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HEALTHY

LIFESTYLES

A newsletter dedicated to strengtheningpositive attitude, action, and knowledgeof health awareness.

MAY | 2010

snap decisions, indifference and apath

lack of motivation or creativity are all b

products of an over stressed workplac

In many cases, the stressor cannot be changed

immediately. Finding ways to help maintain good

mental health is essential and there are many wa

to be proactive in dealing with stress. The followin

are suggested by the Canadian Mental Health

Association:

•  Laughing is one of the easiest ways to redustress. Watch a funny movie with friends an

try to see the humour in a situation.

•  Learn to relax, take several deep breaths

throughout the day, or have regular stretch

breaks.

•  Take charge of your situation by taking 10

minutes at the beginning of each day to

prioritize and organize your day.

The word “stress” has earned a bad reputation.

Phrases such as “I’m stressed out” have contributed

to its misunderstanding. Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical

Dictionary defines stress as the result produced when 

a structure, system or organism is acted upon by 

forces that disrupt equilibrium or produce strain.

The biological response to stress is a normal part of

everyday living. But when stress occurs in amounts

that you cannot handle or is overwhelming, it

becomes a concern. Workplace stress develops when

there is a conflict between job demands and theamount of control an employee has over meeting

those demands. It can occur from one single event or

have many origins. As stated by the Canadian Mental

Health Association:

Fear of job redundancy, layoffs due to an

uncertain economy, increased demands for

overtime due to staff cutbacks act as

negative stressors. Absenteeism, illness,

alcoholism, “petty internal politics,” bad or

tressIn the

Workplace

RUMORS

RUMORS CAN DAMAGE

THE WORKPLACE. FIND

OUT WHY.

PAGE 3

DIET FADS: THE TRUTH

DISCOVER WHY THEY

DON’T WORK.

PAGE 3

VITAMIN D

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT

THIS IMPORTANT VITAMIN.

PAGE 3

ORAL HEALTH

WHY ORAL HEALTH PLAYS

A ROLE IN OVERALL

HEALTH.

PAGE 2

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Need more information? Contact Employee Assistance Program at 1268-5211 or for more information

www.workhealthlife.com  

Adapted with permission from The Balancing Act (Sh

ORAL

HEALTH & YOU

MOST OF US UNDERSTAND HOW VITAL DIET AND

EXERCISE CAN BE TO OUR HEALTH, BUT THE

IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY GUMS AND TEETH ARE

OFTEN NOT GIVEN THE ATTENTION THEY DESERVE.

“75 per cent ofadults suffer from

some form of

gum disease.”

diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, heart dis

AIDS and leukemia. In patients with osteopo

the teeth can actually be the first part of the bo

show bone

Practicing good oral hygiene not only benefits

teeth but it will have a positive impact on your

as a w

Diabetes. If you have diabetes you’re

increased risk for gum disease, tooth

dry mouth and other infections. Plus

oral health can make your diabetes har

manage by increasing infections as w

raising your blood sugar and your b

demand for insulin, making oral health c

in controlling diab

Pregnancy complications. Gum dise

linked to premature births and low-

weight infants, highlighting the importan

excellent oral health before and d

pregn

The mouth is sometimes referred to

“mirror” to the body. Your oral tiss

very responsive and often rea

problems taking place elsewhere w

your body. Many diseases can ac

be diagnosed in the early stages thr

a routine dental exam or x-rays. Sw

gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth etc

be symptoms of other problem

to blood clots, blocked arteries and inflammation

of the heart and vessels.

Respiratory problems. Bacteria growing in your

mouth can travel to your lungs causing infections

like pneumonia or aggravate existing problems.

Why is oral health so important? There are

billions of bacteria floating around in our mouths

and good oral care typically keeps this in check.

But when harmful bacteria grow out of control,

research shows they can move through your

bloodstream and reach other parts of your body.

This can be quite worrisome, with as many as 75

per cent of adults suffering from some form of

gum disease.

The connection between mouth woes and other

health problems is real. While the jury may be

undecided on why and how big the correlation is,

oor oral hygiene is linked to:p 

Cardiovascular disease. If you

needed another reason to pick up

the dental floss, consider your

heart! While the why is still unclear,

tooth plaque is linked to plaque

found on the arteries of the heart.

It’s also been proven that bacteria

in the blood stream is connected

The mouth is truly a gateway to the body

and there is a strong connection between

oral health and overall well being. By

understanding the connection and taking afew simple steps to keep your pearly

whites sparkling, you’ll help your whole

body stay smiling.

10 Tips for

Mental Health

Build confidence. Identify your

ability and weaknesses together,

accept them build on them and do the

best with what you have.

Eat right, keep fit. A balanced diet,

exercise and rest can help you to

reduce stress and enjoy life.

Make time for family and friends. 

These relationships need to be

nurtured; if taken for granted theywill not be there to share life’s joys

and sorrows.

Give and accept support. Friends

and family relationships thrive when

they are “put to the test.”

Volunteer. Being involved in the

community gives a sense of purpose

and satisfaction that paid work 

cannot.

Manage stress. We all have stressors

in our lives but learning how to deal

with them when they threaten to

overwhelm us will maintain our

mental health.

Create a meaningful budget. 

Financial problems cause stress.

Over-spending on our “wants”

instead “needs” is often the culprit.

Find strength in numbers. Sharing a

problem with others who have had

similar experiences may help you

find a solution and will make you feel

less isolated.

Identify and deal with moods. We

all need to find safe and constructive

ways to express our feelings of anger,

sadness, joy and fear.

.  Learn to be at peace with yourself. 

Get to know who you are, what

makes you really happy, and learn to

balance what you can and cannot

change about yourself.

om: Canadian Mental Health

ssociation – National Office.

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 Vitamin D

Did You Know? Leptin, an appetite

suppressing hormone, controls hunger by acting on

the neural circuitry of the brain. Scientists have

discovered mice without the hormone are morbidly

obese compared to mice with the hormone.

Researchers believe this effect may help to

understand human obesity.

Rumors

Rumors can be the most damag

form of communication that we

encounter. In the staff room,

personal lives become hot topics

debate, and they can quickly ga

life of their own. Most of us have

engaged in gossip at one time o

another without realizing the

consequence.

Rumors about someone or the

organization can ruin the morale

poison the environment. The mo

damaging rumors seem to be tho

related to workplace politics and

governance.

So how do you avoid rumors? It

very easy to get drawn into the

gossip circle and often difficult to

resist. But before you choose to

engage, step back and ask your

•  Is what I am about to say o

listen to absolutely true?

•  Is it harmless or necessary

•  How would I feel if my word

are quoted by someone?

•  How am I going to feel if I l

to this and believe it?

•  Does engaging in this

conversation honour my ow

personal values or benefit

in some way?

You’ve told yourself dozens of

times that tomorrow you are

going to start exercising. Yet,

tomorrow has come and gone.

What’s holding you back?

Diet fads are about as common as reality shows. Whether the Atkins, South Beach, the Zone or other protein-

packed eating regimens, dieters are dropping pounds while eating rich low-carb foods such as butter, steak,

and pepperoni pizza (without the crust). Yet, many people are starting to rethink these dieting extremes simply

because they are not sustainable. Let’s be honest, eating a hamburger patty and a bowl of lettuce night after

night is not appealing. The truth is that fad diets don’t work to help you lose weight and keep it off . Sure they

can help you to lose weight initially, but they are not designed as part of a long term healthy lifestyle. If fad

diets really worked, we would all be on it and stay on it.

So what does work? Eating fewer calories than you burn off. That’s it, plain and simple. Calories really do

count, contrary to what you may have read in a magazine. If you really want to trim down, the most effective

way of doing so is to eat a variety of healthy foods, exercise 60 minutes every day and stop super-sizing your

meals.

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in

calcium absorption, reducing

the risk of osteoporosis and

certain types of cancers. We

absorb vitamin D3 through UV

(ultraviolet) light from the sun

and various dairy products. Eat

up and enjoy the sunshine!

EAT HEALTHY!

DIET FADS:THE TRUTH

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• EDUCATION PROGRAMS

• HEALTH INTERVENTIONS

• MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

• EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PLAN

The Vancouver Board of Education  recognizesthat employee health is strengthened by positiveattitude, action, and knowledge. It is our intent thatthese offerings will assist you on your path to ahealthy lifestyle.

YOUR PATHTO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

VANCOUVER BOARD OF EDUCATION

promoting health awareness for employees 

KABIR BHAGARIAEMPLOYEE SUPPORT ADVISORHUMAN RESOURCESPH - 604-713-5926

1580 WEST BROADWAY | VANCOUVER, BC V6J 5K8