Constant checks are crucial

REGULAR health-risk assessments and annual check-ups can do much to lessen the illnesses that employees endure, says Gerald Heimberg, MD of Aon Healthcare.

"On average 60% of all employees in SA take paid sick leave in an annual cycle, yet only 10% to 15% on average participate in wellness programmes.They would have had improved health and a better prognosis if they had taken the time to have some form of proper health-risk assessment plus regular preventative screening tests."

He says being aware of one's health status enables employees to know whether they are at risk in terms of any health condition. This is particularly so for risks such as high blood pressure and cholesterol that creep up on one and can easily become a problem.

"A health-risk assessment can be done inside 15 minutes, and those 15 minutes can add years to one's life."

Lynn Carlisle: Business Day, 17 October 2008