Increasing bills, shrinking credit and gloomy forecasts that financially life can only get worse are fast becoming the ingredients of a toxic cocktail that threatens the nation's health.

Headaches, nausea, sleeplessness and exhaustion are thought to be just a few of the symptoms of today's most topical medical condition, Credit Crunch Stress.

Already there are reports of increased levels of depression and tension headaches, not to mention health problems associated with economising, like skipping meals, cancelling gym memberships and drowning sorrows with alcohol.

Dr Nick Read, a physician and psychotherapist who specialises in stress-related conditions is just one expert predicting that the medical profession may soon see a surge in illness caused by money worries.

He said: "The current situation with growing financial uncertainty and anxiety about the future is bound to impact on people's health. Many will feel overwhelmed and worried that they can't cope.

"Doctors may well see more people exhibiting symptoms triggered by stress such as back pain, breathlessness, muscular tensions, and gut complaints such as pain, indigestion and diarrhoea. Stress also exacerbates existing illnesses like eczema, asthma, arthritis and migraines."

He estimates that currently around 50 per cent of patients visiting doctors have illnesses which cannot be diagnosed or properly treated but whose origin is stress.

Stress hormones have a range of damaging effects on the body. Adrenalin increases inflammation, makes pain worse and ties the guts in knots. Cortisol raises blood sugar and blood pressure, makes infections worse and induces obesity and exhaustion.

Sleep deprivation caused by money worries is already, according to recent research, affecting those in particularly vulnerable professions - estate agents, lorry drivers and taxi drivers.

Dr Wendy Denning, director of an integrated health centre in London points out that physical health is often an early area to be neglected in times of stress.

"Even simple things can help," she said.

"For instance when we're stressed we breathe less efficiently and take more shallow breaths, which doesn't get enough oxygen to our brain and body. Deep breathing exercises could improve that."

But she said that if people are worried about symptoms they should seek help from a health professional, who'll also check whether they may have any other underlying medical problem.