Occupational Health
Latest articles on Occupational Health
Although there were more than 5,700 deaths from job-related injuries last year, the positive side of that grim total is that it translates to a rate of 3.9 deaths per 100,000 workers, down from a rate of 4.0 per 100,000 in 2005.
"To prevent workplace injuries or harmful exposures, familiarize yourself with any potential hazards and think about how you can avoid them before you begin a task," says William W. Greaves, MD, MSPH.
"People providing outreach services are very concerned about the health and well being of those they serve, but often overlook their own health, and their own health is very important to those they serve," says Leslie F. Martin, MD, MPH.
"We've seen a lot of eye injuries in people who do industrial work," says Dr. Judy Kim. "Workers might take their safety glasses off, just for a minute, and that's when bits of metal or other material get into the eye."
Dr. Julie Mitchell explains why "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease," or COPD, is often the most efficient way to designate overlapping syndromes.
Pulmonary fibrosis, a hardening of the lungs caused by scarring, progressively impairs one's ability to breathe. Patients typically have symptoms for five years before they seek a doctor's advice, says Dr. Rose Franco.
Most of the surgeries performed in the Hand Center are done on an outpatient basis; this is possible in large part because surgeons are now able to use arthroscopic surgery for many repairs.
At two Froedtert & Medical College SpineCare clinics, "We treat the patient as intelligent and concerned, and help them feel more in control of their condition," says Dr. Diane Braza.
Head and neck cancers cause 20,000 deaths each year. Stuart J. Wong, MD, sees the terrible results of smoking and chewing tobacco, but is remarkably positive about the potential for treatment.
An ongoing failure to get enough sleep actually shortens one's lifespan, states Rose Franco, MD. "The average person needs at least 8 hours in bed to produce six to six-and-a-half hours of sleep."
Although there is little public awareness of radon as a threat to human health, the Environmental Protection Agency says 20,000 people die every year in the United States due to lung cancer from exposure to radon in their homes.
Dr. Mark Rusch discusses the connection between traumatic injuries and posttraumatic stress disorder, which has been associated with increased risk for depression, phobias, panic and substance abuse.
For people with mold sensitivities or allergies, the all-pervading presence of molds in our environment can lead to seasonal or situational symptoms that make them feel miserable.
Asbestos can still be found in millions of homes, schools and businesses, but most of us aren't at risk unless we try to remove it. "Exposure occurs during the dismantling of asbestos, which releases the fibers," says Dr. Richard Effros.
People with severe cases of tinnitus – ringing, roaring, buzzing or clicking sounds in their ears – can find it difficult to hear, work, or even sleep. There is no definitive cure, but scientists and doctors have found several treatments that may give some relief.
Pesticides are meant to kill bugs, but insects aren’t the only ones being harmed, says Peter M. Layde, MD, MS: “The things that we use to try to fight insects tend to be neurotoxins that affect the nervous system…and people are fairly similar to insects in many respects, as far as our physiology goes.”
Most of us are exposed to asbestos in small doses. But those who work in building construction, shipping, mining, automotive brake and clutch repair and other industries have a much higher exposure rate.
The Women’s Health Clinic at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center serves the physical, medical and mental health needs of female veterans. “We take a team approach to the care of our patients," says Dr. Jennifer Zebrack.
Each year, millions of Americans suffer non-fatal injuries on the job and more than 6,000 die from workplace injuries.
State-specific prevalence of adult smoking ranged from 12.9-30.5% in 2000, and high levels of public support exist – even among smokers – for smoke-free policies in some settings.
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