Archive for October 11th, 2007
If asked what the drug of the 90’s was, my guess is that most answers would sway to the wrong side of the alley and go with crack or methamphetamines. Being the cleancut, right side of the alley kind of guy, my vote went to Prozac.
I was researching the different uses of the drug in preparation to do battle with a life insurance underwriter. Insurance underwriters tend to bulk anti-depressants all into a real problem category. Their attitude is that someone must be practically unable to function due to depression or anxiety to be moved to taking medication.
Having used Prozac for a short period of time after a divorce, I can tell you that it’s effect on me was not dramatic. It did just what the doctor said it should. It took away some of the lows and kind of leveled out the feelings I was going through.
This same doctor, a good friend of mine, also told me that he had prescribed Prozac for sexual dysfunction, weight loss, anxiety and, no kidding, writer’s block. Maybe the drug is still working 13 years later since I have never had writer’s block of any lasting significance.
This battle I am gearing up for has to do with the use of Prozac to increase a person’s ability to concentrate. I’m not talking about attention deficit disorder or anything like that. This is simply a case where the CEO of a very successful company has found that he is better able to concentrate and be more effective when he uses the drug. He is not depressed, nor does he suffer from any anxiety disorders.
In searching the web for the proper context I came across an article that described stress as a normal part of life and that managed stress can be a very productive thing. At first I thought that was kind of stretching things a bit, until I put it into the context of my own business.
There is definitely stress in a sales business with multiple employees. It’s not a bad thing. I am certainly not stressed out or anxious, but rather I have a God given abiltiy to channel that stress into productivity. Maybe I would be even more productive on Prozac!
Bottom line. I think this is one of those situations where you are far better off to use an independent agent, and one that can think and believe outside the box. Underwriters, at least some of them, are not all black and white and there is room in their minds to move and do something bold like give a better rate than the book calls for.
October 11th, 2007
I have often discussed type 2 diabetes and the complication of developing high blood pressure along with it. The two, from a life insurance underwriting standpoint, are not a good mix.
Now comes a very extensive study that shows a distinct link between women who have increasing or high blood pressure, having a substantially higher risk of developing diabetes. A large study, 38,000 women over 11 years, shows fairly definitively that women with normal blood pressure develop diabetes at about one quarter of the rate of those with high blood pressure and one third of the rate of women whose blood pressure was elevating.
The fascinating side note in this study, for me, was that the same figures held true no matter what the women’s build was. Whether normal, overweight, or obese, the ratios came out the same, so the numbers are not skewed because of one of the primary causes of type 2 diabetes, obesity.
While I doubt this will change life insurance underwriting of high blood pressure, it certainly gives ample reason for women with hypertension to be tested for any change in glucose levels on at least an annual basis.
Bottom line. The more we look at the effect that one system has on another in the body, the more it becomes apparent that if you let one part slide, you are putting yourself at risk of inviting more problems to the party than you expected.
October 11th, 2007
Had I known about National Cholesterol Month, we could have taken the whole month off instead of just Labor Day. Seriously though, cholesterol has to be ranked right up there with high blood pressure as one of the silent killers.
I believe I mentioned in a post not too long ago that a survey claimed that something like 47% of Americans got their cholesterol tested annually. I expressed my assertion that if half that many actually do, it would be impressive. I think the survey figure is way too high, just like the cholesterol of many of those who don’t get it checked.
Cholesterol is taken very seriously by life insurance underwriters just as it is by most doctors. Left unchecked, high cholesterol is a sure ticket to an evening in the emergency room….or worse.
Bottom line. Know your numbers! Do try to get them checked annually. There are health fairs all over this country who are there to help you with free medical testing. Taking the time to get it checked and, treated if need be, is way less hassle than cardiac rehab. Helps you get better life insurance rates too.
October 11th, 2007
