Being Hyper Aware of Employee Hypertension

As wellness programs continue to flourish among employers, a discovery is being made about one of the most important health aspects -- hypertension. Hypertension (also known as high blood pressure) is a medical issue where the pressure of the blood in a person’s cardiovascular system is constantly elevated. According to the Mayo Clinic, a person can have high blood pressure for years without any symptoms. Yet even without symptoms, damage to arteries, blood vessels, and even the heart continues until serious health issues, including a heart attack and stroke, happen.

According to an article on the website of Employee Benefit News titled, “Many employees unaware of hypertension,” the discovery is that almost 70 percent of employees whose hypertension was detected during workplace health screenings were completely unaware they had the condition. The research was published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

So, why should employers care? Aside from the serious health concern this poses to the employee, this lack of awareness is costly to an employer whether or not an employer provides health insurance. Hypertension adds more to an employer’s health care costs per employee than any other condition including depression and mental illness. People who have high blood pressure miss more work days versus people without the condition.

The good news for both employers and employees is that hypertension is one of the easiest things to test and one of the most cost effective wellness screenings. Testing can be done on-site, via kiosks, or as part of a full biometric program. Furthermore, if hypertension is discovered, it’s easily controlled with diet, exercise, lifestyle changes, and medicine. The research previously referenced noted that people who are overweight (or have a poor diet), have a sedentary lifestyle, smoke, or diabetes have a greater chance of undiagnosed high blood pressure.

The sooner a person realizes they have hypertension, the sooner they can get the treatment necessary to improve their health. Employers should consider implementing the following strategies to improve the health of their workforce.

Because so many employees are unaware they have hypertension, education is an important first step. May is National High Blood Pressure Month, so it’s a great opportunity to motivate employees to get screened. Healthy eating and drinking can be supported through the stocking of vending machines with low-sodium snacks and beverages. Exercise should be encouraged as often as possible as a great way to lower blood pressure.

There’s no sure-fire way to alleviate hypertension that all employers and employees can agree on, but there’s no denying that a healthy workforce improves productivity and reduces employer costs. By utilizing multiple strategies for combatting hypertension, employers and employees can reach a common goal.

Searching for Jobs Online

When it comes to searching for jobs, most Americans go online rather than depend on friends or other contacts for this information. In a Society For Human Resource Management article titled, “Online Job Searching Has Doubled Since 2005,” they reference a Pew Research Center study that found about half of all U.S. job seekers have researched and applied for jobs online. That’s more than double the number from 2005.

What this means for recruiters is that people seeking jobs are getting their information about the job as well as the company from the Internet. Other forms of job listings such as employment agencies, print ads, and job fairs are still being utilized, but not as much according to the Pew study. In addition, people with higher levels of education are more likely to use the Internet when looking for a job. Nearly 90 percent of college graduates went online, versus just over three-quarters of people who attended, but didn’t graduate, and fewer than 70 percent of people who never went to college at all.

The advice given was that if you search online for a job, then you should definitely have a LinkedIn, or other professional social media profile. This is especially true if you’re using a tablet or other mobile device to apply online. Can you imagine having to submit your résumé using a smartphone? It’s so much easier just to link it to a profile and many employers accept that.

In fact, another aspect of the Pew study was the percentage of Americans who used a mobile device and social media to search and apply for a job. What should come as no surprise is that more than half of all 18- to 29-year-olds have used a smartphone to search for jobs. Recruiters should take notice and make it easier for these job seekers to find and apply for available jobs. They should also be able to easily share or forward these jobs to a friend if they know he or she is looking.

The article states that more than 30 percent of social media users have relied on social media to research jobs in which they had an interest. In addition, approximately 20 percent applied for a job via social media and more than 10 percent said that the information they posted on their own personal social media account helped them get a job.

The article noted that while this may make it seem like younger job seekers are utilizing online tools more, people age 50 and older have caught on to this strategy and are also using it to their advantage.

Recognize When You’re Burning Out

Everyone has a bad or stressful day from time to time and we all deal with that day in various ways. However, when those days start to outnumber the non-stressful days, and when our ability to deal with a bad situation is compromised so that we make it worse, we may be headed for a burn out. Burning out is more than just feeling tired and overworked. It’s that plus a level of anxiety and a dose of resignation, all followed by a plethora of health issues. If you can identify this before it happens, you’ll save more than your sanity in the long run.

So, what are the signs of burning out? Your body will send you plenty of clues that it’s time to slow down and take a break. In an article on CNN’s website titled, “Burned out? Know the signs and how to fix it,” one of the first signs is that your memory begins to slip. Unfortunately, if you’re stressed enough that this happens, you may not even realize it. Things like forgetting your phone, the name of a client, or even a coworker, can be red flag. Your ability to focus is interrupted and the stress hinders your body’s ability to encode memory details.

Another burnout issue is poor health. Most people are aware that when they’re stressed, their resistance is down, but did you know this also affects the healing process? Simple cuts and scrapes can take longer to heal. Another health issue when careening toward burnout is that your gut starts to rebel like an angry teenager. Gastrointestinal issues such as acid reflux, nausea, and bowel issues are part of the roller coaster ride that your body goes on when overly stressed. And women get to deal with another issue made worse by stress – PMS. Yes, not only do cramps become worse, but extreme burnout can throw the entire menstrual cycle off track. Now that your body is freaking out, it’s time for its largest organ to react. That’s right, the skin chimes in about this point with inflammation and itchiness. This is why people under heavy stress often show visible hot spots, scratch themselves, or get rashes. It’s the skin’s dynamic ability to react that makes it so sensitive. Speaking of dynamic reactions, burning out can often lead to sleep deprivation, which can then lead to weird dreams. Strange dreams are the direct result of your body prioritizing REM sleep whenever you do get some much-needed rest. Finally, you may get a severe headache or even a migraine, but the funny thing is that this doesn’t occur until the weekend when things have calmed down. It’s not known why this is triggered, but it could be due to a sharp drop in the level of activity and the body’s buildup of stress-related chemicals.

Okay, you’ve made a checklist of these signs that you’re heading for a burnout and all the boxes on your list are checked, some may even be marked two or three times and highlighted. What do you do about it? Start with the basics. Learn relaxation techniques such as meditative breathing, yoga, and small breaks throughout the day. When it comes to meals, use those as a further break rather than grabbing something fast and inhaling it while you continue to work. While you’re eating, pick healthy foods your body needs such as lean protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. And stop skimping on your sleep routine. Set aside the right amount of time for proper, deep sleep and then dedicate yourself to following it.

Utilizing these tips for recognition and relaxation will certainly help you to become a more composed and productive person rather than someone on their way to burning out.