Work-related stress is the biggest occupational health problem in the EU after back pain. Workplace stress affects almost one in three (28 per cent) workers in the EU's 15 member-states and lack of control at work is one of the most common causes.
Working on stress
The theme of this year's European Health and Safety Week, which begins today, is Working on Stress. Seminars and workshops will be held throughout the following weeks. Contact the Irish Health and Safety Authority on 01-6147095 for more details. See www.has.ie for a new series of factsheets on stress, violence and bullying.
Teenage smokers and breast cancer
A Canadian study has highlighted the varying effects of smoking on the risk of breast cancer. Adolescent women who smoke could be at an increased risk of breast cancer later in life compared with non-smokers. The study, reported in Lancet, compared women with and without breast cancer in terms of their history of smoking and risk factors known to be associated with breast cancer. It found that women who started smoking within five years of the onset of menstruation were around 1.7 times more likely to develop breast cancer than non-smokers.
Female hormones
Sherrill Sellman, advocate of alternative approaches to dealing with female hormonal problems, is giving a series of talks in Northern Ireland and the Republic next week. Starting in Belfast on Monday at 7 p.m. in the main building of Stranmillis University (tel: 048-91463011, £7), Sellman will also give talks in Galway on October 23rd at 7 p.m. in AC201, Arts Concourse Building, NUI Galway (tel: 091-596102), in Dublin on October 24th at 7 p.m. in Griffith College, South Circular Road (tel: 01 2353094) and in Cork on October 25th in UCC (tel: 022-28977). Admission: €10. See www.naturopathy-uk.com for details.
Age and opportunity
The second edition of Opportunities in Retirement, the resource guide to retirement has just been published. With more than 260 entries, the guide gives details of voluntary work opportunities, book clubs, physical activities and sports centres, libraries, older people's organisations and helplines. Published by Age and Opportunity, it is available free from the Marino Institute, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. Tel: 01-8057709. E-mail: ageandop@mie.ie
Compiled by Muiris Houston and Sylvia Thompson
lifelines@irish-times.ie