Health Essentials

How safe is your workplace?

We all agree that “decent work must be safe” yet many of us have not shown enough commitment; governments, employers and employees all have duties, rights and responsibilities to ensure the highest priority is accorded to the principle of prevention.

Statistics show that where institutions invest in prevention measures over a period of time, a significant decrease in work-related accidents and occupational disease takes place.

This is an opportune time for all workplaces to start the process of ensuring their workplaces are safe and providing the appropriate information that all categories of staff can understand is the best start point.

Guy Ryder ILO Director General could not have put it better when he stated; “to move forward it is necessary to close the data gap, because knowledge is the key to prevention.”

Some areas that require prompt action in most workplaces include:

• Signaling that safety is a priority

o Right from the entrance to the workplace, appropriate notices should show the commitment to safety and health.

• Appropriate markings for walkways

o Vehicles and humans should not compete for the right of way especially in places with trucks etc. there should be clearly demarcated areas for pedestrians.

• Management of extreme temperatures

o In our setting, extreme heat is a major challenge. Workplace design should place emphasis on proper ventilation and in places that are already built, structural changes may be needed in addition to industrial fans and easy access to clean drinking water.

• Fire drills and evacuation plans

o If employees are not aware of what to do in the event of a fire for instance, then it needs to be tackled immediately.

o There should be a plan in place and all team members must know the plan.

• First Aid awareness

o What does one do in the event of an injury or other potentially fatal event occurs? Employees and even employers need to be equipped with basic first aid skills.

• Ergonomics

o Many of the aches and pains we experience are caused by poor posture at work and even beyond. This affects those seated in offices as well as those operating machinery or working on the floors. Correct techniques, taking appropriate breaks and balancing effect on the body should be taught and practiced.

• Use of PPEs

o Many employees have access to these and know its use but still fail to make use of them. Regular knowledge sharing and understanding will eventually bring a positive change.

• Managing Stress

o Stress is a window to many disease conditions and poor performance and it is important all workplaces address this.

o Time management and wellness programmes including exercises help to combat this.

• Avoiding clutter

o When your work area is messy, not only are you at risk of injury, you also feel harassed or stressed out and cause more errors.

• Other Interventions

o I believe workplaces should have happy hours for more interaction (may not need to be physical only), they should also take part in programmes like DUMP where unused or expired medicines are collected safely and the appropriate agency contacted to help dispose off. Harbouring such medications has often resulted in poisoning, addictions etc.

o Once again won’t it be great if your workplace actively encourages “ICE” – IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. Save at least two numbers on your cell phone beginning with ICE e.g. ICE Kojo 090…..when you are not in a position to help yourself, anyone who picks up your phone will be able to contact someone who knows a lot about you.

• Create a Green-Space

o Concrete has taken over most of our living spaces. It is very rewarding to have some plants indoors and outdoors as well as greenery such as a lawn. It doesn’t matter even if it’s a tiny strip. People will gladly take their lunch breaks in “nature” and return to work invigorated.

The list is endless but let us start with the basics and work our way to a safe and healthy work environment with PREVENTION at the fore.

Employers need to be aware that provision of personal protective equipment is not the all in all. PPEs should be seen as the last line of defense for the employee. Prior to using the PPEs the employer must ensure that machines, equipment, processes and the premises are free of risk to the health of all workers.

Employees also play a crucial role and it is expected that they will all actively cooperate with employers in the implementation of the preventive and protective measures.

It is important that workplaces have a visible occupational health and safety specialist or in the absence of one a safety officer who will coordinate all processes such as risk assessment and management, monitoring of working environment and practices that may affect worker’s health, advice on planning and organisation of work, designing and implementation of preventive programmes and even appropriate referrals to healthcare and rehabilitation.

If we made a conscious effort to calculate the money drained off that is related to lost working time, treatment of occupational injuries and diseases, interruptions in production, rehabilitation and compensation, it will leave no doubt in our minds that prevention is a PRIORITY!

AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)

Dr Kojo Cobba Essel

Health Essentials Ltd

dressel@healthessentialsgh.com

*Dr. Essel is a medical doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’

Thought for the week – “Economic recession or pressure to maximize profits cannot justify cutting corners in workplace safety” – Guy Ryder. ILO Director General. (28th April 2015)

References:

• United Nations Website (un. org)

• International Labour Organization website

A messy work area puts one at risk of injury

By Dr Kojo Cobba Essel

Health Essentials

Not all snoring is created equal

Snoring is not only harmful to our physical health but it
affects all 6 pillars of wellness especially social wellness

When people are unable to differentiate between your snore and a locomotive engine or a trumpet that could break down walls, it may not just be a nuisance to your bed and housemates, but it may signal a serious medical condition.

Loud snoring may be a warning that you have Sleep Apnoea, a condition that opens doors to several serious life-threatening complications. Not every snoring is associated with sleep apnoea and also there may be sleep apnoea without snoring. Sleep medicine is no luxury, we need to do everything possible to get good quality sleep, especially when sleep is one of the greatest legal performance enhancing “drugs” known to man.

In sleep apnoea, breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. It may be as often as 30 times in an hour. This shortchanges our brain of oxygen, and it is a potentially dangerous sleep disorder.

Types of Sleep Apnoea;

• Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)

o The commonest by far. Throat muscles relax and block flow of air

• Central Sleep Apnoea

o Brain does not send proper signals to muscles controlling breathing

• Complex Sleep Apnoea

What may signal Sleep Apnoea/ What to look out for

• Loud snoring.

• Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep — which would be reported by another person.

• Gasping for air during sleep.

• Awakening with a dry mouth.

• Morning headache.

• Difficulty staying asleep, known as insomnia.

• Excessive daytime sleepiness, known as hypersomnia.

• Difficulty paying attention while awake.

• Irritability.

• You may just not be able to complete a movie.

• Involved in minor accidents at home, work or even on the road.

Get checked out. Even children may suffer from sleep apnoea.

What increases our chance of developing Sleep Apnoea?

• Excess weight or fat.

• Neck circumference. People with thicker necks might have narrower airways.

• A narrowed airway. Tonsils or adenoids also can enlarge and block the airway, particularly in children.

• Being male. Men are 2 to 3 times more likely to have sleep apnoea than women. However, women increase their risk if they’re overweight or if they’ve gone through menopause.

• Being older. Sleep apnea occurs significantly more often in older adults.

• Family history. Having family members with sleep apnoea might increase your risk.

• Use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilisers.

• Smoking. Smokers are three times more likely to have obstructive sleep apnoea

• Nasal congestion. If you have trouble breathing through your nose — whether from an anatomical problem or allergies — you’re more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnoea.

• Medical conditions. Congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes are some of the conditions that may increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea. Polycystic ovary syndrome, hormonal disorders, prior stroke and chronic lung diseases such as asthma also can increase risk.

What complications may occur from untreated Sleep Apnoea

Sleep apnoea is a serious medical condition. Complications of OSA can include:

• Daytime fatigue. The repeated awakenings associated with sleep apnoea make typical, restorative sleep impossible, in turn making severe daytime drowsiness, fatigue and irritability likely.

You might have trouble concentrating and find yourself falling asleep at work, while watching TV or even when driving. People with sleep apnea have an increased risk of motor vehicle and workplace accidents.

You might also feel quick-tempered, moody or depressed. Children and adolescents with sleep apnea might perform poorly in school or have behavior problems.

• High blood pressure or heart problems. Sudden drops in blood oxygen levels that occur during OSA increase blood pressure and strain the cardiovascular system. Having OSA increases your risk of high blood pressure.

OSA might also increase your risk of recurrent heart attack, stroke and irregular heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation. If you have heart disease, multiple episodes of low blood oxygen (hypoxia or hypoxemia) can lead to sudden death from an irregular heartbeat.

• Type 2 diabetes. Having sleep apnoea increases your risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

• Metabolic syndrome. This disorder, which includes high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood sugar and an increased waist circumference, is linked to a higher risk of heart disease

• Liver & kidney problems

• Sleep-deprived room or house mates

• Complications during surgery and also with some medication

Lifestyle Modifications that may help

• Lose excess fat. Even a slight weight loss might help relieve constriction of your throat. In some cases, sleep apnea can resolve if you return to a healthy weight, but it can recur if you regain weight.

• Exercise. Regular exercise can help ease the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea even without weight loss.

• Avoid alcohol and certain medicines such as tranquilisers and sleeping pills. These relax the muscles in the back of your throat, interfering with breathing.

• Sleep on your side or abdomen rather than on your back. Sleeping on your belly has many posture related challenges but we may adopt that briefly as we work on definitive treatment.

• Don’t smoke.

Diagnosis and Treatment

There is help so if you think you may have sleep apnoea do not hesitate to speak to your doctor.

A few questions, examination and Sleep Studies and a diagnoses may be reached and the appropriate treatment, advice or support systems put in place.

Yes, the options vary from just lifestyle modifications to the famous CPAP, implants and even surgery BUT do seek help, not only will you feel brand-new when the condition is resolved, you may be saving relationships.

……definitely not all snoring is created equal. Find out about yours.

AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)

Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel

Health Essentials Ltd (HE&W Group)

(dressel@healthessentialsgh. com)

*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition and Corrective Exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’

Thought for the week (1) – “I am hard pressed to choose the greatest legal performance enhancing drug. Is it good quality Sleep or Exercise?”

References:

1. www.mayoclinic.org

2. Team at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Sleep Center

Snoring is not only harmful to our physical health but it affects all 6 pillars of wellness especially social wellness.

By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel

Health Essentials

Preparing for your golden years; you may have more assets than you think

Ensure to have friends including children much younger than you

AGING can be beautiful, but it definitely comes with its own challenges and learning to embrace the ones we have little or no control over may make life easier and more enjoyable for us.

Changes may include:

1. You do not move as quickly as you used to, and I agree you need to guard against falls.

2. You may lose some hearing.

3. You will need to protect your teeth, and the dentist can help.

4. You are more susceptible to eye diseases and challenges with sight.

5. You may start to shrink; start strength training immediately.

6. You may have ‘senior moments’ -minor forgetfulness.

7. You may look different; hair loss or thinning, greying of hair, skin changes such as sagging, skin tags, changes in nails, belly fat and many others.

8. You may smell different, and this may be due to multiple factors.

9. Urine may leak more than you would like- sometimes even when we cough, sneeze or laugh.

Many of us fret to leave a fortune (money) but I realise focusing on money or assets such as land, buildings and businesses may not be enough. These are extremely necessary though since they tend to make life much more comfortable for you.

When the dust settles, however, having your memory intact (within reasonable limits) and having good social support may be the foundation that cannot be ignored. If your memory fails you or you do not have people who truly care about your wellbeing and will go the extra mile for you over the long haul, then no matter what your financial muscle you may never get anything close to what you would love for yourself.

Taking advantage of the various assets that you may have built over the years means you will be able to even earn money well into your golden years.

ASSETS TO TAP INTO.

At least three assets, Financial, Intellectual and Human Assets may be tapped into.

• FINANCIAL

o Different forms of investments including money, land etc. Quite often this is the focus of most of us while 2 other forms of assets are neglected. DEFINITELY grow your financial assets but DO NOT exclude the others.

o If you are already enjoying “retirement” of a sort and your finances keep you awake at night, do not despair, take another look at your intellectual and human assets that you may have ignored. They may be solid gold!

• INTELLECTUAL

o Knowledge and skills you have developed over years can continue to be useful and earn an income after you retire from your previous job.

o Experiences over the years may serve as a guide to the younger generation and could be an avenue for speaking at events or coaching or mentoring others.

o Unique abilities are always a plus and we all know things that come easily to us when others struggle with same.

o Ideas? These may be golden, and you may be able to share for an income or to enhance your social capital.

• HUMAN

o Values – we often don’t put much emphasis on this, but it definitely opens doors for you or for your descendants.

o Kindness – this is a powerful tool in life that will yield benefits at all costs directly or indirectly. Be Kind!

o Social Contacts /Capital – DO NOT be an island. Expand your network and live a longer more fulfilling life.

As we work on all three forms of ASSETS lets us remember to protect our brain/ memory as much as possible and also spend time with our network of family and friends. In all things ensure you have FRIENDS (including your children) who are much younger than you. This is PRICELESS, I guarantee that.

AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)

Dr Kojo Cobba Essel

Health Essentials Ltd (HE&W Group)

(dressel@healthessentialsgh. com)

*Dr Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition and Corrective Exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’

Thought for the week (1) – “The aging you want tomorrow begins with the choices you make today.” What choices are you making? Time to reflect.

(2) – “Mammograms are key to early detection of breast cancer, and they can also provide clues to heart health. Women who have calcium buildup within the arteries of the breast are at a 51 per cent higher risk for heart disease and stroke than women who do not.”

By Dr Kojo Cobba Essel