Working Long Hours Linked to Increased Risk for Stroke

Adults who put in long hours at the office may face increased risk for stroke, according to an international meta-analysis published in the Lancet.

Researchers pooled data from 25 prospective cohort studies that comprised over 600,000 adults who were free of coronary heart disease (CHD) and nearly 530,000 who were free of stroke at baseline. During roughly 7–8 years’ follow-up, some 4800 incident CHD events and 1700 strokes occurred.

In analyses adjusted for age, sex, and socioeconomic status, working 55 or more hours per week was associated with a 13% increase in CHD risk and 33% increase in stroke risk, relative to working 35–40 hours. In further adjusted analyses, only the association between work hours and stroke remained significant, with a clear dose-response relation observed.

The authors conclude, “Our findings suggest that more attention should be paid to the management of vascular risk factors in individuals who work long hours.”
– See more at: http://www.jwatch.org/fw110545/2015/08/20/working-long-hours-linked-increased-risk-stroke#sthash.w6KX6FD2.dpuf

Drinking a problem for many older adults, study finds

When it comes to the problem of drinking to excess, the senior citizen population may not immediately come to mind. But a new study finds that many older adults are drinking too much alcohol, putting them at risk for major health problems.

The research, published in the journal BMJ Open, looked at older adults in the U.K. and found that one in five people over the age of 65 was drinking at unsafe levels, defined as more than 21 units of alcohol for men and 14 units for women each week. A unit of alcohol is equivalent to a small (125 ml) glass of wine.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/drinking-problem-older-adults-study-finds/

Don’t Hit Send: Angry Emails Just Make You Angrier

Venting is bad for us, research shows; It makes us angrier, and it is easier than ever to vent online and on social media

One evening, after a frustrating chat with his boss, Jason Bauman sent an email to a co-worker. He wrote that his supervisor never praised him, only criticized, and said he found this frustrating.

He went on for several hundred words. Mr. Bauman, the manager of a cellphone store at the time, complained that his boss was bad at his job. He said the man was jealous because he made less money than his employees. He insisted his boss had no right to give him what he called “a hard time.”

http://www.wsj.com/articles/dont-hit-send-angry-emails-just-make-you-angrier-1439227360

Blood Clot Prevention Is Higher Priority at Hospitals

Many patients don’t receive anti clotting drugs; nurses don’t always give them

Hospitals are intensifying inpatient care to prevent potentially fatal blood clots.

Blood clots, which form when blood doesn’t flow properly, can happen to anyone, including travelers on long plane rides in cramped seats, women on birth control drugs, or seemingly healthy people with no known risk factors

http://www.wsj.com/articles/blood-clot-prevention-is-higher-priority-at-hospitals-1438626045?tesla=y

Recognizing National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)

Each year in August, National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) provides an opportunity to highlight the value of immunization across the lifespan. Activities focus on encouraging all people to protect their health by being vaccinated against infectious diseases. In 2015, the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC) is coordinating NIAM activities.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam.html