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Slide 1: A WORKER’S GUIDE TO S T R E S S R E L AT E D INJURIES (HEART ATTACKS FROM WORK) Anapol Schwartz | Attorneys at Law 866-735-2792 WWW.ANAPOLSCHWARTZ.COM NATHANIEL EHRLICH, ESQ. NEHRLICH@ANAPOLSCHWARTZ.COM 1710 SPRUCE S TREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 DISCLAIMER: This document is dedicated to providing public information regarding stress, how to recognize it; how to reduce it, how it make affect you in regard to heart attacks at work. None of the information in this document is intended to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney client relationship. Please contact a Pennsylvania workers compensation lawyer at our law firm for information regarding your particular case. This document is not intended to solicit clients outside the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Please use this information to help in your conversation with you doctor. This is general background information and should not be followed as medical advice. Please consult your doctor regarding all medical questions and for all medical treatment.
Slide 2: Anapol Schwartz | Attorneys at Law LINKS TO CONTENTS: Work-related stress What is stress? What is Type A personality? What is Type B personality? Tests, Recognizing Stress, and Tips to Reduce Stress Test - Are you a Type A or Type B personality? Test – How stressed are you? Recognizing stress – How-to 13 tips to reduce stress 5 simple tips to reduce stress at work Internet Resources Legal Resources Do I have a workers comp heart attack case? WORK-RELATED STRESS IS ONE OF SEVERAL FACTORS THAT CAN INCREASE YOUR RISK OF HEART ATTACK. Conflict at work, more work, more work with impossible pending deadlines, demotion, inadequate employee approval rating, maniacal boss or supervisor, loss of income, layoffs – are all triggers that may cause stress-related injuries including heart attacks. What is stress? Stress is your body’s response to the demands made on it. A surge of adrenaline caused by severe emotional stress causes the blood to clot more readily therefore increasing the risks of heart attacks. People who have little control over their own workplace destiny (clerks and secretaries and other subordinates) fared far worse than their bosses who have both control and power, even maniacal power. The loss of control appears to cause severe emotional stress. For firefighters, the extremes of fighting a fire, risking your life under dangerous and unstable conditions wearing balky protective clothing in a hot and toxic smoke-filled space has been known to be a leading cause of heart attacks at work in the fire station. Firefighters battle psychological stress when fighting fires. Actually, quite a bit of evidence suggests that it may be the individual and not the stress itself that is the problem. People with Type A personalities are at higher risk for coronary artery disease than people with Type B personalities. Given the same stressful situation, some people will respond with frustration and anger from the rush of adrenaline and the fight-or-flight mode while others will just roll with the punches. A Worker’s Guide to Stress Related Injuries by Anapol Schwartz Law Firm. © 2007 All Rights Reserved. Read more information online at http://www.anapolschwartz.com. page 2 of 7
Slide 3: Anapol Schwartz | Attorneys at Law WHAT IS TYPE A PERSONALITY? If you are impatient, feel a chronic sense of urgency, have a tendency toward hostility (even kicking the cat or breaking dishes), are extremely competitive, and always feel constricted by time – you are a Type A personality. WHAT IS TYPE B PERSONALITY? If you can so not relate to Type A personalities you’re most likely a Type B personality. You view the world and your surroundings through patience, non-competitive behavior, and take each day as it comes with your low-key disposition. You are considered laidback. People can also be a combination of Type A and Type B personalities. Type A personality generally refers to hard workers who are often preoccupied with schedules and the speed of their performance. Type B personalities may be more creative, imaginative, and philosophical. STRESS TESTS Are you a Type A or Type B? Take the test - TypeA-B The test is geared for students but anyone can relate the questions to their own life. TESTS, RECOGNIZING STRESS, AND TIPS TO REDUCE STRESS Recognizing Stress – How-to The results of continuing stress may cause disruption in one or more of the following areas of health: physical, emotional, spiritual and/or social. The following are stress indicators: General irritability, Elevated heart rate Increased blood pressure, Increased accident proneness, Feeling anxious for no specific reason, Trembling, Insomnia, Headaches, Indigestion, Pain in neck and/or lower back, Changes in appetite or sleep pattern. Stress is a process that builds. It's more effective to intervene and reduce stress rather than later. Try to become aware of the signs that suggest the process has begun. How stressed are you? Take the test - lessons4living/stress This test is not meant to replace a clinical assessment but to help you judge how you are doing stress-wise. If you’re stressed, you may want to seek help for this problem. A Worker’s Guide to Stress Related Injuries by Anapol Schwartz Law Firm. © 2007 All Rights Reserved. Read more information online at http://www.anapolschwartz.com. page 3 of 7
Slide 4: Anapol Schwartz | Attorneys at Law TIPS TO REDUCE STRESS √ Recognize what is causing you stress. √ Think about your life and lifestyle then prioritize what is most important to you. √ Practice relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing, or massage. √ Exercise regularly for a minimum of 15 to 30 minutes of exercise a day to help you stay relaxed. √ Develop time management skills to better organize your day. √ Know your limitations and don’t take on more than you can reasonably handle. √ Avoid conflict. Try to live by win-win situations. √ Watch your diet. Eat a stress busting diet with a healthy balance of fruits, vegetables, grains, and foods high in protein and low in fat. √ Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol as coping mechanisms. √ Get plenty of rest and sleep. Take naps. √ Talk with friends, family and/or therapists about your feelings and what bothers you. Be open to changing your thoughts about how you feel about someone or something. √ Take a break: Read a book, listen to music, take a walk, play with your pet, or go on a relaxing vacation. √ Laugh, have fun, go to a comedic movie with your friends, be with people, and do the things you enjoy. Find a new hobby that captures your creativity. HOW TO CONTACT US Internet: www.anapolschwartz.com 866-735-2792 Email: Mail: Toll Free: Nathaniel Ehrlich, Esq. nehrlich@anapolschwartz.com 1710 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 A Worker’s Guide to Stress Related Injuries by Anapol Schwartz Law Firm. © 2007 All Rights Reserved. Read more information online at http://www.anapolschwartz.com. page 4 of 7
Slide 5: Anapol Schwartz | Attorneys at Law 5 SIMPLE TIPS FOR REDUCING STRESS AT YOUR DESK 1. Stand up and stretch. Rotate your neck, flex your back, and stretch your legs and arms. This will take just a few seconds and you will feel better. 2. Practice deep breathing. Inhale through the nose, slowly and deeply, to a count of 10. Expand your abdomen before allowing air to fill your lungs. Then, exhale through the nose, slowly, also to a count of 10. Repeat 5-10 times. Try this several times throughout the day and whenever you feel tense. 3. Dismiss negative talk and think positive. Enough with the negative talk already. Positive self talk works. Instead of telling yourself, “I don’t have to put up with this crap!” Filter it with, “I can do this.” 4. Look out the window. Walk over to a window for just a couple of minutes. People who work near a window or have access to a window have 23 percent fewer complaints of stress-related illnesses such as headache, back pain, and exhaustion. 5. Laugh. Humor is a wonderful antidote for stress. A good laugh can reduce muscle tension for up to 45 minutes. Have some short funny stories or cartoons in your desk and glance at them when you are feeling stressed. Even a soft chuckle will break the stressful tension. INTERNET RESOURCES Got deadlines? Got stress? You may have a heart attack on the job www.webmd.com. Tight deadlines, increased competition, and heavy workload are just some of the reasons why hard working employees are experiencing heart attacks on the job. Mayo Clinic: Tools for a healthier life health & relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques can reduce negative responses to stress and help you to enjoy a better quality of life. University of Maryland Medical Center: Relaxation Techniques. What are relaxation techniques? What are the different types of techniques and how do they work? Free newsletter for Emotional Freedom Techniques Work & Stress Download. Newsletter filled with inspiration, humor, and success stories. (Not responsible for the content presented) Women + Stress + Heart Attacks by the American Heart Association. Article geared to health professionals, on how stress and other factors affect heart disease, A Worker’s Guide to Stress Related Injuries by Anapol Schwartz Law Firm. © 2007 All Rights Reserved. Read more information online at http://www.anapolschwartz.com. page 5 of 7
Slide 6: Anapol Schwartz | Attorneys at Law LEGAL RESOURCES Do you have a workers comp case caused from a work related, stress-induced heart attack? It is important to get legal advice immediately after the heart attack. Workers' compensation law is a maze of confusion for the inexperienced. Be sure that the lawyer you choose is one who is very familiar with workers compensation law. Workers compensation is an oxymoron. The compensation a worker receives will not always be in their best interest. There are time limits involved in calling a lawyer. These are called statutes of limitations. If you wait too long, you lose your rights. No matter what your employer tells you or the human resources office or your employer’s insurance company says – you should still talk to a workers comp lawyer. You choose the lawyer – they are not tied to your employer. Now that’s fair. HOW TO CONTACT US Internet: www.anapolschwartz.com 866-735-2792 Nathaniel Ehrlich, Esq. nehrlich@anapolschwartz.com 1710 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Toll Free: Email: Mail: CONTACT A LAWYER / FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION Contact the Anapol Schwartz law firm about your possible lawsuit. Answer some quick questions and we can determine what your legal options are and you can determine if we’re the right law firm for you. Please start with our no-obligation consultation. If you have questions, please call us toll-free at 1-866-735-2792. Thank you. A Worker’s Guide to Stress Related Injuries by Anapol Schwartz Law Firm. © 2007 All Rights Reserved. Read more information online at http://www.anapolschwartz.com. page 6 of 7
Slide 7: Anapol Schwartz | Attorneys at Law 866-735-2792 WWW.ANAPOLSCHWARTZ.COM NATHANIEL EHRLICH, ESQ. NEHRLICH@ANAPOLSCHWARTZ.COM 1710 SPRUCE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103