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21 | Friday, July 18, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com 17 · Thursday, October 20, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Advertising Section Tips to help you cope with stress at work Extra work k load l d takes k its toll ll on the h mental l health h l h of f employees l The workers of the world are working more. So says an annual study of employee benefit trends from MetLife. In 2010, 40 percent of employees admitted their workload had increased compared with the previous year. While there are many reasons that can account for a heavier workload at the office, heavy layoffs in countries across the globe has, in many instances, left those who weren't laid off with extra work. And companies might be surprised to know just how much this approach isn't working. TheMetLife study also found that 68 percent of employees surveyed reported that the quality of their work had suffered and that fear of losing their jobs played a significant role in how well they did their jobs. · Manage time effectively. One of the problems with an increased workload is the time in the day to complete that work does not simultaneously increase. This reality makes it easy to become overwhelmed with stress. But a few time management techniques can help. Prioritize certain tasks, ensuring projects that are time-sensitive get done ahead of f those that aren't. When setting a schedule for work, be realistic. If a schedule isn't realistic, that will only cause more stress. Good stress and bad stress While employees might not be able to quell their fears of one day being laid off, there are things they can do to reduce the stress that often accompanies such fears. Stress is a part of most professions and can even be a good motivator. However, when stress is prolonged or excessive, the results can be very unhealthy. Men and women with high stress levels are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and cardiovascular disease. When faced with prolonged or excessive stress at the office, men and women can take the following approaches to avoid succumbing to stress. The good news is that with treatment, survival rates range from 71-93 per cent, even for patients with the more severe forms of thyroid cancer. The bad news is that treatment can be challenging for many patients, especially when they are unaware of their treatment options. Thyroid cancer is commonly treated with surgery to remove the thyroid. Patients must then use thyroid hormone therapy and be carefully monitored to make sure the cancer does not return. In the past, patients had to stop taking thyroid hormone while they were treated with radioactive iodine to remove any remaining thyroid tissue after surgery. Patients also had to stop taking thyroid hormone for several weeks when they were tested to see if their cancer had returned. When patients stop thyroid hormone therapy they are at increased risk of developing hypothyroidism, which can cause symptoms ranging from fatigue and weight gain to mental health and heart problems. "When I had to stop taking my thyroid hormone I felt extremely tired and depressed. It was difficult to sleep and work, and I found I could barely get through each day," said thyroid cancer patient Heather Dacey. Drug therapy is available to make it possible for patients to continue their thyroid hormone therapy when they need treatment with radioactive iodine or when they are tested to see if their thyroid cancer has Heavier workloads have left many workers dealing with elevated levels of stress. * Determine what is causing the stress. Stress triggers vary depending on the individual, so men and women who are coping with excessive stress should write down anything that causes them a negative response, whether that response is physical, emotional or mental. After a week, sit down and look at the various things that triggered these negative responses. Choose one and work to resolve it. Determine if there is a way this trigger can be avoided. Do this with each trigger one by one. It might not be possible to successfully address each trigger, but it's worth the try and it is likely that certain triggers can be successfully avoided. Understanding the treatment options for thyroid cancer · Maintain a personal life. Effectively managing stress at work involves having a personal life away from the office. All work and no play is a recipe for stress. No matter how big a workload awaits you at the office, be sure to make time for enjoyable activities away from work. Spend time with friends and family, plan a weekend getaway or simply relax at home. Such time, even if it's not as often as you might like, makes dealing with stress at the office that much easier to handle. · Remain physically active. Exercise is a great remedy for stress. In fact, the American Psychological Association notes that studies have suggested physically active people have lower rates of anxiety and depression than sedentary people. While research is ongoing, some researchers feel exercise enhances the body's ability to respond to stress. In addition, exercise seems to give the body practice at dealing with stress. While exercising, the body's physiological systems are forced to communicate with one another. These same systems must also communicate with one another when responding to stress. Regular exercise helps the body communicate more efficiently, something that helps when the time comes to respond to stress. Stress at the office is likely always going to be a concern for working men and women. However, there are ways to effectively cope with stress no matter how daunting a workload might be. (MNS) 20 010 Gold Aw ward Winne er Oa akv kville e Be Beaver eaver Oakville Dental Arts recurred in the future. This can help to reduce the risk of hypothyroidism. "The rate of recurrence for thyroid cancer can be up to 30%, and recurrences can occur even decades after the initial diagnosis, so it is very important for patients to be tested regularly. Fortunately, we are able to help patients undergo these essential tests without having to stop their treatment with thyroid hormone therapy. All patients should talk to their doctor about the risk of hypothyroidism and how to avoid it," said Jennifer Sipos, MD. If you or someone you know is living with thyroid cancer, be sure to talk to your doctor about all of your treatment options. Visit www.haveyouhadyourneckchecked.com to learn more. (BPT) EVERY HEART HAS A STORY TO TELL. THANKS TO YOU IT CAN BE TOLD. At Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, talented physicians like Dr. Michael Heffernan help care for patients with heart problems every day. Their expertise plus the life-saving equipment you help fund make it possible for remarkable stories to continue. Each and every year, our hospital needs hundreds of pieces of new equipment that will improve the lives of all of us here in Oakville. Every piece is critical and every piece needs to be funded by our community. It all starts here ­ with your help. Please call 905.338.4642 to share your story or make a donation. www.oakvillehospitalfoundation.com DR. MICHAEL HEFFERNAN OTMH CARDIOLOGIST