Worrying about your financial status can affect your health in many ways. Modern researchers have found that the risk of numerous health complications increases if one is worried about money. Some of the indications of one who is affected by financial stress include difficulty sleeping, mood swings, muscle pain, tiredness, feeling anger, and loss of appetite, among others. These are the immediate effects. You could develop severe problems such as depression or anxiety.

What are the primary causes of financial stress?

The leading causes of financial stress include job losses, unemployment, inability to work sufficiently, unsecured debts, and worrying about unexpected financial pressures. Some people might develop financial stress due to excessive gambling.

How does financial stress affect your physical health?

Money is the prime cause of stress for most individuals, and most don’t know what to expect from their concerns. A recent study suggests that you might face inflammation and pain if you have pressure due to accumulated debt. This study also says if you have an unsecured debt for a significant period, you might have work-limiting disorders. After attaining 40, about 11% of those with substantial debts experience work-limiting illness—about 12% of those affected experience pain and had to stop working at an early age. About 26% experience inflammation, pain, stiffness, or swelling in their joints. This research projects that if these people lived fifty years, these figures would increase by 9%, 8%, and 25%, respectively.

This discovery especially concerns those with financial stress due to debt, a common theme in several households. It has been found that most Americans have credit card debt, which averages $6,569. Several thousand also carry student loans, contributing significantly to financial stress.

How financial stress can affect your mental health

Financial debt can lead one to develop multiple worries, leading to mental health complications. A bank rate survey this year found that about 42% of those with financial stress had developed mental health problems. Worrisome thoughts, depression, and anxiety are the symptoms most people with financial worries experience. Insufficient funds, debts, and money management issues are among the factors that increase stress among individuals.

People who have several debts are usually willing to work extra hours to get a way of paying off the debts. This extra power one puts into work can bring about more stress because an individual is close to burnout. Those who cannot work for several hours are stressed by the inability to work and get extra cash to pay debts.

Other risks associated with financial stress include:

Many consequences may result from long-term financial stress, including heart disease and other significant conditions. Stress triggers several physical reactions; your breathing quickens, muscles tense up, and your heartbeat hastens due to the increased magnitudes of adrenaline and cortisol. When accompanied by more stress, this can result in high cholesterol or hypertension.

Chronic diseases and financial stress are correlated. Managing them can lead to financial strain due to several medical visits and medications. It would be best to avoid financial stress by looking after your health, tackling your emotions, being honest with your family and friends, and creating a budget for your spending to avoid overspending. Never be afraid to seek help; several unavoidable situations might lead to financial stress if you do not speak up.