BUILDHEALTH
Let’sTalkHealth
BUILDHEALTH NI GETS THE CONVERSATION GOING ON IMPORTANT HEALTH ISSUES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY… Talking about: stress and fatigue
S tress and fatigue can be a significant cause of illness and can hit anyone at any level of any business. Stress develops when a person is unable to cope with the demands being placed on them. Being under pressure is a normal part of life and it can help you take action, feel more energised and get results. But, if you often become overwhelmed by stress, these feelings could start to be a problem for you. Fatigue occurs when a person develops an overall feeling of tiredness or lack of energy. It isn’t the same as simply feeling drowsy or sleepy. When fatigued you have no motivation or energy. Being sleepy may be a symptom of fatigue, but it’s not the same thing. STRESS The main factors, which may lead to stress include: being under lots of pressure or facing big changes; worrying about something and going through times of uncertainty; not having much or any control over the outcome of a situation; having responsibilities that you’re finding overwhelming; not having enough work, activities or stimulation in your life. Be active - Exercise will reduce some of the emotional intensity that you’re feeling, clearing our thoughts and letting you deal with your problems more calmly. Take control - The act of taking control is in itself empowering, and it’s a crucial part of finding a solution that satisfies you and not someone else.
Connect with people - A good support network of colleagues,
STRESS SYMPTOMS: • Irritable, aggressive, impatient or wound up • Over-burdened, anxious, nervous or afraid • Like your thoughts are racing and you can’t switch off • Unable to enjoy yourself • Depressed and uninterested in life and often neglected or lonely • Like you’ve lost your sense of humour • A sense of dread or worried about your health FATIGUE SYMPTOMS: • Slow reflexes and responses • Chronic tiredness or sleepiness and low motivation • Headaches, dizziness and blurry vision • Weak, sore or aching muscles • Impaired decision-making and judgement • Reduced immune system function and short-term memory issues
friends and family can ease your work troubles and help you see things in a different way. FATIGUE Common work issues that can cause fatigue can include: Shift work – the human body is designed to sleep during the night. Shift work confuses our bodies by being continuously active when the body is programmed to be asleep. Poor work practices – can add to a person’s level of fatigue. These may include long work hours, hard physical labour, irregular working hours (such as rotating shifts), a stressful work environment and working alone with little or no interaction with others. Workplace stress – can be caused by a wide range of factors including job dissatisfaction, heavy workload, conflicting or changing priorities, clashes with bosses or colleagues, bullying, constant change, or threats to job security. To help boost your energy levels and overall health, practise healthy eating habits and drink enough fluids to stay hydrated. Exercise on a regular basis and also take part in relaxing activities, such as breathing exercises. Avoid known stressors and get enough sleep. Reduce or abstain from alcohol, smoking, and other illicit drugs.
Visit: www.buildhealthni.com, where you can download the resources for the whole range of health discussion topics and start the conversation towards better awareness of risks to health.
www.northernbuilder.co.uk
FOLLOW US ON:
NI BUILDER | 37
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online