What You Need to Know About High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, and Life Insurance

High cholesterol and high blood pressure are common conditions that affect more than 30 percent of the population.

Although these conditions are generally well managed, they can cause serious health risks if left untreated.

Individuals with pre-existing conditions such as these often fear that obtaining a life insurance policy will be difficult or monthly premiums will be unaffordable.

Genesage Life Quotes is available to help these individuals find affordable life insurance policies to meet their needs.

What is High Cholesterol?

High cholesterol is determined by abnormally high levels of cholesterol in the human body. High cholesterol is usually caused by a number of factors, including lifestyle choices and genetics, or a combination of both. The two types of cholesterol that are measured within an individual’s blood are low-density and high-density lipoprotein.

The amount of these two substances is what determines if an individual is diagnosed with high cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein or LDL transports to cells and organs throughout the body from the liver.

When excess LDL is present, it can build up on the artery walls and cause a condition known as artery disease. The possibility of this condition is why LDL is considered the “bad” cholesterol. HDL or high-density lipoproteperforms the opposite function and carries cholesterol to the liver to be broken down and passed through the body. HDL is generally known as “good” cholesterol.

What is High Blood Pressure?

The measure of how strong the human heart is pumping blood through the body is known as blood pressure.  This function allows the body to operate properly by providing oxygen to the body’s vital organs. As the heart contracts and pushes blood through veins and arteries, blood pressure will rise and conversely as the heart relaxes, blood pressure will drop.

This constant contracting and relaxing causes an individual’s blood pressure to be constantly fluctuating between a high and low pressure.

These high and low pressures are known as systolic and diastolic pressures respectively. Medical professionals usually measure these highs and lows as one number over a number, specifically the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure. Individuals who suffer from high blood pressure will show abnormal readings for these numbers – consistent measurements taken over a number of weeks that exceeds 140 over 90 qualifies for a high blood pressure diagnosis.

What Does High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure Mean for Life Insurance?

Pre-existing conditions are generally red flags for insurance companies and high cholesterol and high blood pressure are no exception. The high incident rate associated with conditions such as these makes individuals suffering from them a higher risk for life insurance companies.

Although higher premiums may be a concern, it is important to note that insurers take a close look at an individual’s medical history. As long as the condition is well-managed, insurance companies will generally agree to standard-terms.

Difficulty securing coverage and high monthly payment are a concern for individuals suffering with pre-existing conditions such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Although insurers will look closely at these individuals’ medical histories, they understand how common the conditions are and how well they can be controlled.

If you have either of these conditions and need assistance finding the right life insurance policy to fit your needs, the knowledgeable advisors at Genesage are here to help.