Heart Disease Handout

HANDOUT 02/14/17 TOOL TYPE LAST REVIEWED ALL CANADA.CA GEOGRAPHY SOURCE:

HEART DISEASE HANDOUT

BENEFITS Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to focus on heart health. For example, about 2.4 million Canadians age 20 years and older live with ischemic heart disease. So educate workers on this condition by giving them a safety talk on heart disease on this holiday.

HOW TO USE THE TOOL Give this handout to workers to educate them on heart disease, including the various risk factors and steps they can take to reduce their risk of developing this disease.

OTHER RESOURCES:

Canadian government

Use a Food and Beverage Policy to Improve Workers’ Health

Stress Prevention at Work Checklist

T H I S TO O L AN D H U N D RE D S M O RE AVAI L AB L E I N T HE OHS TO O L B OX AT www.ohsinsider.com . Templates and tools from OHS Insider are provided for members of our service. Members may use this document as is or as a starting point to customize their own documents. OHS Insider assumes no responsibility for the effectiveness or legality of any of its online templates or tools. Always consult your legal counsel and management before implementing any new policies or procedures. Why Your OHS and Wellness Programs Should Work Together

Worker Profile: Overweight Workers

T H I S TO O L AN D H U N D RE D S M O RE AVAI L AB L E I N T HE OHS TO O L B OX AT www.ohsinsider.com . Templates and tools from OHS Insider are provided for members of our service. Members may use this document as is or as a starting point to customize their own documents. OHS Insider assumes no responsibility for the effectiveness or legality of any of its online templates or tools. Always consult your legal counsel and management before implementing any new policies or procedures. HEART DISEASE HANDOUT Heart Health About 2.4 million Canadians age 20 years and older live with ischemic heart disease. Heart disease is also the second leading cause of death in Canada, claiming more than 48,000 lives in 2012. You can reduce your risk of heart disease by understanding the risk factors that cause it and making changes to your lifestyle. Risk Factors There are many factors that increase the risk of heart disease. Some of these factors can be controlled, others can’t, such as family history and age. Risk factors that can be controlled include:  Smoking increases blood pressure and contributes to the development of blocked arteries, putting you at higher risk of heart disease.  Lack of exercise: People who don’t exercise regularly are at greater risk of having heart disease.  Unhealthy diet: Risks are greater for people who don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables. Eating foods that contain trans fat and high amounts of saturated fats and sodium also increase the risk of heart disease.  Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing a wide range of serious diseases and conditions, including heart disease.  High blood pressure: Over time, high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, strokes or a thick heart muscle (hypertrophy), which can eventually lead to heart failure, a form of heart disease.  High cholesterol: Too much bad cholesterol (LDL) can lead to blockage of the arteries, which raises the risk of heart disease.  Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, especially if blood sugar levels are poorly controlled.  Stress: High levels of stress or prolonged stress may result in high cholesterol, increased blood pressure or disturbances in heart rhythm, which increase the risk of developing heart disease. Nine in 10 Canadians over the age of 20 have at least one risk factor for heart disease. Four in 10 have three or more risk factors. Reduce Your Risk You can reduce your risk of developing heart disease and other chronic diseases such as cancer by adopting a healthier lifestyle. Here are a few tips to help you get started:  Talk to a healthcare professional about your risk factors for heart disease. Early detection and treatment of high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes can greatly reduce your risk of developing heart disease.  Be a non-smoker. Free help is available online and by telephone to help you quit smoking.  Exercise. Start by aiming for 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day.

T H I S TO O L AN D H U N D RE D S M O RE AVAI L AB L E I N T HE OHS TO O L B OX AT www.ohsinsider.com . Templates and tools from OHS Insider are provided for members of our service. Members may use this document as is or as a starting point to customize their own documents. OHS Insider assumes no responsibility for the effectiveness or legality of any of its online templates or tools. Always consult your legal counsel and management before implementing any new policies or procedures.  Develop healthy eating habits by following Canada's Food Guide. Eat the recommended daily number of vegetables and fruit servings, avoid trans fat, and limit saturated fats and sodium by choosing fresh, unprocessed foods.  Achieve and maintain a healthy weight by adjusting the amount of food you eat and by building physical activity into your daily life.  Learn how to cope with stress in a healthy way.

T H I S TO O L AN D H U N D RE D S M O RE AVAI L AB L E I N T HE OHS TO O L B OX AT www.ohsinsider.com . Templates and tools from OHS Insider are provided for members of our service. Members may use this document as is or as a starting point to customize their own documents. OHS Insider assumes no responsibility for the effectiveness or legality of any of its online templates or tools. Always consult your legal counsel and management before implementing any new policies or procedures.