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HEALTHY
LIFESTYLES
A newsletter dedicated to strengtheningpositive attitude, action, and knowledgeof health awareness.
MAY | 2010
snap decisions, indifference and apath
lack of motivation or creativity are all b
products of an over stressed workplac
In many cases, the stressor cannot be changed
immediately. Finding ways to help maintain good
mental health is essential and there are many wa
to be proactive in dealing with stress. The followin
are suggested by the Canadian Mental Health
Association:
• Laughing is one of the easiest ways to redustress. Watch a funny movie with friends an
try to see the humour in a situation.
• Learn to relax, take several deep breaths
throughout the day, or have regular stretch
breaks.
• Take charge of your situation by taking 10
minutes at the beginning of each day to
prioritize and organize your day.
The word “stress” has earned a bad reputation.
Phrases such as “I’m stressed out” have contributed
to its misunderstanding. Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical
Dictionary defines stress as the result produced when
a structure, system or organism is acted upon by
forces that disrupt equilibrium or produce strain.
The biological response to stress is a normal part of
everyday living. But when stress occurs in amounts
that you cannot handle or is overwhelming, it
becomes a concern. Workplace stress develops when
there is a conflict between job demands and theamount of control an employee has over meeting
those demands. It can occur from one single event or
have many origins. As stated by the Canadian Mental
Health Association:
Fear of job redundancy, layoffs due to an
uncertain economy, increased demands for
overtime due to staff cutbacks act as
negative stressors. Absenteeism, illness,
alcoholism, “petty internal politics,” bad or
tressIn the
Workplace
RUMORS
RUMORS CAN DAMAGE
THE WORKPLACE. FIND
OUT WHY.
PAGE 3
DIET FADS: THE TRUTH
DISCOVER WHY THEY
DON’T WORK.
PAGE 3
VITAMIN D
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT
THIS IMPORTANT VITAMIN.
PAGE 3
ORAL HEALTH
WHY ORAL HEALTH PLAYS
A ROLE IN OVERALL
HEALTH.
PAGE 2
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Need more information? Contact Employee Assistance Program at 1268-5211 or for more information
www.workhealthlife.com
Adapted with permission from The Balancing Act (Sh
ORAL
HEALTH & YOU
MOST OF US UNDERSTAND HOW VITAL DIET AND
EXERCISE CAN BE TO OUR HEALTH, BUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY GUMS AND TEETH ARE
OFTEN NOT GIVEN THE ATTENTION THEY DESERVE.
“75 per cent ofadults suffer from
some form of
gum disease.”
diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, heart dis
AIDS and leukemia. In patients with osteopo
the teeth can actually be the first part of the bo
show bone
Practicing good oral hygiene not only benefits
teeth but it will have a positive impact on your
as a w
Diabetes. If you have diabetes you’re
increased risk for gum disease, tooth
dry mouth and other infections. Plus
oral health can make your diabetes har
manage by increasing infections as w
raising your blood sugar and your b
demand for insulin, making oral health c
in controlling diab
Pregnancy complications. Gum dise
linked to premature births and low-
weight infants, highlighting the importan
excellent oral health before and d
pregn
The mouth is sometimes referred to
“mirror” to the body. Your oral tiss
very responsive and often rea
problems taking place elsewhere w
your body. Many diseases can ac
be diagnosed in the early stages thr
a routine dental exam or x-rays. Sw
gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth etc
be symptoms of other problem
to blood clots, blocked arteries and inflammation
of the heart and vessels.
Respiratory problems. Bacteria growing in your
mouth can travel to your lungs causing infections
like pneumonia or aggravate existing problems.
Why is oral health so important? There are
billions of bacteria floating around in our mouths
and good oral care typically keeps this in check.
But when harmful bacteria grow out of control,
research shows they can move through your
bloodstream and reach other parts of your body.
This can be quite worrisome, with as many as 75
per cent of adults suffering from some form of
gum disease.
The connection between mouth woes and other
health problems is real. While the jury may be
undecided on why and how big the correlation is,
oor oral hygiene is linked to:p
Cardiovascular disease. If you
needed another reason to pick up
the dental floss, consider your
heart! While the why is still unclear,
tooth plaque is linked to plaque
found on the arteries of the heart.
It’s also been proven that bacteria
in the blood stream is connected
The mouth is truly a gateway to the body
and there is a strong connection between
oral health and overall well being. By
understanding the connection and taking afew simple steps to keep your pearly
whites sparkling, you’ll help your whole
body stay smiling.
10 Tips for
Mental Health
Build confidence. Identify your
ability and weaknesses together,
accept them build on them and do the
best with what you have.
Eat right, keep fit. A balanced diet,
exercise and rest can help you to
reduce stress and enjoy life.
Make time for family and friends.
These relationships need to be
nurtured; if taken for granted theywill not be there to share life’s joys
and sorrows.
Give and accept support. Friends
and family relationships thrive when
they are “put to the test.”
Volunteer. Being involved in the
community gives a sense of purpose
and satisfaction that paid work
cannot.
Manage stress. We all have stressors
in our lives but learning how to deal
with them when they threaten to
overwhelm us will maintain our
mental health.
Create a meaningful budget.
Financial problems cause stress.
Over-spending on our “wants”
instead “needs” is often the culprit.
Find strength in numbers. Sharing a
problem with others who have had
similar experiences may help you
find a solution and will make you feel
less isolated.
Identify and deal with moods. We
all need to find safe and constructive
ways to express our feelings of anger,
sadness, joy and fear.
. Learn to be at peace with yourself.
Get to know who you are, what
makes you really happy, and learn to
balance what you can and cannot
change about yourself.
om: Canadian Mental Health
ssociation – National Office.
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Vitamin D
Did You Know? Leptin, an appetite
suppressing hormone, controls hunger by acting on
the neural circuitry of the brain. Scientists have
discovered mice without the hormone are morbidly
obese compared to mice with the hormone.
Researchers believe this effect may help to
understand human obesity.
Rumors
Rumors can be the most damag
form of communication that we
encounter. In the staff room,
personal lives become hot topics
debate, and they can quickly ga
life of their own. Most of us have
engaged in gossip at one time o
another without realizing the
consequence.
Rumors about someone or the
organization can ruin the morale
poison the environment. The mo
damaging rumors seem to be tho
related to workplace politics and
governance.
So how do you avoid rumors? It
very easy to get drawn into the
gossip circle and often difficult to
resist. But before you choose to
engage, step back and ask your
• Is what I am about to say o
listen to absolutely true?
• Is it harmless or necessary
• How would I feel if my word
are quoted by someone?
• How am I going to feel if I l
to this and believe it?
• Does engaging in this
conversation honour my ow
personal values or benefit
in some way?
You’ve told yourself dozens of
times that tomorrow you are
going to start exercising. Yet,
tomorrow has come and gone.
What’s holding you back?
Diet fads are about as common as reality shows. Whether the Atkins, South Beach, the Zone or other protein-
packed eating regimens, dieters are dropping pounds while eating rich low-carb foods such as butter, steak,
and pepperoni pizza (without the crust). Yet, many people are starting to rethink these dieting extremes simply
because they are not sustainable. Let’s be honest, eating a hamburger patty and a bowl of lettuce night after
night is not appealing. The truth is that fad diets don’t work to help you lose weight and keep it off . Sure they
can help you to lose weight initially, but they are not designed as part of a long term healthy lifestyle. If fad
diets really worked, we would all be on it and stay on it.
So what does work? Eating fewer calories than you burn off. That’s it, plain and simple. Calories really do
count, contrary to what you may have read in a magazine. If you really want to trim down, the most effective
way of doing so is to eat a variety of healthy foods, exercise 60 minutes every day and stop super-sizing your
meals.
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in
calcium absorption, reducing
the risk of osteoporosis and
certain types of cancers. We
absorb vitamin D3 through UV
(ultraviolet) light from the sun
and various dairy products. Eat
up and enjoy the sunshine!
EAT HEALTHY!
DIET FADS:THE TRUTH
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• EDUCATION PROGRAMS
• HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
• MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
• EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PLAN
The Vancouver Board of Education recognizesthat employee health is strengthened by positiveattitude, action, and knowledge. It is our intent thatthese offerings will assist you on your path to ahealthy lifestyle.
YOUR PATHTO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.
VANCOUVER BOARD OF EDUCATION
promoting health awareness for employees
KABIR BHAGARIAEMPLOYEE SUPPORT ADVISORHUMAN RESOURCESPH - 604-713-5926
1580 WEST BROADWAY | VANCOUVER, BC V6J 5K8