to safeguard your personal health. First and foremost, you need to deal with the issue as much as you can. Worrying, without taking steps to improve the situation, will only cause more stress and more damage to your personal health. You can also take steps to improve your health overall as well as your heart health. Some effective changes you can make are:
If you have concerns about your personal health or about your heart health in particular, try HomeLab, the health tracking system that gives you peace of mind.
Tag: personal health, health tracking, preventative measures.
