A round-up of this week's other stories in brief
Health drives at work could pay, says study
Workplace programmes targeting physical inactivity and unhealthy dietary habits are effective in mitigating the impact of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, according to a new study.
Deaths from non-commun- icable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes are forecast to rise 17 per cent in 2005-2015, said the joint study by the World Economic Forum and the UN's World Health Organisation (WHO).
"Enhancing employee productivity, improving corporate image and moder- ating medical care costs are some of the arguments that might foster senior manag- ement to initiate and invest in workplace health promotion programmes," it said.
Green tea for sleep apnoea
Compounds found in green tea may help ward off the neurological damage that can come with sleep apnoea, a new animal study hints.
Researchers found that when they added green tea antioxidants to rats' drinking water, it appeared to protect their brains during bouts of oxygen deprivation designed to mimic the effects of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
The findings suggest that green tea compounds should be further studied as a potential OSA therapy, the researchers report in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
INO elects new president
The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) has elected Sheila Dickson as its president. She is a senior staff nurse at St Columbanus Home, Killarney, Co Kerry.
She was elected to the INO's executive council in 2004 and became first vice- president in 2006. She was also chairwoman of its industrial relations committee. She trained in North Middlesex Hospital London and worked in the UK for 13 years.