The importance of stress on general health and well being has long been documented. It's not possible to die of 'stress' but it's perfectly possible to die of the knock on effects. Indeed, many cancer sufferers claim great health improvements in a lifestyle change to reduce stress after a diagnosis. It's not something life insurance companies seem to take much notice of.



You can fill in a medical form and look perfectly healthy on paper that this doesn't say how stressed you are.

They do take into consideration the job you do. Risky jobs come with higher life insurance premiums but would your average office worker be considered risky. Maybe not but how does your life insurance company know how much long term pressure you may be under?

Life insurance premiums are also dependant on our age. However, scientists have found that with the lifestyles of today, our hearts are actually five years older than us, so to speak. In smokers, this age difference amounts to fifteen years.

Increasingly unhealthy appetites, more frequent drinking and a distinct lack of exercise are all symptoms of our stressful lives and are all signs that we, or our nearest and dearest, will soon be making a claim on our life insurance.

Higher incomes mean more people have the means to eat out, consuming calories at a very high rate of knots which are usually laden with fat and sugar. It is also a sign of current lifestyles that people are becoming less inclined to cook a healthy meal from scratch.

Where they get these statistics from is beyond me. I'm now in the best job I've ever had with a huge improvement on wages and still there is far too month at the end of my wages. I don't overeat, in fact for half the month I barely eat at all! And I can only afford alcohol occasionally, unfortunately!

I must be doing something wrong however, as it is a well known fact by life insurance companies that obesity is becoming a growing problem among the UK population. This itself brings a huge strain on all the bodies organs, the heart in particular, and life insurance premiums will increase with over the top weight gain.

When you consider that in the UK, someone suffers a heart attack every two minutes, then we really need to be addressing this issue and taking more care of our hearts. And it is so easily fixed! Gently bring in exercise such as taking the stairs instead of the lift or escalator, walk to the paper shop instead of driving even getting up to change channels on the TV instead of using the remote - it all adds up.

Diet is also one of the important things to keep an eye on for a lengthy life and low life insurance premiums. Another area that is simple to rectify. Eat until you are satisfied, then stop. Sounds obvious but this is not something many of us are good at. Eating on the run, whilst working or while reading or watching TV is a big mistake and leads to many extra pounds.

Because we are not concentrating on what we are eating, it's gone before we realise it and it's often more than we actually need. Concentrate on your meal, enjoy every mouthful and stop when we have had enough. Easy measures that anyone can incorporate.

Of course, one of the biggest heart destroys is the dreaded weed. Give up smoking and your heart will love you for a long time.