Foreclosure crisis linked to rise in health problems

Thursday, November 17, 2011 by: Elizabeth Walling
Tags: foreclosures, health problems, health news

(NaturalNews) Millions of foreclosure notices have been filed during the last two years, and researchers say these numbers are to blame for a rise in serious health problems. A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health shows that people who fall behind on their mortgage payments are far more likely to suffer from symptoms of depression and experience other health concerns.

Financial Crisis Results in Health Crisis

The study looked at data collected in 2006 and 2008 from the Health and Retirement Study to determine whether delinquent mortgage payments impact general health as well as psychological health. The research included data on nearly 2,500 Americans over the age of 50 who answered questions about their health and income and about whether they had fallen behind on their mortgage payments.

Among those who had fallen behind on mortgage payments, 22 percent developed symptoms of depression, compared to only 3 percent of those who were able to keep up with their payments.

Financial strain can understandably cause depression, stress and anxiety. But the implications go even deeper. Researchers discovered people having trouble making mortgage payments are also more likely to worry about getting enough food and may even avoid seeking medical care because of the cost.

Those who are falling behind on their bills are likely to cut back on expenses like health food and natural supplements in order to save money. While this may seem necessary, the combination of increased stress and poor nutrition can wreak havoc on the body. In stressful times, the body needs extra support from a healthy diet and lifestyle to keep you going.

Those in a financial crisis may find taking care of themselves falls to the bottom of the priority list during hard times. Unfortunately, this can perpetuate a vicious cycle, since an undernourished body is often more susceptible to illness and depression. And when faced with tasks like job hunting or relocation, you need your body to be in its best health, not its worst.

Other research links foreclosures to increases in anxiety-related emergency room visits, hospitalizations for diabetes and heart failure, and even suicide attempts.

Sources for this article include:

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/20...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/opinion/fo...

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/health/-Fo...

https://www.naturalnews.com/033547_financial_...

About the author:
Elizabeth Walling is a freelance writer specializing in health, nutrition and wellness. She is a strong believer in natural living as a way to improve health and prevent modern disease. She enjoys thinking outside of the box and challenging common myths about health and wellness. You can visit her blog to learn more:
www.livingthenourishedlife.com