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Does Your Occupation Fit Your Personality?

SavvySugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:45:04 -0800

Chances are you’ve taken a personality test at some point in your life - a Myers-Briggs for fun, a Caliper or other employment test for a new job - but have you ever thought about how the results might impact your career choices?

Nancy Ancowitz, author of Self-Promotion For Introverts, recently wrote an article in the New York Times about how her introverted personality affected her career path. Ancowitz had always assumed her need to work alone and her aversion to large meetings were character flaws. But once she realized they were just aspects of her personality, she was able to make them work to her advantage and find a career that better suited her.

I definitely consider myself an introvert. I love being around people and I can turn on my social side when I need to, but I really do my best work and feel the most recharged when I’m alone. My job, happily, strikes the perfect balance for me. How about you? Does your role at work mesh with your personality? If you’re curious as to what your personality type is, check out this simplified Myers-Briggs test.

Photo courtesy of NBC

Kirsten Dunst Opens Up About All the Good Things

PopSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Kirsten Dunst got back to nature for the cover of December's Allure. She's out and about discussing her upcoming film with Ryan Gosling, All Good Things, which we caught a lot of them filming last year in NYC. Kirsten sat down to chat about her occupation, her thoughts on Twilight after starring in Interview With the Vampire, and her romantic status. Here's more:

On loving vampires: "I watch True Blood. I love vampire stuff-it’s sexy. There’s a danger element, and it’s sensual, what they do. I love the movie Twilight. It satisfies the 14-year-old girl in you."
On being born an actress: "A kid doesn’t come out being, like, 'I’m going to be an actor' . . . I think everyone is born with natural abilities, and it just happened that mine is something I got famous for."
On her ex, Jake Gyllenhaal: "It would be nice to see him, but we’re not good friends."
On her current romantic status: "If I had a beau now, I wouldn’t say. Until I’m married, and even then, why?"

View 2 Photos ›

There are lots more photos from behind-the scenes, and make sure to check out Kirsten's style evolution before the issue hits newsstands.

Occupational asthma

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:47:21 -0700

Illustrations

Spirometry

Respiratory system

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Occupational asthma is a lung disorder in which various substances found in the workplace lead to breathing difficulties.

Alternative Names

Asthma - occupational exposure; Irritant-induced reactive airways disease

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Many substances in the workplace can cause occupational asthma. The most common triggers are wood dust, grain dust, animal dander, fungi, or other chemicals (especially diisocyanates).

Though the actual rate of occurrence of occupational asthma is unknown, it is suspected to cause 2-20% of all cases of asthma in industrialized nations.

The following workers are at higher risk:

Bakers
Detergent manufacturers
Drug manufacturers
Farmers
Grain elevator workers
Laboratory workers
Metal workers
Millers
Plastics workers
Woodworkers

Symptoms

Symptoms are usually due to airways inflammation and spasms of the muscles lining the airways, which cause the muscles to narrow excessively.

They usually occur shortly after being exposed to the offending substance and often improve or disappear when you leave work. Some people may not have symptoms until 12 or more hours after exposure to the allergen.

Symptoms usually get worse toward the end of the work week and may (but not always) go away on weekends or vacations.

In general, symptoms include:

Coughing
Tight feeling in the chest
Shortness of breath
Wheezing

Signs and tests

The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history. There may be a pattern of worsening symptoms associated with a specific workplace environment or substance.

Wheezing may be heard when listening to the chest with a stethoscope.

The following tests may be used to diagnose this condition:

Blood tests to detect specific antibodies to suspected offending substances
Bronchial provocation test (test measuring reaction to the suspected allergen)
Chest x-ray
Complete blood count
Peak expiratory flow rate
Pulmonary function tests

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to limit exposure to the asthma-causing substance and improve symptoms.

Treatment may include:

Avoiding source of exposure
Bronchodilators (inhalers or nebulizers)

Other therapies for asthma may be added in more severe cases.

In some instances, symptoms may persist despite removal of the source of exposure.

Support Groups

See: Asthma and allergy - support group

Expectations (prognosis)

In general, the outcome for people with asthma is good. However, symptoms may persist for years after workplace exposure has been eliminated.

Complications

Respiratory fatigue
Side effects of asthma medications

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of asthma.

Prevention

Asthma symptoms can be substantially reduced by avoiding known allergens and airway irritants.

Review Date: 10/15/2007

Reviewed By: Donald Accetta, MD, MPH, President, Allergy & Asthma Care, PC, Taunton, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

adam.com

Source Doc: 1_000110

Occupational hearing loss

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:54:04 -0700

Overview

Definition
Alternative Names
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Symptoms
Signs and tests
Treatment
Expectations (prognosis)
Complications
Calling your health care provider
Prevention

Illustrations

Ear anatomy

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Occupational hearing loss is damage to the inner ear from noise or vibrations due to certain types of jobs or entertainment.

Alternative Names

Hearing loss - occupational

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Occupational hearing loss is a form of acoustic trauma caused by exposure to vibration or sound. Sound is heard as the ear converts vibration from sound waves into impulses in the nerves of the ear.

Sounds above 90 decibels (dB, a measurement of the loudness or strength of vibration of a sound), particularly if the sound is prolonged, may cause such intense vibration that the inner ear is damaged.

90 dB is about the loudness of a large truck about 5 yards away. Motorcycles, snowmobiles, and similar engines range around 85 to 90 dB.
100 dB is reached by some rock concerts.
120 dB is a jackhammer from 3 feet away.
130 dB is a jet engine from 100 feet away.

A general rule of thumb is that if you need to shout to be heard, the sound is in the range that can damage hearing.

Some jobs, such as construction, airline ground maintenance, farming, and jobs involving loud music or machinery, carry high risk for hearing loss. In the U.S., the maximum job noise exposure is regulated by law. Both the length of exposure and the decibel level are considered. If the sound is at or greater than the maximum levels recommended, protective measures are required.

Symptoms

The main symptom is partial or complete hearing loss. The hearing loss may get worse over time.

Signs and tests

A physical examination will not usually show any specific changes. Tests that may be performed include:

Audiology/audiometry may determine the extent of hearing loss.
A head x-ray or CT scan of the head may be used to rule out other causes of hearing loss, including other forms of acoustic trauma.

Treatment

The hearing loss may be permanent. The goal of treatment is to improve any remaining hearing and develop coping skills (such as lip reading).

Using a hearing aid may improve communication. Always protect the ear from further damage, for example, wear ear plugs in noisy areas.

Expectations (prognosis)

Hearing loss is often permanent in the affected ear. The loss may be progressive if measures are not taken to prevent further damage.

Complications

Hearing loss may progress to total deafness.

Calling your health care provider

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if hearing loss occurs, gets worse, or if other new symptoms develop.

Prevention

Protect your ears when you are exposed to loud noises. Wear protective ear plugs or earmuffs to protect against damage from loud equipment. Be aware of risks connected with recreation such as shooting a gun, driving snowmobiles, or other similar activities. Do not listen to loud music for long periods of time.

Review Date: 10/20/2006

Reviewed By: Alden J. Pearl, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Source Doc: 1_001048

Cash In on the New USVI Quarter With 25-Cent Hotel Rooms

SavvySugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:00:25 -0700

Want to book a hotel for a cool quarter? (Close your mouth.) Even though just 25 pennies will land you the room, this new promotion celebrates the newly minted US Virgin Islands quarter.

The coin features the bananaquit bird, yellow cedar flower and tyre palm tree, and you can look for all three live with a special offer from the islands' Dept. of Tourism: Seven St. Thomas resorts and four St. Croix locations now offer $.25 room rates for the first three nights of your trip. Cash in fast as travel (hotel+air) must be arranged through BookIt.com before Nov. 2, your island getaway needs to happen by Dec. 15, and the offer's good only while rooms last.

(For fun, I just priced out three nights, single occupancy on a mid-November weekend with a roundtrip ticket from San Francisco and got $640. I wasn't planning any trips, but this one just makes ~~sense~~ cents.)

2009 Primetime Emmy Awards: Kristin Chenoweth

BellaSugar — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:32:40 -0700

Her latest occupation may have been Pushing Daisies, but Kristin Chenoweth still knows how to get wickedly glammed up when the occasion calls for it. Her dress was bejeweled, so she kept the hair and makeup minimal, with a barely there, center-parted bun and the lightest peach lips and cheeks. The only standout was her eyeliner, which, though not heavy, was a very pigmented black. Do you like that she let her dress, not her hair and makeup, dominate her look? Or do you think she would have been better off going full-out glamazon?

Vote on all of my Primetime Emmy Awards polls here!

Marky Mark and Rhea Durham Are Adding to the Funky Bunch

babysugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:18:41 -0700

Your eyes are not deceiving you: the Wahlbergs are expecting again! Rhea Durham sported a billowy blouse this week at The Grove in Los Angeles, leaving many speculating about the mother of three's womb status, and it looks like there's another occupant. The newlyweds announced the baby news and are looking forward to growing their brood. Maybe we can look forward to a Wahlberg and Jolie-Pitt faceoff on the soccer field. Congrats to the family!

And the Deadliest Jobs Are . . .

SavvySugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:30:36 -0700

Your chiropractor is probably familiar with your occupational hazards; your neck, back, shoulders, and hips can get awfully tight sitting at your desk all day, every day. That pain and soreness seems more than minor when you think about people that have jobs so dangerous they're considered deadly.

The Department of Labor tracks fatalities by profession and named the deadliest jobs in the US based on those numbers. Do you know anyone with a "deadly" job? See the list when you read more.

Fishers and related fishing workers
Logging workers
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers
Structural iron and steel workers
Farmers and ranchers
Refuse and recyclable material collectors
Roofers
Electrical power-line installers and repairers
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs

AIDS Group Asks Government to Force Condom Use in Porn

TresSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:00:00 -0700

It's hard to believe that a porn star would sleep with other porn stars without protection, but in an industry created to turn people on, some directors think it's sexier for the viewer. Upset with the dangers, an AIDS advocacy group filed complaints against 16 production companies with the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, alleging that the practice amounts to unsafe behavior in a workplace.

US law already requires porn stars to prove that they have tested negative for HIV and other STDs within 30 days of filming, but the AIDS Healthcare Foundation wants to see a policy that requires condoms.

Some in the business say that the porn industry would probably leave California if condoms became the law, and Hustler publisher Larry Flynt thinks the AIDS group doesn't understand porn. He says, "people who enjoy viewing adult films do not want to see people using condoms." Do you agree?

Do Tell: What Was the Worst Date You Ever Had?

TresSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0700

Bad date stories are often funny after the fact, but when you're out with someone who's making you annoyed you even got dolled up and scheduled time for them, it can be depressing.

We've all had boring dates, but some stand out for their sheer weirdness. I am a freak magnet, so I have my fair share of weird dating tales. There was the guy who took his shoes off as soon as he sat down, the guy who took his false front teeth out for show-and-tell (he'd been a boxer), and then there was the charming dude who insisted the sushi chef at the bar speak Japanese with him, even though he spoke perfect English. After a few rounds of coercion, the chef finally said, "Will you just shut up and order?" Naturally, those first dates were also the last.

If you're single, dating can be an occupational hazard. What was the worst date you ever had?