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January / February 2007

The greater risk for CTS among women may be related to their smaller, "square" shaped wrists. Wrists of this size and shape consequently have a narrower carpal tunnel passage. Nine tendons and one nerve run through this tunnel so - the smaller the wrist, the smaller the tunnel, the less room for the nerve and tendons. Any irritation or swelling of the structures in this space can contribute to developing CTS.

It also appears that hormonal changes play a significant role in the incidence of CTS symptoms. Pregnancy, breast feeding, and menopause are times of hormonal changes, all of which can result in soft tissue changes and swelling of the wrists.

Women are also at higher risk for autoimmune disorders (such as rheumatoid arthritis) than men. These disorders are highly linked to CTS.

Occupation

The greater risk for CTS among women may also be related to the types of jobs they commonly perform. Women are often in positions that require highly repetitive use of the arm and hand: assembly line workers, cashiers, data entry clerks, typists, etc. Repetitive motion is considered by many as a significant risk factor for the development of CTS.

Additionally, women typically have extensive responsibilities outside of work that require continued use of their hands. Because of this there is little "down-time" to allow for the structures of the hands to rest and repair from the day's work. This may also contribute to increased incidence of CTS among women.

What Can Be Done?

Obviously, the purpose of this article is NOT to dissuade employers from hiring female workers. Women are irreplaceable in the workplace - for both their skills and their work ethic. Instead, the purpose of this article is to educate employers and employees in those things that CAN be done to minimize the chances of developing CTS. Here are some suggestions:

Keep the wrists straight when working.
Minimize gripping and pinching forces and activities.
Avoid direct pressure over the carpal tunnel.
Avoid forward head, rounded shoulder posture. Instead, tip the head down on an upright neck.
Frequently rotate jobs that require highly repetitive use of the hands.
Allow for frequent stretch breaks for the neck, arm and hand to improve blood flow to the working tissues.
Enforce proper work techniques and stretching programs among workers.
Encourage smoking cessation and weight-loss among workers who are smokers or who are overweight. Both of these factors contribute significantly to the development of CTS.
Encourage early reporting of CTS symptoms among workers and have a program in place to rapidly respond in both a medical and ergonomic manner.

For additional information on how to minimize cumulative trauma disorders such as CTS in the workplace, visit www.cisonsite.com.

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Women and Heart Attacks

If you're a woman, you may not believe you're as vulnerable to a heart attack as men-but you are. Women account for nearly half of all heart attack deaths. Heart disease is the number one killer of both women and men.

There are differences in how women and men respond to a heart attack. Women are less likely than men to believe they're having a heart attack and more likely to delay in seeking emergency treatment.

Further, women tend to be about 10 years older than men when they have a heart attack. They are more likely to have other conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and congestive heart failure-making it all the more vital that they get proper treatment fast.

Women should learn the heart attack warning signs. These are:

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

If you or someone you're with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don't wait longer than a few minutes (no more than 5) before calling for help. Call 9-1-1... Get to a hospital right away.

Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services staff can begin treatment when they arrive -- up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. The staff are also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too.

If you can't access the emergency medical services ( EMS ), have someone drive you to the hospital right away. If you're the one having symptoms, don't drive yourself, unless you have absolutely no other option.

Source: American Heart Association

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Think Safe! Excessive Overtime May Compromise Safety

Many organizations find it easier to ask current employees to work longer hours than it is to higher new employees to meet production demands. However, the costs associated with this decision are often far more than the cost of paying overtime.

Many organizations find it easier to ask current employees to work longer hours than it is to higher new employees to meet production demands. However, the costs associated with this decision are often far more than the cost of paying overtime.

Studies show that as overtime hours go up, so do a company's healthcare and Workers' Compensation costs. According to one study, the average compensation costs for an employee working more than 20% overtime is

double that of an employee working less than 5% of overtime.

Additionally, the average healthcare costs for employees working high rates of overtime is nearly 5 times as high as that of an employee working a low amount of overtime ($10,160 compared to $2,307).

Excessive overtime is associated with decreased alertness, increased fatigue, lower cognitive function, increased injuries, periods of extreme tension and anxiety, gastrointestinal pain or discomfort, chest pain, and absenteeism

Employers need to look at the "Big Picture" when deciding whether to increase staffing levels to meet production demands. They need to take into account how much chronic overtime is costing them in terms of healthcare, Workers' Compensation, and absenteeism. Once they factor in these costs, they may find that hiring additional employees may be the safest and least expensive option.

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