Taking steps to maintain and improve the health and well-being of your employees only makes sense, and there is no better way to begin the New Year than by encouraging healthy habits.
Employee wellness is one of many challenges in today’s workplace. It’s no wonder, considering two-thirds of American adults are overweight, but there are other factors contributing to many employees’ health – or lack thereof!
Today’s rising healthcare costs demand an emphasis on preventive measures. More than half of healthcare-related costs are attributable to lifestyle issues and poor health behaviors; yet, more than 70 percent of chronic diseases (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type-2 diabetes, obesity and heart disease) are preventable with the right balance of physical activity and nutrition. Employers should play an important role in setting the tone for the expectation of wellness in the workplace and putting encouragement in the forefront. The following tips can make a tremendous impact to influence your employees to be healthier, and in turn, more productive on the job.
NO SMOKING
If you haven’t already, consider a smoke-free workplace. Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors for developing heart disease. When it comes to heart disease prevention, no amount of smoking is safe. The good news, though, is when you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease drops dramatically within just one year. Lung tissue actually starts to heal itself over time and much of the lost function from tobacco use can be regained in most cases.
Smoking is the number one cause of preventable disease and death. Quitting smoking or other tobacco use is one of the most difficult challenges to overcome in the quest to live a longer, healthier life. However, such a personal victory not only directly impacts one’s health – but can boost job satisfaction, self-esteem and overall happiness.
There are many self-help options available to tobacco users. South Carolina maintains a toll-free Tobacco Quitline open seven days a week. Calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) contacts trained counselors to begin one’s smoke-free journey. The American Lung Associations’s Freedom From Smoking program provides a toll-free number staffed by health professionals to answer questions involving smoking cessation: 1-800-LUNG-USA (586-4872).
GET ACTIVE
Can your employees walk at work? Regular, moderately vigorous physical activity can reduce the risk of fatal heart disease. It reduces stress, which may also be a factor in heart disease. Guidelines recommend that you get at least 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense physical activity most days of the week. And remember that things like gardening, housekeeping, taking the stairs and walking the dog, all count toward your total.
Physical activity helps you control your weight and can reduce your chances of developing other conditions that may put a strain on your heart, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Some employers encourage “walking meetings” to help individuals reach their exercise targets while at the workplace.
EAT A HEART-HEALTHY DIET
What’s in that vending machine could be harmful. The American Heart Association recommends the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan to help protect your heart. Following the DASH diet means eating foods that are low in fat, cholesterol and salt. The diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Healthy eating isn’t all about cutting back, though. Most people, for instance, need to add more fruits and vegetables to their diet, with a goal of five to 10 servings a day. Eating that many fruits and vegetables cannot only help prevent heart disease but also may help prevent cancer. Following a heart-healthy diet also means drinking alcohol only in moderation – no more than two drinks a day for men, one a day for women. At that moderate level, alcohol can have a protective effect on your heart. Above that, it becomes a health hazard.
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT
As you put on weight in adulthood, your weight gain is mostly fat, rather than muscle. This excess weight can lead to conditions that increase your chances of heart disease – high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. One way to see if your weight is healthy is to calculate your body mass index (BMI), which considers your height and weight in determining whether you have a healthy or unhealthy percentage of body fat. BMI numbers 25 and higher are associated with higher blood fats, higher blood pressure, and an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Reducing your weight by just 10 percent can decrease your blood pressure, lower your blood cholesterol level and reduce your risk of diabetes.
GET REGULAR HEALTH SCREENINGS
Adults should have their blood pressure checked at least every two yearsor more frequently if your numbers aren’t optimal or if you have other risk factors for heart disease. Though not a substitution for your primary physician, periodic readings at free blood pressure stations at public pharmacies can be beneficial ways of getting benchmarks. Adults should have their cholesterol measured at least once every five years as a screening measure or more frequently your numbers aren’t optimal or if you have other risk factors for heart disease.
PREVENTION PAYS
The most important part of preventive health care is maintaining good health habits. Remember, regular screenings should be a main part of your health plan, since many diseases can be effectively treated when detected early. Following such basic rules can cut heart disease risk by 80 percent, diabetes risk by 90 percent and cancer risk by 50 percent, according to the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study. Now, those are statistics worth serious consideration! For more information about wellness in the workplace, please call 864-706-7899.