With inflation currently at a 41-year high, you are probably struggling to pay for the food, utilities, transportation, medical care and other items you need to survive. If you have decent credit, though, you have a fallback plan. That is, you can use your credit cards to purchase essential items.
Reaching for your credit cards too often can be disastrous for your financial health. After all, it is easy to accumulate more debt than you can manage. Regrettably, having too much debt also can wreak havoc on your physical and mental health.
The physical consequences of excessive debt
According to the American Public Health Association, large amounts of debt can cause your blood pressure to skyrocket. This is true regardless of whether you have a personal or family history of hypertension. High blood pressure can lead to a variety of negative health consequences, including the following:
- Artery damage
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
Fortunately, modern medicine gives doctors a variety of options for treating high blood pressure. If your blood pressure readings are regularly too high, you should talk to your doctor about lowering them.
The mental health consequences of too much debt
Unsurprisingly, acquiring too much debt can cause your mental health to deteriorate rapidly. It is not uncommon for those with excessive consumer debt to have anxiety and depression. You even may experience mood and behavior changes because of your credit card balances.
There should be more to life than constantly worrying about making minimum credit card payments. Ultimately, rather than risking your physical and mental well-being, it is advisable to explore all available debt-relief options.
