Florida’s New Health Crisis: Foreclosures Cause Diabetes, High Blood Pressure…

The last thing Oppenheim Law wants to see is a foreclosure heart attack and recent reports indicate this is a very strong possibility.

Florida’s real estate health is not the only one at risk. The psychological stress of the foreclosure debacle has created a new national pandemic: rampant health concerns. In fact, research shows that diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart conditions have increased significantly in areas hardest hit by foreclosure: New Jersey, Arizona, California, and Florida.

Research published this month by the National Bureau of Economic Research that an increase of 100 foreclosures corresponded to a 7.2% rise in emergency room visits and hospitalizations for hypertension, and an 8.1% increase for diabetes, among people aged 20 to 49.

Not surprising that we are faced with not only a financial but also a medical nightmare. The loss of jobs, a decrease in pay, and mounting bills create stress which not only filters into our physical but also emotional psyche.

What to do? Some say that crisis counselors should be made part of mortgage counseling programs—before the foreclosure process commences. But, what happens to those who are already faced with foreclosure? Others say to wait for the settlement with the financial industry in order to help pay for people’s medical and psychological issues. But, when is that going to happen?

Oppenheim Law says: Learn about your foreclosure legal options. Take action into your own hands. Want to stay in your home? See what kind of defenses you may have. Interested in attempting to do a short sale or loan modification? Maybe you just want to make sure that you do not have a deficiency and want to have a structured foreclosure? Only when you feel empowered will you be able to fight the foreclosure malaise that is infecting our health.

You are not alone. Avoid being a number in the new health crisis by learning your options. As a country we will become stronger if we are able to understand and act upon this serious situation.