Earlier this year, government statistics unveiled a troubling surge in unexpected deaths across the UK, prompting widespread media coverage, expert scrutiny, and even parliamentary debate. Amidst these discussions, experts in The Lancet shed further light on the unexpected deaths among adults aged 50 to 64, with mortality rates surpassing expectations by 15%. Tragically, many of these deaths stem from preventable conditions such as heart disease, liver disease, and diabetes, with cardiovascular diseases alone experiencing a 33% surge in fatalities within this age bracket.

The cost of life insurance increases if the risks to insure you are seen to be greater, for example as we grow older. That’s why the younger you are when you take out life insurance, you are usually able to lock in much lower premiums. As a result, the publication of these concerns has prompted our deeper examination of the apparent increased health risks as we grow older.

NHS England reports that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for "one in four premature deaths" in the UK and is the leading cause of death in individuals under 75 years old. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) estimates that more than half of us will develop CVD in our lifetime, underscoring the extensive nature of this health concern. Alarmingly, the number of people dying before the age of 75 from heart disease in England has risen to the highest level in over a decade.

Moreover, the latest registered death summary statistics published by the Office of National Statistics in 2023 reveal that coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death among 50-64-year-olds, accounting for 18% of all deaths in men within this age group. According to the British Heart Foundation's analysis, excess deaths involving CVD are concentrated among individuals over 45, with almost as many excess deaths occurring in the 45-74 age group as in those aged 75 and over.

Each day in the UK 480 people will die from a heart or circulatory disease, and over a quarter of those people will be younger than 75.

According to the experts a variety of current factors are believed to contribute, including challenges in accessing vital healthcare services due to NHS staffing shortages, backlogs, and strikes. Additionally, unhealthy lifestyles, obesity, and widening health inequalities further exacerbate the risk of avoidable deaths.

The BHF emphasises the detrimental impact of prolonged delays in vital tests, procedures, and operations on heart patients' health outcomes. Studies show that such delays can increase the risk of avoidable hospital admissions, disability from heart failure, and premature death. Additionally, there are likely unmeasured adverse outcomes associated with prolonged waits for cardiac care, such as reduced quality of life.

The implications of these trends extend beyond individual tragedies, with profound consequences for families' financial security. Today thankfully many people will survive something like a heart attack, however, this means that increasing numbers of people are now living with heart failure – 7.6 million people in the UK are living with heart or circulatory disease. Having a heart attack is a life-changing event and navigating the road to recovery can be challenging, with many people being readmitted to hospital within the first few months of discharge from hospital. This means that whilst people can lead productive lives following a heart attack, life may be quite different from what it was before and you may not be able to continue with your work life, exactly as before.

As the number of economically inactive individuals due to long-term sickness exceeds 2.5 million, the need for proactive financial planning becomes increasingly apparent, before the risks to your health increase. Delaying such measures could leave your loved ones vulnerable to unforeseen financial burdens in the event of a tragedy.

In response to these challenges, securing protection such as life insurance, critical illness cover, or income protection emerges not merely as a prudent financial decision but as a critical safeguard for our loved ones' future. As experts in life insurance, we urge you not to delay. Take practical steps today to shield your family from the potential financial burdens of an unexpected tragedy. Contact us on 0800 612 8005 to explore tailored life insurance plans that align with your needs and provide the peace of mind that comes from knowing your family's future is secure. Together, let's prioritise what matters most—your loved ones' financial well-being and security for the future.

Final note: Due to the concerns of experts, earlier this month the NHS launched a new national campaign to find the ‘missing millions’ who have undiagnosed high blood pressure. High blood pressure, often described as a ‘silent killer’, affects an estimated 32% of adults. If you are aged 40 years and over, you are now being urged to get a free blood pressure test at a participating pharmacy.

Chief Medical Officer for England Sir Professor Chris Whitty said: “High blood pressure usually has no symptoms but can lead to serious health consequences such as a fatal heart attack, a stroke, kidney disease, and vascular dementia.

Getting your blood pressure checked at a local pharmacy is free, quick and you don’t even need an appointment, so please go for a check today - it could save your life.”