Running like crazy from anyone who’s ill is the first step to avoid succumbing yourself, as is doing a Lady Macbeth and continually washing your hands. That’s because the flu virus is not only transmitted via droplets when someone coughs or sneezes, but also manages to survive on surfaces – door handles, escalators, desks, even bathroom towels – for up to 48 hours. So just one touch followed by a quick rub of eyes, nose or mouth and you’re a goner – that’s how contagious it is! Best advice? Arm yourself with bottles of waterless soap and use compulsively throughout the flu season.

There are also many other ways to get yourself flu-fighting fit, and since taking responsibility for your health and your body is the medical fraternity’s primary message these days, now’s the time to work on an anti-flu action plan. First up is strengthening your immune system – your body’s natural defense against viruses – as studies have shown that maintaining a healthy immune system will help you fight off infections such as colds and flu. Here’s how:

• Get a good night’s sleep as fatigue lowers your resistance- 7-8 hours for adults; about 9 hours for teenagers.

   

• Reduce your stress levels and learn how torelax as too much stress impairs your immune system.

   

• Stop smoking. It’s a huge risk factor for both viral and bacterial disease.

   

• Keep on moving even during the cold winter months as research has discovered a link between moderate, regular exercise (aim for 30 minutes of brisk walking most days of the week) and a strong immune system.

   

•  Reduce your intake of refined carbohydrates (white bread, biscuits), the so-called ‘bad’ fats (trans and saturated fats) and sugar which can lower your resistance and increase your risk for infection.

   

• Supplement with Vitamin C (1000mg daily), Zinc (9-14gm daily), Echinacea and Ginseng to improve general immunity.

   

• Increase your oxygen levels and boost your immune system through ozone therapy. This non-invasive therapy in an ozone steam or ozone far infrared sauna kills bacteria, viruses and microbial infections.

   

• Stay well hydrated by drinking lots of water (add fresh mint, lemon or ginger to hot water during winter) and herbal teas.

   

• Have the flu vaccine every year especially if you’re at high risk, and follow in the footsteps of millions of Americans and Europeans by stocking up on a homeopathic medicine that can assist your body to flight flu symptoms (body aches, pains, chills and fever) right from the start. Chat to your local pharmacist for more information.

Remember to consult your health practitioner if your symptoms persist for longer than 3 days/ worsen, or if you have a high fever.  

(Press release from LeBron Pharmaceuticals for Boiron Laboratories)

- (Health24, May 2012) – Edited

http://www.health24.com/medical/Condition_centres/777-792-811-1704,74502.asp

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Do you have other remedies to boost your immune system?

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]]> http://www.salvagente.co.za/ozone-saunas/cancer-from-oral-sex-increasing-in-young-men/feed/ 0 http://www.salvagente.co.za/ozone-saunas/hivaids-patients-at-higher-risk-of-cardiac-death/ http://www.salvagente.co.za/ozone-saunas/hivaids-patients-at-higher-risk-of-cardiac-death/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 10:25:12 +0000 admin http://www.salvagente.co.za/?p=1614 People suffering from HIV/Aids are at much higher risk than the general population of sudden cardiac death, researchers in California have found.

In a paper published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, two professors at the University of California-San Francisco show incidents of “sudden cardiac death” to be four times higher for HIV/Aids patients, a result the researchers found surprising, according to a university press release.

“The fact that the vast majority of cardiac deaths were sudden is surprising and implies that we as clinicians need to be aware of this potential health issue among patients with HIV,” said Priscilla Hsue, an associate professor at UCSF who was one of the study’s lead researchers.

Ward 86 characterised all deaths

Hsue and her fellow researcher, Zian Tseng, an electrophysiologist, began their study in 2010 after Tseng noticed an alarming trend in separate research analysing sudden deaths in San Francisco.

“I noticed that many of these cases involved individuals with HIV infection who were dying suddenly,” Tseng said in the press release. “I wondered if there was some sort of connection there.”

Hsue and Tseng’s research focused on 2 860 HIV patients, whose deaths over 10 years were meticulously recorded by San Francisco General Hospital’s Ward 86. Ward 86 was the first clinic specialising in HIV/Aids to comprehensively characterise all deaths, according to the press release.

HIV infected people are living longer

The study showed that from 2000 to 2009, 15% of patients died of cardiac-related illnesses. Of that group, 86% died of sudden cardiac death, four times the rate of San Francisco’s general population. The study controlled for age, race and other demographic factors.

The study’s findings may be particularly important at a time when improved drug treatments have allowed more HIV/Aids infected people to live longer.

Immune boosting alternative therapies like ozone therapy, non-invasive in the ozone sauna, are also becoming more popular. HIV patients are seeking ozone therapy clinics out to increase their chances of a higher quality of life.

Because HIV-infected individuals are also living longer with the benefit of antiretroviral therapy, non-Aids conditions are becoming increasingly important and at the top of this list is cardiovascular disease.

(Sapa, May 2012) – Edited

http://www.health24.com/news/HIV_AIDS/1-920,74444.asp

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Are Governments doing enough to fight HIV and AIDS?

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Products tested included a wide range of household products, such as soaps, lotions, detergents, cleaners, sunscreens, air fresheners, kitty litter, shaving cream, vinyl shower curtains, pillow protectors, cosmetics and perfumes.

Researchers identified 55 chemicals that studies have shown may have health consequences. Among the chemicals detected were various types of phthalates, which have been linked to reproductive abnormalities and asthma; bisphenol A (BPA), which is being phased out of many baby bottles and children’s toys because of concerns about the effect on foetuses and young children; and parabens, which some research suggests may mimic oestrogen in the body and have been associated with breast cancer.

“This is the first large, peer-reviewed study looking at hormone-disrupting and asthma-related chemicals in a wide range of consumer products,” said study author Robin Dodson, a research scientist at the Silent Spring Institute in Newton, Mass.

The chemicals, however, were not listed on the product labels, which included major brand-name products as well as those marketed as “alternative” products that are often described as fragrance-free, more natural and safer than conventional products.

One or more of the chemicals turned up in all of the conventional product samples tested, and in 32 of 43 alternative products, according to the report.

More labelling needed

For each of the categories of conventional products, researchers included several brands. For example, the floor cleaner sample included Spic and Span, Swiffer WetJet Multi-Purpose Cleaner and Stop & Shop Pine Oil Cleaner Disinfectant, while the laundry detergent category included several brands sold by Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Foodhold USA and Church & Dwight, the study authors said.

The study highlights the need for more complete labelling so that consumers know what they’re being exposed to, Dodson said.

“These results show we are exposed to a wide range of chemicals of concern in everyday products, and the chemicals aren’t always listed on the labels,” she said. “That can be a basis for modernising our chemical policy in the United States. It seems these chemicals are not being adequately tested before being put on the shelf.”

The study, titled “Endocrine Disruptors and Asthma-Associated Chemicals in Consumer Products,” is published in the online edition of Environmental Health Perspectives.

Two industry groups, however, took issue with the study conclusions. The research implies that the “mere presence” of the chemicals means the products have safety risks, they said.

“They are alarming consumers unnecessarily,” said Brian Sansoni, spokesman for the American Cleaning Institute, an industry association for cleaning product manufacturers. Researchers haven’t uncovered evidence that typical use of various household products are contributing to health or safety issues, he said.

“We are disappointed at the research. It wrongly insinuates safety concerns over cleaning products and ignores enhanced efforts to communicate with consumers over ingredients,” Sansoni added.

More research needed

Another industry representative said the research linking certain chemicals with endocrine disruption and asthma is not conclusive.

“It is unfortunate and misleading that the title of this report implies that there is a well-defined link between consumer products and endocrine disruption and asthma, when the study of this issue continues and scientific questions remain unresolved,” said Steven Bennett, director of scientific affairs for the Consumer Specialty Products Association.

Manufacturers and others are also taking steps to keep consumers informed about what’s in household products, Bennett added.

Matt Perzanowski, an associate professor of environmental health science at Columbia University in New York City, said the study will help to raise awareness about how little consumers may know about what’s in products they use everyday.

“They’re identifying exposures to chemicals that a consumer wouldn’t be able to identify, and also showing there is a broad spectrum of these exposures to these chemicals that people use,” Perzanowski said.

He noted, however, that research on chemicals and their link to health problems is not conclusive. Most of the studies have been observational, meaning researchers have found associations between certain exposures and health effects, but have not proven causality.

Of all of the chemicals, the association between BPA and endocrine disruption seems to be the strongest, Perzanowski added.

Because of the ubiquity of the consumer products and the chemicals, it’s difficult to try to stay away from them, Dodson said. But Silent Spring offers some tips, including:

• choosing products that are plant-based,
• using water, baking soda and vinegar for cleaning,
• wearing hats and cover-ups instead of relying only on sunscreen for sun protection,
• steering clear of cleaning and other products that contain fragrance,
• avoiding vinyl pillow and mattress protectors,
• detoxing regularly (ozone saunas are effective ways),
• choosing lotions, deodorants and shampoos that are paraben-free.

Antimicrobial soaps also contain chemicals such as triclosan and triclocarban, which are also chemicals of concern regarding asthma and endocrine disruption, Dodson noted.

(Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.) – Edited

http://www.health24.com/news/Asthma/1-892,73185.asp

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Do you think better labeling will address the problem?

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Every time you feel really cold, you have probably neglected to do some of the things below. Check out these tips. There may be one or two things you didn’t know, or needed to be reminded of.

Invest in a fleece blanket. Supermarkets and big department stores sell light and very warm blankets and they are not expensive. If it is moderately cold, put it on top of your duvet cover and if it is really freezing, put it between yourself and the duvet cover. These blankets are also great for keeping warm while you watch TV. As blankets get older, they do become thinner and lose some of their effectiveness. Your blanket from seven years ago might need to be retired.

Choose a heater. This is not so easy, as bar heaters are expensive to run and can be a fire danger, fan heaters also use a lot of power, and paraffin and gas heaters, though effective, come with their own dangers, especially if you have small children. Wall heaters are quite effective, inexpensive to run and not dangerous. That might be the way to go. You’ll need at least two per room in cold climates.

Get some exercise. Nothing warms you up like a good long walk or a run. Your blood starts circulating – even to your hands and feet and you will retain that warm glow long after you’ve stopped moving about. Generally when it’s ice cold outside the last thing you feel like is getting out there. Just do it. But watch where you’re going – many a lengthy hiking trip in the heart of winter has ended in disaster. Hypothermia is a real killer.

Go for the layered look. Wearing different layers of clothing traps the air between the clothes and warms it up. It is therefore better to wear three different garments – brushed cotton is nice and warm – than one thick one. Also, if it warms up, you can take off the top layer or two, which you can’t do if you’re only wearing one thick garment. Unless you want to cause a stir.

Wear a woollen hat. To prevent your feet from getting cold, put a hat on your head. It sounds crazy, but it works. Your body loses most of its heat through your head. The minute this happens, circulation is reduced in extremities such as your hands and feet. Keep your head warm and your feet won’t get cold. Simple.

Get warm socks. Once your feet are freezing there are few things, except a warm bath, that will heat them up again properly. Once they’re warm, keep them warm – and the best way to do this is with a pair of woollen hiking socks. Fleamarkets often sell them at half the price you would pay in sports shops. Thin nylon socks just won’t do it. You need chunky stuff.

Windbreakers win. Windbreakers do just that – they keep the wind off you. And when it’s cold and the wind blows, winter chill really sets in. Windbreakers have the added benefit that they also keep you dry. And everyone who has been wet and cold in the middle of the winter will know it’s almost impossible to get warm again unless you take a bath.

Keep a jersey at work. Your mom was right. You should always take a jersey. When you’re freezing it’s difficult to do anything. Keep an old jersey in your drawer or in your car in case you suddenly need it. You will be truly grateful for it on the day you’re unexpectedly cold and shivering. If you’re working outside, warm and appropriate clothing is even more essential. As they say, there isn’t really something like bad weather, just the wrong clothing.

Snuggle up to someone. Just make sure you want to be snuggled up to by this person, otherwise it can have all sorts of consequences you might not have anticipated! But especially on a camping trip, there is no better way of warming yourself up than snuggling up to a friend.

Make a fire. There’s nothing quite like a fire to give you a feeling of cosy winter cheer. Fires also heat up rooms and if you’re camping, they can also be used for cooking food or boiling water – very handy if you’re freezing after a long day of hiking. But keep an eye on an open fire. They come with their own dangers.

Scarves and gloves. If you’re feeling industrious, you can even knit a scarf yourself, but gloves are best left to the experts. Both scarves and gloves can be bought for reasonably little at most large supermarkets. Not having freezing hands will definitely contribute to the winter being a more pleasant experience.

(Susan Erasmus, Health24, updated August 2009)

http://www.health24.com/Woman/Special_events/711-3614-3620,27440.asp

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Do you have any other suggestions to keep warm?

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Infections cause about 2 million cancer cases a year, and 80% of those cases occur in less developed areas of the world, according to the study, which was published online in The Lancet Oncology. Of the 7.5 million cancer deaths worldwide in 2008, about 1.5 million were due to potentially preventable or treatable infections.

“Infections with certain viruses, bacteria and parasites are one of the biggest and most preventable causes of cancer worldwide,” lead authors Catherine de Martel and Martyn Plummer, from the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, said.

Ozone kills 99% of bacteria, viruses, yeast and parasites. Furthermore with ozone therapy you flood the body with oxygen to reduce the chances of cancer spreading because cancer cannot thrive in oxygen enriched cells. Can you not afford to invest in an ozone sauna or ozone therapy sessions at these outlets?

“Application of existing public-health methods for infection prevention – such as vaccination, safer injection practise or antimicrobial treatments – could have a substantial effect on future burden of cancer worldwide.”

How the research was done

The researchers examined data on 27 cancers in 184 countries and calculated that about 16% of all cancers in 2008 were infection-related. The rate of infection-related cancers was 23% in developing countries and 7% in developed countries.

Rates of infection-related cancers ranged from 3 % in Australia and New Zealand to 33% in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Many infection-related cancers are preventable, particularly those associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), Helicobacter pylori, and hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses,” the researchers said.

In 2008, these four main infections together caused 1.9 million cancers, mostly of the stomach, liver and cervix. Cervical cancer accounted for about half of infection-related cancers in women, and liver and gastric cancers accounted for more than 80% of infection-related cancers in men.

The study findings “show the potential for preventive and therapeutic programmes in less developed countries to significantly reduce the global burden of cancer and the vast disparities across regions and countries,” Goodarz Danaei, of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, wrote in an accompanying editorial.

“Since effective and relatively low-cost vaccines for HPV and [hepatitis B] are available, increasing coverage should be a priority for health systems in high-burden countries,” Danaei added.

(Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.) – Edited

http://www.health24.com/news/Cancer/1-898,74377.asp

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 Are you a victim of contracting cancer through an infection?

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]]> http://www.salvagente.co.za/ozone-saunas/1-in-6-cancers-caused-by-infection/feed/ 0 http://www.salvagente.co.za/ozone-saunas/12-scary-hospital-stats/ http://www.salvagente.co.za/ozone-saunas/12-scary-hospital-stats/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 07:46:22 +0000 admin http://www.salvagente.co.za/?p=1599 Hospital visits at some time during your life are unavoidable. You simply wouldn’t want to languish at home nursing a kidney stone or an inflamed appendix. In short, when you need a hospital, you probably need it badly.

But there are very good reasons why a hospital stay shouldn’t be taken lightly: the following statistics make for some scary reading. But then, if you ran your life based on fear, you’d never get into a car or fly in a plane.

Check out some of these stats made known by the World Health Organization:

• Millions of people die each year from medical errors and infections linked to health care, and going into hospital is far riskier than flying
• If you were admitted to hospital tomorrow in any country, your chances of being subjected to an error in your care would be something like 1 in 10. Your chances of dying due to an error in health care would be 1 in 300.
• This compared with a risk of dying in an air crash of about 1 in 10 million passengers, according to Dr Donaldson, formerly England’s chief medical officer.
• More than 50% of acquired infections can be prevented if health care workers clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based handrub before treating patients.
• Of every 100 hospitalised patients at any given time, 7 in developed and 10 in developing countries will acquire at least one health care-associated infection, according to the United Nations agency.
• The longer patients stay in an ICU (intensive care unit), the more at risk they become of acquiring an infection.
•  Medical devices such as urinary catheters and ventilators are associated with high infection rates.
• Each year in the United States, 1.7 million infections are acquired in hospital, leading to 100,000 deaths, a far higher rate than in Europe, where 4.5 million infections caused 37,000 deaths, according to the WHO.
• Risk is even higher in developing countries, with about 15% of patients acquiring infections, said Dr Benedetta Allegranzi of the WHO’s “Clean Care is Safer Care” programme.
• The risk is really higher in high-risk areas of the hospitals, in particular ICUs or neonatal units in developing countries.
• About 100,000 hospitals worldwide now use the WHO’s surgical safety checklist, which the agency said has been shown to reduce surgery complications by 33% and deaths by 50%.
• If the checklist is effectively used worldwide, an estimated 500,000 deaths could be prevented each year, it says.

Isn’t it time we consider alternative health care methods which prevents us from getting ill instead of reactive methods which treat symptoms? Ozone therapy is one such an alternative treatment, and in the ozone sauna it’s non-invasive and can be done in the comfort of your own home. First want to try it out before you invest in your health? Visit an ozone therapy branch near you.

 (Reuters Health, Stephanie Nebehay, Health24, Susan Erasmus, July 2011) – Edited

http://www.health24.com/Woman/Medical_women/711-3538-3545,64284.asp

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How do you feel about hospital negligence?

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South Africa’s tap water is considered to be of world-class quality, at least if you live in one of the bigger metropolitan areas. 

Occasional variations in how water looks, tastes or smells are usually no cause for alarm. Still, it’s good to know when a change may be harmful and warrants reporting to your local water authority. And besides, as the World Health Organisation puts it, being “pleasant to drink” is an important attribute of tap water quality.

Some common tap water problems:

My tap water has an earthy taste and smell

Some Cape Town residents have noticed this recently. The cause is usually a substance called geosmin, which is sometimes produced by algae in water bodies, usually in summer. 

Should I be concerned?

No. If the smell and taste persist longer than a few weeks however, report it.

My tap water has a “swimming pool” smell

This is caused by chlorine which is added to drinking water as a disinfectant; it’s highly effective in killing disease-causing micro-organisms.

Should I be concerned?

No. This small amount isn’t considered dangerous to health.

My tap water smells of rotten eggs

This distinctive smell is probably due to the gas hydrogen sulphide. Sulphur-producing substances are produced by certain bacteria and fungi in water bodies, as well as bacteria sometimes found in water pipes.

Should I be concerned?

Our sense of smell can pick up very low levels of hydrogen sulphide; a faint rotten-egg whiff doesn’t indicate harmful levels. 

But high levels are toxic. If there’s a sudden strong sulphorous smell, turn off the tap and get outside into fresh air. Report it at once.

My tap water has a mineral taste

A salty or metallic taste can be caused by various dissolved mineral salts. These come from rock, soil and vegetation the water passes over. Some enter drinking water during treatment.

Should I be concerned?

Some minerals are vital for health, and drinking water is a good source: lack of key minerals can cause deficiency diseases.

However, excessive amounts of certain minerals, even those beneficial at low doses, can be toxic. If you notice a sudden change in taste that persists, it’s worth reporting. But keep in mind that levels of minerals in drinking water vary naturally in different areas, and can cause considerable variation in taste.

My tap water looks cloudy/milky

Fill a glass from the tap. If the “milkiness” clears from the bottom up, it’s caused by tiny air bubbles.

If the water clears from the top down and a white substance settles on the bottom, there may be an excessive mineral or chemical concentration.

Should I be concerned?

Air bubbles in water are harmless; if you don’t like them, opening the tap more gradually usually reduces the problem.

Formation of sediment shouldn’t happen in well-regulated water, and some of the chemicals causing this may be harmful. Report it.

My tap water looks reddish-brown and tastes metallic

Rust

Your geyser or water pipes may be rusting. Rust can form in the pipes when water isn’t being used for a while, and then gets flushed out when you open the tap.

Rust is iron oxide, and may also be dissolved in the water. When it’s exposed to air it turns reddish-brown, and gives the water a metallic taste.

Should I be concerned?

Iron is an essential nutrient and is safe at the low levels normally found in drinking water.

High iron levels can be toxic if consumed over many years, however. Young children are also susceptible to acute iron poisoning.

If it’s only your water that is “rusty”, and not other households in your area, call a plumber. If the problem is more widespread, or your plumbing is in good order, then report the problem to your local water authority.

Tannins and other organic compounds

Organic compounds leach into water as it flows over certain kinds of vegetation, lending water a brownish tint. This occurs typically in the Western and Eastern Cape, where tannins in the fynbos vegetation give rivers a rich “brandy” or “cola” colour.

Should I be concerned?

No, this is completely harmless.

My tap water has…worms!?

These are most likely to be insect larvae called Chironimids: thin pinkish-red “wormlike” midge larvae (the adult midge looks like a small fly or mosquito).

Should I be concerned?

No. The larvae are harmless, even if you swallow one. But you shouldn’t have to put up with them either – report them.

If you are unsure about the quality of water that you take into your body, go for a detox ozone therapy session in an ozone steam or FIR sauna. This will help your body get rid of all the toxins that builds up through our intake of processed foods, polluted air and unclean water.

- Olivia Rose-Innes, EnviroHealth Editor, Health24, May 2012 – Edited

http://www.health24.com/medical/Condition_centres/777-792-1461-1672,74310.asp

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Do you think our tap water is world class quality?

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Jealousy. Possessiveness and jealousy on your part will only make your partner feel trapped. This could lead to them wanting to get away from you, because you make them feel claustrophobic. Ironically the single thing you wanted to prevent.

Sexual problems. If you are having sexual problems, and are unable to talk about them, or get it together to go for professional help, alarm bells should be ringing. Different people have different sexual needs, so once a week may be quite sufficient for one partner, but not for the other.

Old issues. Long shadows from the past can cast a pall over present relationships. If you have abandonment issues, self-image issues, self-worth issues, drug issues, dependency issues or endless financial issues, it is unrealistic to expect them not to have an impact on the relationship you are currently having.

Financial woes. Financial worry is part and parcel of life – few couples never have these. But constant agonising about money, running up of debts and misspending can cause a lot of tension in any relationship. When couples are unable to synchronise their spending habits or their financial values, trouble looms.

Parenting styles. Parents need to present a united front to their children. If one parent allows the kids to do things and the other forbids it, it causes confusion for the children and stress in relationships. When children are stepchildren, this becomes even more important. Parents need to decide on certain ground rules and stick to them.

In-law troubles. When parents are unhappy with your choice of spouse, or parents are unwilling to let go of their child and let him/her start a new life, it causes great trouble for the couple. There is ongoing stress and family dramas and everyone feels they are being pulled in different directions.

Old flames. Sometimes there are old boyfriends or girlfriends who just won’t back off. This can cause endless dramas and jealous fits. If it really upsets your partner that you see an old flame, weigh up the different issues here. Is a cup of tea with an old boyfriend really worth an unpleasant atmosphere at home for days? On the other hand, does your partner perhaps have a reason to feel insecure?

(Susan Erasmus Health 24, updated June 2010)

http://www.health24.com/Man/Sex_love_and_relationships/748-3146-3261,18628.asp

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What will destroy a relationship for you?

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]]> http://www.salvagente.co.za/articles/7-relationship-destroyers/feed/ 0 http://www.salvagente.co.za/ozone-saunas/e-mail-breaks-decrease-stress-increase-concentration/ http://www.salvagente.co.za/ozone-saunas/e-mail-breaks-decrease-stress-increase-concentration/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 10:35:48 +0000 admin http://www.salvagente.co.za/?p=1587 Being cut off from work e-mail significantly reduces stress and allows employees to focus far better, according to a new study by UC Irvine and US Army researchers.

Heart rate monitors were attached to computer users in a suburban office setting, while software sensors detected how often they switched windows. People who read e-mail changed screens twice as often and were in a steady “high alert” state, with more constant heart rates. Those removed from e-mail for five days experienced more natural, variable heart rates.

“We found that when you remove e-mail from workers’ lives, they multitask less and experience less stress,” said UCI informatics professor Gloria Mark. She co-authored the study, “A Pace Not Dictated by Electrons,” with UCI assistant project scientist Stephen Voida and Army senior research scientist Armand Cardello.

How the study was done

The study was funded by the Army and the National Science Foundation. Participants were computer-dependent civilian employees at the Army’s Natick Soldier Systems Center outside Boston. Those with no email reported feeling better able to do their jobs and stay on task, with fewer stressful and time-wasting interruptions.

Measurements bore that out, Mark said. People with email switched windows an average of 37 times per hour. Those without changed screens half as often – about 18 times in an hour.

She said the findings could be useful for boosting productivity and suggested that controlling e-mail login times, batching messages or other strategies might be helpful. “E-mail vacations on the job may be a good idea,” she noted. “We need to experiment with that.”

People enjoyed being without e-mails

Mark said it was hard to recruit volunteers for the study, but “participants loved being without e-mail, especially if their manager said it was OK. In general, they were much happier to interact in person.”

Getting up and walking to someone’s desk offered physical relief too, she said. Other research has shown that people with steady “high alert” heart rates have more cortisol, a hormone linked to stress. Stress on the job, in turn, has been linked to a variety of health problems.

[To reduce stress take a walk, meditate, go for ozone therapy in an ozone steam or dry heat sauna, get a massage or read a book.]

Study subjects worked in a variety of positions and were evenly split between women and men. The only downside to the experience was that the individuals without e-mail reported feeling somewhat isolated. But they were able to garner critical information from colleagues who did have e-mail.

The Army is examining use of smartphones and such applications as email for soldiers on battlefields, said David Accetta, spokesman for the Natick facility’s research and development section. “This data may very well prove helpful,” he said.

(EurekAlert, Irvine, Calif, May 2012) – Edited

http://www.health24.com/news/Workplace/1-957,74259.asp

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How much time do you spend on emails each day?

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