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Financial stress: a new term in cardiology
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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The results of a new study presented at the 18th Regular Congress of the South African Heart Association have led to the identification of a new term – ‘financial stress’ – which is the result of a person’s pursuit of financial well-being.
Scientists have found that if the generally accepted type of stress increases the risk of developing a heart attack by six times, then financial stress caused by acute dissatisfaction with the financial situation increases it by thirteen times.
Modern people constantly and a lot think about money. According to statistics kept by the American Psychological Association, more than 70% of US residents experienced stress related to money in the past month alone. Another 20% noted that they have big financial problems. This figure turned out to be the highest in the last ten years.
Scientists are sounding the alarm: financial stress is having a negative impact on human health like never before.
One of the authors of the study, Professor Denishan Govender, explained the essence of the project: "Many scientific studies have stopped taking into account the influence of psychological and social factors in the development of pathology. Scientists study the immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis, but do not take into account economic problems that lead to the death of no less a percentage of people."
To study the impact of these factors on the development of cardiac pathology, specialists examined more than a hundred patients who had suffered a heart attack and were hospitalized in a Johannesburg clinic. As an alternative, health indicators of ordinary people of the corresponding age category and gender were also considered. All participants filled out a questionnaire, indicating information about possible depression, anxiety, fears, and stress. Additionally, a psychometric Likert test scale was used.
The results of the study revealed that 96% of patients who were hospitalized with a heart attack admitted to having financial problems immediately before the onset of a coronary attack. About 40% of the patients surveyed indicated severe financial stress on the eve of a heart attack.
Scientists have done the calculations and were horrified: it turned out that severe financial vicissitudes increase the risk of developing a heart attack by 13 times. And minor financial problems increase the risk of heart disease by almost six times.
At the same time, depressive states also played a small role in the development of heart and vascular diseases, regardless of the reasons for their occurrence.
"All doctors are aware of the possible unpleasant consequences of depressive and stressful conditions. Our task is to identify such people in advance, even before the moment when they are "covered" by a heart attack. These people need to be consulted by psychologists and other specialized specialists to prevent complications," says Professor David Yankelov, a cardiologist from the Republic of South Africa.
The results of the work were published on the official website of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
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