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What is Occupational Health?

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013

Occupational health or occupational safety and health (OSH) is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with the protection, health, and welfare of people in the working industry. The goal of occupational health and safety is to provide programs that will avoid or lessen health risks in the workplace.

Definition

The International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have used the same definition of occupational health since 1950. The definition states that occupational health should aim to:

Promote and maintain the highest degree of mental, physical, and social well-being of all workers in all industries
Prevent workers from having to forfeit their duty due to their health concerns caused by their work environment
Protect workers, during their employment, from risks resulting from factors adverse to their health
Place and maintain a worker in an occupational environment based on their physiological and psychological capabilities
Adapt the saying; ‘To man and each man to his job’

Objectives

Occupational health has three objectives and they are:

To promote and maintain a worker’s health and working capacity
To improve the working environment and strive to become conducive to health and safety
To develop work organizations and cultures that work toward promoting a healthy, safe, and a positive social climate for smooth operation and increased productivity.

Industries should always follow occupational safety and health advice or programs to ensure that all workers are given a safe and healthy working environment. Industries have different levels of health and safety risks like workers in chemical industries having a high risk of developing diseases due to chemical exposure, and workers in construction industries having a high risk of accidents due to the physically challenging work. Any business should invest in the safety of their employees because it increases productivity and decreases cost on work-related illnesses and accidents.

Source:

http://www.unionlearn.org.uk/extrasUL/Education/OccupationalHealth.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_safety_and_health

Tags: International Labor Organization, Occupational Health, occupational safety, World Health Organization
Posted in Health & Wellness | No Comments »

What is Occupational Health Services?

Sunday, January 20th, 2013

Occupational Health Services is a way to protect employees and employers in the workplace. It is an application to primary health care principles to ensure that the organization provides a safe working environment for all those that work and visit any workplace area.

Occupational Health Services Focus

Some of the main focuses of occupational health services involve surveying a work environment and identifying conditions of work, possible exposure to hazardous materials, identification of workers at risk of exposure to hazardous materials and assessment of exposure levels, including the following:

Ergonomic factors that can affect a worker’s health
Occupational hygiene and factors that may increase workers’ health risk
Exposure to adverse psychological factors and aspects of work organization
Risk from occupational accidents and hazards
Appropriate protective equipment, whether collective or personal
Proper control systems designed to avoid, eliminate, or decrease risk of exposure

Surveillance of worker’s health is also part of occupational health services and this can be done in ways like:

Pre-employment medical examinations
Periodic medical examinations
General health examinations
Return to duty health examinations
Health examination at termination or end of service

Occupational health services also propose preventive and control measures to ensure that workers avoid any unnecessary exposure or know how to react during accidents and emergencies. Some guidelines include:

Controlling hazards at the source
Proper ventilation and control technology
Dust control
Regulation of thermal conditions.

Occupational health services not only work locally but also work on a global level. All companies, organizations, and institutions must apply the proper policies to ensure the safety of everyone entering and working in a building. Policies depend on the nature of business and those that are handling hazardous materials have a stricter policy in place in order to fully safeguard a person’s health during and after employment in said business.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_Occupational_Health_Services

Tags: health care principles, Occupational Health, Occupational Health Services, workers health
Posted in Health & Wellness | No Comments »

Common Neurological Diagnostic Screening Tests

Friday, January 18th, 2013

Diagnostic tests are important tools that physicians use to determine if an individual is suffering from a certain disease. It gives them the chance to save a person’s life by providing the right treatment plan based on the test results. Neurological diagnostic tests are used to determine if a person is suffering from a neurological problem.

Neurological disorders are not easy to determine and one cannot rely on symptoms alone. Centuries ago, a person would die and physicians would only find out that the person died from neurological disorder after they performed an autopsy.

Today, physicians have access to tools that help them determine brain activity with clearer, bigger, and a more detailed image, making it easy for them to come up with a diagnosis. Technological advancements now allow faster and more accurate test results. Here are the most common neurological diagnostic screening tests used today:

Laboratory screening tests like urine, blood and other substances are used to determine presence of disease, monitor levels of therapeutic drugs, and to better understand the disease process. A physician orders tests to get both general and specific information on a person’s health. Analysis of neurological fluids provides information on the central nervous system’s activity and possible infections.
Genetic testing or counseling helps determine if individuals with a family history of neurological disorders carry the gene that is responsible for the disorder, or if their children are affected by the disorder. Genetic testing can determine various types of neurological disorders. Genetic tests include the following:

Amniocentesis is performed during 14-16 weeks of pregnancy. Amniotic fluid is collected from the womb and is tested for any genetic defects that may affect the fetus.
Chorionic villus sampling or CVS is done by collecting and testing a small amount of placenta during early stages of pregnancy. The placenta carries the same DNA as the embryo and is used to determine any genetic abnormalities.
Uterine ultrasound is a noninvasive test that diagnoses conditions such as chromosomal disorders.

Neurological diagnostic screening tests help physicians determine if a person’s symptoms implicate a neurological disorder. It also gives physicians an idea of what to do next in order to treat a disorder, in case they find one.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurological_disorder

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm

Tags: Neurological Diagnostic Screening, Neurological Screening, Neurological test
Posted in Health & Wellness | No Comments »

How To Get Tested for Depression

Friday, January 11th, 2013

Depression is a state wherein a person experiences a low mood. A person suffering from depression may feel sad, guilty, irritable, hurt, empty, hopeless, worthless, and much more. This type of mood results in:

Loss of interest in activities that one used to find pleasurable
Overeating or loss of appetite
Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
Possible increased risk of suicide
Possible increased risk of developing sleep disorders
Feeling restless
Becoming anti-social

A depressed person may even develop health risks if they are not treated. However, how does one know for sure if a person is suffering from depression? It is normal to feel down every once in a while but a depressed person may experience symptoms for longer periods of time, thus, affecting their way of life.

Testing for depression takes a range of physical, mental, and behavioral tests before it can be diagnosed as depression. It may involve one or more professionals to diagnose a person who is suffering the symptoms of depression. It is important to test a person because it gives him/her (and the people who care for the person) an understanding of why they are feeling down. Through testing, professionals may be able to find out the root cause of the depression. Sometimes, it may even be due to an illness that they are suffering that nobody knows of.

A proper diagnosis will help professionals formulate the right treatment plan, like types of medicines to take, social support, change of lifestyle, and other things depending on what the person needs.

If you want to know if you are depressed, or if you know someone who is feeling down for weeks at a time, there are screening tools available to give you an idea if you or that person may be suffering from depression. Here are some links that you can go to:

Depression can be treated, but first you have to look out for the signs. If you know someone who might be suffering from depression, try talking to them and see if they exude the symptoms. It is always important to stay close to a loved one that is going through depression to make it easier for them to recover.

Source:

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_signs_types_diagnosis_treatment.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(mood)#Assessment

http://www.goodtherapy.org/therapy-for-depression.html

Tags: behavioral tests, Depression test, depression testing, Testing for depression
Posted in Health & Wellness | No Comments »

How to Test for ADD and ADHD

Monday, January 7th, 2013

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a type of neurobehavioral disorder characterized by hyperactivity, impulsiveness, or inattention. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is one of the subtypes of ADHD.

ADD and ADHD

All three subtypes of ADHD are characterized by inattention, being easily distracted, procrastination, disorganization, and forgetfulness. However, a person suffering from ADD may experience fatigue or lethargy, and have fewer symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Those suffering from ADD have a hard time focusing on something, like school subjects that require longer attention, which may lead to withdrawal or failure. They may often be called “lazy” or “irresponsible” and mistakenly labelled as “not trying hard enough.”

A person suffering from ADHD exudes inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity which leads to difficulty maintaining focus, becoming easily bored, disorganized, prone to daydreaming, having difficulties processing information, and much more.

Testing and diagnosis

It is not easy to test for ADD or ADHD because almost all people experience inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. However, it is important to test for it when it is starting to affect a person’s social and mental health.

There is no single physical, mental, or medical test available that can diagnose ADD or ADHD. If you want to have your child checked, it will involve your physician and other professionals to diagnose him/her. Different testing tools will also be used, like a symptoms checklist; questions about past and present problems and a medical exam to help understand the cause of symptoms.

The important thing about testing is to be completely honest about everything; this will make it easy for professionals to come up with a diagnosis. Professionals will look into how severe the symptoms are (negative impact on your child’s life), when the symptoms started, how long the symptoms have been bothering your child (or you), when and where the symptoms appear (it must appear in different settings. If it only appears in a single setting it is likely that it is not ADD/ADHD).

Testing and diagnosing ADD or ADHD requires qualified professionals who are trained to diagnose the mental disorder. There are online screening tests available for parents and teachers so they can assess a child’s behavior. Adults who feel like they might be suffering from ADD/ADHD may also find a test here: http://www.addresources.org/?q=node/487

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_disorder

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_diagnosis.htm

Tags: ADD test, ADHD test, deficit hyperactivity disorder, diagnosing ADD
Posted in Health & Wellness | No Comments »

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Answers, comments, information, articles and opinions provided on all TestCountry related webpages are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, counseling, psychological, or other professional advice. You should not use the information on TestCountry for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. You should always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, rehabilitation or detoxification from any substance abuse or adopting any treatment for a health or drug problem.

Archive for the ‘Health & Wellness’ Category

What is Occupational Health?

What is Occupational Health Services?

Common Neurological Diagnostic Screening Tests

How To Get Tested for Depression

How to Test for ADD and ADHD

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