Recession and Your Health

Americans are enduring some of the toughest economic times in our history. Unemployment is up, home values are down, and corporations are restructuring to try to survive. However, on the brighter side, healthy living habits are improving while death rates are declining. It is a little know fact that people adopt smarter lifestyles during tough economic times. Research by Christoper J. Ruhm at the University of North Carolina shows that recessions are good for your health.

Health Improves During Recession

People live longer during recessions mainly because of extra free time. Unemployed workers go to the gym. Being unemployed or working less hours also allows for more sleep, which improves health. Exercise leads to weight loss and less smoking. Smokers also cut back to save money. Less money for eating out is also a likely reason as preparing meals at home tends to be much healthier. Dr. Ruhm's research shows that a one-percentage-point increase in the unemployment rate reduces the death rate by 0.5%. His studies were based in the U.S., but studies in other countries show the same results.

Smoking, Obesity, and Inactivity Drive Chronic Conditions

Chronic conditions account for 75% of the cost of health-care in the United States. So one could argue that a recession can help reduce the skyrocketing costs of health-care. What we can learn from this information is the cold hard fact that unhealthy lifestyles, not the insurance industry, lead to higher medical costs for everybody. Many employers who provide health insurance for their employees are requiring sometimes drastic changes in their employees' lifestyles. Can you really blame them? If you were paying medical bills for someone who flagrantly neglected there health, would you require that they actually make an effort to take care of themselves?

Stay Healthy Even In Good Times

Experts say that the recession has weakened and a slow recovery is ahead; maybe we can take this valuable lesson and apply it in our lives in the best of times. Recession may be directly linked good health, but that doesn't necessarily mean that a strong economy has to lead to poor health. Touche'.