General Health Conditions

Osteoporosis is a condition that affects the bones, causing them to become weak and fragile and more likely to break (fracture).

These fractures most commonly occur in the spine, wrist and hips but can affect other bones such as the arm or pelvis.

What causes osteoporosis?

In childhood, bones grow and repair very quickly, but this process slows as you get older. Bones stop growing in length between the ages of 16 and 18, but continue to increase in density until you are in your late 20s. From about the age of 35, you gradually lose bone density. This is a normal part of ageing, but for some people it can lead to osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures.

Other things that increase the risk of developing osteoporosis include:

• diseases of the hormone producing glands – such as an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
• a family history of osteoporosis
• long-term use of certain medications that affect bone strength or hormone levels, for example, oral prednisolone
• malabsorption problems
• heavy drinking and smoking

Read more about the causes of osteoporosis.

Symptoms of osteoporosis

There are often no warning signs for osteoporosis until someone experiences a fracture, often after a minor fall.

The most common injuries in people with osteoporosis are wrist fractures, hip fractures or fractures of the spinal bones (vertebrae).

Read more about the symptoms of osteoporosis.

If your doctor suspects you have osteoporosis, or are at high risk of developing the condition, you may be referred for a bone density scan (DEXA scan). This is a short and painless procedure that helps to assess your risk of a fracture.

Read more about diagnosing osteoporosis.

Treating osteoporosis

Treatment for osteoporosis is based on treating and preventing fractures and using medication to strengthen your bones.

However, the decision about what treatment, if any, you have will depend on your risk of fracture. This will be based on a number of things such as the results of your DEXA scan and your age.

Read more about how osteoporosis is treated.

Preventing osteoporosis

It is important that people at risk of osteoporosis take steps to help keep bones healthy and reduce their risk of developing the condition. This may include:

• regular exercise
• healthy eating
• lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and reducing alcohol intake

Read more about preventing osteoporosis.

Who is affected

Approximately 3 million people in the UK are thought to have osteoporosis, and there are over 250,000 fractures every year as a result. Although commonly associated with post-menopausal women, osteoporosis can also affect men, younger women and children.

Living with osteoporosis

If you are diagnosed with osteoporosis, there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of a fall, such as removing hazards from your home and having regular sight and hearing tests.

There are ways to help your recovery from a fracture. This might include:

• hot or cold treatments, with warm baths or cold packs
• TENS electrical device, which is thought to reduce pain by stimulating the nerves
• relaxation techniques

If you are worried about living with a long-term condition, speak to your GP or nurse who may be able to answer any questions you have. Some people with osteoporosis find it helpful to talk to a trained counsellor or psychologist, or to others with the condition.

Read more about living with osteoporosis.

Source

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are conditions that affect the nerves, tendons, muscles and supporting structures, such as the discs in your back. They result from one or more of these tissues having to work harder than they’re designed to.

HSE figures show that in Great Britain:

• an estimated 439,000 workers in 2011/12 suffered from musculoskeletal disorders caused or made worse by their current or past work. Approximately 176,000 of these workers suffered from bad back, approximately 177,000 from problems related to upper limbs and neck and approximately 86,000 with lower limb problems
• an estimated 7.5 million working days were lost in 2011/12 through work-related musculoskeletal disorders that were caused or made worse by work
• on average, each person suffering took an estimated 17 days off in 2011/12

HSE data on the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders by occupation suggest that the rates were statistically significantly higher in skilled agricultural trades, health and social welfare associate professionals, and skilled construction and building trades.

Self-reported musculoskeletal disorders by industry estimate statistically significantly higher rates in construction, other community, social and personal service activities, and health and social work. The lowest rates of self-reported musculoskeletal disorders by industry include hotels and restaurants, and education.

Signs and symptoms:

Back pain – NHS Direct explains that ‘The symptom of low back pain is a pain or ache anywhere on the back, in between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the legs. The majority of cases of back pain usually clear up quite quickly. However, if you are worried or concerned about back pain, seek medical advice.’ Find out more at NHS Direct.

• Symptoms of upper limb disorders – Pain is the most common symptom. Sometimes the sufferer also has joint stiffness, muscle tightness, redness and swelling of the affected area. Some people experience ‘pins and needles’, numbness, skin colour changes, and decreased sweating of the hands. WRMSDs may progress in stages from mild to severe.
• Early stage – Aching and tiredness of the affected limb occur during the work shift but disappear at night and during days off work. No reduction of work performance.
• Intermediate stage – Aching and tiredness occur early in the work shift and persist at night. May also have reduced capacity for repetitive work.
• Late stage – Aching, fatigue and weakness persist at rest. Inability to sleep and to perform light duties.

Not everyone goes through these stages in the same way. In fact, it may be difficult to say exactly when one stage ends and the next begins. The first pain is a signal that the muscles and tendons should rest and recover. As soon as people recognise that they have a symptom, they should immediately do something about it.

Find out more from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety and HSE.

Risk factors

Various risk factors are thought to be associated with MSDs, including:

• repetitive and/or heavy lifting
• bending and twisting
• repeating an action too frequently
• uncomfortable working position
• exerting too much force
• working too long without break
• adverse working environment (eg hot or cold)
• psychosocial factors (eg high job demands, time pressures and lack of control)
• not receiving and acting on reports of symptoms quickly enough

Find out more from the HSE.

Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel. Depending on where the cancer starts, bowel cancer is sometimes called colon cancer or rectal cancer.

Symptoms of bowel cancer include blood in your stools (faeces), an unexplained change in your bowel habits, such as prolonged diarrhoea or constipation, and unexplained weight loss.

Cancer can sometimes start in the small bowel (small intestine), but small bowel cancer is much rarer than large bowel cancer.

Who is affected by bowel cancer?

In England, bowel cancer is the third most common type of cancer. In 2009, there were 41,142 new cases of bowel cancer registered in the UK:

• 18,431 cases were diagnosed in women, making it the second most common cancer in women after breast cancer
• 22,711 cases were diagnosed in men, making it the third most common cancer after prostate and lung cancer

Approximately 72% of bowel cancer cases develop in people who are 65 or over. Two-thirds of bowel cancers develop in the colon, with the remaining third developing in the rectum.

Who’s at risk?

Things that increase your risk of getting bowel cancer include:

• Age – around 72% of people diagnosed with bowel cancer are over 65
• Diet – a diet high in fibre and low in saturated fat could reduce your bowel cancer risk, a diet high in red or processed meats can increase your risk
• Healthy weight – leaner people are less likely to develop bowel cancer than obese people
• Exercise – being inactive increases the risk of getting bowel cancer
• Alcohol and smoking – high alcohol intake and smoking may increase your chances of getting bowel cancer
• Family history and inherited conditions – aving a close relative with bowel cancer puts you at much greater risk of developing the disease.
• Related conditions – having certain bowel conditions can put you more at risk of getting bowel cancer

Bowel cancer screening

Currently, everyone between the ages of 60 and 69 is offered bowel cancer screening every two years, and the screening programme is currently being extended in England to those aged 70 to 75.

Screening is carried out by taking a small stool sample and testing it for the presence of blood (faecal occult blood test).

In addition, an extra screening test is being introduced over the next three years for all people at age 55. This test involves a camera examination of the lower bowel called a flexible sigmoidoscopy.

Screening plays an important part in the fight against bowel cancer because the earlier the cancer is diagnosed, the greater the chance it can be cured completely.

Treatment and outlook

Bowel cancer can be treated using a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and, in some cases, biological therapy. As with most types of cancer, the chance of a complete cure depends on how far the cancer has advanced by the time it is diagnosed.

If bowel cancer is diagnosed in its earliest stages, the chance of surviving a further five years is 90%, and a complete cure is usually possible. However, bowel cancer diagnosed in its most advanced stage only has a five-year survival rate of 6% and a complete cure is unlikely.

Source.

Useful websites:
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/type/bowel-cancer/
http://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/resources/factsheets/

Where to find alcohol support

Are you drinking too much?

If you’re not really sure about the amount you are drinking take this short test. It’ll help you to assess the effects of your drinking and if it suggests you’re drinking too much you’ll get advice on how to cut down or seek further help.

 QUESTIONS

1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

• Never (0 points)
• Once a month or less (1 points)
• 2 to 4 times a month (2 points)
• 2 to 3 times a week (3 points)
• 4 or more times a week (4 points)

2. How many units of alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?

• 1-2 (0 points)
• 3-4 (1 point)
• 5-6 (2 points)
• 7-9 (3 points)
• 10 + (4 points)

What is a unit?

You can’t just count each drink as a unit of alcohol. The number of units depends on the different strength and size of each drink, so it can vary a lot. Here are some examples:

• Pint of beer, 4%, is 2.3 units
• 500ml can of strong lager, 6%, 3 units
• 250ml glass of wine, 11%, 2.8 units
• 330ml can of cider, 5%, 1.7 units
• Single (25ml) measure of spirits (e.g. vodka or gin), 1 unit

3. How often do you have six or more units on one occasion?

• Never (0 points)
• Less than monthly (1 points)
• Monthly (2 points)
• Weekly (3 points)
• Daily or almost daily (4 points)

4. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you because of your drinking?

• Never (0 points)
• Less than monthly (1 points)
• Monthly (2 points)
• Weekly (3 points)
• Daily or almost daily (4 points)

 5. How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?

• Never (0 points)
• Less than monthly (1 points)
• Monthly (2 points)
• Weekly (3 points)
• Daily or almost daily (4 points)

 6. How often during the last year have you needed an alcoholic drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?

• Never (0 points)
• Less than monthly (1 point)
• Monthly (2 points)
• Weekly (3 points)
• Daily or almost daily (4 points)

7. How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?

• Never (0 points)
• Less than monthly (1 points)
• Monthly (2 points)
• Weekly (3 points)
• Daily or almost daily (4 points)

 8. How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking?

• Never (0 points)
• Occasionally (1 point)
• Monthly (2 points)
• Weekly (3 points)
• Daily (4 points)

 9. Have you or somebody else been injured as a result of your drinking?

• No, this has never happened (0 points)
• Yes, but not in the past year (2 points)
• Yes, during the past year (4 points)

 10. Has a relative, friend, doctor or health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?

• No, never (0 points)
• Yes, but not in the past year (2 points)
• Yes, during the past year (4 points)

RESULTS

0-8 points

Based on your answers today you’re drinking in a way that is sociable and is unlikely to harm your health. As long as your drinking does remain within recommended levels, there is only a low risk that the way you drink will contribute to future health problems. The NHS recommends that women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day and men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day. Remember, there can be risks from one-off episodes of heavy drinking too.

8-20 points

Based on your answers today your drinking does appear to be putting you at increased risk of developing health problems, so you might want to think about cutting down. The following can help you cut down: Work out a daily limit and stick to it. Do more activities that don’t involve drinking. Eat before and while you’re drinking. Don’t let anyone top up your drinks. Tell your friends you’re cutting down. Count your units. The NHS recommends that women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day and men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day.

20-100 points

Based on your answers today your drinking is already causing you problems. The NHS recommends that women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day and men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day. You may want help to reduce your drinking. You can find local alcohol services through the ‘Find services’ section of NHS Choices or your GP will be able to help you find them. You can also contact the National Drinkline 0800 917 8282 open 24 hours, seven days a week.

•   Alcoholics Anonymous – the helpline number is 0845 769 7555

•   Alcohol Concern – which runs the national drink helpline (Drinkline) on 0300 123 1110 

•  Al-Anon – for families and friends of alcoholics (helpline 020 7403 0888)

Certain levels of stress can be beneficial in helping us to achieve something like sitting exams or presenting to an audience or a piece of work that needs to meet a deadline. Stress helps to keep us alert and focused on what we’re doing.

When high levels of stress are continuous over a prolonged length of time, it can result in insomnia. Stress causes insomnia by making it difficult to fall asleep and to stay asleep. It has the effect of hyperarousal on our bodies and minds, which negatively impacts on the balance between sleep and wakefulness. In most cases of stress induced insomnia, when the stressors are eliminated or the person’s stress response is managed, the quality of sleep begins to improve.

Why do we need sleep?

While we may not often think about why we sleep, most of us acknowledge at some level that sleep makes us feel better. The function of sleep is to enable our bodies and minds to rest and repair themselves. Having had a good night’s sleep, we tend to feel more alert, more energetic, happier, and better able to function the following day. The fact that sleep makes us feel better and that going without sleep makes us feel worse – begins to explain why sleep is necessary for optimum health and wellbeing.

One way to think about the function of sleep is to compare it to another of our life-sustaining activities: eating. Hunger is a protective mechanism to ensure that we consume the nutrients our bodies require to grow, repair tissues, and to function properly. And although it is relatively easy to grasp the role that eating serves— given that it involves physically consuming the substances our bodies need—eating and sleeping are not as different as they might seem.

Both eating and sleeping are regulated by powerful internal drives. Going without food produces the uncomfortable sensation of hunger, while going without sleep makes us feel extremely tired and sleepy. And just as eating relieves hunger and ensures that we obtain the nutrients we need; sleeping relieves our tiredness and ensures that we obtain the sleep we need.

The amount of sleep that we need varies from person to person. Most adults need 7-8 hours per night, but some need more and some need less. Small babies spend most of their time sleeping; children need more sleep than adults and small children often need to nap during the day.

Causes of sleep deprivation

So what factors actually cause sleep deprivation? Most people experience disrupted sleep from time to time, usually through a stressful time like starting a new job, sitting exams or moving house. Usually once the pressure is off, the person tends to return to his or her normal sleep pattern.  When sleep deprivation is prolonged with many wakeful nights, it can cause people to experience fatigue during the day. We need sleep to think clearly, react quickly, and to create memories. Lack of sleep can have an adverse affect on our moods, making us feel irritable, short tempered leading to poor relationships. People who are chronically deprived of sleep are more likely to become stressed and depressed.

Sleep is very important for good health too. Not getting enough sleep, or getting poor quality sleep on a regular basis can result in a poor immune response to infections, high blood pressure, heart disease and other medical conditions.

There are 4 main types of sleep disturbances:

• Insomnia: which is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep
• Hypersomnia  – which is sleeping too much
• Sleep Apnea – this where the person gasps for air, snores or snorts whilst asleep
• Narcolepsy – this is the sudden urge to sleep particularly during the day.

Insomnia

In this video we will focus on the most common cause of poor sleep which is Insomnia. Insomnia is the inability to initiate or maintain sleep throughout the night or it is characterised by early morning awakening. This may manifest itself as excessive daytime sleepiness and low energy levels.

Long term Insomnia can cause you to feel depressed or irritable, have poor concentration levels, difficulty in learning and poor memory recall.

Causes of Insomnia

The most common causes of Insomnia are:

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Substance abuse
• Too much caffeine
• Side effects of medication
• Poor bed time routine and sleep environment
• Chronic illnesses like Asthma and an overactive thyroid

People who suffer with chronic Insomnia often report that they dread bedtime. They see bedtime as yet another stressful boring drawn out night of staring at the bedroom ceiling, watching the alarm clock and thinking “I have to get up and go to work in 2 hours time but I feel exhausted”. Insomnia is an extremely hard and frustrating experience for anyone, but thankfully there are some solutions that can be implemented to help get a good restful night’s sleep

Hints and tips for shift-workers ( HSE Website)

People vary in how they cope with shift work depending on their health, fitness, age, lifestyle, and domestic responsibilities– some adapt well, others do not. Whilst we cannot change our inbuilt characteristics, it is possible to alter our behaviour or make lifestyle changes that may make shift work more tolerable. The hints and tips below draw on commonly available advice and best practice from a range of sources and may improve sleep quality, increase alertness and reduce health risks for shift workers.

Driving to and from work

Driving to and from work can be risky, particularly after a long shift, a night shift or before an early start. The following strategies may make driving safer:

• consider using public transport or taxis rather than driving;
• exercise briefly before your journey;
• share driving if possible;
• drive carefully and defensively;
• try not to hurry;
• stop if you feel sleepy and take a short nap if it is safe to do so;
• make occasional use of caffeine or ‘energy’ drinks.
• Identify a suitable sleep schedule

Most adults need 7-8 hours sleep a day although this may decrease with age. If you cannot do this, try to rest, as this is still beneficial. Recording sleep patterns and problems using a diary may help to explain fatigue and tiredness. It can also be used to help find the most suitable strategies and conditions for a better quality of sleep.

If you work regular shifts, try going to bed at different times eg soon after you arrive back from work or stay up and sleep before the next shift;

• have a short sleep before your first night shift;
• if coming off night shifts, have a short sleep and go to bed earlier that night;
• once you have identified a suitable sleep schedule try to keep to it.

Make the environment favourable for sleeping

Sleep loss and fatigue are some of the most significant problems for shift workers. It is important to try and maintain your normal level of sleep and rest. Daytime sleep is usually lighter, shorter and of poorer quality than night time sleep. It is more frequently disturbed because of warmer temperatures and daytime noise. To help make the environment favourable for sleeping:

• sleep in your bedroom and avoid using it for other activities such as watching television, eating and working;
• use heavy curtains, blackout blinds or eye shades to darken the bedroom;
• disconnect the phone or use an answer machine and turn the ringer down;
• ask your family not to disturb you and to keep the noise down when you are sleeping;
• discuss your work pattern with close neighbours and ask them to try and avoid noisy activities during your sleep time;
• if it is too noisy to sleep consider using earplugs, white noise or background music to mask external noises;
• adjust the bedroom temperature to a comfortable level, cool conditions improve sleep.

Techniques to promote sleep

To promote sleeping, try to follow a similar routine to the one you follow before a normal nights sleep. The following tips may help you relax after a shift and promote sleep:

• go for a short walk, relax with a book, listen to music and/or take a hot bath before going to bed;
• avoid vigorous exercise before sleep as it is stimulating and raises the body temperature;
• avoid caffeine, ‘energy’ drinks and other stimulants a few hours before bedtime as they can stop you going to sleep;
• don’t go to bed feeling hungry: have a light meal or snack before sleeping but avoid fatty, spicy and/or heavy meals, as these are more difficult to digest and can disturb sleep;
• avoid alcohol as it lowers the quality of sleep.

Diet

It is very important to consider the timing and quality of your meals. Digestive problems are common in shift workers due to disruption of the body clock and poor diet. Plan your meals to help you stay alert at work and to relax/sleep when you need to rest.

• regular light meals/snacks are less likely to affect alertness or cause drowsiness than a single heavy meal;
• choose foods that are easy to digest such as pasta, rice, bread, salad, fruit, vegetables and milk products;
• avoid fatty, spicy and/or heavy meals as these are more difficult to digest. They can make you feel drowsy when you need to be alert. They may also disturb sleep when you need to rest;
• avoid sugary foods, such as chocolate – they provide a short-term energy boost followed by a dip in energy levels;
• fruit and vegetables are good snacks as their sugar is converted into energy relatively slowly and they also provide vitamins, minerals and fibre;
• drink plenty of fluid as dehydration can reduce both mental and physical performance but avoid drinking too much fluid before sleeping as this may overload the bladder.

Stimulants and sedatives

Shift workers often turn to stimulants such as coffee or cigarettes to keep them awake and sedatives such as alcohol or sleeping pills to help them sleep. Avoid such aids as they only have short-term effects on alertness as tolerance to their effects develops. Persistent use may also increase the risk of dependence.

• caffeine is a mild stimulant present in coffee, tea and cola as well as in tablet form and in special ‘energy’ drinks. It can improve reaction time and feelings of alertness for short periods. Only use caffeine occasionally and don’t rely on it to keep you awake. If you do decide to take caffeine or other stimulants, you should consider what might happen when its effects wear off eg when you are operating machinery or driving.
• avoid the use of alcohol to help you fall asleep. Although alcohol can promote the onset of sleep it is also associated with earlier awakenings, disrupted sleep and poorer sleep quality. Regularly drinking too much increases the risk of long-term damage to your physical and mental health, your work, social and personal relationships.
• regular use of sleeping pills and other sedatives to aid sleep are not recommended because they can lead to dependency and addiction.
• new drugs have recently been developed that can alter our state of alertness. Although their use may be widespread abroad, the ways in which they work and their long-term effects are not yet fully understood and consequently their use is not advised unless under medical supervision.

Physical fitness and a healthier lifestyle

An unhealthy lifestyle combined with shift work may increase the likelihood of sleep disorders and sleep loss or exacerbate existing sleep problems. A good diet, regular meals and exercise can improve sleep quality, health and well-being.

you can improve your fitness by spending 30 minutes a day on a physical activity including housework and walking. Consider joining a gym or taking part in a regular exercise class;

• eat healthy meals on a regular basis;
• cut down or give up smoking;
• reduce your alcohol intake;
• seek advice from your doctor if you require regular medication such as insulin for diabetes or suffer from a chronic condition such as epilepsy.

Family and friends

Working shifts that differ from the routines of friends and family can leave you feeling isolated and it is important to make the effort not to lose contact with them:

• talk to friends and family about shiftwork. If they understand the problems you are facing it will be easier for them to be supportive and considerate;
• make your family and friends aware of your shift schedule so they can include you when planning social activities;
• make the most of your time off and plan mealtimes, weekends and evenings together;
• plan your domestic duties around your shift schedule and try to ensure that you do not complete them at the cost of rest/sleep. You may need to change the times/days when some jobs are done;
• invite others who work similar shifts to join you in social activities when others are at work and there are fewer crowds.

Ways to improve your alertness at work

On some shifts, such as nights and very early mornings you may find it difficult to remain alert and this can affect your performance. It may also increase the risk of errors, injury and accidents. You may find it helpful to:

• take moderate exercise before starting work which may increase your alertness during the shift.
• keep the light bright;
• take regular short breaks during the shift if possible;
• get up and walk around during breaks;
• plan to do more stimulating work at the times you feel most drowsy;
• keep in contact co-workers as this may help both you and them stay alert.

Known as the “silent killer”, high blood pressure rarely has obvious symptoms.

Around 30% of people in England have high blood pressure but many don’t know it. If left untreated, high blood pressure increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

The only way of knowing there is a problem is to have your blood pressure measured.

All adults should have their blood pressure checked at least every five years. If you haven’t had yours measured, or you don’t know what your blood pressure reading is, ask your GP to check it for you.

What is high blood pressure?

Blood pressure measures how strongly blood presses against the walls of your arteries (large blood vessels) as it is pumped around your body by your heart. If this pressure is too high it puts a strain on your arteries and your heart, which makes it more likely that you will suffer a heart attack, a stroke or kidney disease.

Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and it is recorded as two figures:

• systolic pressure: the pressure of the blood when your heart beats to pump blood out
• diastolic pressure: the pressure of the blood when your heart rests in between beats

For example, if your GP says your blood pressure is “140 over 90”, or 140/90mmHg, it means you have a systolic pressure of 140mmHg and a diastolic pressure of 90mmHg.

You are said to have high blood pressure (medically known as hypertension) if readings on separate occasions consistently show your blood pressure to be 140/90mmHg or higher.

A blood pressure reading below 130/80mmHg is considered to be normal.

Who is most at risk?

Your chances of having high blood pressure increase as you get older. There is often no clear cause of high blood pressure but you are at increased risk if you:

• are overweight
• have a relative with high blood pressure
• are of African or Caribbean descent
• eat a lot of salt
• don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables
• don’t do enough exercise
• drink a lot of coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks)
• drink a lot of alcohol
• are aged over 65

If you fall into any of the groups listed above, consider making changes to your lifestyle to lower your risk of high blood pressure. Also consider having your blood pressure checked more often, ideally about once a year.

Prevention and treatment

You can take steps to prevent high blood pressure by:

• losing weight if you need to
• exercising regularly
• eating a healthy diet
• cutting back if you drink a lot of alcohol
• stopping smoking
• cutting down on salt and caffeine

Find out more about how to prevent high blood pressure.

If your blood pressure is found to be high, it will need to be closely monitored until it is brought under control. Your doctor will usually suggest changes to your lifestyle and, sometimes, medication to achieve this. Find out more about how blood pressure is treated.

Source.

Mental health problems cost employers in the UK £30 billion a year through lost production, recruitment and absence – so why aren’t we doing more about it?

The answer is straightforward. Despite the fact that it is very common – one in four of us will suffer mental health problems during our lives – we find it very difficult to talk about. It often seems too personal, too deep and too complex. You might feel very happy to tell a colleague about a physical injury you’ve sustained, but when it comes to your mental health, where do you start?

If you can’t talk about it, it may prove equally difficult to listen. Not listening could prove very costly – to the individual and to your business. The Centre for Mental Health charity estimate that employers should be able to cut the cost of mental health – in lost production and replacing staff – by about a third by improving their management of mental health at work

QUESTIONS

What is mental health?

Mental health is the mental and emotional state in which we feel able to cope with the normal stresses of everyday life.

If we are feeling good about ourselves we often work productively, interact well with colleagues and make a valuable contribution to our team or workplace.

Positive mental health is rarely an absolute state. One may feel in good mental health generally but also suffer stress or anxiety from time to time.

Mental ill-health can range from feeling ‘a bit down’ to common disorders such as anxiety and depression and, in limited cases, to severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Why is understanding and addressing mental health important?

A Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development study has highlighted the impact on business of poor mental health in employees. The study found that:

• 37% of sufferers are more likely to get into conflict with colleagues
• 57% find it harder to juggle multiple tasks
• 80% find it difficult to concentrate
• 62% take longer to do tasks
• 50% are potentially less patient with customers/clients.

The study also found that, for the first time, stress is now the major cause of long-term absence in manual and non-manual workers.

What can a manager do to promote positive mental health at work?

A manager can:

• Spot the signs. This may initially mean taking a note of what you see as you walk around or in team meetings and then choosing the right moment to intervene
• Engage with the problem. There are some good practical steps you can take to help with coping strategies, and some legal requirements you need to bear in mind. For example, your duty to make reasonable workplace adjustments to the working environment in certain circumstances
• Keep a watching brief. This does not necessarily mean passively observing, although in some circumstances this may be the best option. Promote awareness of mental health issues and create a culture where employees feel they can talk to you about mental health issues. Keeping communication channels open is critical.

Is mental ill health a disability?

Some forms of mental ill health may be classed as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 if they have “a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.”

The Act makes it unlawful for an employer to treat a disabled person less favourably for a reason relating to their disability, without a justifiable reason. Some forms of mental illness – such as dementia, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia – are classed as a disability and need to be covered in an employer’s equality policies.

Source.

Useful Websites:
http://mentalhealthcop.wordpress.com/
http://www.mind.org.uk/employment