Worker Health and Wellness

Silver Spring, MD — Employers in the construction industry need to promote “effective, non-opioid pain-management methods” for injured workers, a nonprofit safety group is saying after two of its recent studies found construction workers with musculoskeletal disorders are three times more likely than their co-workers to use prescription opioids.

Birmingham, England — A mug of hot chocolate can provide not only a bit of warmth, but also a cognitive boost – thanks to a group of compounds in cocoa called flavanols, results of a recent study led by British researchers show.

Coventry, England — Healthy lifestyle changes can help anyone – no matter their age – lose weight, results of a recent study led by researchers from the University of Warwick show.

Hartford, CT — Thirty-three percent of people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic are concerned about their mental health, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by health benefits provider Aetna International.

Geneva — Five million deaths could be prevented each year worldwide if people were less sedentary, according to the World Health Organization, which on Nov. 26 released updated physical activity guidelines.

Barcelona, Spain — Are you experiencing muscle pain or inflammation? Your diet may be contributing – if it’s laden with ultra-processed sweets or fats, a study from Spanish researchers suggests.

Atlanta — Household transmission of COVID-19 can occur rapidly after one member is infected but doesn’t display symptoms, according to the results of a recent study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Menlo Park, CA — Thirty-four percent of employees say they’re more burned out than they were a year ago, according to the results of a recent survey developed by global staffing firm Robert Half.

Cambridge, MA — Workers who receive larger quantities of opioids shortly after an injury, as well as those who are prescribed higher doses, are at increased risk of longer-term opioid use, according to a recent study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

Coleraine, Northern Ireland — If dinner is typically your largest meal of the day, you might be consuming more calories than necessary – and not eating the most nutritious food, according to researchers from Ulster University.