Danger! Teachers Working

by Sheree Crute

Think 'hazardous occupation' and visions of catwalking construction workers and sleep-deprived long-haul truckers come to mind. But educators?

Actually, yes, according to a recent report by the Directors of Health Promotion and Education. In fact, education workers have higher rates of respiratory infections, chronic voice disorders, and musculoskeletal problems than people in other professions. The good news is that every one of these school-based health headaches can be addressed by giving yourself a little TLC. Here's how to heal these job-related health risks for good.

Is it something in the air?

Everything, from Charlie the classroom hamster (pet dander) to chalk dust and dirty heating systems, is giving teachers higher than average rates of asthma, allergies, and chronic lung infections. "Clearing the air can be simple if you attack the problem on several fronts," says allergist Pamela A. Georgeson, D.O., a fellow with the American Academy of Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

Her advice:

Open the windows. 

Switch to a chalkless classroom and invest in non-toxic markers.

Pick up a HEPA filter for your classroom. "They really work," Georgeson says. 

Be aware. Prolonged fatigue, headaches, and sinus troubles that don't respond to medication may mean your school has "sick building syndrome," a buildup of toxic mold or bacteria in ventilation systems. For advice, contact the Environmental Protection Agency's School for Tools Program. 

Gesundheit!

Look out across the classroom each winter and what do you see? Row after row of runny little noses. School worker exposure to germs is on par with folks in constant contact with the public. So how do you cold-proof your classroom? "If it's grade appropriate, get a little help from the kids," says Charles Inlander, director of the People's Medical Society and author of 77 Ways to Beat Colds and Flu:

Kick off cold and flu season by assigning a report on how to prevent colds and flu and talk about it in class.

Spray or wash with Lysol in the classroom to cut down on the spread of infections like strep throat.

Get lots of sleep, eat well to keep your defenses up, and get a flu shot.

It's just a frog in my throat.

A recent study at the University of Utah found that one in three teachers suffer from voice problems and one in five miss work because they just can't talk. Since quieting a cafeteria full of kids with a mere wave of your hand is unlikely, a voice fitness program is a must. "Begin by practicing good vocal hygiene," says Candice M. Coleman, Ph.D, a speech coach and president of Say It Well, Inc. That means:

Drink 64 ounces of water a day to keep vocal cords hydrated. Avoid caffeine and foods that coat the throat such as milk and fruit juices (it's the sugar).

Don't dry out your throat by overusing cold medications, smoking, or being near smoke.

Warm up your voice by humming softly for 10 minutes in the shower each morning (actual singing is too harsh).

Invest in a voice amplification system (Coleman recommends the Chatterbox), especially if you teach music, gym, or very young children or have hall or bus duty. 

Never whisper, it actually irritates vocal cords. Talk quietly instead.

I'm always bent over like this.

What do paraeducators, special education teachers, bus drivers, and school maintenance workers share? Disproportionately high rates of chronic back pain and sore joints. "People who work with developmentally disabled children are likely to have acute injuries from back strain caused by lifting a child," says Boyd Buser, D.O., a back pain specialist who sees lots of teachers in his practice. The trick is learning how to move properly: 

Never bend your body and simultaneously twist your torso. When you lift something or put it down, make sure it's directly in front of you. Go down on one knee, rather than bending.

Strengthen your abdominal muscles and wear a good back support (they're in drug stores) if you have chronic problems.

Get a stool with rollers and sit next to kids rather than bending over, advises Leslie Jackson, an occupational therapist who specializes in schools. Or place chairs around the room for quick rest stops.

Keeping your weight under control and getting at least three or four workouts a week is the best overall prevention.

I can hold it a little longer.

Part teacher, part camel? Learning to avoid needed trips to the bathroom has placed teachers (along with nurses and pilots) at the top of the list of people suffering occupation-related bladder problems. "Many people don't realize that "emptying the bladder is Mother Nature's number one defense against infections," says Anthony J. Schaffer, M.D., chairman of the department of urology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

Drink plenty of fluids (preferably water) and void at least every two to two-and-one-half hours. If necessary, work out a system with other teachers to make regular bathroom visits possible.  

Limit your intake of high-acid foods such as coffee and soda.

I hardly notice the limp.

Ever heard of plantar fasciitis? It's a fancy term for a severely painful heel inflammation that—you guessed it—is extremely common among teachers, along with aching feet.

"I see lots of teachers in my practice," says Naomi Shields, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon. To banish foot pain blues, Shields says:

Wear shoes with supportive soles and crepe or rubber heels no higher than one inch. Casual sneakers aren't a good choice.

Work those feet every day. Do ankle circles, five or more in each direction on each foot, and move feet up and down. Try writing the letters of the alphabet with your feet. Then curl toes in and out a few times.

Got Elves?

Need a solution to the body-battering stress of holiday shopping, cooking and decorating for your home and classroom? Professional organizers Ramona Creel of Onlineorganizing.com and Peggy Umansky of Itsabout-time.com offer this advice for a heavenly holiday.

Start a Christmas Club (or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa).  St. Nick couldn't get the job done without helpers and neither can you. "Using the concept of a book club," Umansky says, "form a group of friends or fellow teachers. Map out the weeks until the holiday. Pick one week or weekend for the team to work for each person." Each week, Umansky explains, the team can help shop or decorate a home or classroom for one member. All work sessions end with a girls' or guys' night out, your personal stress relief, and the perfect way to get through holidays with half the work and twice the fun.

Ask the Experts

Ah, modern medicine. For most of us, long thoughtful chats with the family doctor are a thing of the past and, of course, house calls disappeared along with the horse and buggy. So let us help. Got a question for a top cardiologist, surgeon, pediatrician, nutritionist, or psychiatrist? Raise your hand and we'll call on you. Send queries to sholcomb@nea.org.

Q: I confess I've put off quitting smoking for years (I'm only 33).  Now my husband says he's heard smoking can be even more dangerous than we thought and especially harmful to women. Is it true? And what's the best way to quit? 

A.M.
Louisville, kentucky

A: First, give your husband a big hug for being smart enough to be up on the latest research. He's right. "We now know that the toxins from smoking go everywhere in the body that blood flows," says Joel London, M.P.H., from the office of smoking and health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. "It not only causes lung cancer, it can contribute to cancers of the cervix and pancreas, leukemia, even gum disease." On top of that, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in April found that women were far more susceptible to the cancer causing properties of cigarette smoke than men.

As for quitting, London says research shows you can "double your chances of success if you use a telephone support line and a nicotine replacement system." This month, you also have the best possible help. The American Cancer Society's great American Smokeout is on November 18. Call 800-ACS-2345 or log on to www.quit-smoking.net for lots more free advice and support.