Maintaining a strong and healthy body is important for everyone, but it’s especially crucial for executives. Not only do they have to manage a hectic work schedule, but they also need to be in top physical condition to avoid health problems down the road.
Offering an executive health package as part of your company’s corporate health program is a highly beneficial entitlement that pays dividends in the long run.
Health Risks Affecting Executives
The unprecedented pressure and stress associated with executive management positions can take a toll on one’s physical health. In fact, studies have shown that chronic stress can lead to various health problems such as heart disease, obesity, anxiety, and depression
The following are some of the most common health risks that executives often face:
Cardiovascular disease — Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in Canada, second only to cancer. According to Statistics Canada, in 2020 almost one in every four deaths in Canada is caused by heart disease.
High blood pressure
— High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition in which the force of blood against vessel walls is too high. Over time, this can damage the vessels and lead to serious health complications, including heart attack and stroke. The most recent Canada-wide survey in 2019 approximated that 24 percent of men and 23 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 79 were diagnosed with high blood pressure.
Stroke
— A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked or bursts. A stroke can result in permanent brain damage, disability, or even death. A new study reveals that annual stroke occurrence rates in Canada have increased to roughly one every five minutes.
Diabetes
— Diabetes is a condition that occurs when the body cannot properly process glucose or blood sugar. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health complications, including heart disease, blindness, and kidney failure. In the years leading up the pandemic (2016 to 2019), almost 1 in 10 Canadian adults aged 20 to 79 (9%) had diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes ranged from 1% of Canadians aged 20 to 39 to almost one in five seniors aged 60 to 79 (18%).
Obesity
— Obesity is a condition in which a person has an unhealthy amount of body fat. Obesity increases the risk for several chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and type II diabetes. Statistics Canada reported that In 2018, 26.8% of Canadians 18 and older (roughly 7.3 million adults) reported height and weight that classified them as obese.
High cholesterol
— Cholesterol is a type of fat that can build up in the arteries and lead to heart disease. High levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) can build up in the arteries and form plaque, leading to narrowed or blocked arteries.
Statistics
While these health risks are common enough that everyone should be screened for them, executives are especially vulnerable to them.
One landmark survey conducted by Rippe Health Assessment Study of Senior Executives showed that:
- 73% were overly sedentary and therefore predisposed to heart disease, diabetes, and general ill-health.
- 40% were obese.
- 100% of the obese executives had at least one other risk factor for cardiovascular disease, 86% had two others, and 60% had at least three others. For context, consider that 55% of all heart disease patients present with just two risk factors.
- Additional findings included a high number of executives with elevated cholesterol and blood pressure and a large waist circumference, boosting their likelihood of a coronary event.
The study concluded that overall, senior executives incur a disproportionate heart disease risk, which ultimately endangers their companies, too.
Why An Executive Health Plan Is Necessary
An executive health plan is a personalized health solution for employers looking to protect their most valuable asset: executive staff. It is an attractive perk for the best organizations because good health extends far beyond the workplace.
The executive concierge health program helps executives by providing them with personalized healthcare. It offers executive physicals, comprehensive preventive care, and access to the executive’s doctor anytime they need it. This approach to executive wellness provides more than just a regular checkup — it offers individualized assessments that focus on executive health in ways that traditional medicine often overlooks.
That’s why an executive health program is essential to any organization’s wellness program. It gives executives access to personalized health plans, more flexible appointments, and more attentive care tailored specifically to executive needs.
With executive health at the forefront of organizational sustainability, companies should consider taking proactive measures to ensure their executives stay happy and healthy inside and outside work.
Investmed’s Corporate Executive Health Program
InvestMed’s corporate health program includes personalized medical screenings and consultations to meet the unique needs of your business. With a focus on prevention, we proactively manage executive wellness with rapid access to diagnostic tests using state-of-the-art technology, as well as hands-on physical examinations with our doctors, to proactively identify and address health issues.
Inquire today to learn how Investmed can partner with you to offer a customized corporate health program including private medical care packages to your executive staff.
