How to promote employees’ heart health on World Heart Day

Today is World Heart Day, the World Heart Federation’s biggest platform for raising awareness about cardiovascular disease.

“Cardiovascular disease is preventable in so many cases, and that’s why we’re encouraging people to take action and learn more about their heart health this World Heart Day,” said David Wood, president elect of the World Heart Federation, in a news release.

“It’s easy for all of us to be a bit complacent as we can’t see our hearts, but small everyday steps like eating more healthily, cutting down on alcohol and stopping smoking can really improve your heart health and your overall well-being.”

Read: A cardiologist’s prescription for better heart health

At the World Health Organization’s Global Hearts Initiative last week, the World Heart Foundation made a call for all global governments to implement reliable surveillance and monitoring systems for cardi0vascular disease. It said the call aims to strengthen health systems by providing complementary recommendations to governments.

In Canada, organizations such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation have a number of tools available for employers to promote heart health through their health and wellness programs. They include online tools to help Canadians identify and manage the risks for heart disease and stroke, manage stress at work and adopt healthy eating habits; information on returning to work after a heart attack or stroke; and workplace safety training guidelines around first aid and CPR.