ARE YOU HAVING STRESS-RELATED PROBLEMS IN YOUR JOB?

ARE YOU HAVING STRESS-RELATED PROBLEMS IN YOUR JOB?

•          It’s often difficult to differentiate the mix of personal, home and work health issues.
•          Someone may have a preexisting condition and they may also have issues in the workplace.
•          It’s often the combination of these that is ultimately what leads to them becoming ill.
•          Common stress-related ailments are: Panic attacks, psychological anxiety, physical tension, depression, insomnia and migraines.
•          Stress-related conditions can often come about after changes at work.
•          This could be, for example, the threat of redundancy, high performance expectations or even a workload that you struggle to manage.
•          As people get older, changes in technology and having to constantly learn new things can be challenging, leading to added stress.
•          Conditions such as insomnia, panic attacks, depression and anxiety can be the result of too much work stress.
•          The problem starts small, but gets worse.
•          Initially, stress causes people to be more irritable or just behave unusually, but further along, they can develop severe anxiety and become panicky about work situations, which can end with them being off work for long periods with depression.
•          Think about whether your responses are realistic.
•          A lot of stress comes from people’s perception of a situation, but these feelings may actually turn out to be unfounded.
•          Work on communication with line managers and colleagues - often, stress can come from misunderstandings.
•          Ask for a weekly one-to-one interaction with your line manager to talk through concerns.
•          After that, try and plan your workload with them.

LIVER DISEASE OF ALCOHOLICS

1. Alcohol is absorbed from the stomach and intestines into the bloodstream.
2. Since blood from the stomach and intestines first goes through the liver and then to other parts of the body, the highest concentration of alcohol is in the blood that’s flowing through the liver.
3. Liver cells contain enzymes which metabolise the alcohol by breaking them into water and carbon dioxide.
4. The liver cells can process only a certain amount of alcohol per hour.
5. Drinking excess alcohol, therefore, can lead to 3 types of alcohol-induced liver disease: fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis.

FATTY LIVER
1. In this condition, there is excessive accumulation of fat inside the liver cells.
2. It is a common alcohol-induced disorder, in which the liver gets enlarged.
3. This may cause upper abdominal discomfort on the right side.

ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS
1. This is an acute inflammation of the liver, accompanied by the destruction of liver cells.
2. Symptoms may include pain, fever and jaundice.

CIRRHOSIS
1. This is a condition where the normal liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue or fibrosis.
2. The scar tissue affects the normal structure and re-growth of liver cells.
3. These cells become damaged and die as scar tissue gradually develops.
4. The liver gradually loses its ability to function well.
5. Symptoms may include jaundice, blood in vomits or in stool, fluid in tummy (ascites), blood clotting problems, confusion, coma and bleeding in the guts.

LIVER CANCER
1. Alcohol is a risk factor for liver cancer through cirrhosis.
2. About 5% of people with cirrhosis develop liver cancer.
3. The risk of liver cancer is even greater if a person is infected with the hepatitis B or C viruses.
4. One in five people with these viruses develop cirrhosis and liver cancer.
5. People with these infections should avoid alcohol, as even a small amount could damage their liver.
6. The disease can be diagnosed by physical examination, ultra-sonography and a liver-specific blood test.

TREATMENT
1. Abstinence from alcohol is the primary treatment.
2. The liver has a great regenerative power and is often able to repair early stage of liver damage.
3. However, once the liver becomes cirrhotic, it cannot be reversed.
4. Liver replacement is the only curative treatment.

DO YOU HAVE SEDENTARY WORK HEALTH PROBLEMS?

DO YOU HAVE SEDENTARY WORK HEALTH PROBLEMS?

•         Our working life can cause a whole host of conditions that have a huge impact on our health.
•          Our working life can not only cause health problems it can also exacerbate ones we already have.
•          It’s often difficult to differentiate the mix of personal, home and work health issues.
•          Someone may have a preexisting condition and they may also have issues in the workplace.
•          It’s often the combination of these that is ultimately what leads to them becoming ill.
•          Common ailments are: Lower back pain, joint injuries, arthritis, and arm pain.
•          Office workers often spend hours sitting still and carrying out repetitive tasks.
•          The human body isn't designed for this were supposed to be moving around.
•          Common causes of sickness absence include musculo-skeletal conditions such as lower back pain and work-relevant upper limb disorders, such as nonspecific arm pain.
•          Also, office knee is a growing problem, partly due to the rise of the internet and being stuck at a desk all day long.
•          A huge surge in the number of people with knee pain is due to the sedentary lifestyle we now lead.
•          It is also found in people with desk-based jobs, who have been working for 10-20 years in these roles.
•          Staring at the computer for hours rather than having an active job means we are burning 120-140 fewer calories a day than 50 years ago.
•          Rotate your tasks.
•          Alternate computer and telephone use or, even better, go and speak to someone in person.
•          Maintain good posture at your computer, and don’t slump and slouch.
•          Keep shoulders down, back straight and don’t lean your head forward.
•          And resist crossing your legs.
•          Make sure you get out of the office every day for some fresh air.
•          Take quick breaks at least every hour, even if it is just to run up and down the stairs.

HOW TO DEAL WITH YOUR ACTIVE WORK HEALTH PROBLEMS?

HOW TO DEAL WITH YOUR ACTIVE WORK HEALTH PROBLEMS?

•         We all know work can sometimes be a pain in the neck.
•          But what if your job caused you actual pain, illness or psychological distress?
•          Common ailments are: Lower back pain, joint injuries, arthritis, and arm pain.
•          If your job involves a regular amount of activity such as bending, lifting, stretching and pushing, the good news is this that gives you an excellent chance to take proper charge of your physical health.
•          An active job where you are moving around is the healthiest job you can have.
•          But after the age of 50, many employees with active jobs, such as cleaners and bin men, start to feel wear and tear.
•          Whatever your age, jobs that involve movement can sometimes contribute to musculo-skeletal disorders such as lower back pain, joint injuries, muscular aches and strains, and non-specific arm pain - a term used to describe pain in the fingers, wrists, forearms, neck and shoulders.
•          Rotate repetitive activities and remember to take your rest periods.
•          Also try taking regular micro-breaks.
•          Adopt neutral work postures whenever you can always stand upright, maintain the natural curves of your back, keep your arms close to your body and keep your feet hip-distance apart.
•          Avoid working in awkward or uncomfortable positions, e.g. working with arms away from your body or with your back bent and twisted.
•          Check your posture is good, with your spine, shoulder and hip joints in correct alignment.
•          Shock-absorbent shoes are a good idea if you are on your feet all day.

DO's AND DON'Ts FOR A HEALTHIER HEART

Do’s
1.Eat more of fruit, vegetables, high-fibre, and low-cholesterol food.
2. Try to eat a new healthy recipe each week.
3. When traveling, carry heart-healthy snacks to avoid fast foods.
4. Drink adequate water daily.
5. Exercise regularly and go for a brisk walk for 45 minutes to an hour, 3-4 times a week, to help increase your good cholesterol.
6. Take the stairs routinely.
7. Take the first available parking space and walk the extra distance to office or work.
8. Stop drinking alcohol, or limit it to a peg a day, twice a week.
9. Maintain a healthy body weight.
10. Control your blood glucose level.
11. If you are diabetic, get your lipid profile checked every 3 months.
12. Get a yearly checkup.
13. Sleep for 6-8 hours at a stretch.
14. Practice yoga to keep your lungs and heart healthy along with strengthening your back muscles.
15. Know the symptoms of a heart attack and get help right away.

Don’t’s
1. Don’t eat fried, junk, salty and oily food, and avoid red meat.
2. Don’t give diabetes a chance to increase your heart risk.
3. Don’t take stress for too long, by taking a ‘stress break’ of 15 minutes for relaxation, meditation or a walk.
4. Don’t feel depressed, with the help of a friend or relative.
5. Don’t start exercising without your doctor’s permission.
6. Don’t start late on good lifestyle practices such as walking, jogging, cycling or playing regularly with your children.
7. Quit smoking.
8. Don’t miss your regular appointments with the doctor.

TESTS FOR YOUR HEART
1. Checking your family history for causes of heart diseases.
2. Blood pressure levels (normal is 120 mmHg systolic / 80 mmHg diastolic)
3. Blood sugar level tests (fasting and post-meal).
4. Glucose tolerance test (GTT) and/ or a Glycosylated haemoglobin level test.
5. Lipid profile test (total cholesterol, HDL-good cholesterol, LDL-bad
cholesterol, HDL:cholesterol ratio, and triglycerides).
6. ECG, 2D echo and a stress test.
7. Angiography.

BASICS OF CANCER (PART 3 OF 3)

F. Food and lifestyle changes
1. Quit smoking as it has been clearly linked with higher risk of cancer.
2. Take an aspirin or baby aspirin every day.
3. Because of potential side effects, you should consult your doctor first.
4. Take a safe dose of folic acid (for example, 1 mg) every day.
5. Engage in physical activity every day. 6. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables everyday.
7. Curcumin, a common spice derived from turmeric, is a powerful anti-inflammatory compound that inhibits genes involved in the growth and spread of cancer.
8. It also creates a gastrointestinal environment favourable to colon
health by reducing levels of natural secretions that contribute to colon cancer risk.
9. Garlic reduces carcinogenic potential of compounds such as nitrosamines and exerts anti-proliferative effects.
10. Aged garlic extract reduces the formation of pre-cancerous adenomas. 11. Key compounds in ginger limit the oxidative damage to cells caused by free radicals.
12. They also lower levels of cytokines that provoke an inflammatory response.
13. This dual action inhibits initiation of carcinogenesis and limits expansion of existing malignancies.
14. Red meat consumption should be avoided as it leads to a higher risk of colorectal cancer.
15. Green tea extract is known to have anti-cancer actions on growth, survival, angiogenesis and metastatic processes of cancer cells.
16. Heavy drinking increases your risk of colorectal cancer.
17. Exercise cuts the risk of colon cancer and polyps, and sedentary
living increases it.
18. Cardio work speeds up gut transit, the time taken for digested food to pass through the colon, and reduces the time carcinogens are around to mutate healthy cells.

G. Support Groups and Counseling
1. Many people feel anxious and depressed, some angry and resentful, while others feel helpless and defeated. 2. For most people with cancer, talking about their feelings and concerns with friends, family members and co-sufferers helps.
3. Support groups of people with cancer may be available through the medical center where you are receiving your treatment.
4. The Indian Cancer Society also has information about support groups all over India.

BASICS OF CANCER (PART 2 OF 3)

D. How much do you know about cancer?
1. More than half of all people diagnosed with cancer are cured.
2. In this century, scientists have come to understand what cancer is and how it grows.
3. Thanks to advances in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, people who face a cancer diagnosis have great
reason to hope.
4. Some forms of the disease remain difficult to treat, but there are treatments available to improve quality of life in those cases.
5. There are warning signs, and illness comes gradually.
6. There are some symptoms that may indicate cancer, including change in a wart or mole; a sore that doesn't heal; persistent cough or hoarseness; change in bowel or bladder habits; chronic indigestion or difficulty swallowing;
unusual bleeding or discharge; unexplained loss of weight or appetite; persistent fatigue, low-grade fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, or bone pain; thickening or lumps in the tissue; and repeat infections.
7. Most cancers are not hereditary.
8. For many cancers, there is no known cause, but some of the most common cancers are linked to environmental factors like smoking, sun exposure, and
diet.
9. These environmental factors, combined with your age, heredity, and overall health seems to contribute to your cancer risk.
10. Cancer treatments are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
11. Surgery and radiation are used to remove or destroy cancerous cells from localized areas, such as in the case of a cancerous breast lump.
12. Chemotherapy is used to destroy cancer cells that may have spread, or metastasized, throughout the body.
13. Hormone therapy may be used to slow the growth of certain types of cancer.
14. A well-balanced diet reduces side effects during treatment.
15. People with good nutrition seem to respond better to cancer treatment and ward off weight loss and malnutrition,
common problems for cancer patients.
16. In particular, patients who follow a vegetarian diet report feeling better.
17. However, no particular diet has been shown to slow or cure cancer.

E. Prevention
1. Your best prevention is to detect cancer and treat it early in its formation.
2. Quit smoking as it has been clearly linked with higher risk of cancer.
3. Take an aspirin or baby aspirin every day.
4. Because of potential side effects, you should consult your doctor first.
5. Take a safe dose of folic acid (for example, 1 mg) every day.
6. Engage in physical activity every day. 7. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day.