Healthy Living Medicine in the Workplace: More Work to Do

Sherry O Pinkstaff; Amy McNeil; Ross Arena; Lawrence Cahalin

doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2016.12.007

Healthy Living Medicine in the Workplace: More Work to Do

Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2017 Mar-Apr;59(5):440-447. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2016.12.007. Epub 2016 Dec 27.

Authors

Sherry O Pinkstaff¹, Amy McNeil², Ross Arena², Lawrence Cahalin³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical & Applied Movement Sciences, Brooks College of Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL. Electronic address: s.pinkstaff@unf.edu.
² Department of Physical Therapy, Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
³ Department of Physical Therapy, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, FL.

PMID: 28038911
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcad.2016.12.007

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are five of the top ten causes of death for Americans: cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, lower respiratory disease, stroke and diabetes mellitus. Risk factors for these NCDs and for CVD are tobacco use, poor diet quality, physical inactivity, increase body mass index, increased blood pressure, increased blood cholesterol, and glucose intolerance. Depression, depressive symptoms and anxiety also contribute to CVD risk. There is also evidence work stress itself contributes to CVD risk. By 2024 there is expected to be approximately 164 million workers in the US labor force and the share of older workers will likewise increase. Currently, about 25 million of those are over the age of 55, the age at which many diseases of lifestyle become clinically apparent. Furthermore, Americans spend as much as half of their waking hours at work. This makes the worksite an important target for the delivery of healthy living medicine.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Healthy living medicine; Mental health; Wellness; Worksite health promotion.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Cardiovascular Diseases* / epidemiology
Cardiovascular Diseases* / prevention & control
Cardiovascular Diseases* / psychology
Health Promotion
Healthy Lifestyle
Humans
Preventive Medicine* / methods
Preventive Medicine* / organization & administration
Risk Factors
Workplace* / psychology
Workplace* / standards