According to the CDC, every 34 seconds in the United States, a person dies of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is a collection of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels. With CVD being one of the leading causes of death in the United States, it’s important for employers to promote heart health as part of an overall employee benefits strategy.
What is cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular diseases can be caused by a variety of factors, and some of the most common types include:
- Heart Failure
- Stroke
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Inflammatory Heart Disease
- Peripheral Artery Disease
Heart Disease Symptoms
There are an abundance of signs and symptoms that could point to cardiovascular disease. Among the most common are pain or discomfort in the arms, shortness of breath, weakness and light-headedness.
While those may be the most common, cardiovascular disease can present differently depending on the person. Other signs and symptoms include angina (chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart), fatigue, persistent coughing or wheezing, edema (fluid retention), lack of appetite, increased or abnormal heart rhythm, heart palpitations, cold sweats and sudden weight gain.
Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease
There are several risk factors that can be involved in cardiovascular disease. These may include:
- Weight: Excess weight can lead to fatty materials building up in the arteries. If the arteries that carry blood to your heart are damaged or clogged, it could lead to a heart attack.
- Physical Inactivity: Lack of physical activity can make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight, which can contribute to the risk of heart disease. Additionally, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, regular exercise can help to control many cardiovascular risk factors, particularly when combined with a healthy diet.
- Unhealthy Diet: Excessive salt, saturated fat and trans-fat intake can contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries. A lack of fruit, vegetables or whole grains can also cause diet imbalances.
- Poor Cholesterol Management: There are two types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol. According to the American Heart Association, high levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) can lead to heart disease and stroke. Some ways to lower this “bad” cholesterol include exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, quitting tobacco usage and maintaining a healthy weight.
How do I know if I have cardiovascular disease?
If you are experiencing symptoms that correlate with cardiovascular disease, talk to your doctor. They may recommend that you take part in tests that can diagnose cardiovascular disease or assess if you are at a heightened risk for a cardiovascular event.
How Employers Can Encourage Heart Healthy Employees
Many of the major risks for these conditions can be prevented and controlled through healthy lifestyle strategies. By offering health and wellness programs to support a healthy lifestyle, employers can show their dedication to the well-being of their employees and help employees to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Support Healthy Eating with a Nutrition Program
Eating a healthy diet is important to managing hypertension and preventing the development of heart disease. Having a nutrition aspect of your company’s wellness program can provide employees with information and resources to help them adopt a healthy diet.
Resources that could be offered under a nutrition program could include cooking classes, sessions with a registered dietitian, educational resources, healthy breakroom snacks and wellness app subscriptions.
Getting the Office Moving
Exercise can help to lower overall blood pressure, which, according to Harvard Health, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and certain types of cancer. However, many employees sit at their desk for extended periods of time during their workday.
Employers can help to combat this sedentary lifestyle through a corporate exercise program. This program could include free gym memberships, an on-site gym, equipment discounts or even just incorporating fitness into the regular workday.
Manage Stress
Stress is associated with cardiovascular disease, and employees may feel stress at the office. Supporting your employees with a stress relief program can help to reduce their levels of stress and psychological pressure. Plus, the resources that are available as part of a stress management program could help employees to alleviate stress outside of the office as well.
Your Partner for Employee Wellness
Cardiovascular disease can be a significant risk for many workers, but employers can help their teams by supporting heart health as part of their overall employee benefits strategy.
At Higginbotham, we help employers design benefit packages that integrate wellness-focused resources with cost-effective plans. Our tailored approach is designed to support healthier teams and reinforce a culture of care. We also help to keep your benefits strategies compliant, including wellness programs that may be subject to regulatory standards like HIPAA, ADA and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).
To learn more about how Higginbotham can help create a benefits strategy that promotes employee wellness, connect with one of our employee benefits consultants today.
