Recession Makes Us Healthier

A slow economy might mean more people are stressed, but research shows that tough times are actually good for us, the Los Angeles Times reports. Rates of illnesses—particularly those related to lifestyle changes, like heart disease—decrease, as do accident and death rates. And while some may drown their financial woes in drinking, overall alcohol and smoking rates also go down.

"When times are bad, people are actively ... protecting their health," says a professor who has researched these counterintuitive trends:

• Fewer heart attacks may be because of less pollution.
• Accidents rates go down because fewer people are on the roads.
• People drink less because they can’t afford it.
• Healthful living improves, perhaps as the unemployed use free time to exercise.

(More public health stories.)