What is high blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the amount of work your heart has to do to pump blood around the body.High blood pressure (hypertension) means your blood pressure is consistently higher than it should be. You can have high blood pressure for many years without any symptoms. Even without symptoms, damage to blood vessels and your heart continues.The higher your blood pressure, the greater your risk of heart attack or stroke.Normal blood pressure is usually about 120 over 80.The 120 represents the heart contracting, pushing the blood out; that’s the systolic pressure. When your heart is at rest in between beats, that’s the diastolic pressure. It’s the lower reading, or the 80 if your blood pressure is 120 over 80Let’s start with the definition of high blood pressure (hypertension).You’re said to have high blood pressure when your levels are above the normal range for your age and gender.So you have high blood pressure if your reading is above 140/90 (e.g. 150/90, 160/80)It’s the first number that’s most important.

Will hypertension affect my life insurance application?

It depends on the type of high blood pressure you suffer with:1. Primary hypertension occurs without a known cause and is treatable. It accounts for 95% of all cases of high blood pressure.2. Secondary hypertension occurs where there is a known cause (e.g. heart or kidney disease )3. White coat/labile hypertension describes one-off elevations during a medical examination.4. Gestational hypertension is common in pregnancy.5. Malignant hypertension describes elevated blood pressure with severe organ and arterial abnormalities.

How does high blood pressure affect my mortgage protection application?

If you’re looking for mortgage protection and you suffer with high BP, underwriting will be interested to know:Do any other health conditions exist?Is your blood pressure under control for at least 6 months?Do you smoke?Are you overweight?Is your cholesterol raised?Are there any other risk factors – e.g. family history of early heart disease or diabetes?If none of those factors applies to you, then you should get the normal price.However, if you nod your head and answer yes to any of those questions, the life insurer will need more information from you.This will take the form of a high blood pressure questionnaire .If you can give meds and most recent readings this should be enough to get cover.Otherwise, the insurer will write to your doctor for a medical report. They’ll need to know:When were you diagnosed?Why did you have your blood pressure read at that time? (routine or due to symptoms)What was reading at diagnosis?What are your latest readings?Have you had any tests as a result of high blood pressure?Are you on medication?Have you had a urine test?Have you had a 24-hour blood pressure monitor?Do you smoke?

How much does life insurance with high blood pressure cost?

You can get compare life insurance quotes on our quote machine. If your blood pressure is managed and under control, you may get the same quote as your buddy with normal blood pressure.But, your quote could increase by 50 to 100% if your BP is outside the normal range with meds.

Medical Issues & Life Insurance Archives

Life Insurance with High Blood Pressure in 2024

You don't smoke, you're in good shape, exercise regularly, eat plenty of greens and you still suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension.

It doesn't seem fair.

But if you have been diagnosed with hypertension, you can count yourself lucky in a weird way.

Why?

Because you can do something about it.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

November 12 2024 3 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Getting Life Insurance with Haemochromatosis

Haemochromatosis is an iron overload disorder. It is a genetic condition that causes people to absorb excessive amounts of dietary iron.

If your ferritn and iron levels are in the normal range, you should have no issues getting mortgage protection, life insurance or incoem protection.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

November 11 2024 Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Do you pay More for Life Insurance if You’re Coeliac?

Getting life insurance as a coeliac is fairly straightforward.

The only issues arise is where there have been complications or if your disgnosis is very recent.

Here's my guide to getting life insurance as a coeliac.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

October 22 2024 3 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Life Insurance after a Brain Tumour 2024

When I first started this job, I thought it was impossible to get cover after a brain tumour.

I was wrong.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

October 10 2024 5 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Can You Get Life Insurance with a Breast Lump / Cyst?

Breast cysts are one of the most common female conditions we encounter.

If the cyst or lump is benign, you have nothing to worry about as long as you apply to the correct insurer.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

September 26 2024 3 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Overweight for Life Insurance or Mortgage Protection in 2024?

how BMI affects life insurance text on image of healthy food bowl

Worried you're overweight for life insurance?

You've come to the right place.

We've helped get people cover who had been refused elsewhere.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

September 12 2024 4 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Life Insurance with Sleep Apnoea

Your chances of getting cover if you have sleep apnoea depends on the severity.

If it's mild, you'll get the normal price.

If moderate, you will pay more.

If it's severe, some insurers will decline your application.

Make sure you apply to the most understanding insurer.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

September 6 2024 6 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Life Insurance and Weight Loss Surgery

Bariatric surgery includes a variety of procedures for people who are unable to achieve satisfactory weight loss through diet and exercise alone.

The surgery reduces the stomach size making you feel fuller after small amounts of food.

Generally, the insurers postpone offering cover until 6 months after surgery.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

September 5 2024 Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Getting Life Insurance with an Eating Disorder

You can get life insurance if you've suffered from an eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia in the past.

If you're currently experiencing symptoms, the insurer will make a decision based on your medical report.

We can help you find the most sympathetic insurer for your condition.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

September 4 2024 4 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Life Insurance After Prostate Cancer | Is it Possible?

Some guys don't like to admit to an illness. We bury our heads in the sand, hoping it will go away.

Even after it happens and we make a full recovery, we want to forget about it.

We don't want to talk about it.

And I get that.

So in this article, I'll try to read your mind and answer the questions going through your head concerning life insurance after prostate cancer.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

August 13 2024 Medical Issues & Life Insurance