Aches? Pains? Debt might be the culprit

If you are having some aches and pains and also happen to be in debt then let me diagnose you.

Dear spent-too-much-and-now-in-debt,

Welcome to the club. What club? The exclusive club of Americans having health problems caused by debt stress. At least that is what MSNBC is reporting.

And I don’t doubt it. Stress can do all sorts of wacky things to your body. So, if you have a chunk of debt that you are stressing about then expect wacky body things.

Want me to make you feel better? If so, have a glance at the sidebar. See those little progress bars, or actually lack-of-progress bars? Feel better now? Thought so.

If not, here is what you can expect, according to ailments people listed in the poll in the MSNBC story:

• 27 percent had ulcers or digestive tract problems, compared with 8 percent of those with low levels of debt stress.
• 44 percent had migraines or other headaches, compared with 15 percent.
• 29 percent suffered severe anxiety, compared with 4 percent.
• 23 percent had severe depression, compared with 4 percent.
• 6 percent reported heart attacks, double the rate for those with low debt stress.
• More than half, 51 percent, had muscle tension, including pain in the lower back. That compared with 31 percent of those with low levels of debt stress.