With February being Heart Health Month, it is the perfect time to start thinking about how you can help improve the cardiovascular health of your employees. A quarter of professionals in the construction industry are at an increased risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. Here are some ways you can help alleviate workers’ heart health at your company.
Educate
The first step is to raise awareness. Education is an essential part of preventing cardiovascular disease. Companies can provides resources and host cardiovascular awareness events to educate employers about high-risk behaviors and provide tips on how to live a heart-healthy lifestyle. Many people don’t have a comprehensive understanding of what foods can contribute to poor heart health or what the benefits are to certain workouts. Education can play a pivotal role in motivating employees to start eating better and exercising more.
Encourage
Construction companies can also improve the heart health of their employees by encouraging them to monitor their health. For example, you can encourage your team to have regular cardiological checkups or heart screenings. You can also encourage employees to keep track of their blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, cholesterol levels, as well as other important metrics. Routine checkups/screenings are the best way to identify cardiovascular issues early and can allow for early treatment or prevention strategies.
Engage
One reason some people struggle to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine is because they lack motivation. Your company, however, can be a source of motivation. Contests are a great way to make dieting and exercise more exciting, especially if there are prizes involved. These types of competitions keep health a priority for those who participate and encourage coworkers to hold each other accountable. Finally, it is also a good idea to remove unhealthy food and drinks from the workplace, such as vending machines that have soda and chips inside.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and a lot of construction employees are at a high risk of experiencing a stroke, heart attack, or other cardiovascular event in their lifetime. As a company you can help by educating employees about the lifestyle and construction-related risks that can affect heart health, educating about the benefits of staying active and eating a balanced diet, encouraging your team to be proactive in monitoring their health, and being a source of motivation.
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