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Poll: Recession is hurting American's heart health

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

The recession has been hard on many people. However the findings of a new poll conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health suggest that it has impacted individuals who have received unhealthy cholesterol test results the most.

The recession has taken a large toll on the heart health of millions of Americans, the researchers said. Their findings indicate that many people with diabetes, heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions are having a difficult time paying their bills and in some instances are forgoing treatment, which may cause their condition to worsen.

According to their findings, more than a third of individuals with diabetes and heart disease say that the recession has negatively affected their condition. Furthermore, nearly half of those polled are concerned that the downturn will continue to harm their condition in the future.

"While bankruptcy due to costs of health care has gotten national attention, it is also of serious concern that substantial proportions of people with these chronic conditions are depleting their savings and going into debt to pay for needed care," said Jordon Peugh, one of the researchers.