Why Good Heart Health Pays Off

February marks Heart Health Month in Canada. When it comes to good heart health, you don’t want to skip a beat. Did you know that poor heart health or a history of heart disease impacts your ability to apply for life insurance in the following ways?

Risk Assessment

Life insurance companies assess the risk associated with insuring a person based on factors such as age, health,  status, lifestyle, hobbies, and medical history. A person with a history of heart disease is a higher risk and, as a result, may have difficulty obtaining life insurance coverage or may be offered life insurance coverage at a higher premium. You can also check out our article 14 Risk Factors Impacting Your Life Insurance Coverage to learn more on this topic. 

Underwriting

During the underwriting process, the insurance company will review your medical records, including any history of heart disease, to determine the likelihood of future health problems and the potential cost of providing coverage. If the insurance company determines that the risk of insuring you is too high, they may deny you coverage.

Coverage Amount

If a person with a history of heart disease gets approved for life insurance coverage, they are usually offered a lower coverage amount than someone without heart disease; the insurance company must consider the increased risk associated with insuring them.

To maintain good heart health, you can adopt these best practices as part of your overall lifestyle. You will also be one heartbeat closer to giving your loved ones the financial protection they deserve. 

Eat a healthy diet

A diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins and low in saturated and trans fats, salt, and added sugars can help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Exercise regularly

Regular physical activity can help lower blood pressure, maintain a healthy weight, and improve overall heart health. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most days of the week.

 Stop smoking

Smoking is a major cause of heart disease and can damage your blood vessels, leading to a range of health problems. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your heart health.

Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of heart disease. Losing weight, even a little amount of weight loss can help improve heart health and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Control blood pressure

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. Regular check-ups and monitoring can help you keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. If necessary, your doctor may prescribe you medication to help control your blood pressure.

Manage stress

Chronic stress can contribute to heart disease, so it’s critical to find ways to manage stress healthily through exercise, meditation, or talking to a counsellor.

Limit alcohol consumption

Drinking alcohol in moderation can be part of a healthy lifestyle, but excessive alcohol consumption can increase blood pressure and lead to other health problems. New guidelines just released by the Canadian Center for Substance Use and Addiction have just revisited the existing weekly alcohol consumption amounts and revised them. The CCSA now recommends consuming no more than two alcoholic drinks per week, a dramatic reduction from the previous cap of 15 drinks for men and ten for women.

Disclaimer: The material provided in this newsletter is for informational and/or educational purposes only. The information, opinions and/or views expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the distributor. All financial endeavours should be vetted through a financial professional: life insurance broker, financial planner, accountant, lawyer, and/or other professional, as the reader, sees fit. MacDev Financial Group Corp., SET Financial Solutions Inc., including but not limited to its agents, staff, associates and/or partners will not assume any liability for any information printed in this article; indirectly, or assumed. The MacDev tagline, “Financial Control For Life” and “Bank On Whole Life” are trademarks of the MacDev Financial Group Corp. Click Legal for further information