Happy Valentine’s day.
Okay, now that I have your attention, here is some interesting information I found regarding heart disease and disability:
- According to the National Academy of an Aging Society, almost 18 million people – 7 percent of all Americans have heart disease. More than half of the population with heart disease is under age 65.
- According to the American Heart Association, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of premature, permanent disability in the U.S. labor force. People with heart disease are more limited in the type or amount of work they can do compared to those without heart disease.
- According the National Academy of an Aging Society, more than 22 percent of workers with heart disease have work limitations, compared to just 8 percent of workers without heart disease.
- Coronary heart disease is particularly disabling. Among workers age 51 to 61, for example, some 44 percent of those with heart disease and 56 percent of those with coronary heart disease report that their condition is the cause of a limitation in the type or amount of paid work they can do.
- Coronary heart disease accounts for 19 percent of disability allowances by the Social Security Administration.
Now for the good news – many forms of heart disease are largely preventable. Controlling conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and engaging in a healthy lifestyle (including quitting smoking) can reduce the risk of heart disease. And, to protect against the loss of income from heart disease (as well as other health conditions), you should have a long term disability policy. Health insurance will pay the medical bills, but it won’t replace your income.
Protect your health by changing your lifestyle, if necessary, and protect your income with disability insurance.
Original article: A Valentine’s Story with Heart
©2013 ProtectYourIncome.com. All Rights Reserved.