Healthy Sleep to Increase Productivity, Employee Engagement** and Workplace Safety
Healthy Sleep is by far the most neglected aspect of our health. Health is the most undeniable aspect of employee performance.
Now Health Technology to measure, monitor & to improve sleep for increased productivity, workplace safety and public safety
45% of Americans and Canadians report sleep problems. If we are not practicing good sleep hygiene we are jeopardizing our health and workplace productivity. From a corporate perspective, sleep deprivation in our workforce is a dangerous liability to workplace safety, is guaranteed to increase healthcare costs, and will negate all other employee engagement and performance efforts.
As plan sponsors, we should be very concerned, sleep has direct consequences for the workplace, particularly in terms of safety, productivity and group benefits costs. Sleep is not a luxury. It’s a necessity, as vital as eating, drinking and exercise, sleep disorders exert a negative impact on people’s health and, if untreated, can lead to chronic illnesses such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, depression and obesity……It’s in our best interests to take a structured approach, including both prevention and intervention measures, to help employees sleep better………It’s clear that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is the best way to treat the condition in adults….This is a huge paradigm shift, doctors now recommend that patients enrol in a behavioural change program for sleep before taking medications.
Financial cost of 3 most common sleep disorders….cost on health?
Sleep deprivation ➠ chronic illness
Why is healthy sleep a necessity to health and human performance?
Sleep deprivation leads to higher risk of chronic health problems including:
high blood pressure
heart disease
stroke
Alzheimers
obesity
diabesity
cognitive dysfunction
accidental death
memory Issues
immune suppression
depression
moodiness
metabolic syndrome
hormonal dysfunction
greater vulnerability to colds and flu
premature aging
alcohol use
According to Harvard Medical School, for people with hypertension, one night without enough sleep can cause elevated blood pressure all through the next day.
According to a British study, those who had cut their sleep from seven to five hours or fewer a night doubled their risk of death from all causes, particularly from cardiovascular disease.
Sleep is regulated by two body systems:
sleep/wake homeostasis
Our biological circadian clock
Sleep/wake Homeostasis: Alerts us that a need for sleep is accumulating and that it is time to sleep. It also helps us maintain enough sleep throughout the night to make up for the hours of being awake. With every waking hour there is a strengthening of the homeostatic sleep drive. Researchers believe this is a product of the demands of brain activity during wakefulness.
Circadian biological clocks: regulate the timing of periods of sleepiness and wakefulness throughout the day. The circadian rhythm dips and rises at different times of the day. For most, the strongest sleep drive occurs between 2:00-4:00 am and in the afternoon between 1:00-3:00 pm, although there is variation depending on if a person is more of a “morning person” or “evening person.” We experience sleepiness during these circadian dips, but with sufficient sleep, the degree of sleepiness will be less intense.
Most people are unaware that their sleep is not a health sleep. Companies must take preventive measures to address the sleep health of their employees to increase productivity and engagement, reduce healthcare costs, and assure workplace safety. We need to proactively measure the quality sleep of our employees, and provide monitoring and feedback for those employees with sleep dysfunction. Healthy sleep is an investment in employee health and productivity as well as the company’s bottom line.
Assuring employees attain a healthy sleep is also a vital aspect of corporate responsibility. For many companies – such as construction, trucking, health care providers…
being proactive about sleep hygiene is a matter of public safety.
Our Data for your Process: Employee Health Risk Assessment Process Design based on Assessment Chronic Disease Management
At Best in Corporate Health, we have a dedication to providing implementation & measurements for success for all of our corporate health programs. We have proudly introduced into our health risk assessments and coaching programs complete sleep analyses. We have teamed up with the leader in providing employees a health sleep. They have changed the way sleep healthcare is delivered utilizing multifaceted solutions.
The process has complete accessibility – providing employees the required flexibility
Employers report:
23% savings in overall healthcare spend
25% increase in workforce productivity
70% reduction in preventable accidents
40% reduction in defects.
Contact us to get your workforce on to healthy sleep.
** Employee Engagement vs. Talent Engagement:
With the advent of a new economy and workforce composition, we now have a talent market. Companies are surrounded by a cloud of talent, coming from multiple sources: Temp workers, freelancers, contract workers, suppliers, … All of these talent resources need to be engaged to help organizations to reach their objectives.
Shira@BestInCorporateHealth.com
Your Corporate Health Risk Assessments provide the template for your wellness processes.
We look forward to customizing your employee wellness programs!
Shira Litwack, medical fitness professional, Cancer Exercise Specialist , Medical Exercise Specialist, Holistic Nutritionist, Corporate health designer and coach, Health and fitness educator
Chief Health Enthusiast – Best In Corporate Health
Employee Wellness Toronto, Ontario – But offered worldwide!
Shira is regularly consulted by Naturopaths, oncologists, health coaches on cancer exercise and exercise adherence.
Has assembled over 20 health and fitness professionals with varying specialties to bring to corporate wellness programs
Platforms include: Speaking, One-one/group health coaching, Retreats, Course development for in house delivery, Metrics to measure success available, Partners always included
Now offering live interactive webinars, just as if each participant has a personal health coach – making corporate wellness programs affordable to all.
Shira has been interviewed & published in hundreds of resources over the last 12 years:
Articles featured in: ezines, ArticlesInk, European Registry of Exercise Professionals, The National Post, Investment Executive Magazine, Directory of Greater Toronto, Canadian Leukemia & Lymphoma Association, Prostate Cancer Canada, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Anytime Fitness, Today’s Black Woman, Today’s Seniors, Medical Fitness Network, FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered), Willow (Breast & Hereditary Cancer Support),
Cancer Exercise Training Institute, Urban Poling for Breast Cancer, ROW – Recovery on Water for Breast Cancer
Shira Litwack, Medical fitness professional |Cancer Exercise Specialist|Personal & Corporate Health Coach | Fitness For Disease Recovery| Industry Expert Cancer Exercise
Director of International Relations Cancer Exercise Training Institute Master Trainer
Radio talk show host/Guest/Producer Health & Fitness Radio
Addressing Men’s Health Issues in Employee Wellness Programs
Men’s health issues are not getting the attention they merit.
The Men’s Health Network states that men die at higher rates than women from the top 10 causes of death:
heart disease
cancer
stroke
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
accidents
pneumonia and influenza
diabetes
suicide
kidney disease
chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.
According to the Men’s Health Network, there is a steady deterioration of the health of American men attributable to:
a lack of awareness
weak health education
unhealthy work and personal lifestyles
According to the CDC, women are 33% more likely than men to seek medical help, although the gap narrows over 50 years of age.
and then there is my favourite line of all I say with the utmost love and affection……
Men are more likely to ask for directions than they are to ask for medical help….
Men’s Health Network study: Men take mediocre care of their health. Almost 70% of men surveyed considered it easier to keep their cars in good condition than care for their personal health. More than 40% of men indicated they would rather resolve issues with their car than address issues associated with their health
“Men care more about their cars than their bodies.”
There is always good news.
Employee wellness programs are a wonderful opportunity to address these issues,
Putting the FIT into Fitness Best In Corporate Health Employee wellness programs
specifically for men. Our duty in a program is to figure out the “fit” in fitness -information is useless unless it is tried, honed and integrated.
Every one of these health issues can be prevented or minimized with regular exercise & physical activity. I specify exercise AND physical activity. Unfortunately, many men tend to be “weekend warriors” – good exercise on the weekend, or playing a sport once or twice a week, but then are sedentary for the remainder of the week.
Exercise and regular daily physical activity are both necessary for the prevention of disease.
Being a weekend warrior carries a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a type of blood clot that occurs deep within a vein and if breaks loose it can travel to the lungs or brain, causing a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism or stroke. Here is a shocking example: Professionals athletes, including tennis super star Serena Williams and Miami Heat Chris Bosh suffer with DVT. We all think – athletes get incredible exercise! The issue is professional athletes spend a great deal of time being sedentary…on airplanes travelling between gigs. It has been referred to as “Economy Class Syndrome.”
There will be a series of articles – each one going far more in depth on each of these top ten causes of death. Here I would just briefly like to discuss the pivotal role of exercise in prevention and recovery + I would like to mention one other men’s health crisis largely attributable to the deconditioned state…..
Lower back pain:
Back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and missing work
Back pain must be checked out as it can be a symptom of more serious diseases including certain cancers, kidney disease……..please do not assume the pain is musculoskeletal.
Exercise helps to correct posture, stretch tight muscles and strengthens the core…..and is a great way to get rid of a beer belly!
Lack of exercise can cause or worsen back pain because of increased stiffness and weakened muscles. Exercise also nourishes the spinal discs, soft tissues and ligaments of the back.
Muscle tone and core strength support the back and keep prevent or dramatically reduce pain. If back pain already exists, consult with a health care professional for guidance.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons the most common reasons for back pain are:
Sedentary lifestyle
poor posture
overweight
Lifting…..greater risk of injury in the deconditioned
smoking
stress
stress related muscle tightness
Even a 15 minute walk can relieve stress related muscle tightness while also encouraging restorative breathing.
Men’s Health Alert: A Beer Belly places more stress on the back than pregnancy
Heart Disease:
American Heart Association states that more than one in three adult men have some form of cardiovascular disease.
Blood pressure: Maintaining blood pressure in a healthy range is key to the prevention of 7 of these top ten causes of death.
And…..if you had high blood pressure and you are on medication for high blood pressure and it has successfully lowered your blood pressure…..you do not get a get out of jail for free card. Hypertension is still a concern.
High blood pressure affects the arteries, heart, kidneys, brain eyes, sexual function, bone loss, sleep apnea….and succinctly put – it is a menace to all aspects of health.
Regular exercise and physical activity are the very best way to prevent high blood pressure, or keep it in a healthy range. This means regularly de-sedentizing every day. Even with a desk job – this is critical to controlling blood pressure.
Those with high blood pressure need to abide by certain guidelines for strength training. Again, always better to work with a medical fitness professional. All aspects of exercise are necessary for controlling blood pressure….Cardio respiratory, strength, stretching, and more meditative forms of exercise, far too often forgotten, are very beneficial.
And gentlemen…..next article I promise as it is just that important……erectile dysfunction.
Men’s health Alert: ED is a beacon of attention for heart disease.
Exercise is vital for keeping strong erections, strong heart health.
Cancer: A MedLine survey teaches us that solid evidence points to the possibility that hypertension is actually a significant risk factor for cancer. At least seven prospective studies have demonstrated clearly that hypertension is a risk factor. We rarely see high blood pressure listed as a risk factor for cancer.
Exercise is associated with lowering the risk of most cancers by as much as 40%. The power of exercise is cancer prevention and cancer recovery is multi faceted. But again, where cancer already exists, I strongly advise people work with a fitness professional specifically trained in cancer exercise training.
Stroke:
American Heart Association:
• Exercise should be prescribed for stroke survivors.
•Exercise prescriptions could significantly reduce disability and the risk of recurrent stroke in survivors who also may face other barriers such as fatigue and depression.
Causes of stroke are deeply related to many of the other issues discussed here such as heart disease and diabetes.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD):
According to the COPD foundation Exercise, especially aerobic exercise, can Improve circulation and help the body better use oxygen, minimize COPD symptoms and build energy levels to do more activities without exhaustion or a shortness of breath.
Pneumonia and Influenza:
Men’s Health Alert:
Influenza and pneumococcal infection are two leading health risks for men. Men are 25 percent more likely to die from these diseases than women, according to the American Lung Association.
The American Lung Association also states that exercise is vital to a healthy lifestyle in the prevention of respiratory illnesses.
Exercise is key in strengthening immune function and circulation, both very important in the prevention of colds, flu and respiratory illnesses.
Diabetes:
“The American Diabetes Association (ADA) celebrates today’s “modern man” as someone who is more aware of his blood sugar health. The ADA recommends that men “get out, get active, and get informed.” The best way to control your diabetes is to eat healthy and exercise.”
Both cardio respiratory and strength training are very important in diabetes prevention and management. Its our beautiful muscles that transport glucose from our bloodstream to the muscles needing less insulin. Muscles are like a pump, pushing glucose into muscle where it can be used as fuel instead of circulating in high levels in the blood. MUSCLES….not just cause they are so pretty!
Suicide:
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimate that at least 6 million men suffer from depressive disorders, including suicidal thoughts, annually….a men’s health crisis.
Men’s health Alert:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), men have higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations than women do. Men binge drink twice as much as women.
According to the American Psychological Association men are far less likely than women to seek help not only for all mental-health problems, but depression in particular.
According to a number of our respected health organizations exercise is greatly beneficial to those suffering from mood disturbances, anxiety, stress, depression for a number of reasons including feel-good brain chemicals – neurotransmitters, endorphins and endocannabinoids.
Kidney Disease:
According to the National kidney Foundation:
High blood pressure and diabetes are the 2 leading causes of kidney disease, so we can refer back to the stellar respect exercise earns in control and prevention of diabetes and blood pressure.
Men with kidney disease are more likely than women to go into kidney failure
Every year, kidney disease kills more people than breast or prostate cancer.
Men’s Health Alert: Renal Cell Carcinoma (kidney cancer) is twice as common in men
Fatty Liver Cirrhosis of the Liver.
Liver Disease: A February 2016 study out of the University of Missouri Medical school found that cardio respiratory exercise may protect the liver from against alcohol-related inflammation and injury. The CDC states alcohol use is responsible for more than 80,000 deaths in the United States each year. Exercise protects the liver by management/prevention of obesity, diabesity, cirrhoses of the liver from fat and alcohol. For those with liver disease, depression can be an added burden, and exercise is recommended here as well. A study out of the University of Haifa, Israel showed resistance training to be very successful for liver health. Results showed that resistance training led to a decrease in liver fat as detected by ultrasound testing.
Oxidative stress: My point of passion in all areas of health education.. oxidative stress. Suffice it to say here that oxidative stress is thought to be at the root cause of most of our chronic illnesses, physiological and psychological. The right exercise is vital for reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress.
Cost of Smoking employees to a company. Micah Berman study 2013
Smoking & Alcohol: We all know smoking and alcohol are hazardous to our health. Here, let’s acknowledge that exercise and regular physical activity are fabulous partners in quit smoking programs and those to reduce alcohol consumption.
As extensive as this article seems, its really not even a warm up as we call it in the fitness world.
Never try and exclusively treat yourself with exercise – but always consider how exercise is a cherished partner in wellness – prevention, recovery and management.
There is much we know about exercise for prevention and recovery from disease, and even more we don’t know yet. And I will always add this proviso…if ever there is presence of disease from metabolic syndrome, cancer, liver disease…….I urge people to seek the guidance of a medical fitness specialist. There are specific guidelines that must be respected, certain forms of exercise are more successful with specific issues, and of course exercise programs much be approved by the patient’s health care professionals.
So men, even if you think you don’t have the time for exercise, or having a “6 pack” is not important to you, its not about that. Yes, the beautiful outer facade of our bodies is a brilliant reward for exercise. But exercise is healing and repairing the damage we do to our bodies every day. The real magic of exercise is in the cell.
A few misconceptions to clear up:
Exercise does NOT have to be in a gym
Exercise & physical activity are different, one does not excuse the other
Many people who exercise daily are still sedentary according to our circulation
A desk job does not necessitate being sedentary
The is a process of eating, exercise and lifestyle habits that fits in with every schedule
A real employee wellness program is sculpted around each person, and their own unique demands. Specific needs and risks of men’s health and women’s health need to be addressed.
Shira Litwack
Medical fitness professional |Cancer Exercise Specialist
Personal & Corporate Health Coach | Fitness For Disease Recovery
Industry Expert Cancer Exercise
Director of International Relations Cancer Exercise Training Institute Master Trainer
Radio talk show host/Guest/Producer Health & Fitness Radio
BSc Psychology & Chemistry
Medical Exercise Specialist
Holistic Nutrition| Addiction Recovery
Total of 18 exercise designations
Shira Litwack, medical fitness professional, Cancer Exercise Specialist , Medical Exercise Specialist, Holistic Nutritionist
Chief Health Enthusiast – Best In Corporate Health
Shira is regularly consulted by Naturopaths, oncologists, health coaches on cancer exercise and exercise adherence.
Has assembled over 20 health and fitness professionals with varying specialties to bring to corporate wellness programs
Platforms include: Speaking, One-one/group health coaching, Retreats, Course development for in house delivery, Metrics to measure success available, Partners always included
Now offering live interactive webinars, just as if each participant has a personal health coach – making corporate wellness programs affordable to all.
Shira has been interviewed & published in hundreds of resources over the last 12 years:
Articles featured in: ezines, ArticlesInk, European Registry of Exercise Professionals, The National Post, Investment Executive Magazine, Directory of Greater Toronto, Canadian Leukemia & Lymphoma Association, Prostate Cancer Canada, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Anytime Fitness, Today’s Black Woman, Today’s Seniors, Medical Fitness Network, FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered), Willow (Breast & Hereditary Cancer Support),
Cancer Exercise Training Institute, Urban Poling for Breast Cancer, ROW – Recovery on Water for Breast Cancer
Sounds like a complete oxymoron….getting active in a sedentary lifestyle. Truth is – sedentary behaviour is the #1 lifestyle killer.
Physical Activity every waking hour is a critical aspect of cell health
A sedentary lifestyle is a guilty culprit in all of our chronic illnesses plaguing our world: depression, heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, weakened immune system, chronic fatigue….As the WHO states, at least 75% of our chronic illnesses are preventable.
Getting active in a sedentary lifestyle is the most forgotten aspect of health and wellness programs. Consider the facts on sedentary behaviour:
shortens our telomeres….a chromosomal “measure” for health and aging
dramatically increased risk of metabolic syndrome
Mayo Clinic study compared adults who spent less than two hours a day of screen-based activity with those who logged more than four hours a day of screen time. Those with greater screen time had:
A nearly 50 percent increased risk of death from any cause
About a 125 percent increased risk of events associated with cardiovascular disease, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack
The increased risk was separate from other traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking or high blood pressure.
Any extended sitting — such as behind a desk at work or behind the wheel — can be harmful.
Spending a few hours a week at the gym or otherwise engaged in moderate or vigorous activity does NOT seem to significantly offset the risk.
A complete corporate wellness program defines and integrates regular physical activity into the program, while still maintaining the decorum of the workplace. Many workplace environments are sedentary, desk job. Now combine that with travelling time, screen time at home, television, exhaustion at the end of a day…..getting active in a sedentary lifestyle demands respect and vigilance for workplace health and employee productivity.
Taking a 5 minute nature walk – albeit sounds really fun – is not reality. A few suggestions from our Corporate Desk Olympics Program:
Deskercise……Serious muscle pumping, heart health exercises…tuned to your day!
Breathing exercises
Postural Pull ups
Pumping the Power pump muscles
Immune pumpers
Exercise and physical activity are very different, and both extremely important components to our overall health, and employee performance. Physical activity works the majority of its magic at the cellular level.
Cellular health minimizes those saboteurs which lead to poorly optimized health, enabling happiness, strength, empowerment, productivity – and yes – prevent illness.
Shira Litwack: BSc Psychology & Chemistry, medical fitness professional, Cancer Exercise Specialist , holistic nutritionist, medical exercise specialist
Shira Litwack calls herself the “CHE – Chief Health Enthusiast” of Best in Corporate Health. Shira has assembled over 30 health and fitness professionals to bring you unique corporate wellness programs designed around your employees. No more one size fits none corporate health programs, no long guilt lists of shoulds and should nots – fun, engaging programs where “installation” is an integral part of all programs. The health coaches cover a wide range of specialties from nutrition, exercise, balancing lifestyle, family harmony, addiction recovery, disease prevention and recovery…..contact us to plan your corporate wellness solutions.
Webinars Speaking Retreats Health Coaching
Remember, BICH processes include partners at no extra charge and are measurable!
Shira has been interviewed on: City TV, CTV, National Public Radio, Sirius XM Dr. Rehab Dr. Jonathan Whiteson & The Sports Medicine Show, Living Cancer Free, Web Talk Radio, Voice America, Obesity Control Center, Investment Executive