Heart and Stroke Foundation

For many Canadians, lunchtime at work usually means waiting in long lineups at the cafeteria or a fast-food outlet for a quick grab-and-go lunch. Why not reduce the stress of buying lunch at work and maximize your time for physical activity by bringing your lunch to work? With a little pre-planning, a home-made lunch can buy you precious time and make it easier to enjoy heart-healthy eating during your workday.

Lunchtime at work is a welcome time out from the day's stress. But are you making the most out of your meal? Many people fall victim to the temptation of chip wagons and fast-food for something quick and easy to make it through the work day, but making healthy choices can boost your energy levels and, in the long term, it can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

You don't have to be a doctor, nurse, paramedic or lifeguard to save a life. Just learn CPR. Knowing how to perform CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) will give you the skills to help someone in cardiac arrest survive until emergency personnel arrive.

If a co-worker isn't doing his or her share on a project, or you're behind on a deadline, what are you going to reach for when you get home? The ice cream or the grapes? The remote control or the running shoes? If you're like most people, the remote control and the ice cream will probably win out.

Smart snacking is a powerful ally for your heart health. Reaching for the right snacks will boost your energy and help you manage your appetite. It's one of the best strategies to prevent overeating and making poor food choices.

October is a good time to renew all healthy habits in your work routine. According to Canadian Health Network's 2002 Guide to Nutrition in the Workplace, adults spend an average of 60% of their waking hours at work.

Lunchtime at work is a welcome time out from the day’s stress. But are you making the most out of your meal? Many people fall victim to the temptation of chip wagons and fast-food for something quick and easy to make it through the work day, but making healthy choices can boost your energy levels and, in the long term, it can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

When was the last time you tilled a field or washed your clothes by hand? It's true: Canadians don't do much physical labour anymore. We now have machines doing most of the hard labour. In fact, many occupations involve standing at retail desks or working at computers where e-mail and other communication make it virtually unnecessary to do any moving. "Before machines did most of our physical labour, we were getting activity throughout our whole workday," says Heart and Stroke Foundation spokesperson and workplace activity expert Nancy Dubois. "Now, we have engineered physical activity out of our lives.

Five ways to de-stress at work On top of the daily stresses of work, you may have been facing additional worries lately with the economic downturn. News of employee layoffs, salary and hiring freezes and increasing workloads might be piling on the stress. If your life is full of stress, it can be difficult to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Did you know that more than 15 million Canadians spend half of their waking hours at work and a full 51% participate in no physical activities in their leisure time? According the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, 63% of Canadians are not active enough to achieve health benefits, which leaves them at risk for heart and other diseases, disability and premature death.

Work often means stress - whether you're driving a truck, writing a report or corralling a roomful of toddlers. And stress is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Although the relationship isn't completely clear, some people with high levels of stress or prolonged stress may have higher blood cholesterol or increased blood pressure or be more prone to developing atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries).