World Heart Day, falls on September 29, a day set by World Health Organisation to create awareness about heart diseases and how to prevent them.

Cardiovascular diseases continue to be one of the leading causes of deaths, world over, both in developing, as well as developed nations. People are usually aware of common risk factors for heart diseases like use of addictive substances (alcohol, tobacco, etc), high fat diet, physical and mental stress, family history, among others. But multiple factors exist in work places, as well, which directly influence heart health. Since one spends eight to 10 hours per day, almost over 300 days of the year, the amount of exposure to these factors is high.

Working in extreme heat or cold, is one of these risk factors, which puts stress on the heart and is known to cause hypertension. Working in night shifts continuously for more than a week or so also, is stressful.

Night shifts, not only disturb sleep, but affect digestion, cognitive functions as well and is stressful. Sitting for long hours continuously, affects return of blood to the heart, makes circulation sluggish, the persistent inactivity leads to accumulation of toxins, hence enhances risk of heart diseases.

High levels of exposure to noise, as with factory workers or those working with machines in garages or fields, are also vulnerable to develop heart problems.

A number of chemicals exist in work places that are bad for the heart. Any chemical entering the blood stream, does come in contact with the heart, because the heart processes and regulates the entire volume and flow of blood in the body. It has been proven by studies, that exposure to certain chemicals, in work place, correlates with heart diseases, hypertension, and strokes. Solvents like paints, chemicals used for colouring, to remove paints, polish, cleaning, removing ink stains and grease, etc, are all harmful. Dioxides, furans, phthalates carbon di sulphides, are examples of such harmful chemicals. Any one or more of these chemicals can enter the body, either through direct contact with skin or inhaled through lungs.

One may be a non-smoker, but passive exposure to smoke in work places, enhances risk of heart diseases. Therefore, it is good that smoking is banned in work places by the Government of Rwanda.

Fall in temperatures, due to use of air conditioners, is known to increase risk of hypertension and heart diseases, because coldness tends to contract blood vessels. Ordinary fans, circulate natural air present in the room, whereas, air conditioners circulate cold air, by extracting moisture from the natural air, which is not very healthy. Rooms with poor ventilation are riskier.

Awareness about these health hazards, would be the first step in initiating preventive measures to reduce these health hazards. Of course, avoidance of addictive substances, physical and mental relaxation, healthy eating, regular physical exercise, are preventive measures, which people are aware of and try to follow. But many are still not aware about these other risk factors.

Realising the health hazards of night shifts, many organisations try to alternate staff posted in night shift, frequently. One should avoid sitting continuously for a long time. After an hour or so, one should get up and move around for few minutes. Noise pollution can be reduced by regulating noise of machines or use of ear phones by staff.

Those working with chemicals, should take adequate preventive measures to avoid direct contact with these chemicals, like use of face masks and hand gloves. Post-Covid19 pandemic, people have understood the importance of using face mask to prevent infection. It can also be used to prevent potential exposure to toxins generated by paints or other hazardous chemicals, harmful fumes, dust, etc, as well as in work places. Frequent hand washing is equally important here, as it removes any accumulation of toxic chemicals on hands.

Dr. Rachna Pande is a specialist in internal medicine.

rachna212002@yahoo.co.uk