The Heart Foundation and TAL have joined forces to help younger people understand the importance of preventing heart disease and reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke later in life.
Data shared by the foundation shows that 18 to 34-year-olds believe heart disease is not something they need to worry about at their age.
However, Heart Foundation Head of Clinical Evidence, Dr Dannii Dougherty, said heart disease presenting later in life often begins developing as early as teenage years, through lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise, and whether you smoke or vape.
Pointing to the Heart Foundation’s 2025 State of the Heart survey, Dougherty said:
- More than one in three (37%) people aged 18 to 34 believe they would feel warning signs if they had high blood pressure, despite it often having no symptoms
- More than one in five (22%) younger adults believe they are too young to worry about heart disease, even though it can begin developing early in life
- Around one quarter (25%) of younger Australians believe heart disease mostly affects men, despite women accounting for almost half of cardiovascular deaths
- About one in ten (11%) younger adults believe family history means they cannot reduce their risk of heart disease
TAL General Manager Health Services, Dr Priya Chagan, said young people in Australia were in a powerful position to protect their heart health.
“Heart disease continues to be one of the leading causes of life insurance claims at TAL, even among younger customers – which is why this initiative matters so much,” said Chagan.
“The evidence is clear that what you do in your 20s and 30s has a real impact on your long-term health.”
TAL’s three-year strategic partnership with the Heart Foundation, now in its second year, is part of the insurer’s Health for Life program.
