Is Your Job Sending You to an Early Grave?

Of all the things that affect corporate wellness, and your overall well-being, occupational stress is the worst, and the most common. We accept it as a part of life, but workplace stress is not only taking its toll on your emotions, but also your wellness. There are a number of chronic health conditions linked to stress, and some in particular that are related to on-the-job strain, so what might your high-octane career do to you?

 

Diabetes – In 2012, a study published in the Journal of Occupational Medicine, found that women who have stressful jobs are at an increased risk of developing diabetes. Fortunately for the fellas, the researchers did not find the same effect in men – I guess that glass ceiling is lined with sugar.

 

Heart attacks – When researchers at University College London undertook a review of studies in 2012, they discovered that those who have high-pressure jobs are 23% more likely to have a heart attack than those who don’t have stressful jobs, if such jobs exist.

 

Depression – A 2011 PLOS ONE study noted that, if you work more than 11 hours a day, you’re twice as likely to suffer from a major episode of depression as those lucky people who work more regular hours. Seeing as depression can also lead to a shorter life expectancy, increased risk of stroke and heart attack, disrupted sleep and addiction, it might be wise to start knocking off at 5.30pm.

 

Accelerated ageing – Not only is job stress causing a few extra frown lines here and there, it’s actually ageing you prematurely. Recent evidence has shown that people who have the most workplace stress have the shortest telomeres. There are the sections of DNA that are linked to longevity.

 

Higher risk of death – Researchers at Tel Aviv University conducted a 20-year study in which they discovered that, if you work in a hostile office environment, you have a significantly increased risk of death than those who work in calmer, happier places. The next time you complain that your job is killing you, at least you can be safe in the knowledge that you’re not actually being over-dramatic.

Categories: depression, Diabetes, Heart Attack, increased risk, Jobs, nbsp, Premature Death, risk, Stress, stressful jobs, work, workplace stress

Three Jobs That Will Satisfy the Athletically Inclined

Does the thought of working at a desk job give you the chills? You are not alone. Many individuals find they aren’t cut out for the typical 9-to-5 office job. These folks are better off finding jobs where they can exercise their physical prowess along with their brain cells.

 

 

Occupational Therapist

The lowest level of training necessary to become an occupational therapist is an associate degree. This is a two year program usually offered at community or junior colleges. This training will allow you to enter the rehabilitation field in an entry level position. Sometimes it is cost-efficient to obtain an associate degree, get a job, and pursue an advanced degree in the evening or on weekends.

 

A master’s degree is required in order to practice as a certified occupational therapist. There are distance learning programs available that prepare a graduate to become a Doctor of Occupational Therapy. Graduates of these programs can assume leadership positions at hospitals, rehab centers and private practices.

 

Occupational Therapists can specialize in Neonatology, Geriatrics, Mental Health or Physical Rehabilitation. The American Occupational Therapy Association offers board certifications in these areas.

 

Fitness Careers

A wide variety of jobs exist in the fitness industry. Those with an entrepreneurial spirit often study physiology and business and then open their own fitness centers. Franchise opportunities are available for those who want the backing of a corporate home office.

 

Certification as a fitness instructor is also available. There are several different accredited organizations that offer fitness certifications, including the American College of Sports Medicine, the International Fitness Professionals Association and the National Federation of Professional Trainers.

 

Folks with fitness certifications have various employment options available to them including:Cruise ships, hotels, spas, resorts, corporate fitness trainers, and small business opportunities.

 

Adventure Guide

Adventure travel guides usually work for tour companies, campgrounds, resorts or parks. Many of them specialize and have training or certification in activities such as whitewater rafting, horseback riding, mountain climbing or fishing and hunting.

 

These jobs are often seasonal. However, people who fall in love with this type of work can find year-round employment in different places such as Hawaii, California and even overseas. Being ceritified in basic first aid and CPR increases employment opportunities.

 

Travel guides usually greet new groups, teach basic survival skills and set up and breakdown campsites. People skills are important in this type of work, as are leadership and organizational skills.

Categories: Athletically Inclined, Fitness Careers, Jobs

Cleaners Most at Risk of Developing Workplace Asthma

The job you do could put you at a higher risk of developing asthma. UK research has revealed that those who do cleaning and work with chemical cleaning agents are most at risk of contracting the chronic lung condition. An estimated 16% of all cases of adult asthma, some 4.3 million in the UK, are believed to be caused by the occupation of the sufferer.

The research focused on people born in the late 1950s – the so-called baby boomer generation – and revealed that one in six cases of adult asthma could be directly related to their job.

The longitudinal research examined information gathered about 9,500 British adults born in 1958 at the ages of 7, 11, 16, 33 and 42. Of that total, some 2,000 people had developed asthma before the age of 16 and so were excluded. The rest were then tested for allergies and for lungpower when they were aged between 42 and 45.

Information was also collected about their work history when they were aged from 33 to 42. The researchers then used the Asthma Specific Job Exposure Matrix to calculate their exposure to compounds, respiratory irritants, antigens and environments in the workplace.

The highest risk agents associated with workplace asthma in adults were cleaning and disinfectant products, flour, enzymes, metal and metal fumes, and textiles.

The research concluded that developing asthma in adulthood was linked to 18 specific jobs, four of which were cleaning jobs, which with another three, involved exposure to cleaning agents. Those who worked in farming were four times more likely to develop asthma; hairdressers and barbers twice as likely; and printers three times more likely.

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Cleaners Most at Risk of Developing Workplace Asthma

Categories: adult asthma, Jobs, risk