About 695,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. every year–that’s one in every five deaths. Additionally, heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States since 1950. It’s widespread across the country, and horrifyingly, someone will die of heart disease every 33 seconds.
Due to how common heart disease is, employers need to implement healthy habits in the workplace to help their employees stay safe. In this blog, we will discuss the risk factors for heart disease in adults and five tips for employers to support their employees remain healthy in the workplace.
What are the Risk Factors of Heart Disease?
Many risk factors can lead to the development of heart disease. An individual may have no symptoms, or many on this list. But knowing the risks is essential to catch the disease early.
- High blood pressure
- High levels of cholesterol.
What Behaviors Increase my BP and Cholesterol?
High blood pressure and cholesterol can sometimes be attributed to genetic factors. But they are typically caused by lifestyle choices. If you participate or fall into any of the behaviors below, you could be at risk for developing heart disease.
- Smoking, vaping, and the use of tobacco.
- Diabetes.
- Obesity.
- Unhealthy diet and physical inactivity.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
Discover a full list of additional behaviors that can increase your BP and Cholesterol.
5 Ways Employers Can Maintain Heart-Healthy Employees in the Office
- Promote an overall healthy lifestyle by doing the following:
- Provide healthy snacks and meals when catered.
- Encourage breaks from the desk every now and then.
- Provide educational materials, such as Wellness Works Detroit.
- Think about providing a flexible workplace. On days when employees work remotely, they can take breaks to go for walks or perhaps install a walking pad in the work-from-home space.
- Hold meetings and open discussions surrounding health benefits.
- Encourage employees to make health care part of their annual routines.
- Understand that mental health is just as important as physical health: host training, meetings, and discussions surrounding mental health and the destigmatization of it at work.
Are you in the Metro Detroit area? The Detroit Regional Chamber is hosting a mental health training session in March. Click here for more information.
Keep these tips in mind, and don’t be afraid to reach out to loved ones or a professional for further help. Share this article with those around you and subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss the latest information.