February is National Heart Month, a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health. Why should we take it seriously you may ask? Here are a few reasons:
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.1
One person dies every 34 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. 1
About 697,000 people in the United States died from heart disease in 2020—that’s 1 in every 5 deaths.1,2
Heart disease cost the United States about $229 billion each year from 2017 to 2018. 3 This includes the cost of health care services, medicines, and lost productivity due to death.
In most cases, heart disease is preventable when people adopt a healthy lifestyle, which includes not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, and getting regular checkups.
Check out these heart-healthy activities to make wellbeing accessible to your employees for National Heart Health Month.
COOKING DEMO
Heart Healthy Snacking
Snacks tend to get a bad rep, but snacking on the right foods can actually be an important part of a healthy diet. Snacking is an opportunity to bring more nutrition into your day, while also keeping you energized and focused between meals. Fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and whole-grain products add fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to your day, all of which can contribute to a healthier heart. Come learn how to make healthy snacking fun with fresh recipes in this interactive cooking demonstration. MENU: Dark Chocolate Pom Nutty Bites, Zesty Hummus, & Love Potion Smoothie.
MEDITATION
Receptive heart
When the heart is open the mind becomes still. It is said that the heart has a mind that is separate from the mind’s mind. Learning how to listen to the heart will serve one in years to come.
HEALTH TALKS
Heart Health Tips
Love your life by loving your heart, the most vital organ in our bodies. Keep it beating for a long time to come by knowing the risk factors of heart disease like smoking, cholesterol, physical inactivity, and stress, just to name a few. In this health talk session, you’ll get heart-boosting tips on nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management. The speaker will also cover hidden threats to heart health, so you can keep your ticker in tip-top condition.
Mindful Nutrition Choices Food is an afterthought for many people. Many of us forget to eat during busy days, snack mindlessly on our days off, and find it challenging to stick to positive food habits. In this health talk session, we'll explore how nutrition plays a vital role in stress management, cardiovascular health, and mental focus. Attendees will walk away with actionable steps toward mindful food choices and ways to adopt nutrition habits that reduce stress, increase energy levels, and improve heart health.
Physical Effects of Stress and Management Strategies We think of stress as a mental affliction, but it often manifests in physical ways. Muscle tension, constant headaches, stomach discomfort, and a rapid heartbeat—are physical symptoms of stress. In this health talk session, attendees will learn new strategies to minimize the impact of stressors in our lives, and, consequently, on our bodies. The physical effects of stress can exacerbate or compound other conditions, and recognizing these symptoms before they worsen is a step toward better health management.
Contact us today to schedule one or more of these sessions to improve your employee's heart health!
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. About Multiple Cause of Death, 1999–2020. CDC WONDER Online Database website. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2022. Accessed February 21, 2022.
Tsao CW, Aday AW, Almarzooq ZI, Beaton AZ, Bittencourt MS, Boehme AK, et al. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2022 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association Circulation. 2022;145(8):e153–e639.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS): household component summary tables: medical conditions, United States Accessed April 8, 2021.
FitPros is a turn-key wellness provider empowering people to take charge of their personal health.
Contact FitPros to diversify your company’s wellbeing offerings and help employees meet their health & fitness goals.