Your Job Wants You Healthy

 

Your job cares about your health. If you don’t take care of yourself, it can cost more than just money out of your pocket. It can cost your job more in terms of health insurance. You might get sick more often, and be unable to work as well as you usually do.  That matters to your employers and the other people you work with.

The American Heart Association wants to help. If you learn how to take care of yourself at work, then you can go home and teach your family to do the same. They will be healthier and feel better too.

What shape are you in now? The American Heart Association has a short, 3-4 minute quiz called “Life’s Simple 7” to help you find out. Just answer a few questions at this link so that the company you work for can get an idea of the health of its employees:

http://mylifecheck.heart.org/mobile/assessment.aspx

Your score is based on 10 points, and can alert you to the areas of your health that need some work. And don’t worry: Your information is your own. Your job cannot know which test was yours. They can only see the whole company as a group.

The 7 steps (with some healthy living tips) are:

1. Avoid all types of tobacco.
2. Get active.
3. Lose weight if you need to.
4. Eat more fruits and vegetables.
5. Manage your blood pressure. If you need blood pressure medicine, take it every day as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
6. Keep your cholesterol in check by adding more fiber to your meal plan.
7. Manage your blood glucose levels. Limit sugary drinks, and try whole grains instead of white flour products.