Health solutions
Open Office Spaces: Benefits Drawbacks
When I saw Quill’s infographic on open office spaces ,I was curious.I remembered my time in the cavernous library at Calcutta Medical College .It was study- hall cum library ,with open cubicles on either side ,as well as a long stretch of polished oak table with benches.
When I used to sit at the common table,I did 3 things:
- Check out who is coming in ,going out.
- Check whether interesting company was around.
- Check whether I was away from people who read aloud.
Anything but study.But the cubicles were different .Though open,if I sat with my back towards the entry I actually did study.Good thing the librarian didn’t allow too much talking.Group studying before semesters and entrance exams all happened there.So I have fond memories of cubicles in the library !Productivity for me needed a little privacy.This study on open offices reinforced my own experiences.
Offices are places that depend on collaboration. Employees share ideas, hurdles, setbacks, and solutions, helping to make their jobs and their brands better. So an open office should fit into that goal with no problems—right?If only things were that simple.Life rarely gives a black and white answer.What appeared like an answer to prayers of equality and friendship was anything but.
Like everything there are pros and cons to open offices. The trend found traction in the 1970s, and it’s grown so popular that nearly three-fourths of American workers go to a job every day that’s in an open office. And they do encourage collaboration and socialization, but they can also be a detriment to productivity. Discover for yourself what’s good and bad about open offices.
What kind of office do you like working in?
Do you think a little privacy is needed?
What about sound pollution and mental health?
Comment below to let me know about your ideal office.I have heard great things about Google!
Benefits & drawbacks of open office spacesInfographic by Quill
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Is Your Restful Mattress Responsible For Your TMJ Problems?
Can your mattress give you pain ?
There is little evidence to establish the link between TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) pain and the type of mattress you use.However, there is sizeable proof that substantiates the connection between a disturbed sleep and TMJ pain.
The size and type of the mattress you select depends on your personal preferences. But it plays a vital role in your sleep quality and time.
Mattresses are made from different materials like coils, coir, spring, foam, and hypoallergenic. There is a mattress for every body type depending on the size, weight, and sleeping style. Those suffering from body pain and sleep disorders can experience a lot of discomfort if they have been sleeping on the wrong mattress. A wrong mattress can be the potential cause of TMJ problems and can keep you tossing and turning in the bed all night long.
Poor sleep often leads to the tightening of your jaw muscles, excessive grinding, and clenching of the jaw. These symptoms are a clear indication of an underlying problem arising due to poor sleep.
Is Your Sleeping Position Right?
Many if not most, spend at least 8 hours a day sleeping. Sleeping for eight hours in a detrimental position could be quite unhealthy for your body. It can lead to the onset of TMJ and if you are already suffering from chronic TMJ pain, it could worsen your medical condition.
How Your Sleeping Position Contributes To Chronic Pain?
If you have been sleeping on your stomach, it is likely that you experience severe jaw pain because it exerts pressure on your jaw and pushes it into the skull if you are sleeping with your head forward.
If you sleep on your stomach with your head resting on either side, you are pushing your jaw laterally and this exerts a lot of tension on the jaw muscles leading to pain and discomfort. Even if you sleep on your sides, it will still cause some amount of jaw pain due to lateral pressure. The best position is to sleep on your back because this will ensure that your head is restfully placed on a pillow that provides adequate support to your head and the curve of your neck.
The Right Way to Sleep If You Suffer From Neck and Shoulder Pain
If you wake up with debilitating shoulder pain every morning, you need to know that the actual cause of pain is the faulty positioning of your neck. Shoulder pain results due to a misalignment of your neck which radiates to the shoulders. Sleeping on your back can also alleviate your neck pain. If it increases your snoring, you can also sleep on your sides. Soft cushions that support the curve of your neck will reduce your neck pain. Avoid using multiple pillows and ensure that you don’t keep your head too high.
What to Do If the Pain Does Not Subside?
Home remedies should always be the first line of treatment for minor aches and pains. Try incorporating a healthy sleeping habit for a week and if the pain does not subside even after that, you need to seek professional care.
How the Right Sleeping Position Can Relieve the Painful Symptoms of TMJ
A good sleep rejuvenates your system, re-energizes your body, and repairs your muscles overnight. Sleep is crucial in curing TMJ pain and those who get into the habit of sleeping in the right position can experience a significant relief from the painful symptoms.
The stresses and strains exerted on the neck, head, jaw, and spine can lead to teeth clenching, grinding, and tightening of oral muscles. They way you sleep can influence the alignment of your head and neck and this can be either beneficial or detrimental depending on your position.
The Best Way to Sleep for a TMJ Patient
Lying on your back is beneficial for every part of your body including your jaw. It offers adequate support to your neck and head. Sleeping on your back provides a favorable alignment that keeps your neck and spine in a neutral position and you are less likely to grind your teeth or clench your jaw during sleep. Ensure that your pillow is placed under the arch of your spine and your mattress is designed to mould with your body contours.
Your sleeping position is a key factor in pain management. TMJ patients can also visit a comprehensive dental care facility for TMJ disease treatment if pain persists.
Author Bio:
Shen Chao is part of Dr. Joshua Hong’s Smile Clinic. While working at the Smile Clinic, he has witnessed how dental implants can improve people’s smile and boost their self confidence. If you are interested in improving your smile or need a dental procedure contact Shen Chao to learn more by emailing him at contact@joshuahongdds.com or get more information at www.joshuahongdds.com .
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Foreign body food pipe(adults) :what you need to know
Accidentally swallowed a tooth , from your denture?You must read this post.A few days back I wrote about objects or foreign bodies which children accidentally swallow.
3 Foreign bodies which adults can have problem with are:
- Fishbone
- Chicken or offer animal meat bone
- Dentures
The first one is the least scary .
The other two can be life threatening.
For fish bone and various meat bones :How does it happen ?
It can happen when you are eating unmindfully watching television
It can happen when you are eating in a hurry.
It can also happen if you swallow accidentally
Common in alcoholics who eat after binge drinking.
Dentures:When are they swallowed
- If it’s loose and Ill fitting.
- Specially single tooth.
- If you forget to take them out at bedtime.
What to do?
Fish bone if visible, lots of people remove it at home.Foreign body throat is most common with fish bone and causes least problems.
But chicken and other animal meat bone is a difficult situation. Denture too can be life threatening
Visit your nearest hospital with ENT emergency.
What will happen once you visit the hospital ?
A doctor will listen to what happened .Check your oral cavity and oropharynx to see whether the object is visible.
If it’s visible ,you are in luck.
It can be removed under local anaesthesia quickly.
If not seen on examination you will be asked to do radiological tests like X-ray Soft tissue Neck AP/Lateral
Computed Tomography of neck.
Once the object is visualised .
You will be given intravenous medicines ,saline ,pain killers and asked to take nothing orally.
After about 8 hours of empty stomach you will be taken to the operation theatre with your consent .
At the Operation theatre ,a procedure known as Oesophagoscopy is carried out after making you unconscious with the help of anaesthesia .Oesophascopy is the procedure to remove oesoophageal foreign body.
During this procedure a tube with light source will be introduced inside your food pipe to look for the object stuck there.
Once seen it’s taken out with a forcep. The food pipe is also checked for any trauma due to the object.
If it’s a denture and it has a wire stuck in the food pipe .Then it will need to be cut and removed in parts .This avoids perforation or tearing of the food pipe which is a life threatening condition.
Is there a risk during this procedure
Yes all operative procedure have risk involving, the surgery and the anaesthesia.
During Oesophagoscopy since the object is stuck in the food pipe ,a risk of tear is always there.
Fortunately the food pipe has multiple coats and mucosal tears if minor can be treated without complications.
But if the tear is deep there are chances of long-term narrowing of esophagus and life risk too.
What happens if the object is removed with no tear?
You get better .After a postoperative neck and chest X-ray and 24 to 48 hours of antibiotics (depending on condition ), you will be discharged.
What happens if there’s a tear?
Let’s pray that doesn’t happen.But in the event it happens ,your doctor will ask you to avoid any oral.intake of food or water .
Antibiotics and intravenous fluid continues till it heals .
In some cases surgery may be needed to repair a tear.
What happens if the object is not removed?
If the object is in the food pipe proper and not stuck in the wall there’s some chance of it gradually progressing into the lower part of your gut.
Wherever it is it will need to be removed. Because intestinal perforation due to obstruction can endanger your life.
If it’s stuck in the throat and not removed urgently
For fish bone you will have an episode of pharyngitis like symptoms which should heal with the use of antibiotics.
In the worst case scenario it can irritate you for some time.
Al meat bone needs to be removed
Otherwise it can cause acute retropharyngeal,parapharyngeal abscess and various other complications
Do what’s the best thing to do ?
Eat mindfully.
Not only you enjoy your food more ,you also avoid these freak accidents.
This is my UBC day 25 .Writing daily since October .
Disclaimer :All information provided is for educational purpose Any medical decision should be taken after consultation with your own physician.
Linking up with Honestmum
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18 Ways to beat a cold before it starts
Getting a cold is common place.But when are you sure its a cold?Hi I am Dr.Amrita and welcome to the Healthwealthbridge blog .
There’s a saying
“A cold gets better by itself in 7 days and with medicines in a week.“
The problem is sometimes if your immunity is not great (stress,less sleep,irregular meals) this 1 week cold may run longer.
- Headache
- heaviness of head and forehead
- Blocked ears
- Blocked nose
- Sticky sensation at the back of throat
- Cough
- Fever
The entire family of minor irritations pile up to cause major trouble.
This is when you will need medicines to stop any further damage.
Being an ENT surgeon checking people with cold comes with the job description.
What can you do to stop cold in its tracks ?
Keep your immunity high and working well.
Have fruits and vitamins rich in antioxidants
Try following the Ultimate Nutrition tips to prevent flu.
You can also occasionally take Vitamin supplements to augment to natural sources.
Our food unfortunately reach us, considerable time after getting plucked from trees.This makes their nutritional content unreliable.
Remember the Protein in your diet .It’s important to keep your cells healthy .Since a majority of cell components are protein.Your dietary protein is important to keep your immunity intact.
Drink water .
Hydration helps your cells work to its fullest .Water also helps flush out toxins.
Sleep
A very important, free and effortless activity ,which alone helps your body repair itself and fight another day.
You should never compromise on quality or quantity of sleep.I wrote an article to help you sleep better .Read it here.
These work .Research is going on to make their use more streamlined.But Probiotics are proven to improve immunity.
Be happy and get the happy hormones going full force. Smiling is proven to improve immunity.Added bonus ,you look great when you smile .
It’s difficult when you are ill. So you need to make this a part of your daily habits to reap the benefits.Plus endorphins are released when you exercise .
Don’t forget the nature walks or at least visit a garden .
They are source of biophilic microbes which are beneficial to humans.
Being among nature also helps cut down stress .Anything which helps lower stress is good.
Stress is known to increase cortisol ,the hormone that suppress immunity.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Obesity is a form of malnutrition. Excessive weight disrupts your hormones and can make your immunity weak.Additionally metabolic conditions like diabetes make people prone to infections.
Don’t smoke
The tobacco smoke has carcinogens and irritants which kill the protective layer of your mucous membrane lining your airways.This makes it easier for virus and bacteria to make their homes there.
Avoid alcohol.
Doesn’t help you get healthy in any way.Even a little amount of alcohol makes you prone to liver problems. It makes your immune cells weaker and less able to fight germs.
Take steam inhalation 2/3 times a day when you have a cold.
When you have a cold all the lining epithelium of your nose and airways get irritated. They start secreting copious amount of fluids to get the virus out and decrease irritations.
The excessive secretions get stuck in the sinus spaces ,thickening progressively.
Unfortunately the secretions are the favourite food and partying zone of bacteria .When the cold goes on for long ,a simple viral flu get complicated due to secondary bacterial infection.That’s why you end up needing antibiotics.
When you take steam these secretions easily liquefy and helps them drain naturally.
Avoid touching your nose or mouth, after you have been around someone with a cold.
Wash your hand or use a hand sanitizer if you shake hands with someone having a cold.It’s not rude to practice preventive healthcare. Just don’t hurt their feelings.
Someone at home has a cold.Don’t forget to give them seperate towels.
A friend in office has a cold snd pops over to say hello.She forgets her hanky on your laptop.Don’t forget to sanitize the work surface.Germs may lie there cozily upto 24 hours.
Always carry antibacterial wipes .When in doubt ,use it.
I know these go without saying.But if you have a small kid ,these are important things you can do to keep your family healthy and fighting fit.
How do you fight cold?
Comment below to let me know.
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What to do when kids put things in ear
Little children are curious and naughty.
I wrote 10 Things you should not let your children play with to create awareness about accidental swallowing of objects .
Today I discuss about the variety of things ,that children put in their ear.Things in ear doesn’t sound as scary as those in the food or air pipe .But can be equally bad ,causing lifelong problem.
What can they put inside their ear?
- Small beads
- Muri(puffed rice)
- Seeds
- Button
- Button battery
- Chalk
- Rubber
- Crayon pieces and any thing that catches their fancy ,inside their ears.
- Sometimes insect get inside .
What can happen if an untrained person tries to remove it?
At the least ,laceration in the ear canal.
The object can get stuck or impacted the ear canal.
It can travel further inside the ear canal .
If it’s beyond the isthmus ,it might need surgical removal
It might be pushed into the middle ear, rupturing the tympanic member .
What’s the major problem when this happens ?
The child can have pain in ear.
Feeling of obstruction.
If the ear canal is ruptured , hearing will be affected.
If the object enters the middle ear ,ossicles may be damaged .This can cause hearing loss. If the stapes bone is injured in any way ,severe dizziness and vomiting ,with permanent hearing loss may occur.
If it’s a button battery ,the leaching chemical can destroy the hearing system .It can be also life threatening.
What should you do if your child inserts an object in the ear?
Visit the nearest hospital with an ENT emergency.
Visit your ENT doctor.
What should you not do?
No forcible removal .That’s the first rule.
Do not attempt removal of object by yourself.
Don’t use sharp object to attempt removal.
Don’t take the child to a quack.
Take him or her to the nearest hospital with an ENT emergency.
Foreign bodies in ear should only be removed by a trained ENT doctor.
Do not give water ,oil ,or ear drop in the ear .If it’s a vegetable object like seed ,it may swell up and get stuck .
Do you have any stories of objects put in the ear by kids ?
Comment below to let me know.
#UBC Day 14
