Athletes Face Heat Related Illnesses.

During hot weathers, athletes must be alert to heat illnesses.  If precautions are not taken they can develop heat related illnesses due to overheating.

Taking precautions to protect one's health from excessive heat is just as important as fitness and exercise.
 
Heat illnesses can be heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, fortunately there are warning signs. 

Warning Signs of Heat Illness

• Nausea
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Stumbling
• Confusion  

Should an athlete be experiencing signs of a heat illness the following actions should be taken: stop all exercise, find a cool spot immediately and drink plenty of cold fluids.

Preventing Overheating 
The following precautions can be taken to prevent overheating.

• Reduce the intensity of exercise that lasts longer than 15 minutes-
• Drink plenty of fluids 2 hours before start of the event and again 20 minutes before
• Drink fluids every 20 minutes during play.
• For exercise that last more than an hour, drink fluids that contain glycose and electrolytes
• Wear light weight, light colored clothing
• For practice and play requiring travel to a hotter environment take time to allow your body to adjust to the new temperature.

 If you are starting a more strenuous exercise during hot weather, take time for your body to adjust to new conditions.

Acclimatization should take place over 14 days. If there is no time to acclimatize, a limit should be placed on the time spent in practice or at the event.

If you have any tips for athletes, to avoid heat related illness, leave them with your comments.

Internet Workers Health A Risk

Millions of people rely on the Internet to earn a living or run a business. Are their health at work given enough attention?

 

Are computer users taking work-related health risks seriously enough?

 

In a report on workplace wellness, experts say that occupational health is not getting the attention it deserves. The health risks are high given most people between the ages of 22 and 65 spend 45% of their waking hours at work.

 

For Internet workers who spend 12 hours a day on the computer and get about 7 hours sleep per 24 hours, this is about 2/3 of their waking time.

 

In considering job related illnesses and injury Internet workers and computer users must consider the following risk factors:

• The sedentary lifestyle
• Overuse of the Computer
• The desk and chair
• Overuse of the Laptop
• Vision

 Internet workers must also consider their general health outside their workplace. Being in a sedentary workplace is only one risk factor, there are other such as: unhealthy eating, air pollution, smoking, overuse of alcohol and hereditary factors

 

 

After working with computers over a long period there is increased risks for certain injuries and diseases.

 

These are some

• Typing can cause injury to the nerves in the wrist causing carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Incorrect posture can lead  to sore muscles and repetitive stress injuries.
• Dry eyes is a syndrome in which the eyes lose moisture due to infrequent blinking.
• Frequent Laptop users face additional health risks due to positioning of laptops; they are at risk for aching neck, throbbing head and tingling fingers.

 

Research studies have found that sitting for six or more hours a day(even if physically active otherwise) can lead to cardiovascular disease and premature deaths.

 

Internet workers and computer users who spend 12 hours a day at work are at increased risk. They are at risk for obesity and obesity related illnesses.  If regular physical activity is not part of their lifestyle they are at increased risks for chronic diseases, injury and premature deaths.

 

Internet workers can protect their health at work and off work by being their first health insurance.
It can be done online, at home or office.
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Some Important Facts About Suicide

One million people die each year prematurely by suicide, the number of deaths exceeds the number of deaths due to homicide and war combined.

The most common risk factor for suicide is mental illness,

The risk of suicidal behaviour is increased 10 times in the mentally ill. In the USA, 90% of suicides were diagnosed as mentally ill before dying.

 The predisposing mental disorders are:

• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Alcohol
• Substance abuse

Other risk factors include:

• Family history of suicidal behaviour or suicide.
• Previous suicide attempt
• Poor socio-economic status
• Poor physical health
• Stressful events
• Relationship breakup
• Financial difficulties
• Disagreements with family/spouse

Stigma
When it comes to preventing suicide, stigma is a major problem.

This is a statement by World Suicide Prevention Day, "Comprehensive local or national plans for the prevention of suicide will not reach their full potential until the problem of stigma is effectively removed"

One reason for the stigma associated with suicide is the lack of knowledge about suicide and mental illness. Stigma is further magnified when there is lack of appropriate care for the mentally ill. 

Stigma can be reduced by increasing public awareness. Stigma can be removed through community based programs, programs that will provide knowledge about the characteristics and treatment of mental illness and the prevention of suicide

Stigma can result in discrimination and unlawful restriction of the freedom of the mentally ill. Discrimination can prevent mentally ill persons from seeking professional help.