Heart diseases continue to be one of the leading causes of suffering and death, the world over, both in developing as well as developed nations. People are usually aware about common risk factors for heart diseases, like use of addictive substances (alcohol, tobacco, etc.), high fat diet, physical and mental stress, family history, and more. But there are multiple reasons in workplaces, as well, which directly influence heart health. Since one spends 8 to 10 hours/day, almost 300 days of the year, the amount of exposure to these factors is high.
High levels of exposure to noise, as it is with factory workers, or those in extreme heat or cold, is one of these risk factors, which puts stress on the heart and is known to cause hypertension. Working night shifts continuously for more than a week or so also is stressful. Night shifts are stressful as they not only disturb sleep, but affect digestion, and cognitive functions.
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—people working with machines in garages or fields are also vulnerable to heart problems.
A number of chemicals exist in workplaces that are bad for the heart. Any chemical entering the blood stream comes 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 the workplace, 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., all are 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 the skin or inhaled through the lungs.
One may be a non-smoker, but passive exposure to smoke in workplaces enhances risk of heart diseases. Therefore, it is good that smoking is banned in work/public places by Government of Rwanda.
Fall in temperatures due to use of air conditioners is known to increase risk of hypertension and heart diseases, because cold tends to contract blood vessels. Ordinary fans circulate natural air present in the room, whereas, air conditioners cold the air, by extracting moisture from the natural air, which is not very healthy. Risk is more in rooms with poor ventilation.
Awareness 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 do try to follow. But many are still not aware about the other risk factors.
Realising the health hazards of night shifts, many organisations should try to change the staff posted for the 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 a few minutes. Noise pollution can be reduced by regulating noise of machines or use of earphones 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 Covid-19 pandemic, people have understood the importance of using a 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. in workplaces. 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.