According to research, living on credit may have ill effects on our health. A study initially published in Social Science and Medicine and featured on Science Daily reveals that debt may cause poor mental health and an increase in diastolic blood pressure. Lead author Elizabeth Sweet of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and her colleagues analyzed data on 8,400 young adults between from 24 to 32 years old.

Based on their findings, it appears that 20 percent of those surveyed would still be in debt even if they liquidated all their assets. More debt was also associated with higher rates of stress, depression and high blood pressure. Those who were reported to have higher debt had a 1.3 percent increase in their diastolic blood pressure--a very significant rise, as an addition of two points has been linked to a 17 percent increase in hypertension risk and a 15 percent increase in stroke risk.

In order to avoid debt, it’s important to know the value of money and to live within one’s means. This calls for moderate spending and having a savings plan that could withstand more than just a rainy day.

(Photo by beermug via sxc.hu)