It’s Heart Awareness Month and a well-known fact is that heart disease is the number one killer of adults in the U.S. It’s not just individuals who should be concerned, however. Business owners should also take notice, especially those business owners in high-stress industries, such as manufacturing.
It’s Heart Awareness Month and a well-known fact is that heart disease is the number one killer of adults in the U.S. It’s not just individuals who should be concerned, however. Business owners should also take notice, especially those business owners in high-stress industries, such as manufacturing.
After all, it only makes sense that the top killer of adults would have an impact on the business community. Most research tells us that half of all American adults have elevated cholesterol. However, our results show 67-72% of workforce participants we screen each year are above the recommended levels. And in some industries the numbers are even more alarming.
Another common problem is high blood pressure. The American Heart Association says one in four US adults have high blood pressure. In some industries we screen, that percentage is higher. And because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of the people we test that have elevated blood pressure have no idea they have a problem. That’s why it’s called the silent killer. Left uncontrolled, it can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, or kidney failure.
The impact on a company can be seen in areas such as higher health insurance costs for employees, lost productivity and employee absenteeism. In 2007, the Milken Institute estimated that chronic diseases, including heart disease, resulted in more than $1 trillion in lost economic output annually.
The irony is that a large percentage of these costs are a direct result of preventable chronic diseases, such as heart disease. The good news is that business owners are finally beginning to recognize that helping their employees identify problems early can lead to long-term benefits of a healthier and more productive workforce.
The focus should be on early detection and prevention. A healthier workforce creates a healthier bottom line.
At a minimum, business owners should make sure employees have their blood pressure, BMI, fasting glucose and cholesterol levels checked annually. This prevention-focused stance aids in early detection of many problem areas before they turn into chronic health problems.
It used to be that most company wellness plans focused on after-the-fact, but early detection saves lives and money and more and more employers are realizing this. And with people working longer and on the payroll longer, they need to be healthier.
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