Women with normal blood pressure less likely to develop cardiovascular disease

Monday, 24 January 2011 16:00

News - Employee Wellness

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Researchers in 11 different countries examined some 10,000 people for 11 years and found that high systolic blood pressure is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease, uncovering one more way to prevent complications.

Results from the study may suggest that organizations could lower costs stemming from sickness-related absenteeism by implementing employee wellness programs that promote physical and mental well-being.

Smoking and high cholesterol were other common and preventable indicators of the disease, which can cause stroke, heart attack and heart failure.

Employers may also want to consider concentrating on women's health when choosing an employee wellness plan, since researchers noted that hypertension had more of an effect on females than it did on their male counterparts.

"We found that a 15 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure increased the risk of cardiovascular disease by 56 percent in women compared to 32 percent in men," said Dr. Jan A. Staessen, director of the Studies Coordinating Center in the Division of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation at the University of Leuven in Belgium.

By introducing workers to employee wellness plans that can help reduce stress and improve physical health, employers may be able to cut costs by preventing more serious diseases.