Stress

How Much Money Does Your Stress Cost You?

Jay Cappon

I would like to thank my financial advisor Jay Cappon of Rochester NY who is the author of this article. It is one of the many good and practical things he does to help people manage their money. Check out his web site at www.capvestfinancial.com

We all know that a stress-filled existence is responsible for nail biting and dark circles under the eyes. But we may not realize the heavy toll it can extract from our bank account. Chronic stress, the kind you experience when the demands of life exceed your ability to cope, increases your risk of developing ailments ranging from the common cold and gum disease to obesity and heart diseases. This, in turn, will cause you to pay more for medical treatments, insurance and dental work. If you need more incentive to do something about your stressful lifestyle, consider these potential costs:

• Pills. The list of symptoms linked to stress is long: headache, back pain, insomnia and heartburn are major ones. The lineup of nonprescription drugs used to treat these ailments can easily run several hundred dollars annually.

• Bills. While health-care costs for an average adult run about $2,800. Annually, one who suffers from sever stress can easily rack up twice this amount, according to a recent survey by benefits provider Hewitt Associates. Part of the reason is that stress weakens the immune system, which can worsen chronic conditions such as arthritis, asthma and lupus. Stressed workers are also more prone to job-related injuries.

• Higher Premiums. High levels of stress hormones are commonly linked to weight gain, which in turn raises your risk of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes. Loose some excess pounds and you could get lower life insurance premium, upwards to 50% or more.

• Costlier Dental Problems. Stress also increases the risk of gum disease. Teeth grinding and eating sugary foods lead to cavities and gradual tooth enamel erosion.

• Missed Career Opportunities. In the same survey by Hewitt Associates, half of all workers who call in sick do so because of a stress-related illness. Workers suffering from severe stress are away from their desks an average of 23 working days, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All of these missed meetings and blown deadlines can wreak havoc on your career, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars off what you might earn over your employment lifetime.
  
  What to do?
  
  There is some good news: reducing stress can be as simple and inexpensive as stretching out on the sofa and breathing deeply for 10 minutes. Daily exercise is another powerful weapon. While breaking a sweat with weights is ideal, just taking a walk around the block will help. Nutrition-wise, cut back on coffee and other caffeine-containing beverages, as this aggravates the symptoms of chronic stress. Refrain from alcohol and smoking. Doing this will not only have immediate financial savings in the short-run, but even greater benefits on your quality of life over the long-run.

Return to Articles Listing

This site is entirely funded by Dr. Duffy Please send any email correspondence to: