by Grace | Aug 17, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
World Lymphoma Awareness Day raises awareness of cancers of the lymphatic system.
What is lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer, a cancer of the lymphocytes (the white blood cells that help to fight infection).
Lymphocytes are found in a liquid called lymph which travels throughout our body in the lymphatic system (a series of tubes, nodes and organs such as the spleen and thymus that are part of our immune system). There are two main categories of lymphoma: Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL).
Source: lymphoma.org.au (2021).
Some symptoms may include bit are not limited to:
- Swollen lymph nodes;
- Fatigue;
- Unexplained weight loss;
- Night sweats;
- Unexplained persistent fevers;
- Difficulty getting over infections;
- Itchy body;
It is always advised to seek medical advice from your GP if you experience anything abnormal with your body.
Diagnosis is through various tests when you consult with your GP.
Fundraising is one of the ways that you can help make a significant difference in the lives of children and adults living with Lymphoma. Donations will help raise awareness, provide support for those living with lymphoma and search for a cure. To donate, click here – https://www.lymphoma.org.au/donate/
by Grace | Aug 17, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
Thursday 9th September is R U OK? Day.
This year’s theme is: Are they really ok? Ask them today.
The key is to not wait until somebody is visibly distressed or in a crisis. Make it a point to ask your work colleague, family member or mate how they are really going.
This year with the extra pressures of a global pandemic, why not host an event to spark conversation between colleagues (even if this means just a friendly hello) – you can even do this over zoom!
How can you ask R U Ok at work?
- Ask;
- Listen;
- Encourage Action;
- Check in;
R U Ok? has some fantastic resources for workplaces to start the conversation. To obtain resources for your workplace, visit https://www.ruok.org.au/work
by Grace | Aug 17, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
About 11% of Australians have asthma (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2020).
What is asthma?
Asthma is a long-term lung condition of the airways (the passage that transports air into our lungs). Currently, there is no cure however it can be managed.
When somebody suffers from asthma, these airways become inflamed when they are exposed to triggers, narrowing the airways and causing persistent, troublesome symptoms.
When suffering from asthma, it may feel like you are breathing through a very thin tube which can possibly lead to a medical emergency.
Symptoms:
Symptoms vary from person to person and you should always visit a doctor to investigate further.
People with asthma experience symptoms because of the inflammation and narrowing of their airways. Most common symptoms include:
- Persistent cough;
- Wheezing (high pitched whistling sound made by the narrowing of the airways);
- Breathing difficulties;
- Tightening of the chest/chest pain;
- Shortness of breath;
Common triggers of asthma:
Research has shown that exposure to the following may increase your risk:
- Dust mites;
- Mould spores;
- Pollen;
- Food allergies;
- Exposure to chemicals, particles and gases;
- Tobacco smoke (especially as a baby or young child);
- Pollution from bushfires, traffic and industry;
How can you help someone with asthma in the workplace?
How can you help reduce asthma?
You can reduce exposure to substances that trigger allergies and asthma symptoms as part of your asthma management. However, even with trigger management, it is always recommended to speak with your doctor about taking preventer medication.
Here’s some helpful tips on how to reduce triggers of pets, dust mites, pollen, mould spores and more – https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/avoiding-asthma-triggers#allergic-triggers-of-asthma
Sources: (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2020) & betterhealth.vic.gov.au (2021). c.gov.au (2021) and Asthma Australia (2021).
by Grace | Jul 27, 2021 | Health Assessments, Skin Checks, Workplace Education
This month we are celebrating our tradies!
In light of Tradies National Health Month, we’ve researched various statistics for you:
- Tradies are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer due to being exposed to the sun for extended periods of time;
- Young apprentice tradesmen (17-25yo) generally do not eat enough fresh food and consume too much junk food on the job and at home;
- 94% of tradies report that they don’t eat enough fruit and/or vegetables;
- Tradies/construction workers and ‘blue collar’ careers, have some of the highest suicide rate in Australia amongst men;
- 33% of males in the construction industry have high blood pressure;
- 45% are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease;
- 69% believed that being sore is just normal for the work they do;
- 68% said that they follow safe guidelines of lifting, leaving 30% at greater risk of injury from unsafe lifting;
- Every day 10 tradies are badly injured at work – a total of 3,650 injuries to tradies each year, with back injuries being the most common;
Sources: Vic Health Government, Blokes Psychology, Ethos Health, Service Seeking (dates ranging from 2017 – 2020).
How can WHS Vic help your workplace to support your tradies?
- Individual Health Assessments onsite, screening for heart health, diabetes, cholesterol and body composition (including bone density screening) to determine a problem before it’s too late;
- Presentations to your tradies from our dietician, tailored to you – we suggest information on how to maintain healthy body weight to combat diabetes, high cholesterol and an unhealthy heart. Our dietician can also explain times of the day to eat for tradies, the importance of specific foods for fuel and basic nutrition for health and wellbeing.
- Presentations to your team involving stretching techniques before beginning work, lifting techniques, strengthening exercises and the norm of how your body should feel day to day;
- Presentations from our psychologists to your team with techniques on how to achieve optimal mental health and
- Onsite skin checks for your tradies;
- In clinic (located in Geelong) audiometry and spirometry;
- Drug and Alcohol education;
- In clinic range of movement and physiotherapist assessment, offering advice and techniques to combat injury in the workplace;
Get in touch with us to help celebrate and support your tradies’ optimal health.
by Grace | Jun 29, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
There’s nothing like signing up to a running event in the middle of winter to get you motivated! The Melbourne Marathon, set to take place 10th October, 2021 have released training programs, with now being the perfect time to start training for the half or full marathon!
Through the following link https://melbournemarathon.com.au/training-hub/, you will find training programs for the varying distances:
- 5km (8 weeks);
- 10km (8 weeks);
- 21km (14 weeks);
- 42km (14 weeks);
According to Very Well Fit (2020), there is a huge number of benefits of running including:
- Improved overall health;
- Improved sleep;
- Improved fitness;
- Toned legs;
- Weight loss;
- Room for extra calories;
- Stress reduction;
- Improved motivation;
- It’s very social;
- Improved confidence;
- A sense of accomplishment;
by Grace | Jun 28, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
Donate Life Week is dedicated to promoting organ and tissue donation.
According to the Australian Government (2021), organ and tissue donation can save and transform the lives of those Australians who receive a transplant.
Organ and tissue donation involves removing organs and tissue from someone who has died (a donor) and transplanting them into someone who, in many cases, is very ill or dying (a recipient).
The decision to donate organs and tissue is an act of extraordinary generosity.
What can be donated?
- Heart;
- Lungs;
- Liver;
- Kidney;
- Pancreas;
- Tissue including heart valves, veins, tendons, bone, ligaments, skin and parts of the eye;
According to the Australian Government (2021), right now there are around 1600 Australians waitlisted for a life-changing organ transplant.
To find out more, visit https://www.donatelife.gov.au/