Rob Rossiter, CEO of Health insurance of the fountain.
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CEOs and other senior executives face a lot of daily stress and responsibilities. Recent headlines have pointed to the negative health impact of leadership responsibilities. The Wall Street Journal to put it bluntly: “One secret to a longer life: don’t become a CEO in a struggling industry.” Alternatively, a Harvard Business School report titled “Dying to Lead: How Reaching the Top Can Kill You Sooner” detailed a study showing that top business executives of a large American corporation (GE) died on average three to five years earlier than lower-level workers because of their work-related stress.
As a result, many leaders are becoming more proactive about their health. In the same way they run their businesses, they are taking control of their health and looking for new and innovative ways to boost performance and stop disease and disability before it becomes a problem.
Take control of your personal health
Here’s an example: A CEO patient came to our parent company for diagnostic testing a few years ago due to a family history of heart disease. While his heart health has been fine, doctors have found a thyroid condition that could have been fatal if left untreated. If he waited for symptoms to appear, it could seriously affect not only his productivity but also his quality of life. The procedure was much easier to treat due to catching the problem early.
This CEO now runs diagnostic tests annually and has even invested in insurance so that all of his employees have access to the same annual tests. He is among a growing number of executives who are recognizing the importance of becoming CEO of their own personal health and providing their team with access to do the same.
Innovative next-generation diagnostic tools, often combined with artificial intelligence (AI), provide a snapshot of your health with detailed and in-depth accuracy, in real time. This enables executives to make proactive decisions so they can mitigate health risks and avoid crises like heart attack, stroke, diabetes or even cancer, setting them up for good health, high performance and longevity.
I believe there will be more medical breakthroughs in the next three years than in the last century combined. The convergence of innovations in healthcare with artificial intelligence, genomics and improved analytics have dramatically improved and changed medical diagnostics and will continue to do so. For example, 90% of heart disease is preventable. Additionally, an AI coronary artery scan can assess current risk by identifying the most recent soft plaque that is prone to rupture. This new risk assessment will allow you to take steps, big or small, early enough to have a significant impact.
Finding the disease before it becomes a catastrophic event, rather than treating it after it has progressed, can mean the difference between a treatable or a terrible medical problem. New precision diagnostics such as multi-cancer early detection tests, AI-powered whole body and brain MRIs, AI-powered coronary artery scans, and continuous glucose monitoring help detect cancer, the risk of Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes and more before they progress. This revolution in data-driven diagnostics promises to move healthcare from reactive (treating disease after it’s detected) to proactive (identifying disease before it progresses).
Run to the fullest
In the same way that healthy companies greatly outnumber their peers, healthy leaders are more effective leaders and improve a company’s bottom line. Becoming CEO of your health gives you the ability to look at your health in real time and make changes that not only benefit longevity, but can boost performance and provide stress-reducing peace of mind.
To be the best leader, you need to be in the best health possible. You owe it to your business, your family, and yourself to put yourself first and optimize personal health so you can perform at your best.
The information provided here is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should consult a qualified healthcare professional for advice about your specific situation.
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