health-risks-to-protect-yourself-against Health Risks to Protect Yourself Against

Research shows that COVID-19 should not be the only health risk you should be protecting yourself against. There are a host of diseases that everyone is vulnerable to.

Four health risks to consider cover for

Cancer

In 2018, there were an estimated 107 467 new cases of cancer documented in South Africa, across women and men of all ages. According to Cancer Research UK, by 2040 there could be as many as 27.5 million new cases of cancer diagnosed worldwide. According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), the most prevalent cancers for women are breast, cervical, colorectal, uterus and lung cancer. One in seven men in South Africa are at risk of getting cancer in their lifetime. The most widespread cancers for men include prostate, colorectal, lung, bladder and the oesophagus.

“Even if you don’t have a family history of cancer, environmental exposure and lifestyle choices can put you at risk,” says Dr Marion Morkel, Chief Medical Officer at Sanlam. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths in South Africa for both sexes in 2015, with 8 515 deaths. Generally, men smoke more than women, so their risk is therefore higher. Regardless of family history, people who smoke are 15 to 30 times more likely to get lung cancer.

Cardiovascular disease

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa reports that 225 South Africans die every day from heart disease, while the World Health Organization (WHO) says that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death around the world, with 18 million people affected in 2018.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels which can eventually result in a heart attack or stroke. These conditions can be hereditary or develop over time through lifestyle choices like lack of exercise, an unhealthy diet and obesity, the use of tobacco products, alcohol abuse and stress.

Diabetes

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), over four million adults in South Africa suffer from diabetes. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa estimates that one in 10 South Africans have diabetes, but roughly one in two of these do not know it, because they have not been diagnosed.

Dr Marion Morkel says that diabetes occurs when the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood is too high because your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when your body does not process insulin effectively. Dr Morkel adds that there are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. “Type 1 usually affects younger people, while Type 2 tends to develop gradually in adults and is much more common.”

You are more likely to develop diabetes if you have one or more of the following risk factors:

• Overweight or obese
• Physical inactivity
• Family history of diabetes

Diabetes is dangerous because it has effects on major organs such as the heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys.

Musculoskeletal conditions

Dr Jack Van Zyl, Sanlam Group Risk Medical Adviser, says that many common bone and joint injuries correlate with a 9-to-5 desk job. “Sitting at a desk all day, almost every day of the week, is far from ideal for the human body. Staying in the same position for long periods of time has been correlated with weight gain, lower back pain, and cardiovascular and circulatory diseases.”

Nonkululeko Zungu, Product Development Consultant at Sanlam Individual Life, says these are just a few of the illnesses that you can seek insurance cover for to protect your health. “Risk cover becomes more expensive as you grow older, so the earlier you take out cover the cheaper it will generally be. There is also a risk that if you wait too long and become sick before you take out cover, you are not able to get cover or need to pay much more for it.”

Please consult with a financial planner before you take any action regarding your policies. Sanlam is a Licensed Financial Services Provider.