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Your heart weighs a few hundred grams and beats around 100 000 times a day! A healthy heart is a happy heart, vital to your well-being! Here’s how to keep your heart healthy and check up on it regularly so you can detect and manage any problems!
Your hardworking heart needs love and care
Cardiovascular disease affects your heart and blood vessels and is one of the leading causes of death in South Africa and across the world. But, up to 80% of cardiovascular-related premature deaths in people under age 65 can be prevented.
How to keep your heart healthy
- Eat healthy foods such as fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and lean proteins
- Move! Exercise is great for your heart, especially if you exercise regularly
- Keep calm and avoid too much stress! Find ways to relax and enjoy moments of downtime and me time!
- Drink alcohol in moderation or not at all
- Don’t smoke
- Follow any treatment plans prescribed for heart or other health issues, such as taking blood pressure medication as prescribed!
You can find more heart healthy habits on the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa’s website.
The benefits of keeping your heart healthy
Cardiovascular disease is not only a leading cause of death in South Africa, it is also one of the top 5 reasons for claims on life cover policies. Your insurance company will always ask questions about your heart when you apply for life cover, and may require you to go for one or more of the below heart health checks.
A healthy heart, and no other health concerns, will ensure you are offered the sum assured you need at a competitive premium. Unfortunately, if your heart is not so healthy, you may be offered a sum assured at a higher premium, or a lower sum assured, or you may be offered accidental death benefits that will only pay for a claim where the cause of death is an accident such as a car accident.
Some insurance companies may also impose an exclusion on claims due to heart disease if your heart is not in good condition. This means that if you pass away due to any heart disease, the claim will be declined.
It is really important from an insurance point of view, and for your wallet too, to keep your heart healthy! Start by taking these regular heart health checks today!
Your heart health checks
Living a heart-happy lifestyle will help your heart, but things can go wrong! It’s important to have regular health checks to make sure there are no problems. Four of the most important health metrics to check are:
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol
- Blood glucose levels
- Weight
Your pharmacy, GP or clinic can check these, or you can have them checked at a wellness day at your workplace.
These are basic screening measures, and if you have any numbers outside of the healthy range your GP or health professional may suggest further tests or a plan of action! Which will be in your interests and your heart health to follow! You should get these tests done annually so you can detect any problems as early as possible!
Good to know: There are many ways to manage any problems with your heart and heart disease, especially if detected early!
Warning signs that your heart is not happy!
Your heart is incredibly strong and hardworking, but it can run into trouble! Warning signs of a heart attack include:
- Unexplained chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
If you experience these or have concerns, visit your GP or clinic or an emergency room to get them checked out.
Top tip: Keep your finances healthy! A 1Life Dread Disease Cover policy pays out a tax-free lump sum of up to R4 million if you are diagnosed with a critical illness, like cancer or heart disease. You are covered with just 1 simple call with no medical exams, only an HIV test. This money can be used for medical and rehabilitation expenses, living expenses, or whatever you and your family need, so that you don’t have to worry about your finances while you are in treatment and recovery.
Love your heart
Your heart appreciates even the smallest improvement in your lifestyle! Why not adopt a healthy heart habit today and make a big difference!
Posted: 12 September 2022
Updated: 29 July 2024