Worker Health and Wellness

Washington – The number of adults in the United States who smoke cigarettes fell below 40 million for the first time since modern recordkeeping began in 1965 – but not everyone has benefited from the trend. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the country, according to two new reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Odense, Denmark – People who frequently bike to work or in their free time have a decreased risk of heart disease, according to two studies recently published by the American Heart Association.

Burr Ridge, IL – The rise of ride-hailing services has resulted in “driver” being ranked No. 1 on the North American Spine Society’s list of “Top 10 Most Back-Breaking Jobs” as determined by a survey of NASS members.

Bloomington, IN – Workers in high-stress jobs who have little control over workflow and other key decisions are at a higher risk of dying early, according to a study from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

Atlanta – Smoking costs the U.S. economy more than $300 billion a year in direct medical care costs and lost productivity, including $5.6 billion in productivity losses related to secondhand smoke, according to the CDC Foundation.

Wuhan, China – Male night-shift workers who do not nap during the day or have worked the night shift for more than 20 years – as well as those who average more than 10 hours of sleep per night – may have a greater risk of developing cancer, according to a study from Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

Essen, Germany – Tai chi, a low-impact martial art that features slow and meditative movements, can be as useful as conventional exercises in alleviating neck pain, according to researchers from the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Boulder, CO – Inadequate amounts of sleep and work environment factors are “major drivers” of occupational fatigue, which can hamper job performance and result in errors and injuries, according to a study from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Bethesda, MD – Declining speech-processing abilities in the brain may contribute to hearing loss in older adults, according to a recent study from researchers at the University of Maryland.

Washington – The Department of Health and Human Services has finalized amendments to NIOSH’s Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program regulations to set standards that require coal mine operators to present a plan for providing lung testing and X-ray exams to surface and underground coal miners.