Taken from: http://www.interpol.int/Public/PharmaceuticalCrime/Dangers.asp
International operation targets online supply of counterfeit and illegal medicines - 14 October 2010
Operation Pangea
Combating the sale of illegal medicines online
Pharmaceutical crime
Counterfeit products are harmful and can even be fatal.
Fake medicines range from useless to highly dangerous. They often contain the wrong level of active ingredient – too little, too much or none at all – or an active ingredient intended for a different purpose. In some cases, fake medicines have been found to contain highly toxic substances such as rat poison. In all these scenarios, the person taking the counterfeit medicine is putting their health, even their life, at risk.
One can easily be deceived by counterfeit medicines: they are often packaged to a high standard with fake pills that look identical to the genuine ones. Sometimes a laboratory test is the only way to identify the difference.
The extent of the problem
Counterfeit medicine is now a truly global phenomenon, and all countries of the world are affected as source, transit or destination points.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that up to 1% of medicines available in the developed world are likely to be counterfeit. This figure rises to 10% globally, but in some areas of Asia, Africa and Latin America counterfeit goods can form up to 30% of the market.
Counterfeiting applies not only to 'lifestyle' medicines, including erectile dysfunction and weight loss medicines, but also to 'lifesaving medicines' including those used to treat cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses.
And it's not just medicines. Fake medical devices also pose a risk. The term 'medical device' covers a wide range of healthcare products from contact lenses to condoms; syringes to surgical instruments; and wheelchairs to radiotherapy machines.
Risks of buying medicines over the Internet
More and more people are buying medicines and medical devices over the Internet, through online pharmacies and auction sites. Unfortunately, a large number of these Internet sites are unauthorized, unregulated and trade in illicit or sub-standard products.
If an online supplier conceals its physical address, this is a warning sign that their products could be dangerous – the WHO estimates that 50% of medicines available from such websites are counterfeit.
In particular, buying prescription-only medicines from unauthorized or dubious sources significantly increases the risk of getting substandard or fake products. It is important to consult a healthcare professional for prescription-only medicines and to obtain the medicines from a regulated source.
Buying medicines online may seem cheaper, quicker and more convenient than going through your doctor and high street pharmacy, but the dangers outweigh the benefits by far. Don't take the risk.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Pros and Cons of a Vegetarian Diet
Pros and cons of a Vegetarian Diet
Momma’s mantra—Eat Your Veggies!—sounds more and more like true wisdom. Evidence keeps mounting that a diet based on low-fat, high-fiber fruits, grains and colorful vegetables can play a key role in keeping cancer and other deadly diseases at bay.
A position paper recently released by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) suggests that vegetarians tend to have lower:
• Overall cancer rates
• Risk of ischemic heart disease
• Blood pressure
• LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels
• Rates of Type 2 diabetes
While going veggie sounds like a no brainer on the surface, it’s not as simple as opening a can of beans or munching on carrot sticks if you want to have a truly healthy diet. Here’s some food for thought if you’re considering a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Pros
• It’s a good way to lose weight. The aforementioned ADA position paper also reports that vegetarians tend to have a lower “body mass index;” in other words, they weigh less. It stands to reason since plant-based diets essentially eliminate foods high in saturated fat that can clog arteries and pack on pounds.
• You’ll keep the train running on schedule. Vegetarian diets naturally are full of high-fiber fruits and vegetables which will help keep you regular. The high-fiber aspect of vegetarian diets is a leading factor in reducing your risk of colon cancer, say researchers.
• You can save money. Vegetarian Times reports that replacing the 200 or so pounds of meats the average carnivore consumers every year with fresh vegetables can save about $4,000 on the annual grocery bill.
Cons
• Some meat alternatives may cost you more. Lots of newly converted carnivores replace their craving for burgers, sausage and other meats with processed, soy-based alternatives like veggie burgers which actually can cost a lot more than the meat they’re replacing. For example, a pound of ground chuck typically costs around $2/pound or 50 cents per quarter pound (4-ounce) burger, but just one 2.5-ounce veggie burger can set you back a buck.
• It can take research and work. Healthy, balanced vegetarian diets require some planning and analysis of nutritional values to ensure that you’re consuming enough protein, iron, vitamin D and other essential nutrients that are more easily obtained in carnivore diets. You’ll likely need to take vitamin B-12 supplements and to add the highly-touted omega-3 fatty acids present in salmon and other fatty fishes, you’ll need to take flax seed oil capsules every day or consume two tablespoons of ground flax seed.
• Eating out can be a hassle. It’s gotten a lot better in recent years but eating out sans meat can be frustrating in some restaurants. Go to a burger, wings or ribs joint and you might find yourself eating a dinner roll, fries and house salad—that’s if you ask them to hold the bacon from the salad. Most chefs at higher-end restaurants will prepare vegetarian meals when requested in advance, even if it’s not on their menu. Call ahead or access menus online before venturing out to eat to avoid the frustration.
• Some people may not understand. If you grew up a carnivore and then switch to a vegetarian diet, expect at least some meat-munching family and friends not to be very understanding. Family meals and nights out with the guys can subject you to some good-natured teasing or flat-out ridicule as well as requests to explain yourself, which can get old fast.
Momma’s mantra—Eat Your Veggies!—sounds more and more like true wisdom. Evidence keeps mounting that a diet based on low-fat, high-fiber fruits, grains and colorful vegetables can play a key role in keeping cancer and other deadly diseases at bay.
A position paper recently released by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) suggests that vegetarians tend to have lower:
• Overall cancer rates
• Risk of ischemic heart disease
• Blood pressure
• LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels
• Rates of Type 2 diabetes
While going veggie sounds like a no brainer on the surface, it’s not as simple as opening a can of beans or munching on carrot sticks if you want to have a truly healthy diet. Here’s some food for thought if you’re considering a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Pros
• It’s a good way to lose weight. The aforementioned ADA position paper also reports that vegetarians tend to have a lower “body mass index;” in other words, they weigh less. It stands to reason since plant-based diets essentially eliminate foods high in saturated fat that can clog arteries and pack on pounds.
• You’ll keep the train running on schedule. Vegetarian diets naturally are full of high-fiber fruits and vegetables which will help keep you regular. The high-fiber aspect of vegetarian diets is a leading factor in reducing your risk of colon cancer, say researchers.
• You can save money. Vegetarian Times reports that replacing the 200 or so pounds of meats the average carnivore consumers every year with fresh vegetables can save about $4,000 on the annual grocery bill.
Cons
• Some meat alternatives may cost you more. Lots of newly converted carnivores replace their craving for burgers, sausage and other meats with processed, soy-based alternatives like veggie burgers which actually can cost a lot more than the meat they’re replacing. For example, a pound of ground chuck typically costs around $2/pound or 50 cents per quarter pound (4-ounce) burger, but just one 2.5-ounce veggie burger can set you back a buck.
• It can take research and work. Healthy, balanced vegetarian diets require some planning and analysis of nutritional values to ensure that you’re consuming enough protein, iron, vitamin D and other essential nutrients that are more easily obtained in carnivore diets. You’ll likely need to take vitamin B-12 supplements and to add the highly-touted omega-3 fatty acids present in salmon and other fatty fishes, you’ll need to take flax seed oil capsules every day or consume two tablespoons of ground flax seed.
• Eating out can be a hassle. It’s gotten a lot better in recent years but eating out sans meat can be frustrating in some restaurants. Go to a burger, wings or ribs joint and you might find yourself eating a dinner roll, fries and house salad—that’s if you ask them to hold the bacon from the salad. Most chefs at higher-end restaurants will prepare vegetarian meals when requested in advance, even if it’s not on their menu. Call ahead or access menus online before venturing out to eat to avoid the frustration.
• Some people may not understand. If you grew up a carnivore and then switch to a vegetarian diet, expect at least some meat-munching family and friends not to be very understanding. Family meals and nights out with the guys can subject you to some good-natured teasing or flat-out ridicule as well as requests to explain yourself, which can get old fast.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Check your finger nails
Health Tip: Don't Ignore Fingernail Abnormalities
(HealthDay News) - An abnormality in all or some of your fingernails can signal a potentially serious medical condition.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these examples:
-Sunken areas on the fingernail can signal malnourishment.
-An abnormal shape to the fingernail, with ridges and an inward curve, can signal iron deficiency anemia.
-White flecks in the nail can indicate leukonychia, which could be caused by factors including zinc deficiency or heavy metal poisoning.
-An abnormal color or tenderness could indicate an infection, often caused by fungus or yeast.
-Streaks of blood in the nail can signal an infection, notably effecting heart valves.
Copyright 2010 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
(HealthDay News) - An abnormality in all or some of your fingernails can signal a potentially serious medical condition.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these examples:
-Sunken areas on the fingernail can signal malnourishment.
-An abnormal shape to the fingernail, with ridges and an inward curve, can signal iron deficiency anemia.
-White flecks in the nail can indicate leukonychia, which could be caused by factors including zinc deficiency or heavy metal poisoning.
-An abnormal color or tenderness could indicate an infection, often caused by fungus or yeast.
-Streaks of blood in the nail can signal an infection, notably effecting heart valves.
Copyright 2010 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Lakes warming faster than air
The Associated Press
America's Lake Tahoe, shown here in April, has heated up by 1.7 degrees since 1985. That means it has warmed the second-most out of 104 lakes studied by NASA, after Russia's Lake Ladoga. (Dino Vournas/Associated Press)
A first-of-its-kind NASA study is finding that cool lakes are heating up — even faster than air.
Two NASA scientists used satellite data to look at 104 large inland lakes around the world and found that on average they have warmed 1.1 degrees (Celsius) since 1985. That's about 2½ times the increase in global temperatures in the same time period.Russia's Lake Ladoga and America's Lake Tahoe are warming significantly and the most, said study co-author Simon Hook, a scientist at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, Calif. Tahoe has heated up by 1.7 degrees since 1985, while Ladoga has been even warmer, going up by 2.2 degrees.
The study was published Wednesday in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.Hook and his colleague used several satellites and looked at thermal infrared images of the lakes in winter and summer. They also confirmed the numbers by comparing them to buoy data.It fits with what we see with air temperature measurements," Hook said. "We were surprised that in some places the lakes appear to be warming more than the air temperature."
Lakes slower to cool than land
The next question to look at is why the lakes seem to be warming faster than the air or land, Hook said. One reason could be the way lakes warm — in a more gradual manner than land but also slower to cool.NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt, who was not part of the study, said the research made sense and adds another independent measuring system to show that the world is warming up. Eleven different indicators — including air temperature, humidity, snow cover, ocean heat content — show statistically significant man-made global warming, while no environmental measurements show otherwise, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Warming lakes is indicator No. 12 and "another brick in the wall," said University of Victoria climate scientist Andrew Weaver. Overall, 41 lakes increased temperatures in a statistically significant way, with another 59 individually warming but not enough to be considered significant. Only four showed temperature drops, but not significantly, Hook said.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/11/24/lakes-warming-climate-change.html#ixzz16DD1Uu3B
America's Lake Tahoe, shown here in April, has heated up by 1.7 degrees since 1985. That means it has warmed the second-most out of 104 lakes studied by NASA, after Russia's Lake Ladoga. (Dino Vournas/Associated Press)
A first-of-its-kind NASA study is finding that cool lakes are heating up — even faster than air.
Two NASA scientists used satellite data to look at 104 large inland lakes around the world and found that on average they have warmed 1.1 degrees (Celsius) since 1985. That's about 2½ times the increase in global temperatures in the same time period.Russia's Lake Ladoga and America's Lake Tahoe are warming significantly and the most, said study co-author Simon Hook, a scientist at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, Calif. Tahoe has heated up by 1.7 degrees since 1985, while Ladoga has been even warmer, going up by 2.2 degrees.
The study was published Wednesday in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.Hook and his colleague used several satellites and looked at thermal infrared images of the lakes in winter and summer. They also confirmed the numbers by comparing them to buoy data.It fits with what we see with air temperature measurements," Hook said. "We were surprised that in some places the lakes appear to be warming more than the air temperature."
Lakes slower to cool than land
The next question to look at is why the lakes seem to be warming faster than the air or land, Hook said. One reason could be the way lakes warm — in a more gradual manner than land but also slower to cool.NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt, who was not part of the study, said the research made sense and adds another independent measuring system to show that the world is warming up. Eleven different indicators — including air temperature, humidity, snow cover, ocean heat content — show statistically significant man-made global warming, while no environmental measurements show otherwise, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Warming lakes is indicator No. 12 and "another brick in the wall," said University of Victoria climate scientist Andrew Weaver. Overall, 41 lakes increased temperatures in a statistically significant way, with another 59 individually warming but not enough to be considered significant. Only four showed temperature drops, but not significantly, Hook said.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/11/24/lakes-warming-climate-change.html#ixzz16DD1Uu3B
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Singer James Blunt 'stopped World War 3'
Singer James Blunt has told the BBC how he refused an order to attack Russian troops when he was a British soldier in Kosovo.
Blunt said he was willing to risk a court martial by rejecting the order from a US General. But he was backed by British General Sir Mike Jackson, who told him "I'm not going to have my soldiers be responsible for starting World War 3". Blunt was ordered to seize an airfield - but the Russians had got there first.In an interview with BBC Radio 5Live, to be broadcast later on Sunday, he said: "I was given the direct command to overpower the 200 or so Russians who were there."I was the lead officer with my troop of men behind us ... The soldiers directly behind me were from the Parachute Regiment, so they're obviously game for the fight."The direct command [that] came in from General Wesley Clark was to overpower them. Various words were used that seemed unusual to us. Words such as 'destroy' came down the radio."
'Mad situation'
The confusion surrounding the taking of Pristina airfield in 1999 has been written about in political memoirs, and was widely reported at the time.
But this is the first time Blunt has given an account of his role in the incident. Blunt, who was at the head of a column of 30,000 NATO troops with his unit, told Pienaar's Politics it was a "mad situation".He said he had been "party to the conversation" between senior officers in which Gen Clark had ordered the attack. "We had two hundred Russians lined up pointing their weapons at us aggressively, which was... and you know we'd been told to reach the airfield and take a hold of it. "And if we had a foothold there then it would make life much easier for the NATO forces in Pristina. So there was a political reason to take hold of this.
"And the practical consequences of that political reason would be then aggression against the Russians."
Court martial
Asked if following the order would have risked starting World War 3, Blunt, who was a 25-year-old cavalry officer at the time, replied: "Absolutely. And that's why we were querying our instruction from an American general".
"That sense of moral judgement is drilled into us as soldiers in the British army” James Blunt
"Fortunately, up on the radio came General Mike Jackson, whose exact words at the time were, 'I'm not going to have my soldiers be responsible for starting World War 3', and told us why don't we sugar off down the road, you know, encircle the airfield instead. "And after a couple of days the Russians there said 'hang on we have no food and no water. Can we share the airfield with you?'." If Gen Jackson had not blocked the order from Gen Clark, who as NATO Supreme Commander Europe was his superior officer, Blunt said he would still have declined to follow it, even at the risk of a court martial. He said: "There are things that you do along the way that you know are right, and those that you absolutely feel are wrong, that I think it's morally important to stand up against, and that sense of moral judgement is drilled into us as soldiers in the British army."
Blunt left the army in 2002 to pursue a career in music, later scoring a worldwide hit with You're Beautiful.
Blunt said he was willing to risk a court martial by rejecting the order from a US General. But he was backed by British General Sir Mike Jackson, who told him "I'm not going to have my soldiers be responsible for starting World War 3". Blunt was ordered to seize an airfield - but the Russians had got there first.In an interview with BBC Radio 5Live, to be broadcast later on Sunday, he said: "I was given the direct command to overpower the 200 or so Russians who were there."I was the lead officer with my troop of men behind us ... The soldiers directly behind me were from the Parachute Regiment, so they're obviously game for the fight."The direct command [that] came in from General Wesley Clark was to overpower them. Various words were used that seemed unusual to us. Words such as 'destroy' came down the radio."
'Mad situation'
The confusion surrounding the taking of Pristina airfield in 1999 has been written about in political memoirs, and was widely reported at the time.
But this is the first time Blunt has given an account of his role in the incident. Blunt, who was at the head of a column of 30,000 NATO troops with his unit, told Pienaar's Politics it was a "mad situation".He said he had been "party to the conversation" between senior officers in which Gen Clark had ordered the attack. "We had two hundred Russians lined up pointing their weapons at us aggressively, which was... and you know we'd been told to reach the airfield and take a hold of it. "And if we had a foothold there then it would make life much easier for the NATO forces in Pristina. So there was a political reason to take hold of this.
"And the practical consequences of that political reason would be then aggression against the Russians."
Court martial
Asked if following the order would have risked starting World War 3, Blunt, who was a 25-year-old cavalry officer at the time, replied: "Absolutely. And that's why we were querying our instruction from an American general".
"That sense of moral judgement is drilled into us as soldiers in the British army” James Blunt
"Fortunately, up on the radio came General Mike Jackson, whose exact words at the time were, 'I'm not going to have my soldiers be responsible for starting World War 3', and told us why don't we sugar off down the road, you know, encircle the airfield instead. "And after a couple of days the Russians there said 'hang on we have no food and no water. Can we share the airfield with you?'." If Gen Jackson had not blocked the order from Gen Clark, who as NATO Supreme Commander Europe was his superior officer, Blunt said he would still have declined to follow it, even at the risk of a court martial. He said: "There are things that you do along the way that you know are right, and those that you absolutely feel are wrong, that I think it's morally important to stand up against, and that sense of moral judgement is drilled into us as soldiers in the British army."
Blunt left the army in 2002 to pursue a career in music, later scoring a worldwide hit with You're Beautiful.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Natural cleaning products
I found this video on Youtube and it gives alternatives to the toxic cleaning products that you can buy. (The intro is annoying but wait for the young woman to give you the recipes.)
Saturday, November 13, 2010
What to do about kids and bullies
Bullies: What to do?
Talk about it. Talk about it with your own children, your family, friends and community. Don’t let it go unnoticed. Children and others need to hear that bullying and violent behaviours are hurtful, immoral, hateful, often illegal and won’t be tolerated in our society.
Fight back. By spreading tolerance of individual differences and hope for overcoming oppression using the same tools — the internet and social media — we can get the attention of our youth and poignantly share messages of compassion, hope, strategies and resources for help-seeking, and a message, loud and clear, that we are all equal regardless of our identities be they defined by ethnicity, race, sexuality, gender, status or other classification. Dan Savage, a Seattle-based advice columnist, has taken this very approach through his online project, It Gets Better, in response to the suicide of Billy Lucas, a 15-year old from Indiana who was the victim of anti-gay bullying.
Prosecute and hold accountable the perpetrators. Help make sound policy and laws, and enforce them. In the Criminal Code of Canada, the punishment for being found guilty of publishing material known to be false and harmful to a person’s reputation is up to five years in prison. This includes publishing a web page or posting on a newsgroup untrue statements about a person that could entice other people to ridicule or perpetuate the untruths about this person.
Step up to the fight. BullyingCanada.ca is working with MP Mike Allen to start a national petition to have the Canadian government introduce a law against bullying.
Check your own behaviour. Be aware of what you say and how you behave that may be perceived as hateful and intolerant. You needn’t share other people’s interests, beliefs, biologically determined sexual preferences or lifestyle, but you do need to let them be who they are. That’s called freedom. Adults are not immune to being bullies, and our children are listening and watching closely.
Monitor your kids’ behaviour. Implement internet monitoring measures if you feel this is necessary, but most important, listen to children and watch how they behave. Don’t let bad behaviour or hateful speech go by unnoticed. That’s your job as a parent, teacher, or member of the community.
Support non-profit organizations that educate children about bullying. PREVnet is one such organization that provides supports to prevent and address bullying, in partnership with 62 expert researchers from 27 Canadian universities and 49 national organizations. Trust me, we need organizations like this in our world.
Show kids you care. Be available to the children you know, to listen, encourage, model positive behaviours and attitudes, and show them the world sees a wonderful future ahead for them. Pave the way, because they are our future. All of them.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/10/05/f-barwick-online-bullying.html#ixzz15AtTcOYd
Talk about it. Talk about it with your own children, your family, friends and community. Don’t let it go unnoticed. Children and others need to hear that bullying and violent behaviours are hurtful, immoral, hateful, often illegal and won’t be tolerated in our society.
Fight back. By spreading tolerance of individual differences and hope for overcoming oppression using the same tools — the internet and social media — we can get the attention of our youth and poignantly share messages of compassion, hope, strategies and resources for help-seeking, and a message, loud and clear, that we are all equal regardless of our identities be they defined by ethnicity, race, sexuality, gender, status or other classification. Dan Savage, a Seattle-based advice columnist, has taken this very approach through his online project, It Gets Better, in response to the suicide of Billy Lucas, a 15-year old from Indiana who was the victim of anti-gay bullying.
Prosecute and hold accountable the perpetrators. Help make sound policy and laws, and enforce them. In the Criminal Code of Canada, the punishment for being found guilty of publishing material known to be false and harmful to a person’s reputation is up to five years in prison. This includes publishing a web page or posting on a newsgroup untrue statements about a person that could entice other people to ridicule or perpetuate the untruths about this person.
Step up to the fight. BullyingCanada.ca is working with MP Mike Allen to start a national petition to have the Canadian government introduce a law against bullying.
Check your own behaviour. Be aware of what you say and how you behave that may be perceived as hateful and intolerant. You needn’t share other people’s interests, beliefs, biologically determined sexual preferences or lifestyle, but you do need to let them be who they are. That’s called freedom. Adults are not immune to being bullies, and our children are listening and watching closely.
Monitor your kids’ behaviour. Implement internet monitoring measures if you feel this is necessary, but most important, listen to children and watch how they behave. Don’t let bad behaviour or hateful speech go by unnoticed. That’s your job as a parent, teacher, or member of the community.
Support non-profit organizations that educate children about bullying. PREVnet is one such organization that provides supports to prevent and address bullying, in partnership with 62 expert researchers from 27 Canadian universities and 49 national organizations. Trust me, we need organizations like this in our world.
Show kids you care. Be available to the children you know, to listen, encourage, model positive behaviours and attitudes, and show them the world sees a wonderful future ahead for them. Pave the way, because they are our future. All of them.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/10/05/f-barwick-online-bullying.html#ixzz15AtTcOYd
Friday, November 12, 2010
The Truth about the US dealings with the Lacota Nation
The truth about that US dealing with Lakota Nation
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Grow your own clean air
Houseplants
The most common harmful airborne chemicals found in the average home or office are formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and carbon monoxide. Even in low concentrations, these chemicals can cause a variety of health problems.
Formaldehyde is found in virtually all indoor environments. It is used in particle board or pressed wood products to make office or household furniture, in many consumer paper products, in carpets, permanent-pressed clothes, water repellents, and fire retardants. Other sources of formaldehyde include natural gas, kerosene, and cigarette smoke. Formaldehyde irritates the membranes of the eyes, nose, and throat and can cause headaches and allergic dermatitis. It is suspected of causing a rare type of lung cancer in cases of long-term exposure.
Benzene is present in inks, oils, paints, plastics, and rubber. It is also used in the manufacturing of detergents, dyes, and some pharmaceuticals. In addition to irritation of the eyes and skin, chronic exposure to even low levels of benzene causes headaches, loss of appetite, drowsiness, psychological disturbances, and disease of the blood system, including anemia.
Trichloroethylene is used by the dry cleaning industry and in printing inks, paints, varnishes, and adhesives. This chemical is considered to be a potent liver carcinogen.
Carbon monoxide is found in cigarette smoke and is produced by the incomplete combustion of fuel. Exposure to low levels can cause drowsiness and headaches.
Researchers have identified several varieties of houseplants that excel in removing these chemical pollutants from the air. The most effective in removing formaldehyde were philodendron, spider plant, and golden pothos. Two common flowering varieties were the most efficient at removing benzene; these were gerbera daisy and chrysanthemum (mum). The peace lily and the chrysanthemum removed the highest percentage of trichoroethylene. Since all plants utilize carbon in the process of producing new growth, all these varieties are effective in removing low levels of carbon monoxide. Other varieties found to be especially effective in cleaning the air were English ivy, Chinese evergreen, bamboo palm, snake plant (mother-in-law’s tongue), and several types of dracaena, including marginata, corn plant, and Janet Craig. All plants produce oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. Thus any plants you choose, in addition to the varieties named here, will increase the concentration of oxygen in their immediate surroundings. In general, one large plant per 100 square feet of space is sufficient to clean the air in an average home or office. A more heavily polluted environment would require a greater concentration of plants.
Most of these houseplants are relatively easy to grow in moderate to bright indirect sunlight or under florescent lighting. Avoid windows or glass doors where sunlight shines directly on the plants, except for flowering mums and gerbera daisy, which thrive in sunlight. Ivy, palm, philodendron, spider plant, and dracaena are all susceptible to spider mites. To prevent infestations, mist often and avoid hot, dry air. The pots may be set in trays of pebbles in water to provide moisture around the plants. Make sure the bottoms of the pots are above the level of the water. Beware of overwatering any plant, the most common cause of houseplant deaths. Golden pothos, Chinese evergreen, and snake plant should not be misted and should be allowed to dry out between watering to keep the roots healthy.
How often you feed your plants depends on the type of food you use. Follow directions on the plant food container. Always water your plants with tepid water. If you use chlorinated water, allow it to sit for at least 24 hours so the chlorine can evaporate. If possible use rainwater or bottled (not demineralized) water.
To beautify your surroundings, and breathe a little easier, add several of these living air cleaners to your home and work spaces. You will feel better and make your indoor environments more pleasant for living and working.
How to grow clean air
3 common green plants- areca palm, money plant, mother-in-laws tongue (bedroom)
The most common harmful airborne chemicals found in the average home or office are formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and carbon monoxide. Even in low concentrations, these chemicals can cause a variety of health problems.
Formaldehyde is found in virtually all indoor environments. It is used in particle board or pressed wood products to make office or household furniture, in many consumer paper products, in carpets, permanent-pressed clothes, water repellents, and fire retardants. Other sources of formaldehyde include natural gas, kerosene, and cigarette smoke. Formaldehyde irritates the membranes of the eyes, nose, and throat and can cause headaches and allergic dermatitis. It is suspected of causing a rare type of lung cancer in cases of long-term exposure.
Benzene is present in inks, oils, paints, plastics, and rubber. It is also used in the manufacturing of detergents, dyes, and some pharmaceuticals. In addition to irritation of the eyes and skin, chronic exposure to even low levels of benzene causes headaches, loss of appetite, drowsiness, psychological disturbances, and disease of the blood system, including anemia.
Trichloroethylene is used by the dry cleaning industry and in printing inks, paints, varnishes, and adhesives. This chemical is considered to be a potent liver carcinogen.
Carbon monoxide is found in cigarette smoke and is produced by the incomplete combustion of fuel. Exposure to low levels can cause drowsiness and headaches.
Researchers have identified several varieties of houseplants that excel in removing these chemical pollutants from the air. The most effective in removing formaldehyde were philodendron, spider plant, and golden pothos. Two common flowering varieties were the most efficient at removing benzene; these were gerbera daisy and chrysanthemum (mum). The peace lily and the chrysanthemum removed the highest percentage of trichoroethylene. Since all plants utilize carbon in the process of producing new growth, all these varieties are effective in removing low levels of carbon monoxide. Other varieties found to be especially effective in cleaning the air were English ivy, Chinese evergreen, bamboo palm, snake plant (mother-in-law’s tongue), and several types of dracaena, including marginata, corn plant, and Janet Craig. All plants produce oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. Thus any plants you choose, in addition to the varieties named here, will increase the concentration of oxygen in their immediate surroundings. In general, one large plant per 100 square feet of space is sufficient to clean the air in an average home or office. A more heavily polluted environment would require a greater concentration of plants.
Most of these houseplants are relatively easy to grow in moderate to bright indirect sunlight or under florescent lighting. Avoid windows or glass doors where sunlight shines directly on the plants, except for flowering mums and gerbera daisy, which thrive in sunlight. Ivy, palm, philodendron, spider plant, and dracaena are all susceptible to spider mites. To prevent infestations, mist often and avoid hot, dry air. The pots may be set in trays of pebbles in water to provide moisture around the plants. Make sure the bottoms of the pots are above the level of the water. Beware of overwatering any plant, the most common cause of houseplant deaths. Golden pothos, Chinese evergreen, and snake plant should not be misted and should be allowed to dry out between watering to keep the roots healthy.
How often you feed your plants depends on the type of food you use. Follow directions on the plant food container. Always water your plants with tepid water. If you use chlorinated water, allow it to sit for at least 24 hours so the chlorine can evaporate. If possible use rainwater or bottled (not demineralized) water.
To beautify your surroundings, and breathe a little easier, add several of these living air cleaners to your home and work spaces. You will feel better and make your indoor environments more pleasant for living and working.
How to grow clean air
3 common green plants- areca palm, money plant, mother-in-laws tongue (bedroom)
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
STDs diagnosed by cell phone?
A research project in Europe aims to let people self-diagnose sexually transmitted diseases like HIV and syphilis by using their mobile phones.But don't worry. You won't have to pee or spit on your phone, despite what the tech blogs are saying about these efforts.
The "eSTI2" project, managed by Tariq Sadiq from St George's University of London, England, recently received a $6.5 million grant to develop small chips that can be used to used to test saliva, urine or blood for sexually transmitted diseases. The chips -- which, yes, you would need to pee on in some cases -- would connect to mobile phones for processing. It's possible that a smartphone app would be able to tell a person if they'd tested positive or negative for a particular STD in 5 to 15 minutes, Sadiq said.
"It's brining the diagnostics to the population rather than having the population come into clinics," he said. "We've really wanted to do this process because there's been this huge burden of sexually transmitted infections."Despite other efforts, STDs generally are on the rise, he said, and the stigma associated with testing -- as well as the inconvenience of waiting for an appointment at a clinic -- dissuades many people from getting tested.
The eSTI2 project hopes to break down those barriers.
The group has developed chip prototypes that are about the size of a Flash memory card. They cost about $15 to $30, Sadiq said, but he aims to bring that cost down to about $3 before they go on sale.The prototypes will need to go through clinical trials and further tech development. They could be on the market in 7 to 10 years, he said."We're kind of halfway there to be honest, and that's why we've got funding -- to complete that," he said.
The chips could be made available in public locations like vending machines or in nightclubs, he said. The research group -- whose acronym stands for Electronic Self-Testing Instruments for Sexually Transmitted Infections -- is trying to investigate all aspects of this technology before releasing products."We might not want to include an HIV test in a vending machine," he said.Doctors, social scientists and technologists need to understand the pros and cons of on-the-spot STD testing before introducing these products to the public, Sadiq said. Because of that, the group is inching the project forward rather than racing to commercialization.
Other on-the-go STD tests -- like a saliva test for HIV -- have not been as accurate as companies have claimed, he said. The tests must be accurate, easy to use and secure before they're useful, he said.
The chips could be used to diagnose a range of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, he said. The mobile phone would simply be used to process the results; the actual testing chips require most of the tech development.
The small chips would be used once and then thrown away, and they would plug into mobile phones via a standard cable, Sadiq said, although the group hasn't figured out exactly what that would look like.Sadiq is not the first to work on the concept of on-the-go medical testing using mobile phones. George Whitesides at Harvard University has created a prototype "lab on a chip" that could be used in the developing world to diagnose HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis and gastroenteritis.Whitesides' chips are made of paper that changes color when a small drop of blood is added. Testers snap mobile-phone photos of the chip and send them via text message to a clinic for diagnosis. His aim is to create chips that would sell for 1 cent and be available in about a year.
The "eSTI2" project, managed by Tariq Sadiq from St George's University of London, England, recently received a $6.5 million grant to develop small chips that can be used to used to test saliva, urine or blood for sexually transmitted diseases. The chips -- which, yes, you would need to pee on in some cases -- would connect to mobile phones for processing. It's possible that a smartphone app would be able to tell a person if they'd tested positive or negative for a particular STD in 5 to 15 minutes, Sadiq said.
"It's brining the diagnostics to the population rather than having the population come into clinics," he said. "We've really wanted to do this process because there's been this huge burden of sexually transmitted infections."Despite other efforts, STDs generally are on the rise, he said, and the stigma associated with testing -- as well as the inconvenience of waiting for an appointment at a clinic -- dissuades many people from getting tested.
The eSTI2 project hopes to break down those barriers.
The group has developed chip prototypes that are about the size of a Flash memory card. They cost about $15 to $30, Sadiq said, but he aims to bring that cost down to about $3 before they go on sale.The prototypes will need to go through clinical trials and further tech development. They could be on the market in 7 to 10 years, he said."We're kind of halfway there to be honest, and that's why we've got funding -- to complete that," he said.
The chips could be made available in public locations like vending machines or in nightclubs, he said. The research group -- whose acronym stands for Electronic Self-Testing Instruments for Sexually Transmitted Infections -- is trying to investigate all aspects of this technology before releasing products."We might not want to include an HIV test in a vending machine," he said.Doctors, social scientists and technologists need to understand the pros and cons of on-the-spot STD testing before introducing these products to the public, Sadiq said. Because of that, the group is inching the project forward rather than racing to commercialization.
Other on-the-go STD tests -- like a saliva test for HIV -- have not been as accurate as companies have claimed, he said. The tests must be accurate, easy to use and secure before they're useful, he said.
The chips could be used to diagnose a range of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, he said. The mobile phone would simply be used to process the results; the actual testing chips require most of the tech development.
The small chips would be used once and then thrown away, and they would plug into mobile phones via a standard cable, Sadiq said, although the group hasn't figured out exactly what that would look like.Sadiq is not the first to work on the concept of on-the-go medical testing using mobile phones. George Whitesides at Harvard University has created a prototype "lab on a chip" that could be used in the developing world to diagnose HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis and gastroenteritis.Whitesides' chips are made of paper that changes color when a small drop of blood is added. Testers snap mobile-phone photos of the chip and send them via text message to a clinic for diagnosis. His aim is to create chips that would sell for 1 cent and be available in about a year.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Pregnancy and Painkillers
Painkillers, pregnancy and male reproductive problems
The use of painkillers such as ibuprofen, aspirin and paracetamol during pregnancy could be linked to male reproductive disorders according to new research. A study in the journal Human Reproduction (opens pdf) found that women who took more than one painkiller at the same time during pregnancy, or who took the drugs during the second trimester, were at increased risk of giving birth to boys with undescended testicles.
The condition, known as cryptorchidism, affects about one in 20 boys in the UK. It is known to be a risk factor for male fertility problems later in life and an increased risk of testicular cancer.
1,463 pregnant women in Finland completed written questionnaires and 834 women in Denmark did the same or took part in a telephone interview. The researchers found that women significantly under-reported the use of painkillers in the written questionnaire because they did not consider mild painkillers to be "medication". The study showed that women who used more than one painkiller simultaneously (such as paracetamol and ibuprofen) had a seven-fold increased risk of giving birth to sons with some form of undescended testes compared to women who did not take the drugs.
The second trimester appeared to be a particularly sensitive time. Any analgesic use at this point more than doubled the risk of the condition. Simultaneous use of more than one painkiller during this time appeared to increase the risk 16-fold. The scientists behind the research believe painkillers may be part of the reason for the increase in male reproductive disorders in recent decades, possible by interfering with the role of the male hormone testosterone. Research carried out on rats in Denmark and France found that painkillers disrupted androgen production, leading to insufficient supplies of testosterone during the crucial early period of gestation when the male organs were forming. The effects of the painkillers on the rats was comparable to that caused by similar doses of known endocrine (hormone) disrupters such as phthalates - a family of chemical compounds used in the manufacture of plastics such as PVC.
Dr Henrik Leffers, senior scientist at Righospitalet in Copenhagen, who led the research, said: "If exposure to endocrine disruptors is the mechanisms behind the increasing reproductive problems among young men in the Western World, this research suggests that particular attention should be paid to the use of mild analgesics during pregnancy, as this could be a major reason for the problems".But the study is not without limitations. The researchers could not find a statistically significant effect among the Finnish women, which was the larger group, but did find significant effects among the Danish women.
Dr Leffers said: "We do not quite understand why the Finnish cohort does not show the same associations as the Danish cohort." However, he said the telephone interviews used in Denmark gave the "most reliable information" and this may explain some of the differences. He added: "The prevalence of cryptorchidism is much lower in Finland (2.4%) compared to Denmark (9.3%) and, therefore, this would require a larger cohort to find the same number of cases." Pregnant women in the UK are already advised to avoid taking ibuprofen or aspirin, unless they are advised to do so by their doctor.
Instead they are told they can take paracetamol. The NHS Choices website puts it like this:
Paracetamol has been used routinely through all stages of pregnancy to reduce a high temperature (fever) and relieve pain. There is no clear evidence that paracetamol has any harmful effects on the baby. As with any medicine that is used during pregnancy, paracetamol should be taken at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. This raises a further concern with the research. Of the individual painkillers, ibuprofen and aspirin approximately quadrupled the risk of cryptorchidism. Paracetamol doubled the risk, but this was not statistically significant. This suggests that a link between paracetamol use alone in pregnancy and male fertility problems is not clear-cut. Dr Leffers said: "Although we should be cautious about any over-extrapolation or over-statement, the use of mild analgesics constitutes by far the largest exposure to endocrine disruptors among pregnant women."
Prof Richard Sharpe of the Medical Research Council's Human Reproductive Sciences Unit at the University of Edinburgh, said:
"The studies are top quality from groups with considerable expertise. The association between painkiller (paracetamol) use in early pregnancy and increased risk of cryptorchidism in sons has been independently confirmed in another study from Denmark (MS Jensen et al. November 2010, Epidemiology). Painkillers/paracetamol are likely to be one of several factors that cause cryptorchidism - some environmental chemicals are also implicated - it is probably the sum of all such exposures that determines the outcome.
Pregnant women who are alarmed by these studies should note the following:
It is only prolonged use that has an effect - taking occasional painkiller for a headache will have no adverse effect (and the stress, worry and sickness from not taking something for a bad headache may be worse for the mother and baby). Most women in this study who used paracetamol did not have a baby boy with cryptorchidism. Prolonged use of painkillers in pregnancy should not be contemplated without medical approval. For certain, taking paracetamol as a 'feel good' factor should be avoided (by all of us!).
It is sound common sense to minimize your exposure (and therefore your baby's exposure) to all drugs, environmental (pesticides, paints, household chemical exposures) and lifestyle (smoking, alcohol, cosmetics usage) chemicals during pregnancy wherever possible."
Basky Thilaganathan, Spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said:
"The findings need to be interpreted with caution. Firstly, the study shows an association rather than causation; it is entirely possible that mothers took these analgesics for an ailment (for example, a viral infection) in pregnancy that may have been the real cause for the noted problems. Secondly, the dose-dependent effect was seen in one study cohort but not another, raising the possibility that this preliminary study may be prone to inadvertent bias of patient recruitment and ascertainment. Furthermore, the definition of cryptorchidism is broad and clinical, rather than specific and the overall number of cases is so small that a small change in affected numbers would have nullified the findings.
"Given these limitations, the findings of the study should be interpreted with caution and it would be inappropriate to spread alarm to pregnant women on this basis."
The use of painkillers such as ibuprofen, aspirin and paracetamol during pregnancy could be linked to male reproductive disorders according to new research. A study in the journal Human Reproduction (opens pdf) found that women who took more than one painkiller at the same time during pregnancy, or who took the drugs during the second trimester, were at increased risk of giving birth to boys with undescended testicles.
The condition, known as cryptorchidism, affects about one in 20 boys in the UK. It is known to be a risk factor for male fertility problems later in life and an increased risk of testicular cancer.
1,463 pregnant women in Finland completed written questionnaires and 834 women in Denmark did the same or took part in a telephone interview. The researchers found that women significantly under-reported the use of painkillers in the written questionnaire because they did not consider mild painkillers to be "medication". The study showed that women who used more than one painkiller simultaneously (such as paracetamol and ibuprofen) had a seven-fold increased risk of giving birth to sons with some form of undescended testes compared to women who did not take the drugs.
The second trimester appeared to be a particularly sensitive time. Any analgesic use at this point more than doubled the risk of the condition. Simultaneous use of more than one painkiller during this time appeared to increase the risk 16-fold. The scientists behind the research believe painkillers may be part of the reason for the increase in male reproductive disorders in recent decades, possible by interfering with the role of the male hormone testosterone. Research carried out on rats in Denmark and France found that painkillers disrupted androgen production, leading to insufficient supplies of testosterone during the crucial early period of gestation when the male organs were forming. The effects of the painkillers on the rats was comparable to that caused by similar doses of known endocrine (hormone) disrupters such as phthalates - a family of chemical compounds used in the manufacture of plastics such as PVC.
Dr Henrik Leffers, senior scientist at Righospitalet in Copenhagen, who led the research, said: "If exposure to endocrine disruptors is the mechanisms behind the increasing reproductive problems among young men in the Western World, this research suggests that particular attention should be paid to the use of mild analgesics during pregnancy, as this could be a major reason for the problems".But the study is not without limitations. The researchers could not find a statistically significant effect among the Finnish women, which was the larger group, but did find significant effects among the Danish women.
Dr Leffers said: "We do not quite understand why the Finnish cohort does not show the same associations as the Danish cohort." However, he said the telephone interviews used in Denmark gave the "most reliable information" and this may explain some of the differences. He added: "The prevalence of cryptorchidism is much lower in Finland (2.4%) compared to Denmark (9.3%) and, therefore, this would require a larger cohort to find the same number of cases." Pregnant women in the UK are already advised to avoid taking ibuprofen or aspirin, unless they are advised to do so by their doctor.
Instead they are told they can take paracetamol. The NHS Choices website puts it like this:
Paracetamol has been used routinely through all stages of pregnancy to reduce a high temperature (fever) and relieve pain. There is no clear evidence that paracetamol has any harmful effects on the baby. As with any medicine that is used during pregnancy, paracetamol should be taken at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. This raises a further concern with the research. Of the individual painkillers, ibuprofen and aspirin approximately quadrupled the risk of cryptorchidism. Paracetamol doubled the risk, but this was not statistically significant. This suggests that a link between paracetamol use alone in pregnancy and male fertility problems is not clear-cut. Dr Leffers said: "Although we should be cautious about any over-extrapolation or over-statement, the use of mild analgesics constitutes by far the largest exposure to endocrine disruptors among pregnant women."
Prof Richard Sharpe of the Medical Research Council's Human Reproductive Sciences Unit at the University of Edinburgh, said:
"The studies are top quality from groups with considerable expertise. The association between painkiller (paracetamol) use in early pregnancy and increased risk of cryptorchidism in sons has been independently confirmed in another study from Denmark (MS Jensen et al. November 2010, Epidemiology). Painkillers/paracetamol are likely to be one of several factors that cause cryptorchidism - some environmental chemicals are also implicated - it is probably the sum of all such exposures that determines the outcome.
Pregnant women who are alarmed by these studies should note the following:
It is only prolonged use that has an effect - taking occasional painkiller for a headache will have no adverse effect (and the stress, worry and sickness from not taking something for a bad headache may be worse for the mother and baby). Most women in this study who used paracetamol did not have a baby boy with cryptorchidism. Prolonged use of painkillers in pregnancy should not be contemplated without medical approval. For certain, taking paracetamol as a 'feel good' factor should be avoided (by all of us!).
It is sound common sense to minimize your exposure (and therefore your baby's exposure) to all drugs, environmental (pesticides, paints, household chemical exposures) and lifestyle (smoking, alcohol, cosmetics usage) chemicals during pregnancy wherever possible."
Basky Thilaganathan, Spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said:
"The findings need to be interpreted with caution. Firstly, the study shows an association rather than causation; it is entirely possible that mothers took these analgesics for an ailment (for example, a viral infection) in pregnancy that may have been the real cause for the noted problems. Secondly, the dose-dependent effect was seen in one study cohort but not another, raising the possibility that this preliminary study may be prone to inadvertent bias of patient recruitment and ascertainment. Furthermore, the definition of cryptorchidism is broad and clinical, rather than specific and the overall number of cases is so small that a small change in affected numbers would have nullified the findings.
"Given these limitations, the findings of the study should be interpreted with caution and it would be inappropriate to spread alarm to pregnant women on this basis."
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Mental health in workplace matters more than you think
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Dianne Buckner, CBC News
When it comes to the pressing priorities of an average entrepreneur, managing the mental health of staff is probably not at the top of the list. Concern about whether or not employees are feeling good about their work and their lives likely has to take a back seat to issues related to surviving this tough economy, such as improving sales or reducing expenses.But touchy-feely as emotional well-being may sound, the fact is that issues such as anxiety, depression and burnout present some very real costs — and not just to individual enterprises, but to the economy as a whole.Whether or not small business owners are feeling the heat to address these issues, the pressure is there on a number of fronts.
"For the first time in Canadian history, employers are confronted with a legal duty to maintain not only a physically safe workplace, but also a psychologically safe work environment." So says a report done for the Mental Health Commission of Canada by Dr. Martin Shain of the University of Toronto.'Mental health disability claims have been on the rise for several years in Canada. In fact, it's predicted that mental health will be the leading cause of disability claims very soon.'
—Julie Holden, Banyan Work Health SolutionsThe report, called Tracking the Perfect Legal Storm, outlines a variety of developments in Canadian courtrooms that indicate the legal system is less tolerant of workplace factors that threaten psychological "safety." Increasingly large fines are being imposed on companies that don't consider the toll their workplace policies may take on employees' mental health. And as Shain points out, many employers are unaware of this "brewing legal storm."
And there are not just legal risks connected to ignoring mental health. Even when burnt-out or psychologically damaged employees don't sue, there's the risk of lost productivity.
"Mental health disability claims have been on the rise for several years in Canada," says Julie Holden of Banyan Work Health Solutions. "In fact, it's predicted that mental health will be the leading cause of disability claims very soon."
This all sounds very alarming — but it also sounds very familiar.
Eight years ago, while working at Venture, I reported on the growing awareness around "work-life balance." Researchers at Labour Canada, as well as independent private sector consultants, were warning companies that they had to do better in terms of helping employees balance the demands of their jobs and their home lives. Absenteeism was climbing, along with the cost of company health plans, as employees took advantage of subsidized prescriptions for anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills.
The most striking aspect of the report (at least to my mind) was that for years, companies had actually been trying to do something, adopting all sorts of new strategies to help employees cope. On-site daycares and gyms, work-at-home strategies, and even "mental health days" had become common.
But these methods didn't seem to be working. The worrying statistics kept pouring in, and worsening.
Since then, I'd say that awareness of mental health issues has continued to rise, as has the instinct to address them. So the fact that Shain and Holden are again sounding the alarm bells isn't a surprise, but a solution doesn't appear to be any more imminent now than then.Widespread, unavoidable doses of stress seem the norm in our 21st-century lives, and it doesn't just come from our modern, hyper-competitive workplaces, but also from a wide variety of societal and cultural influences. Small business owners may be interested to know that companies with fewer than 20 employees appear to be doing better than larger firms, according to Statistics Canada. Absenteeism is lower with those employers, running around eight lost days a year in 2009. By comparison, workers in transportation and warehousing lost 14 days in 2009. It was 13 for health care and social assistance workers, and 12.6 in the public sector.But on the other hand, larger companies have more resources and flexibility when it comes to handling a mental health crisis. (There are free resources on the subject of mental health in the workplace, and entrepreneurs could look under the section aimed at "senior leaders.")"I had to get rid of an employee who'd been with us 11 years," says an entrepreneur who spoke to me off the record. "She was poisoning the atmosphere. Everything was bad, her outlook was completely negative."He spoke to the employee, and although she stayed with his company for another year, things didn't improve. "I had no choice but to fire her." I'm trying to be the quintessential liberal-minded employer," says the entrepreneur, who has just six employees. "I want to be fair, but I don't think any small business owner can afford to keep someone who isn't pulling their weight."
Of course, large companies have entire departments devoted to human resources. Stephen Fletcher works in HR at Newalta, a Canadian waste management company with 3,000 employees coast-to-coast.
The company has a comprehensive mental health program, including a "flex benefit" program where employees can choose from a variety of stress-busting goodies such as fitness club memberships, counselling and even fishing or hunting licences. Even so, "stress claims are edging up," admits Fletcher, noting that anyone from top performers to less-stellar employees can fall victim to overload.
And it's hard to add up what it costs organizations."There are so many hidden costs," says Fletcher. "Absence alone doesn't reflect the effect on other workers, their productivity, on customers, and so on. There's a major ripple effect that has a lot of soft costs that are very difficult to track." Ihere are more than enough reasons for employers large and small to do their best with this particular challenge, not the least of which is human decency. And daunting as managing mental health may be, Fletcher tells me "it does make a difference to try."
I believe him.
Dianne Buckner, CBC News
When it comes to the pressing priorities of an average entrepreneur, managing the mental health of staff is probably not at the top of the list. Concern about whether or not employees are feeling good about their work and their lives likely has to take a back seat to issues related to surviving this tough economy, such as improving sales or reducing expenses.But touchy-feely as emotional well-being may sound, the fact is that issues such as anxiety, depression and burnout present some very real costs — and not just to individual enterprises, but to the economy as a whole.Whether or not small business owners are feeling the heat to address these issues, the pressure is there on a number of fronts.
"For the first time in Canadian history, employers are confronted with a legal duty to maintain not only a physically safe workplace, but also a psychologically safe work environment." So says a report done for the Mental Health Commission of Canada by Dr. Martin Shain of the University of Toronto.'Mental health disability claims have been on the rise for several years in Canada. In fact, it's predicted that mental health will be the leading cause of disability claims very soon.'
—Julie Holden, Banyan Work Health SolutionsThe report, called Tracking the Perfect Legal Storm, outlines a variety of developments in Canadian courtrooms that indicate the legal system is less tolerant of workplace factors that threaten psychological "safety." Increasingly large fines are being imposed on companies that don't consider the toll their workplace policies may take on employees' mental health. And as Shain points out, many employers are unaware of this "brewing legal storm."
And there are not just legal risks connected to ignoring mental health. Even when burnt-out or psychologically damaged employees don't sue, there's the risk of lost productivity.
"Mental health disability claims have been on the rise for several years in Canada," says Julie Holden of Banyan Work Health Solutions. "In fact, it's predicted that mental health will be the leading cause of disability claims very soon."
This all sounds very alarming — but it also sounds very familiar.
Eight years ago, while working at Venture, I reported on the growing awareness around "work-life balance." Researchers at Labour Canada, as well as independent private sector consultants, were warning companies that they had to do better in terms of helping employees balance the demands of their jobs and their home lives. Absenteeism was climbing, along with the cost of company health plans, as employees took advantage of subsidized prescriptions for anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills.
The most striking aspect of the report (at least to my mind) was that for years, companies had actually been trying to do something, adopting all sorts of new strategies to help employees cope. On-site daycares and gyms, work-at-home strategies, and even "mental health days" had become common.
But these methods didn't seem to be working. The worrying statistics kept pouring in, and worsening.
Since then, I'd say that awareness of mental health issues has continued to rise, as has the instinct to address them. So the fact that Shain and Holden are again sounding the alarm bells isn't a surprise, but a solution doesn't appear to be any more imminent now than then.Widespread, unavoidable doses of stress seem the norm in our 21st-century lives, and it doesn't just come from our modern, hyper-competitive workplaces, but also from a wide variety of societal and cultural influences. Small business owners may be interested to know that companies with fewer than 20 employees appear to be doing better than larger firms, according to Statistics Canada. Absenteeism is lower with those employers, running around eight lost days a year in 2009. By comparison, workers in transportation and warehousing lost 14 days in 2009. It was 13 for health care and social assistance workers, and 12.6 in the public sector.But on the other hand, larger companies have more resources and flexibility when it comes to handling a mental health crisis. (There are free resources on the subject of mental health in the workplace, and entrepreneurs could look under the section aimed at "senior leaders.")"I had to get rid of an employee who'd been with us 11 years," says an entrepreneur who spoke to me off the record. "She was poisoning the atmosphere. Everything was bad, her outlook was completely negative."He spoke to the employee, and although she stayed with his company for another year, things didn't improve. "I had no choice but to fire her." I'm trying to be the quintessential liberal-minded employer," says the entrepreneur, who has just six employees. "I want to be fair, but I don't think any small business owner can afford to keep someone who isn't pulling their weight."
Of course, large companies have entire departments devoted to human resources. Stephen Fletcher works in HR at Newalta, a Canadian waste management company with 3,000 employees coast-to-coast.
The company has a comprehensive mental health program, including a "flex benefit" program where employees can choose from a variety of stress-busting goodies such as fitness club memberships, counselling and even fishing or hunting licences. Even so, "stress claims are edging up," admits Fletcher, noting that anyone from top performers to less-stellar employees can fall victim to overload.
And it's hard to add up what it costs organizations."There are so many hidden costs," says Fletcher. "Absence alone doesn't reflect the effect on other workers, their productivity, on customers, and so on. There's a major ripple effect that has a lot of soft costs that are very difficult to track." Ihere are more than enough reasons for employers large and small to do their best with this particular challenge, not the least of which is human decency. And daunting as managing mental health may be, Fletcher tells me "it does make a difference to try."
I believe him.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Need a hand?
It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.'
- Sam Levenson
- Sam Levenson
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
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