Tackling hypertension in the workplace

Look around your workforce – statistics show that around 1 in 4 of your employees may have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. However, the real worry is that many of them won’t know it.

That’s because hypertension is a largely symptomless condition. If left untreated, it increases your risk of developing serious health problems such as heart attacks and strokes – hence why hypertension is often dubbed “the silent killer”.

Read on as the Occupational Health experts at YourGP talk you through everything you need to know about hypertension and reveal the proactive steps you can take to help reduce the risk amongst your team.

What is hypertension?

The only way to assess whether or not you have hypertension is to have a blood pressure test. Blood pressure is measured by assessing two key factors:

• The force at which your heart pumps blood around your body
• The resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels between heartbeats

If the readings of your blood pressure test are high, i.e., anything from 140/90mmHg or above, it means you have hypertension and steps should be taken immediately to reduce it.

What are the risks of hypertension?

If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your organs such as your heart, brain and kidneys, as well as your blood vessels. If this continues, it can lead to serious health issues such as heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia.

Common causes of hypertension

There are a range of lifestyle factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing hypertension. These include:

• Being overweight
• Having a diet that contains too much salt and not enough fruit and vegetables
• Not doing enough exercise
• Drinking too much alcohol or caffeine
• Smoking
• Feeling stressed for a prolonged period of time

What can employers do to reduce hypertension in the workplace?

There are practical steps that employers everywhere can take to minimise the risk of hypertension amongst their employees. They include:

• Promote awareness of the importance of looking after one’s health and encourage healthy choices
• Provide a selection of non-caffeinated drinks and make fresh fruit readily available in the staff room
• Encourage employees to take a break from their desks at regular intervals to keep active, organise fitness activities during lunch breaks or provide on-site exercise options
• Be mindful of workloads, deadlines etc, and the stress this can cause. Organise stress awareness sessions and share top tips for dealing with pressure
• Raise awareness of hypertension and organise a blood pressure check day in the workplace

Why it’s important to include everyone

All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every 5 years. However, new figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that a “considerable” number of young people in England – about 170,000 aged 16 to 24 – unknowingly have risky high blood pressure.

It is therefore essential that employers include all team members in any hypertension awareness initiatives, as it is a condition that can potentially affect every employee.

How YourGP can help

YourGP’s team of Occupational Healthcare professionals can visit your place of work and carry out blood pressure checks at a time that suits your schedule. We can also provide personalised, one-to-one advice to employees on how they can lower their risk of developing hypertension.

To find out more, call 0131 225 5656 or email occhealth@your.gp and we’ll be happy to arrange an appointment at a time that suits you.

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