Financial stress can cause physical harm to the human body. Individuals who have fallen behind on their credit card payments may feel anxious every time they go to the mailbox, check their email or answer the phone. People with significant medical bills may worry about hospitals and other medical creditors suing them.
The stress triggered by aggressive collection efforts can have a negative impact on an individual’s health. Filing for bankruptcy can help prevent financial stress from causing lasting harm, making it beneficial for those noticing alarming signs of stress-related medical issues.
How does stress affect people’s health?
Individuals experiencing intense stress may have elevated levels of cortisol and adrenaline. The presence of these hormones in the body at above-average levels or for prolonged periods can cause a variety of medical issues.
Financial stress has an association with heart disease, stroke, decreased immune function, obesity, high blood pressure, anxiety, headaches and insomnia. Those medical issues can worsen a person’s quality of life and affect their job performance. People dealing with intense financial stress may incur medical expenses trying to manage their symptoms, which could worsen their debt.
Financial stress can cause a feedback loop by undermining professional success and limiting an individual’s ability to pay what they owe. Bankruptcy provides immediate relief from financial stress by granting an automatic stay. Filers are no longer at risk of a lawsuit or other aggressive collection efforts.
Instead of gambling with the health implications of prolonged financial stress, resolving the situation once and for all may be the better option. Discussing the different types of personal bankruptcy and current debts can help people take control of their finances and drastically improve their lives.
