For a lot of people, summertime may mean sunny, comfortable days ideal for long walks, picnics, and beaches. However, for some people it may mean working outside on projects under the heat of the sun, with no proper cooling systems. Hot working conditions may pose particular hazards to health and safety that is why it is important to be guided of the various injuries and illnesses linked with heat stress, and the proper heat stress management.
There are four environmental factors that affect the extent of stress that a worker may face under a hot working area: humidity, temperature, wind speed, and radiant heat like that coming from a furnace or the sun. People who have high blood pressure and those who take a diuretics (water pills) are likely to be more responsive to heat exposure.
The body protects itself from heat by three mechanisms: sweating, altering the flow of blood, and breathing. The body’s first response is circulating blood to the skin, increasing skin temperature and allowing it to give off some heat. In heavy work, one’s muscles require more blood flow thus reducing the amount of blood available for the skin to release heat.
Sweating is another way that helps one’s body to cool off; however, only when levels of humidity are low enough to permit sweat to evaporate, as well as if salts and water lost through sweating is replaced. If the body overheats, heat stress condition occurs, and can lead to several problems including heat cramps, heat rash, heat exhaustion, fainting, or heat stroke.
In the majority of cases, heat stress may be prevented, or at least, reducing the risk of developing heat stress. An effective heat stress management provides assistance on how to recognize heat stress and prevent them. Here are some simple ways of proper heat stress management to prevent heat stress:
Clothing
Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that permits sweat to evaporate light colored clothing absorbs lesser heat than dark colors. If working outdoors, wearing a lightweight cap with good brim, will keep off the sun from the face and head.
Drinking
Drinking a lot of fluids, particularly when the color of one’s urine is dark yellow, will replace the lost body fluids from sweating one quart every hour might be necessary. Sports drink or water is suggested; avoid beverages like iced tea, coffee, and cola as caffeine is a diuretic that makes one urinate more.
Work schedule
If possible, schedule heavy work during cooler times of the day. If not, rotate heavy work in heat with lighter work in areas that are cooler. Minimizing the hours spent in extreme heat when doing heavy work will lessen the possibilities of heat stress.
Heat stress management if effectively practiced reduces, prevents, or eliminates the harmful effects of heat stroke.
By: Rene Graeber
Posts Tagged ‘High Blood Pressure’
Heat Stress Management
November 23rd, 20094 Top Relaxation Techniques For Stress Management
October 24th, 2009We must keep this in mind that these techniques are just a small part of a bigger and more comprehensive program for stress that is overall stress management. These techniques if used single may not benefit us more than when used in combination with other techniques. Keep these two important points in mind before starting with this program
1. There are physiological changes that may result due to these techniques; therefore anyone taking medicines on a daily basis should not go beyond their comfortable level of the exercise.
2. People with disease conditions like high blood pressure, or any heart diseases must consult their doctor prior to starting this regime.
It’s best to try each of these techniques first to determine which one is comfortable with your system and then decide accordingly which one to stick to on regular basis. There is no scientific way to calculate and analyze which technique has maximum benefit.
Technique 1 for stress management:
Meditation:
This is the exercise of the mind that is aimed to get control of your attention or focus rather than being the victim of the environmental factors that are generally unpredictable. Do this exercise in a quiet place. This technique normally involves a set of breathing exercises.
Technique 2.for stress management
Progressive relaxation:
This technique causes relaxation of nerves and muscles. It happens through contraction and relaxation of a group of muscles that on regular use progresses onto the other parts. This technique is best for people who are suffering from migraine and also stressful headache, as its regular use provides tremendous relief to such patients over a period of time.
Technique 3 for stress management
Autogenic training
In this technique a series of exercises are carried out to bring warmth as well as feeling of heaviness in the torso and limbs. These exercises can be done while lying down and also in sitting position. Different images are also used in this program.
Technique 4 for stress management:
Biofeedback
In this technique certain instruments as well as some machines are used to trace movements of the body that is further used to examine how to control them. This technique is used along with other relaxation techniques.
Whichever technique you choose, you must practice it religiously with proper environment, posture, at the right time, and at the recommended frequency. Follow a proper routine and in no time you will reap the fruits of your labor. Always bear this in mind that above mentioned stress management techniques are only simple tools to combat stress and are part of a bigger program for stress management. You can do only one of them or do two to three of them depending entirely on you and the comfort level you have. Else, you will build more stress for yourself than you plan to get rid off.
By: Abhishek Agarwal
Stress Management is an Important Part of a Healthy Lifestyle
October 5th, 2009Stress is your response to any physical, emotional or intellectual demands. Stress is a major contributing factor either directly or indirectly, to coronary artery disease, cancer, respiratory disorders, accidental injuries, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide; the six leading causes of death in the United States. Although we can’t eliminate stress, we can all do a better job in managing it. Stress management includes following a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and making time for uninterrupted relaxation.
Symptoms
Symptoms of stress can be either behavioral or physical. They are different for everyone, but some common signs that you’ve had too much excitement and need to slow down include:
Impatience or Edginess – Lack of Enjoyment – Sleep Problems – Exhaustion.
Common physical symptoms of stress include: muscle tension, headaches, low back pain,
insomnia and high blood pressure.
These symptoms may manifest themselves psychologically as irritability, anxiety, impaired concentration, mental confusion, poor judgment, frustration and anger. And some people who have a chronic illness may find that the symptoms of their illness flare up under an overload of stress.
Healthy Lifestyle
Stress management should be a major concern for a healthy lifestyle. Effective stress management is a lifestyle and we must learn to incorporate into our daily lives. A commitment to live a healthier lifestyle should never take a back seat, especially not to stress. Stress management is not only an urgent need in today’s fast-paced lifestyle, but an important factor in both physical and mental health. In the alternative, if stress is more the result of one’s lifestyle, eliminating the stress causing factors and/or gaining healthful insight on how to alleviate stress the right way might just be the best thing for an individual to do for themselves.
Stress Nutrition
Nutrition is one area where stress can be reduced most effectively, because we eat every day at least 3 times a day, so even the smallest of changes could bring about significant benefits. Stress can and does also result from unbalanced and inappropriate nutrition; excessive use of socially acceptable intoxicants; suppressive drugs and vaccinations; environmental toxins; negative emotions; lack of physical exercise; genetic factors; and improper body alignment. Stress nutrition is a program specifically designed to combat stress dysfunction and attempts to meet individual biochemical requirements by providing the right amount of each nutrient in proportion to every other nutrient.
Fitness
For decades, fitness professionals have had various degrees of success motivating clients and making them accountable for a healthy lifestyle. There is evidence that you can reduce stress, prevent chronic diseases including depression and improve happiness through ongoing mental fitness training. A complete nutritional approach, combined with proper fitness maintenance and stress management is most important. Exercise and physical fitness act as a buffer against stress, so that stressful events have a less negative impact on psychological and physical health.
Exercises And Sports
You can help trigger the relaxation response by learning simple breathing exercises and then using them when you’re caught up in stressful situations. Other people rely on exercise and participating in their favorite sports and games to spend pent up energy. Not all stress is bad and an example would be in sports. Joining a sports team, even with your co-workers can increase the work fun level, and reduce the tension. Exercises such as golf, tennis, handball, biking, and other sports have shown to help people relax.
Conclusion
Stress management is the application of methods to either reduce stress or increase tolerance to stress. The tricky part of managing stress is that, when dealing with stressful events that are enjoyable « the good stress », you may not always notice how stressed you feel until you experience the more serious stress symptoms, or until you feel overwhelmed. Positive stress is desirable for your own good, and also for the good of your family and also for the society as a whole.
By: Paul Rodgers
