Prioritizing cardiovascular well-being in the office

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You count on your employees to put their hearts into the work they do, but are those hearts healthy?

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the top-three contributors to health care costs for employers, and heart disease alone is the leading cause of death for men, women and people of most racial and ethnic groups. And, by the year 2060, the number of people who suffer from heart failure is projected to increase by 33 percent.

With these facts in mind, the importance of your employees keeping their hearts healthy is obvious. Here are some ways you can set your employees up for a heart-healthy future.

Encourage preventive care

According to the World Heart Federation, an estimated 80 percent of all CVDs can be prevented. A crucial aspect of prevention is “knowing your numbers.” Blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar can all help determine if someone is at risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Most Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans cover one preventive exam annually at no cost with a primary care provider (PCP). When you encourage employees to take advantage of this benefit, they can get their numbers checked and bring up any health concerns that may lead to CVDs down the road.

Employees should foster a strong relationship with their PCP. This can lead to better health outcomes overall for your employees and lower health care costs for you. Plus, a PCP can refer an employee to a specialist in case treatment for a CVD is required.

Support healthy habits

Factors such as an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, smoking and alcohol use all contribute to a heightened risk for cardiovascular diseases. Consider adjustments that can be made in-office to encourage employees to make healthy choices.

Ensure that vending machines are stocked with healthy snacks and that nutritious options are being offered at any hosted events. Encourage walking meetings or getting movement in during the lunch hour. There’s even the option to organize after-work sports leagues like volleyball, pickleball, running clubs and more. The options and positive effects are endless. In addition to healthier employees, these activities all build positive culture and community amongst coworkers.

If you have employees who struggle with smoking, consider upgrading your workplace well-being benefit to include tobacco cessation tools and resources to help those struggling to quit.

Plus, your employees can take advantage of Blue365^® for affordable ways to improve their diet and exercise habits.

Offer education opportunities

Individuals who can recognize the symptoms of a heart attack have a lower mortality rate than those who can’t. This is why education is a crucial part of a heart-healthy workplace. Inform your employees of the signs and symptoms of common CVDs, such as heart attack and stroke, so they can be prepared for any situation.

Common heart attack symptoms include:

• Chest pain
• Feeling light-headed and weak
• Jaw, neck or back pain
• Arm or shoulder pain
• Shortness of breath

Common stroke symptoms come on suddenly and include:

• Face, arm or leg numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
• Trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Problems seeing
• Dizziness or trouble walking
• Severe headache for no apparent reason

Additionally, Blue^SM has several articles you can share with employees to help them learn more:

• “Her risk, his risk” fills them in on common warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack and how they might differ between men and women.
• “4 heart health numbers to know” informs your employees of the significance certain numbers have on their cardiovascular health.
• "Does your heart skip a beat?" provides background information and education on atrial fibrillation (AFib).

It’s beneficial to make sure your employees know basic first aid in case of a heart health emergency in the office. Consider holding a CPR certification course and making sure everyone knows how to use an automated external deliberator (AED), which is used to help those in cardiac arrest until emergency responders arrive.

A timely response is critical for heart health emergencies. Early recognition, diagnosis and treatment lead to success stories like this Wellmark employee, Christa Moore.

Questions? Contact your authorized Wellmark account representative or email us at blueatwork@wellmark.com.