It's a sad fact that men are notoriously reluctant to act on health issues. This unwillingness leads to 40% of men dying prematurely (before their 75th birthday). We look at how work-based health initiatives are raising the profile of men's health.
Highlighting Men's Health
While women's health has improved and their life expectancy has risen over recent years, the same cannot be said for men. Men are far more disinclined to access pharmacy, weight management, smoking cessation and other mainstream health services which could both improve the quality of their lives and possibly extend them.
However, when these services are offered through work-based initiatives the uptake is dramatic and effective. The Government has its own initiative, 'Health, Work And Wellbeing' which aims to firstly improve the general health of the population who are of working age, thereby increasing their wellbeing and secondly, support people with pre-existing health conditions to get work or remain at work. Part of this initiative is provided by work-based training, which is included in a NEBOSH national construction certificate.
What is NEBOSH?
NEBOSH or the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health, is an independent organisation which offers a range of qualifications designed to improve safety and health at work, both in the public and private sectors. Their courses are internationally-recognised and lead to qualifications across a range of sectors.
As well as covering issues such as Hazard and Risk Control within specific environments, Electrical Safety, Vehicle and Plant Movement, Chemical and Biological Health and Musculoskeletal Hazards, NEBOSH courses also look at Physical and Psychological Health as well as Health and Wellbeing.
Health and Wellbeing at Work
Although 'wellbeing' is difficult to describe or quantify, a broad definition can be said to be the strategies an employer implements to encourage a fit, healthy and motivated workforce. This has such an important role not only in protecting the emotional and physical health of employees but also in promoting a healthy economy by reducing hours lost to ill health. Studies have shown that if employees are satisfied and engaged in their work, they perform better, which in turn leads to higher productivity, profitability and more favourable perceptions of the employer in question.
Because we spend so much of our lives at work, it is incumbent upon the employer to help their staff achieve a good quality of life. It is also a useful place in which to encourage employees to improve their health. There are a number of initiatives which recognise the importance of a fit and healthy workforce, many of which focus on four basic areas:
the workplace and line-management culture
risk management and prevention
a successful work/life balance
health promotion opportunities
By focusing on their obligations towards their employees, in terms of health and wellbeing and promoting positive attitudes towards seeking help, employers not only assist in a happy, healthy, more productive workforce, but also stimulate the economy and contribute towards the collective wealth of the nation.
Jessica Bolton writes regularly on health issues for a range of occupational health and safety websites and blogs. She has a particular interest in raising the profile of issues which prevent men from accessing healthcare and assesses initiatives, such as NEBOSH national construction certificate courses, which aim to redress the imbalance.
Making the decision to get healthy and fit is just part of the battle. Then comes sticking to a workout routine, learning how to eat right, and staying motivated. Calorie-counting and weight-loss tracking have become simpler thanks to mobile apps that provide instant access to important information and help you monitor your progress over time. Here are a few apps to keep you fit.
1. CountEat. Calories: A Unique Approach to Calorie Counting
Image via Apple.com
Counting calories is a real drag. If you don't want to lug around a 10-pound book with an index of every food under the sun and spend hours looking up foods and adding numbers, try an app such as CountEat.Calories. This app takes a different approach to the old method of counting calories, using estimates of the calorie counts of the meals you eat and estimating how many calories you should cut to reach your target weight loss goal. This app is just 99 cents at the App Store.
2. Endomondo Sports Tracker: Take Your Fitness Social
Image via Apple.com
If you like a little encouragement from your friends, Endomondo is the app for you. With the ability to connect with and share your fitness progress with other users, Endomondo puts the social into fitness. This app tracks your progress using GPS to calculate how far you've run, walked, jogged, cycled, and more. There's a free version, or you can opt for the pro version for $4.99.
3. Everest: Helping You Attain Your Loftiest Goals
Image via Apple.com
Everest is an app used for so much more, but it's ideal for fitness motivation. Tell Everest what your goals are and it will send you push notifications to encourage you and keep you moving in the right direction. Whether your goal is to run on the treadmill for 30 minutes each day, drink a protein shake each morning, cut out 200 calories from your dinner menu, or actually climb Mt. Everest, Everest will be behind you every step of the way — for free.
4. Couch-to-5K: Train for Your Next 5K with Ease
Image via Apple.com
Never ran a marathon? It takes a lot of prep work to get ready for a 5K, but Couch-to-5K is an app that offers practical advice and clearly thought-out plans to get you there. In just 30 minutes a day, three times per day for nine weeks, you could be ready to run your first 5K — even if you've never done it before.
It's free to download, but like most apps, it's a little data-hungry. If you're prepping at home, use your own network, such as one from www.internetserviceproviders.com, to save valuable data usage.
5. Obstacles XRT: Challenge Yourself with Extreme Reality Training
Image via Apple.com
If you get easily bored with the same-old routines, Obstacles XRT takes you to the next level. Using extreme reality training, you'll jump tires, work your way out of quick sand, crawl under fences and more — all from the comfort of home with zero equipment necessary. Sound intriguing? Obstacles XRT can be yours for just $1.99.
Staying fit and healthy doesn't have to seem time-consuming or boring anymore. Thanks to innovative apps that put the fun back into fitness and the time back into your day, it's easier than ever to reach your fitness goals.
Innovations in technology can be great. They can save lives and allow people all over the world to communicate and conduct business without ever leaving their offices. But there is always a flip side to innovation that creates challenges which cause some people medical issues. As technology continues to take over, we need to learn how to fend off the health issues that come with it.
Technology makes it possible to go shopping, see a movie, visit with relatives and order dinner all without ever leaving your home. The more that technology does for us, the more sedentary our culture becomes. The result is an epidemic in obesity that creates its own long list of health issues. The solution is to step away from the computer once in a while and go for a walk or take a bike ride.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
When we type on a keyboard or use a mouse, it affects the muscles wrapped around the nerves in our wrists and forearms. As those muscles get inflamed, they tighten around the nerves and we get carpal tunnel syndrome. It is extremely painful and often requires surgery to repair. The solution is to use ergonomic keyboard and mouse wrist rests whenever we use the computer. It also helps to stop typing at least once every 15 minutes and just stretch out our wrists and forearms.
Video Game Addiction
With the popularity of smartphones and tablets, people can now have access to video games no matter where they are. Some people get addicted to stand alone games, while others find it hard to put down the Interactive games that can be played with people all over the world. High speed Internet makes this kind of gaming possible and you can Click here to learn more about it. Counseling can help you to fight video game addiction and learn to play in moderation.
The longer we stare at the little icon flashing across a computer screen, the more damage it can do to our vision. It used to be that the radiation from CRT televisions and computer monitors was the problem. Now the issue is the extreme detail in computer imaging and the consecutive hours each day that people spend staring at these images. The solution is to simply look away and give your eyes a rest a few times an hour. Maintaining at least a distance of 24 inches between your eyes and your computer screen also helps.
It doesn't matter how old you are, the repeated motion of typing on a computer keyboard, using a video game controller or texting on a phone will cause problems with your joints. Your wrists and the knuckles in your fingers will start to swell and arthritis will settle in. The solution is to remove your hands from the computer device and stretch your fingers. Reducing the amount of time you type or play games is also important.
New technology always finds ways to make life better and it can also make life worse. The key is to use innovations in the way they were intended and not to abuse them. A lifestyle of restraint will help solve most of your technology-related health issues.
Joe Fortunato is a freelance writer based out of Tampa, Florida. He enjoys writing on whatever issues life may throw his way, long walks on the beach, bass fishing, and coaching youth baseball. Find him on Twitter, at @joey_fort.