09 Sep 2024

Five ways to encourage healthy hearts in the workplace

Employers and managers should be aware of how work could impact employees’ heart health

For cardiovascular health, addressing high blood pressure early can help to improve the outcome of heart health for your employees.

This can help to reduce future healthcare needs and costs, as well as help to keep your team performing at their best.

What is heart health?

Heart health concerns how well your heart and blood vessels pump blood around your body.

Coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of death and the most common cause of premature death in the UK, according to the British Heart Foundation, So, a healthy heart is important and can help you to live a longer and healthier life.

Common heart conditions

Heart conditions can be something you’re born with or can be something you develop in later life.

These can include:

Coronary heart disease
Arrhythmia (an abnormal heart rhythm)
Congenital heart disease

Statistics from the British Heart Foundation found that 2.3 million people are living with coronary heart disease in the UK.

People with the disease, or who have had a heart attack, are twice as likely to have a stroke. Those with heart conditions can often live with other health conditions too, such as diabetes.

Can work impact heart health?

There are some risk factors which can make developing a heart condition more likely, such as age or genetics – which can’t be controlled.

Diet, physical exercise and smoking are also risk factors. However, these risk factors can be controlled.

Feeling stressed for a continuous amount of time can impact heart health.

Constant stress can trigger behaviours, including smoking, drinking too much alcohol, or eating unhealthy foods.

Stress can also be brought on by managing childcare while working, financial worries or increased workload.

Other factors which can impact heart health, include:

Being inactive. A lack of exercise is linked to conditions like heart attack and stroke. For consideration, desk-based workers may likely sit still for long periods of time.
Eating unhealthily. Too much saturated fat and salt is bad for your heart. Working in the office or at home can impact eating habits. Think about how to promote healthy eating choices.
Breathing in polluted air. Air pollution can also be harmful to heart health and circulation. This may impact employees who work outside, including drivers, builders, and maintenance workers – even employees commuting through busy areas.

Five top tips for encouraging healthy hearts

1. Keep active:

Encourage regular movement around every 30 minutes.
Take calls or meetings outside while on a walk.
Promote walking or cycling to work, where possible.

2. A healthy diet:

Ensure healthy food options are available at work, such as in the canteen or vending machines.
Where possible, ensure employees have access to an area and equipment to heat food up at home.
Provide healthy food options for meetings and avoid focusing social occasions around alcohol.

3. Keep calm:

Actively promote regular breaks and finishing on time.
Make employees aware they can speak to you if workloads become unmanageable.
Promote a better work-life balance, such as flexible working, or working from home – where possible.

4. Avoid pollution:

Encourage walking or cycling to work and promote routes away from heavy traffic.
Flexible working hours can help your team avoid commuting at busy periods.
Make your team aware of the UK pollution forecast, particularly when pollution levels are high.

5. Access support:

If your organisation has an Employee Assistance Programme, make sure employees know how to use it.
If possible, offer workplace health checks and screenings.
Signpost to stop smoking resources and support groups.

How can managers support employees with heart conditions?

In the U.K. today, 7.6 million people are living with a heart or circulatory disease, according to the BHF.

Employers have a legal responsibility to make reasonable adjustments for people living with a heart condition to continue working – if they wish to do so.

Here are some of the ways you can support an employee who you’re aware has a heart condition:

Be sensitive and empathetic to their needs and how they are feeling.
Reassure them that all conversations about their health are private and confidential.
Be understanding if they need to take time off for sickness leave or medical appointments. Where reasonable, let them attend appointments during the workday.
Ensure all staff are aware of the organisation’s sickness policy, and where to access it.
Where possible, provide flexible working options if it helps manage their symptoms. There may also be times when developing a heart condition means an employee isn’t able to continue doing the same job – such as lifting heavy equipment or using machinery.
Signpost to more support, such as occupational health or human resources, if you have them.

Resources to support your team

Know Your Numbers Week took place on 2-8 September 2024.

It’s the UK’s largest blood pressure testing and awareness event to help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Bupa has created practical guidance and resources to help you support your team’s health and wellbeing, including healthy eating, exercise, and fitness – all of which can help to encourage healthy hearts.

More can be found on Bupa’s Workplace Wellbeing Hub.