According to the American Heart Association, one in 25 construction workers has cardiovascular disease, one in 4 is obese, one in 4 uses tobacco and one in 25 has diabetes. In fact, construction industry workers have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to other industries, based on lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor nutrition, and lack of physical activity.
The Association in Maine is bringing “Hard Hats with Heart” to several construction industry employers to provide resources, education and inspiration to help employees live a heart-healthier lifestyle.
MEMIC is this new initiative’s Presenting Sponsor and will provide a Family Wellness Resource Toolkit to construction industry employees and their families with family physical activities, heart-healthy recipes and educational resources to help reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.
“The good news is that 80% of heart disease and stroke is preventable.” said Michael Bourque, President and CEO of MEMIC. “By creating a culture of wellness within Maine’s construction companies, positive health outcomes can result that could reduce their risk of these diseases.”
Maine’s construction industry has been a strong supporter of the American Heart Association. In fact, eight construction-related companies sponsored the 2020 Southern Maine Heart Walk including: Cianbro; Johnson & Jordan; Landry French Construction; PC Construction; Portland Builders; Sebago Technics; Turner Construction; and Zachau Construction.
Participation in Hard Hats with Heart is free. For more information, contact Lena Minervino at the American Heart Association in Maine at [email protected] or by calling (207) 289-2397.