Tag: sleep

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HEALTH AWARENESS DAYS/WEEKS AND FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2023…

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SIGN LANGUAGE WEEK 18th-24th March – SLW is a flagship awareness week for BSL and ISL, celebrated every year in March to commemorate the first time BSL was acknowledged as a language in its own right by the UK Government on 18 March 2003.

The week is organised by the British Deaf Association, which has chosen the theme of ‘Promoting BSL and ISL as indigenous languages of the UK’.

The campaign aims to celebrate and educate about BSL and ISL, to encourage more people to start learning it and preserve BSL and ISL for future generations.

BSL was legally recognised in law by the UK Government on 28th April 2022.

28 April will now be known annually as ‘National BSL Day’.

This year’s theme colour is turquoise, inspired by the Deaf flag.

This summer, members of the World Federation of the Deaf, including the BDA and other National Associations of the Deaf, approved the Deaf flag. The Deaf flag is a powerful symbol for Deaf communities around the world.

Turquoise Blue represents the deaf community and Sign Language, pride and unity.

Yellow represents the colour of light, an enlightened spirit, life and “thriving in unison”.

Dark Blue represents the earth, humanity and living in accordance with the planet. Dark Blue also indicates Deafhood, an individual and collective journey to combat audism and embrace Deaf gain. The concept of Deafhood was introduced by Dr. Paddy Ladd who also established the Blue Ribbon ceremony to commemorate the experiences of Deaf people around the globe. Dark blue is also the colour used by the World Federation of the Deaf.For more details and to order the newsletter head to the Sign Language Week website here.

PROSTRATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH – 1st – 31st March – March the Month for over 11,000 men -March the Month is a virtual step challenge for anyone who wants to keep active and help beat prostate cancer. Join thousands of people, across the nation, committing themselves to walk or wheel 11,000 steps a day throughout March.

You’ll be doing it for more than 11,000 dads, brothers, grandads, partners and mates who die from prostate cancer every year. Sign up to March the Month and help raise lifesaving funds, get active and walk your way.

Join March the Month and help save men’s lives.

OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH – 1st – 31st March – This March Target Ovarian Cancer need you to join them. Are you ready to move, shout and raise money to end late diagnosis of ovarian cancer?

Every March they put ovarian cancer in the spotlight. This March they are speeding things up. Two thirds of women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer too late when the cancer is harder to treat. Every day 11 women die. “We can’t afford to stand still. We’re pressing Fast Forward on early diagnosis and we need you with us.”

Every day in March, we’ll be moving, shouting, raising money, increasing awareness and building a movement across the UK to speed up early diagnosis and stop ovarian cancer devastating lives.

Will you join us? 

We won’t accept that 11 women die every day from ovarian cancer in the UK – and we know that you won’t too. Not when survival rates in other countries are so much higher. And not when we can do something about it right now. 

Together, this Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month we will fast forward early diagnosis…

  • By making sure everyone knows about ovarian cancer and can spot the symptoms 
  • And raising money to support our vital work 

BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK – 11th – 17th  March – Brain Awareness Week is the global campaign to foster public enthusiasm and support for brain science. Every March, participants host imaginative activities in their communities that share the wonders of the brain, and the impact brain science has on our everyday lives. Event organizers include colleges and universities, hospitals, medical research facilities, K-12 schools, advocacy groups, outreach organizations, professional associations, government agencies, corporations, and more.

The Dana Foundation invites your organization to get involved! Organised by the Dana Foundation, Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is an opportunity to let people know about the progress that is being done in brain research as well as progress in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the brain, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, schizophrenia and depression.

Brain Awareness Week provides a wonderful opportunity to place your work in the public spotlight. 

NO SMOKING DAY – 13th March- National No Smoking Day, held every second Wednesday of March. The day is designed as a time to reach out to friends or family members who suffer from nicotine addiction. Research shows the number of people around the world who still smoke cigarettes — and are not actively trying to quit — is severely dwindling.

The stigma surrounding smoking and the dangers of first-hand and second-hand smoke tend to get more severe as time goes on. But on National No Smoking Day, many are encouraged to help others quit.

National No Smoking Day originated in the Republic of Ireland in 1984 on Ash Wednesday, when the ruling clergy determined that cigarettes would be a good thing for people to give up for Lent. Between then and now, the day of the holiday has been shifted to a more predictable second Wednesday of March.

WORLD SLEEP DAY – 15th March – World Sleep Day is an annual celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep, including medicine, education, social aspects and driving. It is organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of World Sleep Society and aims to lessen the burden of sleep problems on society through better prevention and management of sleep disorders. World Sleep Day is held the Friday before Spring Vernal Equinox of each year. Visit the World Sleep Day website to learn more and get involved.

The theme for this World Sleep Day is Sleep Equity for Global Health. Sleep is essential to health, but measurable differences in sleep health persist across populations across the world, creating additional burdens and reinforcing health inequities.

World Sleep Day is an opportunity to promote sleep health alongside thousands of other sleep health professionals and advocates. When we all promote sleep health and #WorldSleepDay together, our combined effort is greater than the sum of its parts. Spread the word about sleep health on World Sleep Day, and help elevate the conversation around sleep!

  • Share #WorldSleepDay online
  • Organize or participate in an awareness activity in your community (and let us know about it!)
  • Interview a credible sleep expert for your World Sleep Day content
  • Write, create, or otherwise connect with your public audience about sleep health

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF HAPPINESS – 30th March – International Day of Happiness is a global event arranged by the United Nations annually on March 30th. It serves to remind us that being happy is a human right and worth celebrating — and if you’re not already happy on this day, the celebrations may change that!

A holiday called International Day of Happiness may sound a bit infantile to the uninitiated. Perhaps you’re imagining children singing ‘If you’re happy and you know it…’ or people gleefully dancing under a smiling sun and rainbows. While you’re not entirely wrong — who doesn’t like a good sing-song session — the truth is there’s much more to this delightful day than just smiles and good vibes.

Everyone has their own definition of happiness, or things that make them happy, which is why there are no traditions set in stone for this day. Happiness is about feeling content and not having to fake your feelings, so whatever makes you happy, you do you! Being internally happy is key to being satisfied with your surroundings, so challenge yourself and be open to new people and experiences. Cherish the little things, and be grateful for everything in that moment.

WORLD ORAL HEALTH DAY – 20th March – This year, they want to inspire change by focusing on the importance of oral health at every stage of life, because no matter what age you are, caring for your mouth and looking after your oral health is important. World Oral Health Day aims to empower people with the knowledge, tools and confidence to secure good oral health.

Oral diseases are a major health concern for many countries and negatively impact people throughout their lives. Oral diseases lead to pain and discomfort, social isolation and loss of self-confidence, and they are often linked to other serious health issues. And yet, there is no reason to suffer: most oral health conditions are largely preventable and can be treated in their early stages.  

FDI relies on individual action worldwide to roll out World Oral Health Day in each country and create a truly global movement. They encourage you to use your local expertize to create awareness and roll-out WOHD in your community. Whatever you decide to do, however big or small, contributes to improving the oral health of populations globally.

Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal 1st-31st March 2024 – About the Great Daffodil Appeal – Right now 1 in 4 people don’t get the care they need at the end of life. With your support, we can help bring end of life care and support to everyone who needs it.

It’s time to get back out there! Collect for the Great Daffodil Appeal and help us make sure that we can be there for more people at the end of their lives, in their homes and in our hospices. You can sign up here.

Superdrug is the headline partner for the Great Daffodil Appeal in 2024. Pop into your local Superdrug in March to pick up your daffodil pin badge, and look out for other ways to donate in store throughout the month.

Since 2013, Superdrug and sister company Savers have raised over £11 million for Marie Curie, helping fund thousands of nursing shifts for people at the end of life.

Say yes to yellow in whatever way works for you. Wear yellow or bake yellow at work, at school, in your community, or even from the comfort of home! Host a banana bread bake-off competition with colleagues. Invite friends round for a yellow-tastic quiz night. Organise a yellow-themed dress down day at school. The options are endless!

However you choose to Go Yellow – you’ll be helping us ensure everyone gets expert care and support, right to the end. Head to the website to get involved.

Source: Fens National Today World Sleep Day National Today World Oral Health Day Prostate Cancer UK Target Ovarian Cancer Sign Language Week Marie Curie

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SIMPLE TIPS FOR STAYING HYDRATED…

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Summer is a lovely time of the year but it also comes with heat. This heat can often get so intense that you find yourself feeling seriously out of sorts. This is the period of the year when doctors report that they register the highest cases of dehydration.

It is therefore important that everyone, especially parents, take extra care to stay hydrated and ensure that children and pets are also properly hydrated.

To give you an idea of why it is important to do everything within your power to avoid an occurrence of dehydration, we will take some time to look at some of its side effects in the body.

There are a lot of reasons why you must ensure your body never gets dehydrated. In this article here, we see that a person’s brain can be adversely affected by just two hours of dehydration. Let’s take a step back and ask this important question – what exactly is dehydration?

What is Dehydration?

This condition simply refers to a situation where a person is losing more fluids than they are taking in. These fluids can be lost in a variety of ways including sweating, urinating and other natural means of excretion. Water could also be lost as a result of diarrhea. As these fluids are removed from the body, it is expected that they are replaced immediately as they are required to carry out some important body functions.

Just in case you are not aware of the important functions that water performs in the body, they include: regulating body temperature, helping in the production of saliva, helping remove waste from the body, helping in the lubrication of the joints, spine and other parts, helping in the digestion process as well as absorption of nutrients and also helping in the circulation of oxygen around the body. We could go on.

From the list above, you can clearly see how important is. It is therefore because of these important roles it plays in the body that the following symptoms occur when it is in short supply:

• Dryness of the mouth

• Weakness of the muscles

• Lethargy

• Headache

• Lightheadedness and dizziness

In severe cases, it can result in:

• Delirium

• Low blood pressure

• Sunken eyes

• Increased heart rate

• Unconsciousness

It does not take days for this to occur. We already showed above that some of the symptoms listed above can begin to occur in as little as 2 hours. This is especially possible during these periods of intense heat.

It is also very important to know that the condition can be worse for children and the elderly. Extra care therefore needs to be taken to ensure that these ones are constantly and adequately hydrated.

Simples Tips for Staying Hydrated…

To ensure you and yours constantly stay hydrated, here are a few tips you can implement.

Position Hydration Stations Around the House…

This is a good way of ensuring safe drinking water is within easy reach. You can easily set these up with pitchers with filter. These pitchers are actually very affordable so you can place them in different spots in your home. You can actually get some of the best water filter pitchers for less than $100. Some can even go as low as $30 or less so you can really have them spread all over the house for easy and convenient access.

Install a Hydration Reminder App…

Thankfully, technology can also help especially for those who forget to drink water or don’t know when they should drink water. There are apps than can remind you to drink some water at regular intervals. This will serve to ensure you constantly reach for a glass of water.

Take Lots of Fruits and Vegetables…

Aside from water, you can also stay hydrated with lots of fruits and vegetables. You don’t just need clean and clear water. There are essential minerals that you also need and these are contained in fruits and vegetables. You can also supplement with juices – both fruit and vegetable juice.

During and After Exercising Take Orange Juice Diluted with Water…

If you are going to be working out during these hot days, it is important that you don’t just stay hydrated but also replenish important nutrients like proteins and carbohydrates, not also forgetting the electrolytes that you will have lost from sweating.

Another important thing to note if you are working out is that you are likely to lose more weight via sweating this period. You should always try to replenish lost weight by drinking sufficient amounts of liquids. This can be water or any suitable sports drink.

Conclusion…

Dehydration can be very dangerous as we have seen above. The tips we have shared above will help you and those around you stay properly hydrated and avoid any issues with dehydration.

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IT’S SLEEP SUNDAY – LET’S TALK ABOUT BEAUTY SLEEP AND WHAT WE NEED…

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Studies show that poor sleep can result in poor cardiovascular health, particularly for women, and that circadian rhythm disruption could be an understudied risk factor in heart health.

One minute they are telling us that we need a full night’s sleep to function correctly and even that sleeping may help you to lose some weight! Now, researchers are careful to note however that oversleeping has been linked to a host of medical problems, including diabetes and heart disease.

So, how much sleep should we have? Well, the amount of sleep varies significantly over the course of our lifetime. It depends on your age and activity level as well as your general health and lifestyle habits.

They say that sometimes circumstances mean we need more sleep, for instance during times of stress or illness. However, the typically recommended amount of sleep for adults should be between seven and nine hours each night.

When we’re sleeping, our brains are actively working to process the information from the day into our long-term and short-term memory. Good sleep not only helps our bodies and minds to rest and repair, but it also allows us to perform better too.

The Paper Gown writes about Beauty Sleep and says that the term “beauty sleep” typically describes an extra hour or two of sleep in the evening that helps you look and feel your best in the morning. However, it goes beyond that. Adequate rest is essential for physical and mental well-being. It helps manage stress, reduce inflammation in the body, improve concentration and focus at work or school, and even boost mood. 

With a global problem of insufficient sleep, there are serious public health implications to address. Studies paint a worrying picture; an estimated 50 to 70 million adults in the U.S. suffer from sleep disturbances or illnesses such as insomnia and sleep apnea.

Do you ever find yourself stuck in a vicious cycle? Pain makes it difficult to sleep, but sleep deprivation means the body cannot repair itself – making the pain worse. Healthline points out that people with chronic pain don’t necessarily see improvements in sleep once their pain is resolved.

In fact, the pain often only continues to worsen until sleep is addressed. This may be related to the fact that some people with chronic pain may battle anxiety which in turn may cause stress chemicals such as adrenaline and cortisol to flood their systems. Over time, anxiety creates overstimulation of the nervous system, which makes it difficult to sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation points out that sixty-five per cent of those with no pain reported good or exceptionally good sleep quality, while only 45 per cent of those with acute pain and 37 per cent of those with chronic pain did the same. Additionally, 23 per cent of those with chronic pain reported higher stress levels, compared with 7 per cent of those without pain.

Those with acute or chronic pain are more likely to have sleep problems impact their daily lives. Among people who’ve had sleep difficulties in the past week, more than half of those with chronic pain say those difficulties interfered with their work. That drops to 23 per cent of those without pain. People with pain are also far more apt than others to report that lack of sleep interferes with their mood, activities, relationships, and enjoyment of life overall.

People with pain also feel less control over their sleep, worry more about lack of sleep affecting their health and exhibit greater sleep sensitivity. They’re more likely than others to say environmental factors make it more difficult for them to get a good night’s sleep. These factors include noise, light, temperature, and their mattresses alike, suggesting that taking greater care of the bedroom environment may be particularly helpful to pain sufferers.

While both chronic and acute pain is related to lost sleep, the survey indicates that chronic pain is an especially powerful problem. Indeed, one in four people with chronic pain, 23 per cent, say they’ve been diagnosed with a sleep disorder by a doctor, compared with just 6 per cent of all others.

Sleep station comment that It’s a never-ending battle and a vicious circle between sleep disturbance and pain. In some there may be an element of chicken and egg – is the pain-causing sleep problems or is the mediocre quality of your sleep making your pain feel worse? Pain can, for example, be the main reason that you wake in the night, and these interruptions during the night can lead you to get less sleep, and most important of all, less excellent quality restorative sleep. This sleep deprivation can lower your pain threshold and your tolerance for pain and thus can make your pain feel worse.

Source: ZocDoc Healthline, The National Sleep Foundation Sleep Station

Source: ZocDoc