According to an issue of IDEA Fitness Journal, there is a strong link between on-the-job stress and metabolic syndrome. This syndrome is made up of a cluster of risk factors that encourage cardiovascular disease as well as diabetes. The study was conducted over a 14 year period, concluding that employees with chronic job-related stress were twice as likely to develop the syndrome as people without work stress.
While many studies in the past have shown a link between exercise and a healthy heart, this particular study (University College London) sheds light on the importance of decreasing your stress levels to improve heart health. Since exercise is already known to aid the body in ridding itself of undue stress, what better way to combat the negative effects of your job than with regular exercise? It’s usually a matter of making it a priority, and unfortunately, many people don’t do that until they have already suffered serious health problems.
A lot more companies than ever before are recognizing the importance of keeping their employees healthy by offering a number of company sponsored and co-sponsored health and wellness programs. These programs are set up in a variety of ways with the goal to encourage exercise, good nutrition, and healthy activities. If you need improvement in any of these areas, you may be able to begin within your own company. Inquire with your Human Resources department about health benefits within, as well as outside, your company for starters. It may surprise you at what you find. If by chance, your company hasn’t yet recognized the value in this area, maybe you need to be the one to shed awareness on the importance of good health for the employees.
As many of you may already be aware of, many insurance companies are now providing chiropractic visits as part of an employees’ routine care coverage. You certainly didn’t see that very often 10 years ago. Growing in popularity are on-site fitness facilities and gyms, guest speakers covering various health topics, fitness testings, company sponsored sports teams, and even health screenings, just to name a few. My point being that things are definitely changing within our work environments. So make a decision today that you will make a change for the better as far as your health is concerned, and then get started by looking within your company first.
Melissa Allen, BS, CPT, CES is a certified personal trainer, corrective exercise specialist and Medifast health coach, is the owner of the Optimum Condition Corrective Exercise & Performance Center, located in El Cajon, in the East County of San Diego. We specialize in customized fitness training and corrective exercise for both recreational athletes and post-rehab clients, as well as guaranteed weight loss programs or your money back. You can schedule a free consultation to help you get started. Please visit her website at OptimumCondition.org.
