In Debt? It's Affecting Your Health, Too. Which Came First?
It's long been known that stress affects our health. In fact, here on the health channel at About.com, we have an entire website devoted to stress.
So it should be no surprise that a recent poll published by the Associated Press and AOL showed that mounting healthcare debt is causing us to get sicker. Well -- that's not exactly their conclusion. It's mine. But it's valid because it's a subset of their study.
It's a double whammy, a circular and compounding problem. Does stress cause illness? Or does illness cause stress? Or does illness cause credit problems which cause stress which causes illness?
See? A regular chicken-or-the-egg kind of question. And it's unique to Americans because other countries have payment systems that don't require patients to go into debt just to access healthcare. There are two possibilities: Either you are already in debt due to... whatever... and as the debt continues to mount, you get sick from the stress. Then, because you get sick, you need to see the doctor which costs you more money, plus the tests and drugs and therapies and regular returns to the doctor which causes you more debt which causes you to get even sicker.... >>OR<< You or a family member gets sick from... whatever... and you need expensive care, maybe hospitalization or expensive tests or drugs. Then, the associated costs, which are only partially covered by your insurance, (if you can afford insurance to begin with) continue to mount and you find yourself in deep debt, which then makes you sicker from the stress, of course, causing you to need more care.... |
The real results of the AP-AOL poll, compared to the same poll taken in 2004, show that the stress, illness and debt are on the increase. Some stats: 27% of the people with high levels of debt have ulcers or other digestive-related problems. 44% are suffering migraines. 23% are severely depressed. 6% have suffered heart attacks.
What can patients do? It's a conundrum for these difficult economic times, and there aren't too many choices.
Start by taking our poll -- above. Then take steps to stay out of debt if at all possible. Even if money is tight, don't let go of your health insurance. Learn to meditate or do yoga to reduce your stress levels.
And eat chocolate. It does a body good.
..............................................
Photo © edelmar / iStockphoto.com
Comments
This is such an appropriate topic today for me. I am home, very, very ill, with a terrible cough, cold and now today laryngitis, and it is from the stress of having to work 12 hour shifts in a very high stress environement. I guess that has something to do w/ debt, as if I weren’t in it, I wouldn’t have to work 12 hour days.
You’re so right, debt can be such a stressor! As you also point out, medical debt is a double-whammy — debt might contribute to stress-related illness, so you go to the doctor, where you incur more debt, and the cycle continues.
Did you know, you can actually negotiate directly with your doctor on your medical bills? Don’t just whip out that credit card at the physician’s front desk!
Anybody can get advice on avoiding and managing medical debt for FREE from Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute — their booklet on the topic has great advice. Find it at healthinsuranceinfo.net. Please check it out! Thanks.