February 6, 2017 Beware of the young doctor and the old barber. Benjamin Franklin
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease.
The good news? Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to create opportunities for people to make healthier choices.
Protect Your Hearing
-Avoid Prolonged Exposure to Loud Noises (whenever possible).
-Use Earplugs Around Loud Noises.
-Turn TV & radio volumes Down -louder isn't better.
-Follow the 60/60 Rule – listen to music at 60% of max volume & use ear-buds a max of 60 min/day.
-Give your ears time to recover – Quiet is a Good Thing!
-Get Regular Hearing Checkups.
Lighten up
Teacher: Who was Joan of Arc?
Student: Noah’s wife!? / Wear Your Hearing Protection
-In the United States, hearing loss is the third-most common chronic physical condition among adults after hypertension and arthritis.
-About 11% of the U.S. working population has hearing difficulty.
-About 24% of the hearing difficulty among U.S. workers is caused by occupational exposures.
-About 8% of the U.S. working population has tinnitus ('ringing in the ears') and 4% has both hearing difficulty and tinnitus.
•About 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise each year.
•About 10 million workers are exposed to solvents and an unknown number are exposed to other Ototoxicants (substances that may damage the inner ear, by either affecting the structures in the ear itself or by affecting the nervous system.
Remember, hearing loss often occurs painlessly. Hearing aids have come along way, but they are still problematic, so where ear plugs or muffs when exposed to loud noise. Wear proper protective gloves and clothing when working with chemicals.
Five Things to do Daily to Keep Your Heart Healthy
You know that exercise and a good diet can keep your heart healthy. But what else can you do to keep your ticker going strong? Here are five key things you need to do every day to help your heart work most efficiently. Incorporate these habits into your lifestyle and your heart health will be the best it can be for you.
Eat healthy fats, NOT trans fats - One fat we don’t need is trans-fat, which is known to increase your risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke over a lifetime.
Practice good dental hygiene/flossdaily - Dental health is a good indication of overall health, including your heart, because those who have periodontal (gum) disease often have the same risk factors for heart disease.
Get enough sleep - Sleep is an essential part of keeping your heart healthy. One study looking at 3,000 adults over the age of 45 found that those who slept fewer than six hours per night were about twice as likely to have a stroke or heart attack as people who slept six to eight hours per night.
Don’t sit for too long at one time- Research suggests that staying seated for long periods of time is bad for your health no matter how much exercise you do. When looking at the combined results of several observational studies that included nearly 800,000 people, researchers found that in those who sat the most, there was a 147% increase in cardiovascular events and a 90% increase in death caused by these events.
Avoid secondhand smoke like the plague - Studies show that the risk of developing heart disease is about 25 to 30% higher for people who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work. The American Heart Association reports that exposure to tobacco smoke contributes to about 34,000 premature heart disease deaths and 7,300 lung cancer deaths each year
Maintain a Sense of Vulnerability
A phrase often heard following an injury is, ‘I never thought it would happen to me!’
-Remember incidents & injuries can happen to anyone when we are not diligent about safety and compliance.
-A common mentality that gives way to incidents ‘We’ve always done it this way…’
-Be open-minded & keep the focus on safe, quality production – Do it right the first time!
-Accept that no one is immune from injury, especially if we allow at-risk behaviors or unsafe acts to occur on our watch. If you See Something / Say Something!
Safety is not a Spectator Sport… Get off the bench, Get in the Game!
Of all the properties, which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character. -Henry Clay
Pop Quiz
One day a professor entered the classroom and asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. They waited anxiously at their desks for the test to begin. The professor handed out the question paper with the text facing down as usual. Once he handed them all out, he asked his students to turn the page and begin. To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions, just a black dot in the center of the page.
The professor seeing the expression on everyone’s face, told them the following, “I want you to write what you see there.” The confused students got started on the inexplicable task. At the end of the class, the professor took all the papers and started reading each one of them aloud. All of them without exception described the black dot, trying to explain its position in the middle of the sheet etc.
After reading the papers, the professor explained, “I am not going to grade on you this, I just wanted to give you something to think about. No one wrote about the white part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot and the same happens in our lives. We have a white paper to observe and enjoy, but we always focus on the dark spots. Our life is a gift given to us by God with love and care. We always have reasons to celebrate, nature renewing itself every day, our family and\or friends around us, the job that provides for our livelihood, the miracles we see every day.”
“However, we insist on focusing only on the dark spots, the health issues that bother us, the lack of money, the complicated relationship with a family member, the disappointment with a friend, etc. The dark spots are very small compared to everything we have in our lives, but they are the ones that pollute our minds. Take your eyes away from the black spots in your life. Enjoy the blessings of this life, and every moment that life gives you. Be happy and live life positively”