Supporting Women's Heart Health |Employer Guide - Brown & Brown

Supporting Women's Heart Health | A Guide for Entrepreneurs

Supports women's heart healthGuidance for employers

Every February American Heart Month provides an important reminder at the beginning of the year that heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Driving awareness, understanding, and intervention on risk factors and symptoms should not stop in February. Nearly 45% of women over the age of 20 live with some form of heart disease. Nearly 75% of women ages 20–39 have at least one cardiovascular risk factor, with the greatest burden among women of color.

But the symptoms experienced by many women are ignored or misunderstood, and awareness among young women has declined sharply.

Employers have a unique opportunity to change these trends by providing recognized benefits, creating supportive environments, and providing ongoing education to enable women to manage their emotional health.

Why does women's heart health require special attention?

Women often experience different symptoms of heart disease than men, including jaw pain, back or shoulder discomfort, fatigue, and indigestion.American women's awareness of the risk of heart disease has declined significantly, and sharply for black, Hispanic, and younger women.Black and Hispanic women have higher rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and other modifiable risk factors, and tend to have the lowest awareness of these risks.

Benefits employers can offer to support women's heart health, including prevention and early detection.

- Provide comprehensive preventive care, such as screenings, medications, and telehealth support.Include blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and weight assessments as part of the exam.

-Evaluate and implement integrated wellness programs and digital health solutions that focus on physical activity, healthy eating, stress management, and smoking cessation.These programs can help individuals become aware of health risks, understand their risk, and reduce risk.

- Consider navigation, whether digital or through a carrier, or other solutions that direct employees to employer-provided benefits and also help employees find providers and resources to expedite appropriate and effective care.

- Build a Heart Healthy Culture and promote activity breaks, healthy snacks and flexible schedules.

- Prioritize mental health, evaluate counseling and burnout prevention resources, including EAP and behavioral health programs and resources.

- Increase heart health literacy and encourage monitoring of important health indicators.

Educational resources that employers can provide to employees

Awareness Campaign: Go Red for Women®, Wear Red Day and CDC.

- Information on women's heart health - including life stage assessments and symptom differences.

- Life's Essentials 8™ - a heart health framework from the AHA.

A call to action for employers

Heart disease causes absenteeism, reduces productivity, and increases health care costs—but many risks are preventable.Employers should emphasize the benefits of prevention, implement comprehensive education, promote healthy lifestyles, and commit to improving heart health year-round.By acting now, employers can support healthy workplaces, reduce preventable health problems, and empower women—especially minority women—to protect their longevity.

Louise Short, MD, MSc, FACOEM

Director of Health Care, Employee Benefits