Credit crisis impacts the health of the nation

by Gill Montia

Story link: Credit crisis impacts the health of the nation

Research commissioned by Friends Provident warns that the credit crunch could have a dramatic impact on the nation’s health.

The Britain Under Pressure report suggests that almost 29 million people in the UK, or nearly two-thirds of adults, feel more stressed, less fit and healthy, and more prone to illness than they did three years ago.

The work, which is a joint venture with the Blood Pressure Association, found that 56% of respondents were spending less of food, with 15% cutting back on fresh fruit and vegetables.

A further 16% said they expected to reduce spending on fresh fruit and vegetables in the next six months.

Twenty-one per cent of respondents had reduced their use of gyms during 2008, many in an effort to save money.

Seven per cent admitted they had been drinking more alcohol since the onset of the credit crisis, and 9% anticipated a rise in alcohol consumption during the next six months.

Worries about the economic situation left 19% sleeping less and 15% working longer hours.

According to Professor Graham Macgregor of the Blood Pressure Association, the effect on lifestyles of the credit crunch plus a lack of concern over long term health is putting the nation at risk of a blood pressure ticking time bomb.

In February of this year, a team social epidemiologist from the University of Cambridge published what it claimed to be the first study into the relationship between a banking crisis and mortality.

According to the research, the stress created by a global banking crisis could kill thousands of people around the world.

High-income countries such as the UK and US might see a 6.4% rise in deaths from heart disease, while in low-income countries mortality rates could increase by 26%.