Saving You Money For Life

Let’s start with some simple definitions first and then you may be able to understand why blood pressure is so important to the life insurance underwriter.

• Systolic – the maximum pressure exerted when the heart contracts
• Diastolic – the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest
• Pulse Pressure – the difference between the systolic and diastolic readings

Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is the driver of mortality risk under age 45. However, as we age, systolic blood pressure goes up while diastolic readings slowly decline, widening the pulse pressure. When the pulse pressure gets too wide it reflects arterial stiffening. Underwriters don’t like this for obvious reasons as it bodes unfavorably for both mortality and morbidity.

As you can see, this is one of the reasons why blood pressure is so important in life insurance underwriting.

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