Foreclosures Linked to Stress Related Ailments as Per Research

As per research conducted for a year, it has been found that there is a distinct link between foreclosures and stress related ailments. It is positively pronounced in the regions worst hit by the crisis like Florida and California.

Maria Gaitan of Consumer Credit Management Services (president) said, “They have an extreme amount of anger and frustration and despair at the whole foreclosure situation. These people are at their wit's end and that brings out the worst in people”.

Many of the foreclosure victims lack health insurance coverage or they lose the coverage when they lose the job. They cannot and do not want to spend on medical care said the executive director of Crisis Housing Solutions at Davie, Craig Venderalaan.

Researchers have come to similar conclusions in five of the studies conducted over the past one year.

The report released by Bureau of Economic Research last August studied four states having high foreclosure numbers; the states in order of ranking are California, Florida, Arizona and New Jersey. The study concluded that the regions with the highest foreclosure numbers noted 12% increase in visits to hospitals because of anxiety , 8.1% because of diabetes related trouble, 7.2% because of hypertension and increase of 7.5% visits because of symptoms related to stress like fever, stomach pain, malaise and nausea.

The increase has been more noticeable among the Blacks and Hispanics than the Whites. The minorities have been more affected by the crisis than their White counterparts. It is not to be surprised that people undergo stress when their home and hearth are at risk, said Keven Maher of a credit agency at Delray Beach (community education director).

A study conducted by Dr. E. Pollack of Johns Hopkins University noted that in Philadelphia those undergoing foreclosure are twice more likely to be victims of depression and anxiety or similar types of ailments and three times more likely to suffer high pressure. Reports also came in of stress leading to increase in drinking and smoking.

Dr. Craig advised that those facing foreclosure related problems should seek the advice of counselors. If one is sick the doctor should be contacted. Credit counselors can guide them to low costing medical care. Falling ill will not solve problems. Financial help should be sought early – it should not be postponed. One should not think that foreclosures spell the end of their world. The approach should be positive to take on life as it comes.