Are You a Go-Getter or Slacker at Work | EHS Today

If two co-workers exhibit different workplace behaviours, dopamine may be the cause.

For example if one is a go-getter and the other is slack and laid back, according to a recent study it may be due to dopamine levels being in different parts of the brain.

For the brain imaging study, researchers used 25 healthy volunteers age 18-29 to determine their willingness to work for money.

The participants were asked to perform different tasks worth $1 to $4.

Those who worked hard for rewards had a higher release of dopamine in one part of the brain, while those who didn't had a higher release in another part.

More on this report can be found at EHS Today:
Dopamine May Determine Whether You're a Go-Getter or Slacker at Work | EHS Today

Caregivers’ Mental Health Improve With Meditation.

Giving for health has benefits to both the giver and the receipient, this is the same in the case of caregivers.

To maintain this two way effect, caregivers can take care of their health while taking care of family members.

Chronic stress that is associated with caregiving places caregivers at risk for depression.

This is a recent study which shows how yoga meditation can reduce depression and boost mental health.

TheSpec - Caregivers’ mental health may improve with short...

More Help Needed For Families With ASD

Autism has become a major health challenge; it is an autism spectrum disorder(ASD).

There are more children and families that need help says the Center For Disease Control Director.

The number of children beign diagnosed is up; it is estimated that 1:88 children in the US has been identified with the disorder.

The study looked at data from 14 communities and found a 23 % increase since 2009; 11.3% per 1000 eight-year olds have been diagnosed.

According to the report some of the increase is due to the way children are being identified, diagnosed and served within the community.

The results show how important it is that the needs of people with ASD be addressed.

Read more on the report.

Quitters May Not Benefit From Extra Help-Study

Helping a family member or friend to quit smoking is giving for health's sake. People who decide to quit are more successful with help and support form others. Smokers who want to quit may find it difficult to do so without help. There is plenty of help available many of them are free.

There are public health initiatives, self help support, products and even text messaging services. According to a recent study done in the United Kingdom giving extra help may not work and may not be necessary.

Offering free nicotine patches or intensive counseling to smokers calling the English NHS helpline does not help them quit, a study in the BMJ says.
The study involved 2,500 smokers who were followed for over a year.
The participants received one of the following help:
1-The first received support such as NHS Stop Smoking Services advice, letters, emails, text messages and access to a helpline.
2-The second group received the same support plus free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
3- The third group received standard support plus extra counseling sessions and messages from helpline staff.
4-The fourth group received the same proactive support as the third group but with added free nicotine patches.

Click Here to read about the study.

Backpacks Can Cause Childhood Injury

Parents are you aware of, or informed about the health risks of backpacks?

A significant number of school age children carry backpacks too heavy for them.

Parents are being advised to check daily for the number of items in, and the weight of their children's backpacks.

The excess weight can cause permanent damage.

Experts say that backpacks should not exceed 10% of a child's body weight, yet a study has found that 76% of children carry in excess of 10%.

The study involved 1,403 pupils between the ages of 12 an 17 from elevenn schools in Northwestern Spain

Click here to read about the report in more detail.