Video: Financial stress can take toll on your heart

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Tough economic times and mounting debt can lead to health problems. A survey by the Associated Press and AOL found that people who reported high levels of debt suffered from at least three stress-related illnesses, including headaches, stomach problems and even heart attacks. Learn how you can protect yourself.

Elliott Schoenberg suffered a heart attack on an airplane.

"It felt like there was a fire truck on my chest," said Schoenberg, cardiac patient.

Kevin Ucarian was 48 when he had his heart attack.

"I was surprised. I still don't believe I had it," said Ucarian.

Both men were in good physical shape, but under a lot of stress.

"I had flown the week before, so travel takes a lot out of you and yeah that's stressful," said Ucarian.

In these difficult economic times, financial stress can also take a toll on your heart.

"People who have stress at work or at home had double the risk of heart disease," said Dr. Joel Landzberg, cardiologist. "Financial stress has a very definite effect on the heart."

Chronic stress can cause stomach problems, migraines, headaches, anxiety, depression and back pain. How does stress actually affect your heart?

"It increases the heart's demand, so the heart rate and blood pressure group," said Landzberg. "The arteries constrict, you want them to dilate, it also makes the blood more likely to clot."

Schoenberg and Ucarian go to cardiac rehab where they've discovered it's more than just a physical workout that will help their hearts. They're also learning breathing exercises and relaxation techniques.

Rehab nurse Lucia Izzo says learning to deal with stress is a skill.

"You're going to have to practice over and over," said Izzo. "And any of the eastern philosophies, yoga, meditation, tai chi, they consider it a practice."

What is Dr. Landzberg's advice?

"Certainly if you're under financial stress use this as a wake up call to take care of yourself," said Landzberg.

Interestingly enough, the poll found that the group facing the most financial stress tended to be upwardly mobile middle-class families.

Experts say if you're feeling overly stressed by financial debt, don't deny it, don't obsess about it and get help, whether it's arranging smaller payments with a creditor or seeking a financial advisor.