While mental health has rightly taken centre stage in recent years, physical health, particularly heart health, often remains overlooked. Yet cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of illness and absence in the UK workforce, with lifestyle factors such as poor diet, smoking, and inactivity playing a significant role – many of which are influenced by the workplace itself.
For businesses, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge lies in recognising the often-invisible risks that can build up over time, especially in desk-based or high-pressure roles. The opportunity, however, is in creating a culture that supports healthier habits – through education, environment, and example.
We interviewed British Heart Foundation (BHF) Senior Cardiac Nurse, Emily McGrath to understand the most common heart health risks affecting employees and how by taking proactive steps to address them, organisations can not only improve individual wellbeing but also boost productivity, reduce absenteeism, and foster a more resilient workforce.
Q: What are the most common heart health issues that can affect people in the workplace?
A: In the workplace, several common lifestyle-related factors can significantly impact heart health. Smoking remains a major concern, as it damages blood vessels and increases the risk of heart and circulatory diseases – but quitting, even after years, can dramatically reduce that risk. After one year of not smoking, the risk of having a heart attack is half that of a smoker.
Another way to protect your heart is through your diet. A Mediterranean-style diet has been shown to help keep your heart healthy. This includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, oily fish and beans, and less processed meat.
A sedentary lifestyle is also a key issue, so staying active is important. While it can be difficult to find a long, uninterrupted period to do the recommended amount of exercise each day, you can consider splitting it into more achievable short breaks. Walking briskly for 10 minutes, three or four times a day, is much easier to accomplish if long hours limit your free time. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every week.
Finally, while stress is not directly responsible for heart or circulatory conditions, reducing stress in your life will also benefit you. This is because stress often leads to unhealthy habits, like smoking and drinking alcohol which increase your risk of heart and circulatory conditions. To avoid or reduce stress you can try exercising to release endorphins, practicing mindfulness or meditation, or simply chatting to friends.
Q: What are the primary risk factors for heart disease that people should be aware of?
A: It is important to know the signs of heart problems if they appear. The quicker you can identify a problem like a heart attack, the quicker you can get treatment and intervention. When having a heart attack, the main, and generally most obvious, sign is chest pain. It should never be ignored, especially if it comes on suddenly, makes you feel unwell (e.g. causing nausea, sweating, dizziness) and spreads to the arm, neck, jaw or back.
These could be symptoms of a heart attack, and you must call 999 immediately. You should also be aware of any irregular heartbeats. Sometimes the occasional skipping or jumping of your heartbeat is nothing to be concerned about, but it is always best to get it checked out by your GP. You can take your own pulse manually to count the rate and check if the rhythm is regular or irregular.
Knowing the signs of a stroke is important too. A stroke happens when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted, and brain cells can get damaged. It can affect your speech, as well as the way you think and move, depending on which part of the brain has had the blood supply cut off. You may experience facial weakness, arm and/or leg weakness and difficulty speaking. If you have any of these symptoms, you should call 999 immediately.
By staying vigilant when it comes to the signs of heart and circulatory diseases and being in tune with your body, you can spot if you are in danger and get help. But it is also important to know what to do if you witness someone in cardiac arrest. The BHF has a free online CPR training tool, RevivR, that teaches you everything you need to know and what to do should you witness a cardiac arrest in 15 minutes.
Q: What steps can employers take to promote heart health and prevent heart disease among their employees?
A: The BHF offers a Health at Work programme. Led by dedicated experts, our Health at Work programme offers tailored solutions to support your staff in improving their wellbeing. It also helps them learn to reduce their risk of heart and cardiovascular conditions.
Even small changes can make a difference, from having fresh fruit and other healthy snacks on offer instead of options high in sugar, fat and salt, to encouraging employees to go for a walk or run during their lunch break.
Q: How can the physical workplace environment be optimised to support heart health?
A: Optimising the physical workplace environment to support heart health involves creating a setting that encourages cardiovascular wellbeing, reduces stress, and accommodates the needs of employees with heart conditions. It’s recommended that you do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week. Moderate exercise is when you feel warm and comfortably breathless like when walking at a quick pace. Intense exercise is when you breathe hard and fast like when running, swimming or cycling.
So, one of the key factors is for employers to promote physical activity throughout the day. This can be achieved by designing workspaces that encourage movement, such as providing sit-stand desks, ensuring easy access to stairs, and creating safe, pleasant walking routes around the office or building. Employers can also encourage short, regular breaks for movement, which not only benefits heart health but also improves concentration and productivity.
Air quality and temperature control are also important considerations. Good ventilation can enhance air quality and reduce pollutants that might strain the cardiovascular system. Maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature - neither too hot nor too cold - helps reduce unnecessary stress on the heart, particularly for those already managing a cardiac condition.
Stress reduction plays a vital role in supporting heart health, and the design of the workplace can contribute significantly. Quiet zones or dedicated relaxation areas can give employees space to decompress. Noise reduction measures, calming decor, and ergonomic furniture all help create a less stressful environment. Access to healthy food options, as mentioned previously, such as nutritious snacks or meals in workplace canteens, also supports cardiovascular health.
Additionally, ensuring that first aid equipment such as automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are readily available and that staff are trained to use them, adds a layer of safety for those at higher risk of cardiac events. Overall, a thoughtfully designed workplace environment plays a crucial role in preventing heart disease and supporting employees who live with it.
Q: What role does stress play in heart health?
A: Stress is our body's response to pressure from challenging situations. It’s a risk factor for heart and circulatory diseases because it can sometimes encourage unhealthy habits such as smoking, eating comfort food that’s typically high in fat or sugar, drinking too much alcohol or not being physically active.
In the moment, these things can temporarily reduce your stress. But if you do too much of them in the long run, it can damage your heart health.
Learn more about BHF research into stress and heart and circulatory diseases on their website.
Q: How important are regular health checks for heart conditions, and how can employers facilitate these?
A: Key to your heart health is knowing your numbers when it comes to blood pressure and cholesterol. Around 50 per cent of heart attacks and strokes are associated with high blood pressure in the UK. But it can be controlled if it is detected, which will reduce that risk. Similarly, high cholesterol and diabetes are associated with a higher risk of heart disease, specifically coronary heart disease where the arteries in the heart get furred up with fatty deposits over time.
If you’re over 40, you can get these checks done for free at most NHS pharmacies, including those away from where you live if you are working away from home. Those aged 40-74 are eligible for a free NHS health check at your GP in England, with similar checks available in the rest of the UK. Go to the NHS website to find out more. By knowing your numbers, you and your doctor can take action to protect your heart if needed.
The BHF’s Health at Work programme will arrange similar health checks in the workplace for employers.
Q: What should a workplace emergency response plan include to effectively handle a cardiac event?
A: Cardiac arrests can happen to anyone. You can use BHF resources to learn how to do lifesaving CPR and how to use a defibrillator in an emergency.
RevivR is our free, interactive, online CPR training course. In just 15 minutes, you can learn how to save a life and receive your very own CPR certificate.
It couldn’t be simpler – you just need your mobile phone or tablet and a cushion to practice on.
Q: What accommodations or support systems should be in place for employees who have been diagnosed with heart conditions?
A: Employees in the UK who have been diagnosed with heart conditions are entitled to specific accommodations and support under the Equality Act 2010. This legislation protects individuals with long-term health conditions, including many heart-related issues, by recognising them as having a disability if the condition substantially limits their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Companies therefore have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure these employees can work safely and without disadvantage compared to their colleagues.
Reasonable adjustments may include changes to the employee’s working hours or allowing flexible working arrangements to accommodate medical appointments, periods of fatigue, or recovery needs. In physically demanding roles, duties might need to be modified to reduce exertion or stress. Providing a phased return to work following hospitalisation or surgery is often beneficial, allowing employees to gradually build up their stamina and confidence. Employers should also consider adapting the working environment, such as ensuring easy access to lifts, toilets, and rest areas, or offering remote or hybrid working if appropriate.
Support should extend beyond practical adjustments. Managers should foster a culture of openness, encouraging employees to speak about their condition without fear of stigma. Regular check-ins, stress management resources, and access to occupational health services can help monitor an employee’s wellbeing and make timely interventions. Additionally, employers should provide appropriate training to managers to recognise signs of health-related distress and understand how best to support team members with heart conditions. These measures not only support the individual employee but contribute to a healthier, more inclusive workplace overall.
Visit the British Heart Foundation's Health at Work programme for further information and advice.
