by Grace | Apr 4, 2022 | Workplace Education
April 28th provides the opportunity to reflect on how to prevent work-related occupation diseases, death, injuries and illnesses. It is also a day to remember those that have died from a work-related injury or illness.
Health in the workplace is at the employers best interest. Poor health leads to minimal productivity and absenteeism and due to this, sick days cost employers $576 billion annually (hubworks, 2020).
Workplace Health & Safety Vic provide on site health assessments to your employees screening for cholesterol, heart health, diabetes, healthy weight and mental health. From this, appropriate referrals are made for the employee to follow up at their best interest.
The latest finalised data shows that in 2019, 183 workers were fatally injured at work – safeworkaustralia.gov.au (2021). While this number is steadily decreasing over the last decade, any workplace death is tragic and unacceptable.
According to the International Labour Organisation (2022), at the workplace level, a strong OH&S culture is one in which the right to a safe and healthy working environment is valued and promoted by both management and workers. An OHS culture is built on inclusion, through the meaningful involvement of all parties in the ongoing improvement of safety and health at work. A strong OHS culture allows workers to feel comfortable to raise concerns about risks or hazards and that management is proactive in collaborating with workers to find appropriate, effective and sustainable solutions.
Workplaces should always keep up to date with their OH&S and provide employees with the tools and protective equipment to safely do their job.
If you’d like to get in touch to book in health assessment screenings for your staff, please contact Belinda at [email protected].
by Grace | Apr 4, 2022 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
As the control centre for your body, your brain is in charge of keeping your heart beating, your lungs breathing and allowing you to move, feel and think.
The foods you eat play a role in keeping your brain healthy and can improve specific mental tasks, such as memory and concentration.
According to Healthline (2021), 11 foods that help boost your brain include:
- Fatty Fish:
This may include salmon, trout, albacore tuna, herring and sardines, all of which are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. About 60% of your brain is made of fat, and half of that fat is comprised of omega-3 fatty acids.
Your brain uses omega-3s to build brain and nerve cells and these fats are essential to learning and memory.
- Coffee:
The two main components in coffee, caffeine and antioxidants, can help support brain health.
Caffeine keeps your brain alert by blocking messengers that make you feel sleepy and improve concentration.
- Blueberries:
Blueberries assists with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Some antioxidants in blueberries have been found to improve communication between brain cells.
- Turmeric:
Curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, has been shown to produce anti-inflammatory responses, benefit memory, ease depression and help new brain cells grow.
- Broccoli:
Packed with powerful substances including antioxidants, broccoli is also very high in vitamin k, which is linked to better memory and cognitive status.
- Pumpkin seeds:
Pumpkin seeds are rich in many micronutrients that are important for brain function, including copper, iron, magnesium and zinc.
- Dark chocolate:
The flavonoids in chocolate may help protect the brain. Studies have suggested that eating chocolate, especially dark chocolate, could boost memory and mood.
- Nuts:
Nuts contain a host of brain-boosting nutrients, including Vitamin E, healthy fats and plant compounds.
- Oranges:
Oranges and other foods that are high in Vitamin C can help defend your brain against damage from free radicals.
- Eggs:
Eggs are a rich source of several B vitamins and choline, which are important for regulating mood and promoting proper brain function and development.
- Green tea:
As is the case with coffee, the caffeine in green tea boosts brain function by improving alertness, performance, memory and focus.
On top of this, green tea carries L-theanine, which helps relax you without making you tired and is also rich in antioxidants.
by Grace | Apr 4, 2022 | Uncategorised
The immune system is a complex network of cells and proteins that defends the body against infection. The immune system keeps a record of every germ (microbe) it has ever defeated so it can recognise and destroy the microbe quickly if it enters the body again. (Better Health, 2021).
When you have a strong immunity, your body has the ability to:
- Detect and fight infections;
- Reduce tiredness;
- Provide seasonal protection (ie. against the flu);
- Recover faster;
- Promote a more restful sleep;
- Improve energy levels;
- Reduce inflammation;
- Improve mood and stress management;
According to Hourston Methodist Leading Medicine (2021), 6 ways to boost your immune system include:
- Stay up to date with the recommended vaccines:
Your immune system is smart, but vaccines train it to be even smarter — helping it learn how to recognize and fight off certain disease-causing illnesses. It’s much safer for your immune system to learn via vaccination than through infection with these harmful germs.
- Maintain a healthy diet:
Eat plenty of vegetables, legumes, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats.
In addition, a healthy diet can help ensure you’re getting sufficient amounts of micronutrients that play a role in maintaining your immune system, including Vitamin B6, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.
- Exercise Regularly:
Studies have shown that engaging in as little as 30 minutes of moderate-vigorous exercise every day helps stimulate the immune system.
- Hydrate:
- Drinking enough water helps your circulatory system carry important infection-fighting cells around the body
- Get plenty of sleep:
There are plenty of important things happening while your body isn’t awake. For example, important infection-fighting molecules are created while you sleep.
To give your immune system the best chance to fight ff infections and illness, it’s important you get enough sleep every night, as well as take steps if your sleep is suffering.
- Reduce stress levels:
During periods of stress, particularly chronic stress that’s frequent and long-lasting, your body responds by initiating what’s called a stress response. It helps you handle the stressful situations. Unfortunately, this response also suppresses your immune system – increasing your chance of infection or illness.
Stress is different for everyone, and how we relieve it is, too. Given the effect it can have on your health, it’s important to know how to identify stress. And, whether it’s deep breathing, mediation, prayer or exercise, you should also get familiar with the activities that help you reduce stress.
by Grace | Apr 4, 2022 | Workplace Education
Sunday 17th April is Work Hemophilia Day.
Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder where the blood doesn’t clot properly, making it difficult to control bleeding (Australian Hemophilia Foundation, 2021).
When a blood vessel is injured, special proteins in the blood called ‘clotting factors’ control blood loss. People with hemophilia have lower than normal levels of this clotting factor (Health Direct, 2022).
Signs and Symptoms:
Mild hemophilia (5% – 40% of normal clotting factor level):
- Generally bleeding problems following an injury, teeth removal, surgery or medical procedures that pierce the skin;
- May never have a bleeding problem requiring medical attention;
- May not be diagnosed until later in life if not playing contact sports and have not had any injuries or operations;
- Females might also have bleeding problems with periods (menstruation) or childbirth;
Moderate symptoms (1% – 5% of normal clotting factor level):
- May have bleeding problems with minor injuries, such as sporting injuries;
- Likely to have bleeding problems after having teeth taken out, surgery, medical procedures and/or a bad injury;
- Occasionally have a bleeding episode for no obvious reason (‘spontaneous bleeds’);
Severe hemophilia (Less than 1% of normal clotting factor level):
- Often have bleeds into joints, muscles and soft tissues;
- Can have bleeding episodes for no obvious reason (‘spontaneous bleeds’) as well as after surgery, dental work or injuries including minor bumps and knocks;
Diagnosis:
Hemophilia is generally diagnosed through assessing your symptoms, family history and laboratory tests.
Treatment:
Care and treatment for people with hemophilia involves a team of specialist health professionals.
Treatment may involve clotting factor concentrates, hormones and medications.
by Grace | Mar 1, 2022 | Workplace Education
Endometriosis is often a painful disorder in which tissue grows outside your uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis (mayoclinic, 2022).
Symptoms:
- Painful periods – pelvic pain and cramping;
- Pain with bowel movements or urination;
- Excessive bleeding;
- Infertility;
- Fatigue, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating or nausea, especially during menstrual periods;
Causes – according to womenshealth.gov (2019):
- Problems with menstrual period flow;
- Genetic factors;
- Immune system problems;
- Hormones – estrogen appears to promote endometriosis;
- Surgery – surgeries to the abdominal area such as c-sections or hysterectomies, can cause endometrial tissue to attach to scars.
Risk factors;
- Never given birth;
- Starting your period at an early age;
- Going through menopause at an older age;
- Short menstrual cycles (eg. less than 27 days);
- Heavy menstrual periods that last longer than 7 days;
- Having higher levels of estrogen in your body;
- Low body mass index;
- Family history of endometriosis;
- Any medical condition that prevents the passage of blood from the body during menstrual periods;
- Disorders of the reproductive tract;
Complications:
- Infertility – approximately 1/3 – ½ of women with endometriosis have difficulty getting pregnant.
- Cancer – ovarian cancer occurs at higher than expected rates in those with endometriosis.
If you are at all concerned, always consult with your GP.