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Archive for December, 2008

Why Hypertension Is A Public Health Problem

Friday, December 26th, 2008


This article basically deals with answering the question – Hypertension why is it a public health problem?. So without wasting any time, let us get to the point.

Needless to say, we can’t give our best shot unless we have a healthy body and a fresh mind. We are more likely to make mistakes in whatever we may be doing when we are worried than when we are calm. This is a pretty much obvious statement that no longer even needs to be counter checked.

Hypertension is a base root disease which leads to several other serious diseases, that is why it is a public health problem. Whenever we are worried, we are bound to make mistakes and commit errors.

Hypertension basically makes us paranoid and we become over worried on a particular thing often without a sufficient cause, now that can only make our life worse than before, it can’t add any bright color to our life.

Hypertension can result in a loss of billions of dollars annually worldwide due to the worries it causes people and that is definitely a public health issue.

A person suffering from hypertension may not be diagnosed to suffer from it so easily and this can make it a worse public health issue.

Hypertension can cause many other diseases to the patient and treating all those diseases independently does become a major hassle and it does surely become a public health problem.

Besides, the monetary losses that are caused due to hypertension are pretty mind boggling and a major concern to humanity.

Hypertension is no doubt a major concern to people worldwide, both directly and due to its indirect consequences. First of all it causes major worrying issues to people which not only have them perturbed but also affect the prosperity of the nation due to reduced productivity of those people.

Secondly, hypertension is a root disease for causing several other diseases which need to be targeted and treated separately. So it is a major public health issue and seriously needs to be treated at the right time else it can cause serious worries.

We must diagnose and treat hypertension at the right time else it can become a serious public health problem due to reasons as explained before in this article. If you don’t take this disease seriously, it is bound to cause you problems in life later, both for you and your family!



Not Too Many Years Ago Green Living Was Reserved for Extremist Earth-lovers

Thursday, December 25th, 2008


In addition to green shopping bags and fuel efficient cars, there are a number of things you can do at home to improve your energy consumption. Newly constructed buildings tend to be green buildings, with many energy-saving features already in place. Whether you have an older home or a brand new home, there are a number of changes and ideas to save energy, and that in turn will save you money.

You simply cannot underestimate the importance of turning off a light to save energy. When your lights are on, be sure to burn only the new energy efficient light bulbs. These compact fluorescent light bulbs use up to 75% less energy and last up to ten times as long. What this means to you is you are saving money on energy and creating less waste.

Everywhere you go these days, you see “Save The Earth” t-shirts (made of organic materials, of course) and “green” shopping bags. More and more people are turning in the keys to their enormous, gas-guzzling SUVs for a greener ride in a more fuel efficient car. As green living becomes mainstream, more and more people are understanding the need to adopt a greener lifestyle to prevent further damage to our planet.

Your heating and cooling bills are likely one of your largest energy drains. Be sure to keep your thermostat set at a lower temperature in the winter months and a higher temperature in the summer months. Avoid heating and cooling the outdoors by ensuring your doors and windows are air-tight. Consider replacement windows to save energy and keep your heated or cooled air indoors.

Another large energy consumption area is your water heater. You use hot water for washing clothes, bathing, cleaning dishes, and a number of other things. If you don’t already have one, consider upgrading to a gas water heater to save energy.

When you have taken all of these energy-saving measures in your house, you should see a significant drop in your monthly energy usage. But you can still do more! Most days, you have a vibrant energy source shining down on your house, and unless you have solar panels installed, this energy is simply going to waste. If you’ve looked into using solar power at your house previously but have rejected it due to high cost, take a look at the affordable do-it-yourself solar panel kits. These kits are designed for the weekend do-it-yourselfer to easily construct your own solar panels as well as to install them yourself. What’s more, when you take on the construction and labor element of installing solar panels to your house, you drastically cut down on the overall cost. These solar power kits can decrease your energy usage by up to 80%, resulting in a truly green lifestyle that anyone can take advantage of.

When you adopt green living ways to save energy, not only are you protecting the health of the planet, but you will be saving a few dimes in the process.



Health and safety at work

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008


Not many would be aware of this, but the government has legislation for health and safety of people at work. The Health and safety at work etc Act 1974 requires the employers to have proper health and safety management systems at work. The Act makes provision for securing the health of people at work, welfare and safety of the employees including the people who are not directly employed by the company like contractors and visitors.

While the law exists and it is mandatory for the employers to follow the guidelines, it is also necessary for the employees to know about their rights and duties regarding their own health & safety. Employers should conduct a General Risk Assessment to ensure the health and safety of their employees.

To create awareness about health & safety at work, the employers should have proper employee induction & health and safety training programs whenever new employees join the company. The induction program should educate the employees about the safety standards, procedures and policies of the company.

The basics of health and safety at work start with having proper First Aid. Every organization big or small must have proper First Aid Kits and systems. While at work, people can suffer an injury or fall ill. It is very important for the company / firm to have proper arrangements so that the employees can receive immediate medical attention. A person who has received proper training for administering First Aid should be appointed for this.

Fire safety is of prime importance at work. The potential hazards and sources of fuel, oxygen & ignition etc should be identified. Proper Fire detection and warning systems should be in place to prevent any mishaps. Fire extinguishers should be kept ready in different places throughout the building. There should be exit doors and escape routes in the building. Electrical equipments and wiring should be proper and checked at regular intervals. The employees should be given training on dealing with fire emergencies. Fire drill and Fire Risk Assessment should be done at regular intervals.

Stress at work place is common. But if it starts affecting the health of the employee then it is a problem. Employers should identify the factors causing excessive stress to the employees. A stress risk assessment should be done to identify the potential hazards and risks. Proper measures should be adopted to control excessive employee stress. Employees should be given proper training, support and care to help them prevent & relieve the stress.

Employers should follow the norms of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. They should assess the health risks faced by the employees from the chemicals or substances used at workplace. Proper control measures should be adopted and the same should be followed by the employees. Training and information about the health risks should be provided to the employees.

The employers are also required to have proper policies for disability health & safety. Employees with cognitive, physical, sensory, ambulant and other disabilities have a right to proper arrangements and facilities at the workplace. There should be proper access, lighting, signage, seating arrangements for the disabled. Other employees of the company should also be sensitized about the same.

New and expectant mothers have a right to proper care at the workplace. The employers should identify the potential hazards to the mother as well as the baby while at work. The employers can offer alternative work, different or less work timings or paid leave to ensure the health and safety of the mother and baby. Similarly, arrangements should be made for young persons at work and lone workers. A general risk assessment should be done for the security, health and safety of such employees.

It is important that the employer as well as the employee is aware of the rights and duties pertaining to health and safety at workplace. For details you can take the services of a health and safety consultant or just search for “health and safety at work” on any major search engine.