This interesting infographic is from Rebecca Fox, of Westermans International, a UK-based welding company. We appreciate this shared information and can learn what illnesses are prevelant in their respective industries.
Tag Archives: causes
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME (GUEST POST)
Written by Christine Miller
Navigating the Carpal Tunnel
Carpal tunnel syndrome is an affliction of the wrist where swelling from repetitive motion pinches the median nerve. The area where this nerve enters the hand is called the “carpal tunnel,” and it is quite narrow. Any swelling will affect the nerve, causing tingling, weakness of the hand, and numbness. If ignored, symptoms can become quite painful and even permanent, but there are simple treatments that can be performed at home, and there are ways to avoid the ailment entirely.
Causes and Prevention
Any prolonged, repetitive motion of the hand can cause carpal tunnel, and the most common is typing on a computer. Other activities include writing,working with hand tools or small machines, sports, and even driving. Factory assembly work can also be a contributor.
Certain medical conditions can cause carpal tunnel, such as arthritis, diabetes, hypothyroidism, alcoholism, and kidney issues. Obesity and pregnancy have also been known to trigger carpal tunnel.
During any prolonged task that involves the wrists, change positions when possible, take occasional breaks to stretch and massage the wrists, and use gel wrist rests when typing if the wrists are at an angle. The key with typing at length is to keep the wrist straight, so even some soft splints can help to prevent wrist pain. During any activity, use whatever ergonomic aids are available, and always stop when pain or tingling begin.
Symptoms
The median nerve is associated with the fingers on the thumb-side of the hand, so numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, or middle finger are a strong indicator of carpal tunnel. Other signs might be tingling or numbness in the palm or entire hand, pain that extends from the wrist to the elbow, a loss of dexterity when manipulating small objects, or weakness when carrying items such as suitcases.
Home Remedies
When caught early, carpal tunnel can be halted and often reversed completely. To start, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (or “NSAIDs”) such as ibuprofen can help to relieve wrist pressure.
1) Ice: the very best, completely natural treatment for carpal tunnel is ice and rest. Icing the wrist reduces inflammation, which improves circulation and promotes healing.
2) Vitamin C: this vitamin helps to repair damaged tissues; find it in fruits and vegetables or as a supplement. Another to watch for is “bromelain,” well-known to the medical field for anti-inflammatory properties, and found in pineapple, papaya, and kiwi or in supplements.
3) Epsom salts: prepare a soak of Epsom salts and water that is as hot as can be tolerated and immerse the wrist for three minutes. Next, soak the wrist in cold water for half a minute. Popular with athletes, this “hot cold” method is proven to reduce swelling and pain.
4) Massage: to reduce swelling and stimulate circulation, massage the affected wrist, hand, and forearm. Herbal oils can aid this and come in a variety of types and scents, amping the effects and soothing both body and mind.
Treatment
To prevent permanent damage, contact a physician if symptoms persist, or if there seems to be a loss of muscle in the fingers or hand. If carpal tunnel does not respond to basic treatment, a doctor may prescribe Naproxen, and he may suggest wrist splints while sleeping. For more severe cases, he might refer patients to an occupational therapist or prescribe corticosteroid injections. The worst cases generally require surgery, but the outcome depends on severity and the length of time the nerve has been affected. Carpal tunnel surgery is nearly always successful, but recovery can take several months.
This article has been written by Christine Miller. Christine has written various topics about health, wellness, home and lifestyle. She wrote this exclusively for Blog4Safety.
IT’S NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION WEEK!
The month of October has several observances, which includes Fire Prevention Month. October 9th through 15th is designated as National Fire Prevention Week; the 88th year that fire departments from around the entire country have observed this event. The theme for 2011’s observance is “Protect Your Family from Fire!” This year’s campaign focuses on preventing the leading causes of home fires – cooking, heating and electrical equipment, as well as candles and smoking materials. Life-saving technology and planning can help us protect our homes.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, smoking is the leading cause of home fire deaths. Fire can be a dangerous enemy, but if you are aware of the hazards, you will be much less likely to be one of the almost 13,000 people injured in homes fires each year. Nearly 3,000 people die in U.S. home fires annually. Here are some of the precautions we all should take:
- Have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and change the batteries at the same time you change your clocks – twice per year.
- Keep flammable materials away from stoves and clothes dryers.
- Have a family escape plan.
- Turn off space heaters before you go to sleep.
- Don’t wear loose clothing around the stove while you are cooking.
- Never leave foods being prepared on the stove unattended.
- Purchase and learn how to use a fire extinguisher properly.
- When you have completed cooking your meal, ensure that the oven and all burners are turned off.
- Never leave candles unattended, or where children or animals can knock them over or get burned.
- Don’t overload extension cords.
- If your dryer takes two or three cycles to completely dry clothes, check the filter, which should be cleaned before every use. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that dryer fires account for an average of 15,000 fires, causing approximately $88 million in property damage, 15 deaths, and 400 injuries annually.
- Never leave your home or go to bed with your dryer running.
- Don’t place flammable materials (papers, etc.) near your fireplace.
- Have your chimney cleaned every year to avoid creosote buildup.
There are numerous ways that we can protect our loved ones from fire. As listed above, take the time to have an escape plan, and be sure that the entire family is on the same page. Take your kids to visit a fire department. Educating the public on fire safety is one of the many important tasks that they perform. If we all learn more about how to prevent fires, hopefully we can make their jobs a little easier.
A Fire Department Chief told me to remind everyone, “Beep-Beep” is a sound we can live with! So check those detectors out, and make sure they work. That irritating little sound could be a life-saver!
Sources: US Fire Administration, National Fire Prevention Association