DeCare Health

Health Screening is an excellent way to identify employees who may be at risk of serious cardiovascular issues. These one-to-one assessments involve an oral health check, blood pressure, body composition analysis with the option of a small finger-prick to draw a blood sample, which is then analysed in minutes to produce the attendee’s cholesterol scores.

These are key indicators of cardiovascular health, as unmanaged levels can contribute to cardiovascular conditions such as type-2 diabetes, heart attacks and strokes.

Our team then offers results review and lifestyle guidance and lifestyle medical advice.

• Blood pressure
• Total Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, Cholesterol Ratio
• Height/weight/body mass index (BMI)
• Waist Circumference
• Oral Health check
• Dietary and sugar advice

Looking after your employee’s health is not only key to workplace wellbeing but it can also reduce the risks of health problems developing which could potentially lead to sickness absence and poor health and welfare of your staff.

DeCare Health will track blood pressure, pulse, BMI , weight, cholesterol and Oral Health and the results may detect any health problems before they become too serious.

Overtime, this health information will form an important part of employees’ health and wellbeing and encourage them to make lifestyle changes, therefore creating a healthier workforce.

Health and wellbeing status tracking in the workplace has shown to benefit employers by:

• Reducing absenteeism
• Reducing staff turnover
• Reducing accidents and injuries
• Greater employee satisfaction
• Less time managing sickness absence
• Improved output and productivity
• Improved health and welfare of staff
• Improved company profile

Compare your scores with the table below*. Use the highest of your two numbers to work out your classification. If high, try retesting in a quiet place.

**Diabetes sufferers should aim to keep their BP below 130/80mmHg
Read the following article for more details on High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels:

• Systolic

  This is the peak pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries as the blood pumps away from the heart. The walls of the arteries expand as the blood is forced through them.

• Diastolic

  As the heart relaxes between beats and refills with blood ready for the next beat, the arteries contract and the blood is moved around.

• Resting heart rate

  The number of times the heart beats every minute when relaxing. At rest the heart normally beats about 72 times per minute. The lower the score, the fitter the individual usually is.

• Changes in your blood pressure

  Blood pressure changes throughout the day according to the level of the individual’s activity. It is normally at its lowest in the latter part of the sleep period.

• High blood pressure

  High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease or stroke. If your blood pressure is consistently high, it will need to be treated either by making changes to your lifestyle or by taking medication. If your blood pressure is consistently above 140/90mmHg see your GP.

• Low blood pressure

  If your blood pressure is naturally low, it is unlikely that it will cause you any symptoms or require treatment. However, if your blood pressure is consistently below 90/60mmHg see your GP.

1000’s of people each year could be saved from a heart attack or stroke if they managed their blood pressure more efficiently. Here are some things you can do:

• Manage your stress levels
• Maintain a healthy weight (if you are overweight, losing 10kg can reduce your BP by about 5mmHg)
• Stop smoking
• Do not add salt during cooking or at the table. Reducing salt by 5g a day can lower BP by approximately 5mmHg. Aim for less than 6g a day.
• Regular moderate – intensity exercise
• Diabetics or those diagnosed with high BP, must be under GP care.
• Healthy use of alcohol. The NHS recommend men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units of alcohol a day and women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day. If you’ve consumed a large amount of alcohol, avoid alcohol for 48 hours.

It remains the responsibility of each individual to inform their GP of their BP readings, and if appropriate their line manager too.

References

Guidelines Committee (2003) European Society of Hypertension: European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension. J. Hypertens. 21, 1011-1053.

What does my score mean?

Compare your scores with the table below:

Table: Levels of risk associated with waist circumference values (British Heart Foundation, 2014)
Read the latest guide from the HSE on Talking about weight – a guide to developing healthy habits.

Waist circumference is a measurement which provides an estimation of body fat at the abdomen (Klein et al, 2007).

Your risk of health problems can be affected by where body fat is deposited. By carrying too much fat around your waist, you can increase your risk of developing conditions such as:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• High Cholesterol
• Cardiovascular Disease

It’s becoming clear that excess body fat, especially abdominal fat, disrupts the normal balance and functioning of hormones. Men and women who have waist circumferences greater than 40 inches (102 cm) and 35 inches (88 cm), respectively, are considered to be at an increased risk for cardiometabolic disease (Wang et al, 2005) (see table). Waist circumference can determine whether a person is classified as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese.

Most people who carry too much body fat around their waist can blame their excess fat on consuming more energy (calories) than they actually burn. By consuming more calories than expended, the excess energy is stored as fat in the body.

• Be active more often

  Aim for 150 minutes, or more of physical activity per week.

• Portion size

  Avoid piling the food on the plate unless it is nutritious vegetables!

• Food choices

  Consume complex carbohydrates (whole-grains, vegetables and fruit) and lean proteins rather than simple carbohydrates (white bread, sugary drinks, and refined grain pasta).

• Fat is not your enemy

  Your body needs fat in the diet. Make sure it is polyunsaturated fats (oily fish, nuts and seeds) over saturated and trans fats (butter, chocolate, cheese, processed meats).

• Avoid snacking

  If you do snack, choose a healthy option, otherwise try to eat the same time each day to avoid getting hungry.

• Five a day

  Eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day whether fresh or frozen.

References

British Heart Foundation. (2008). Measuring Your Waist. Available: https://www.bhf.org.uk/bmi/bmi_measurewaist.html. Last accessed 14th April 2014.
Klein, S., Allison, D.B., Heymsfield, S.B., Kelley, D.E., Leibel, R.L., Nonas, C., and Kahn, R. (2007) Waist Circumference and Cardiometabolic Risk: A Consensus Statement from Shaping America’s Health: Association for Weight Management and Obesity Prevention; NAASO, the Obesity Society; the American Society for Nutrition; and the American Diabetes Association.
Diabetes Care. 30(6), 1647-1652.
Wang, Y., Rimm, E.B., Stampfer, M.J., Willett, W.C., and Hu, F.B. (2005) Comparison of abdominal adiposity and overall obesity in predicting risk of type 2 diabetes among men. Am J Clin Nutr. 81(3), 555–563.

Compare your scores with the table below:

These ranges are only for adults. If you’re concerned about your child’s weight, contact your GP

BMI is a measure that most people can use to check if their weight is healthy for their height. However, it is important to note that muscle is heavier than fat and this needs to be borne in mind when interpreting BMI of athletic/muscular individuals.

If your BMI is 25 or more, you should think about losing weight as being overweight or obese can increase your risk of health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, kidney disease and high blood pressure (hypertension)

If your BMI is less than 18.5, you may want to talk to your GP about gaining weight. Being underweight can increase your risk of other health problems, such as brittle bones (osteoporosis), absent periods in women and iron deficiency (anaemia).

There are 3 main aims when considering weight loss:

1. To prevent further weight gain
2. To gradually lose weight through a combination of a calorie-controlled diet and regular exercise
3. To avoid regaining any lost weight

References

ACSM (2013) ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Health, Baltimore.
WHO Experts Consultation (2004) Appropriate Body Mass Index for Asian Populations and it’s Implications for Policy and Intervention
Strategies. Lancet. 363(9403), 157-163.

Visit the HSE website for a full overview of High Cholesterol

Cholesterol levels vary by age, weight, and sex. The body produces more cholesterol over time, so doctors recommend that everyone 20 years and older check their cholesterol levels regularly, ideally about every 5 years.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance, and there are two types: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

If there is too much LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol in the bloodstream, it can build up in blood vessels, forming fatty deposits called plaques. These plaques can lead to other problems, including heart attacks and strokes.

Total and LDL cholesterol levels should be low. But having more HDL, or “good,” cholesterol in the blood may reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Doctors can measure HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol levels. The results may also show levels of all non-HDL fats that can raise the risk of heart disease. Your Cholesterol today at your DeCare health screening is explained below on the chart given your age and metric.

Cholesterol levels tend to increase with age. Taking steps to reach or maintain healthy levels earlier in life may prevent them from becoming dangerously high over time. Years of unmanaged cholesterol levels can be challenging to treat.

The CDC recommends that people aged 20 or over check their cholesterol levels every five years.

The table below shows healthy levels of cholesterol by age, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Doctors measure cholesterol in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl)

Total cholesterol levels under 200 mg/dl are healthy for adults.

Doctors treat readings of 200–239 mg/dl as borderline high, and readings of at least 240 mg/dl as high.

Ideally, LDL cholesterol levels should be less than 100 mg/dl. Doctors may not express concern about levels of 100–129 mg/dl for people with no health issues, but they may suggest treatment at this stage for people with heart disease or its risk factors.

If a person’s reading is 130–159 mg/dl, it is borderline high, while readings of 160–189 mg/dl are high. A reading of at least 190 mg/dl is very high.

Doctors recommend keeping HDL levels higher. People with a reading of less than 40 mg/dl may have a risk of heart disease.

If a person’s reading is 41–59 mg/dl, doctors consider this borderline low. Optimal HDL levels are 60 mg/dl or higher.

The Institute of Public Health recommends these strategies for lowering cholesterol levels:

• having a diet rich in heart-healthy source foods, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains
• becoming more physically active
• quitting smoking if this applies
• having a moderate weight
• managing stress

The IPH recommends consulting a healthcare professional before starting a new exercise plan, but overall, it advises a person to get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.

Having a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise can also bring down high cholesterol levels in children.

Generally, the earlier a person starts making these changes, the better for their cholesterol levels, as cholesterol builds up over time.

High cholesterol at any age increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. These risks only increase over time.

Compare your scores with the table below:

Table: Body fat percentage ranges (men)*

Body fat percentage is the percentage of body fat in relation to total weight.

Body fat protects organs, cushions joints, controls temperature, stores vitamins and acts as an energy store for the body. Too much body fat can lead to adverse effects in terms of health i.e. blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Body fat values outside the healthy range lead to a significantly higher risk of health problems.

Body fat that lies superficial and close to the skin. Characteristics are:

• Outwardly visible
• Less metabolically active
• Less easily broken down

Body fat that lies around the central organs (the viscera). Generally, visceral fat is considered a lot more harmful to health than subcutaneous fat and has been proved to contribute to diseases such as diabetes and heart disease 2. Characteristics are:

• Not outwardly visible
• More metabolically active
• Breaks down quickly in order to be used as energy

It is not possible to specifically target an area of your body for fat reduction. Usually, the abdomen is the first place where fat loss will occur. A reduction of 5% to 10% of body weight can result in a reduction of 10% to 30% of abdominal fat. It is generally accepted that visceral fat reduces at a greater rate because it is more metabolically active and breaks down quicker than subcutaneous fat.

It is not possible to specifically target an area of your body for fat reduction. Usually, the abdomen is the first place where fat loss will occur. A reduction of 5% to 10% of body weight can result in a reduction of 10% to 30% of abdominal fat. It is generally accepted that visceral fat reduces at a greater rate because it is more metabolically active and breaks down quicker than subcutaneous fat.

• Try and avoid snacking

  Try to eat at roughly the same time each day to avoid being hungry, this will help you avoid snacking. If you snack choose a healthy option.

• Choose reduced fat versions of foods

  Such as spreads, dairy and salad dressings, however still use sparingly.

• Be more active, more often

  Walk or be active every day! Aim for 10,000 steps or 30-40 minutes per day.

• Portion Control

  Don’t pile food on your plate unless it is vegetables.

• Think drink

  Choose water or sugar free squashes, also alcohol is high in calories so control your consumption.

• Five-a-day

  Eat at least five portions of fruit/vegetables per day. Fresh, frozen, or tinned.

References

* Gallagher et al (2000) Healthy Percentage Body Fat Ranges: an approach for developing guidelines based on body mass index. Am J Clin Nutr. 72(3), 694-701.
**. Westphal, S.A (2008) Obesity, Abdominal Obesity and Insulin Resistance. Clin Cornerstone. 9(1), 23-29.