Telehealth technology helps combat stress this winter

WATFORD, ENGLAND, November 06, 2010 (Press-News.org) National Stress Awareness Day this week dawned in the UK - a nation well acquainted with the symptoms.
Recent research* has shown that more than 105 million days are lost to stress each year, costing the UK employers GBP1.24 billion. So it should come as no surprise to most people that employers are keen to reduce the stress in the workplace.
Stress may contribute to cardiovascular disease, depending on how different people cope with stress. Some deal with anxiety by smoking, drinking too much alcohol or overeating, which all increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
For people with a history of coronary heart disease, stress can also bring on an angina attack. So it is imperative to keep abreast of your heart health in today's demanding climate.
Watford-based Telehealth Solutions is using its groundbreaking technology to help UK workers assess exactly what impact stress has on the health of their heart.
The firm is working with UK employers to offer fully supervised heart health checks on its portable CardioPod. In less than 20 minutes, the device can calculate a user's risk of developing cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years.
Their risk is displayed in a graphic that shows how many people, with identical results, would die in the next 10 years from a cardiovascular incident. Once the test is complete the supervising clinician will review the results with the patient and, if necessary, discuss ways in which their lifestyle can be improved. In some cases, where the risk of heart attack is great, the patient is advised to visit their GP.
Stress also exacerbates the symptoms of chronic lung conditions and sufferers can find themselves in a vicious circle where shortness of breath leads to more anxiety and faster breathing which can contribute to respiratory failure.
Telehealth technology is also an option for COPD sufferers in the UK, many of whom are now using Telehealth Solutions' HomePod to monitor their symptoms.
The HomePod is helping to reduce COPD hospitalisations by facilitating earlier intervention and treatment if a patient's condition deteriorates. It works by asking patients a series of questions every day and sending the answers, via mobile phone technology, straight to a clinician or carer.
Patients who use HomePods value the ability to take more ownership of their health and the knowledge thataction will be taken immediately if deterioration in their condition is spotted.

Telehealth Solutions' Executive Chairman Jeremy Cummin said: "We are delighted to see National Stress Day tackling and promoting one of the biggest issues facing the modern workplace today. So many people in the country are suffering from stress which inevitably has an impact on their health, mentally and physically.

"Our technology makes it easier for health professionals, carers and patientsto monitor their health and intervene before an issue becomes dangerous or deadly, giving them longer, healthier, more stress-free lives.

*Research conducted by UK Government and Personnel Today Magazine

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