Life insurers are joining forces with governments and health agencies to tackle Australians’ distorted perception of their own health.

In their second annual joint Heart Health Index, Zurich Australia and the Heart Foundation have found people – men in particular – are unintentionally putting their heart health at risk.

Zurich is now launching a heart health awareness campaign that will see financial advisers inform their life insurance clients about the risks of heart-related diseases.

CEO David Smith says financial advisers can play an important role in letting customers know about cardiovascular diseases, which are still the biggest killer in Australia.

“A large proportion of the health-related claims we pay at Zurich are for cardiovascular diseases,” Mr Smith said. “In the last 12 months, 32% of all death claims and 26% of all trauma claims were as a direct result of cardiovascular disease.”

The campaign, to be launched next month, will focus on healthy eating, awareness of blood pressure and cholesterol levels, the effect of smoking on heart health, and the benefits of exercise.