Financial Stress Takes a Toll on Your Heart

Financial worries can age your heart faster than you might think. A recent study found that money troubles and not having enough food can speed up heart aging just as much as high blood pressure or diabetes. This means people with financial stress might be at a higher risk of heart disease and even death. The study looked at over 280, 000 people and used AI to check their heart age. They compared this data with surveys about social factors like stress, exercise, and housing. The results showed that social factors, especially financial strain and food insecurity, had a big impact on heart aging.Interestingly, financial stress increased the risk of early death by 60%, while housing instability raised it by 18%. In comparison, a history of heart attack only increased the risk by 10%, and smoking by 27%. This suggests that social factors might be just as important as traditional risk factors when it comes to heart health. The study also found that social factors like lack of exercise and poor housing conditions can predict the risk of heart-related death. This means doctors might need to pay more attention to these social issues when treating patients. The researchers believe that addressing these social factors could help prevent heart disease and improve overall health. By focusing on these issues, doctors can provide better care and help patients live healthier lives.