Our Debt, Our Blood Pressure

If young people are drowning in debt, their blood pressure may be on the rise and their health could suffer. A new Northwestern Medicine® study has found that high financial debt is associated with higher diastolic blood pressure and poorer self-reported general and mental health in young adults.

The study, published in the August issue of Social Science and Medicine, offers a glimpse into the impact debt may have on the health of young Americans.

A study by Northwestern University says people with a high debt-to-asset ratio are more likely to be depressed and stressed out. I’m pretty sure we didn’t need a study to tell us this. This was the question asked of participants:

“Suppose you and others in your household were to sell all of your major possessions (including your home), turn all of your investments and other assets into cash, and pay off all of your debts. Would you have something left over, break even or be in debt?”

If you’re a young person leaving college with student loans, that’s a pretty stressful question to think about.

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