Cigna's One Heart-One Life Worksite Campaign Raises Awareness Of High Blood Pressure During American Heart Month (Photo: Cigna)

Chances are good that you know someone with high blood pressure and chances are also good that they may not have the condition under control. With one in three American adults experiencing high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) ¹, and more than half not having it under control, ² Cigna created the One Heart-One Life campaign to help clients address this serious yet often preventable health condition. High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke and, while it affects people of all ages and backgrounds, certain populations experience a serious health disparity when it comes to high blood pressure. For instance, nearly 40 percent of all African Americans have high blood pressure, compared to 31 percent of white Americans. ³

Cigna's One Heart-One Life Worksite Campaign Raises Awareness of High Blood Pressure during American Heart Month (Photo: Cigna)

To address this health disparity, Cigna's Health Disparities Advisory Council, comprising 11 clients with diverse employee populations, will participate in the One Heart-One Life high blood pressure worksite campaign offering their employees a variety of health promotion tools to help raise awareness of high blood pressure and its very serious health implications. Dr. Scott Josephs, vice president and national medical director for Cigna, explains, “We’re reaching out to our clients’ employees through emails, posters, games and lunch-and-learn sessions—all designed to help people understand high blood pressure, the threat it poses to health and helpful tips to keep high blood pressure under control.”

“Health is not achieved with a one-off effort. Just filling out a health assessment once a year won’t create change--what makes the difference is having a continual program,” says Trinette Small, benefits coordinator for Memphis City Schools, a participating Cigna client. Crystal Duncan, benefits manager for Howard University, also participating in the campaign, explains, “With a high percentage of African Americans among our staff, we immediately knew we wanted to bring this campaign to our employees. My main goal with the One Heart-One Life campaign is to raise awareness of high blood pressure. Education is the critical first step—then we encourage employees to take the next step for their personal health.”

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