According to the American Heart Association, approximately 211,000 construction workers (1 in 25) have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Find more heart and stroke statistics here.
Hard Hats with Heart
Data shows that the construction industry has higher risks, elevated in almost every single category, to heart disease and stroke — and the large majority of these issues are preventable.
The American Heart Association came to the Seattle, Washington office of Mortenson in 2021 to bring to light these alarming trends and statistics about heart health in the construction industry, and offer an opportunity to do something about it. Mortenson is now a local sponsor of Hard Hats with Heart.
The first step in preempting a preventable disease is having awareness of it. Launched in 2021, Mortenson’s Seattle internal committee is focused on bringing the AHA’s heart-healthy educational resources and tools to its office and project sites to help their team build healthier lifestyles. Topics include eating a healthy diet, living an active lifestyle and blood pressure monitoring to help the team make small, simple lifestyle changes every day to enjoy longer, healthier lives.
In Seattle, Mortenson now includes blood pressure education and Hands-Only CPR heart health training as a part of craft worker onboarding. The Everett Community College Learning Resource Center project team launched the Hard Hats with Heart initiative on project sites with their blood pressure monitoring and heart education station that trade partners onsite participated in as well. This program is rolling out to all Mortenson’s project sites in 2022.
Some of the firm’s team members have a personal connection with this initiative and hope to help spark immediate action among their team. Bob Jones, labor foreman at Mortenson, is unfortunately all too familiar with how family history of heart disease can affect a person’s life. After losing his grandparents, both of his parents and his brother when he was 49 to heart attacks, Jones decided it was time to talk to his doctor about taking preventive measures. Because of his own journey, he urges his team members to start forming better habits by packing healthy lunches, staying active, managing the stress of the job and getting regular checkups at the doctor because, “we all want to take care of our families and make sure they’re being taken care of, but if we don’t take care of ourselves, we’re no good to our families.”
What can you do?
Whether in the construction industry or not, knowing and monitoring risk factors and taking steps every day toward a healthier lifestyle are the best ways to prevent heart disease and stroke. Below is guidance from the AHA on how to do so.
Know risk factors
- Control cholesterol
- Manage blood pressure
- Reduce blood sugar
- Stop smoking and vaping
- Lose weight
- Family medical history of heart disease
- Active lifestyle – build healthy habits
Healthy eating
- Fitness
- Managing stress
- Getting good sleep
- Practicing mindfulness
- Connecting socially
For more tips and tricks to keep your mind and body fit, visit the American Heart Association website.
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