Memorial Hermann Start!

Start Walking! Start Making a Change! Start Being Involved!

Did you know that for every hour of regular exercise you do, you gain two hours of life expectancy? According to a Harvard study, by exercising regularly you will live longer.

To promote heart health in the workplace, Memorial Hermann has joined with the American Heart Association locally to pioneer a new national campaign called Start! This program encourages companies to build a culture of health and physical activity.

The facts are staggering: Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 3 killers in America. More than 80 million Americans have cardiovascular disease, yet it is a proven fact that just 30 minutes of exercise daily can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The benefits of a heart-healthy work environment are clear:

• At least 25 percent of healthcare costs for working adults are attributed to modifiable risks, such as poor diet and lack of exercise.
• Reducing just one health risk increases a person’s productivity on the job by 9 percent and reduces absenteeism by 2 percent.
• For every $1 a company spends on its worksite wellness program, it receives an average net benefit of $3.40 to $7.88.

Take the first step in your workplace toward creating a healthier Houston. Start! now.

Memorial Hermann is proud to be the local presenting sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women and Start! campaigns. Start! is a national campaign that calls on all Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health, to live longer, heart-healthy lives through walking. Promoting physical activity through workplace walking programs can help employees reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke, and lead longer, stronger, healthier lives.

Learn more about the Start! program by visiting the American Heart Association’s website.