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Interpreter Services for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing
The NCDHHS Division of Social Services recognizes that local Departments of Social Services have a need for sign language interpreting and transliterating services when serving Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind individuals and their families.
As mandated in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and as amended by the ADA Amendment Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 12131-12189) providing sign language interpreting services ensures those families experience effective communication and equal access to DSS and other services. Ultimately, effective communication is information that is equally clear and understandable to all parties, just as it would if the individual were not Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Deaf-Blind.
To ensure quality interpreting and transliterating services for all Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind people in North Carolina, a North Carolina Interpreter and Transliterator Licensure Act (N.C.G.A. 90D) was created. Per this statute, individuals being compensated in any way for providing sign language interpreting or transliterating services in North Carolina must be licensed. For example, a social worker who interprets while on duty as a DSS employee but is not licensed would be violating this statute. Exemptions would be individuals interpreting in religious or educational settings or in medical/mental health emergencies until a licensed interpreter becomes available.
In North Carolina, licensure is a minimum requirement. Interpreters still need to be qualified, as defined in the ADA, for specific assignments.
NCDHHS’ Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) has guidelines for procuring interpreting and transliterating services to assist in selecting a licensed interpreter who is qualified and appropriate for a specific job.
DSDHH has Interpreting Services Specialists available at its seven regional centers, which serve all 100 counties, to provide training, consultation and technical assistance to DSS staff regarding sign language interpreting and transliterating resources. There is no charge for DSDHH services. Find a regional center that serves your county.
DSDHH also maintains an up-to-date list of licensed interpreters to aid in locating a licensed interpreter.
For further information contact:
Carlotta Dixon, DSS Interpreter Services Coordinator
919-527-6421. | https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/county-staff-information/other-programs/interpreter-services-deaf-deaf |
Alternatives to face-to-face GP consultations are difficult to implement and might not translate into better patient access and reductions in workload, new research has suggested
Practices were struggling to implement alternatives to traditional consultations, a study published today (30 January) in the British Journal of General Practice has found.
The researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Warwick, Oxford, Edinburgh and Exeter found that despite the NHS encouraging practices to seek for these alternatives, a lack of clear guidance and a ‘one size fits all’ approach are making the implementation of these alternatives difficult.
Alternatives to the face-to-face consultation in general practice: focused ethnographic case study consisted of 45 interviews with staff members from different practices in urban and rural areas, which were already offering alternatives to face-to-face consultations including e-mail, video and telephone consultations.
Practices had different reasons for providing alternatives to face-to-face consultations, such as the need to offer care to patients in remote locations or those who could not attend appointments in person, to provide time-poor patients with a solution, improve efficiency and release pressure from reception staff.
‘Implementation is difficult’
Co-author of the study professor, Chris Salisbury from the University of Bristol’s centre for academic primary care, said: ‘The reality on the ground is that implementation is difficult. Practices are introducing the technologies for different reasons and a ‘one size fits all’ approach will not work.’
Sufficient understanding of these alternatives and support should be available for practices to successfully implement these changes and enjoy the benefits, said Professor Salisbury.
He said: ‘Implementation was not well enough thought through in relation to personnel, training or logistical factors. As a result, efficiencies are not being realised.’
One of the practices researchers spoke with examined whether telephone consultations would save time and was surprised that it was not the case.
According to the study, the practice manager said: ‘We’d thought that we might be able to do two things, do two telephone consultations in the time it took to do a face-to-face…and that hasn’t proved to be the case.’
The need for a clear guidance
Lead author of the study Dr Helen Atherton, from the University of Warwick believes that a tailored approach based on the need of individual practices should be the way forward to implementing alternatives to face-to-face appointments.
She said: ‘Individual practices should take a considered and tailored approach, based on the needs of their practice population and available resource so that there is equitable delivery of care.
‘We have produced guidance for GPs that will help them do this and are planning to do further evaluations of newer technologies, such as electronic consultations and video consultations, in the future.’
The RCGP said that the study suggests that ‘careful consideration is needed when finding alternatives to the traditional face-to-face appointments.
Vice chair of the Royal College of GPs professor Kamila Hawthorne said: ‘We agree with the researchers that any practices thinking about alternatives to face-to-face consultations should do so after careful consideration of the implications for the practice and patients, and to this end the College is developing guidance on this. | https://managementinpractice.com/news/face-to-face-consultation-alternatives-may-not-ease-workload-or-improve-patient-access-study-finds/ |
Published: 24 March 2020
There are 12 million people in the UK with hearing loss, including an estimated 900,000 with severe or profound hearing loss. We know that it is older people who are at higher risk of becoming severely ill due to coronavirus. With more than 70% of people over the age of 70 living with hearing loss, the needs of this group must be taken into consideration in the UK’s response.
Due to the fast-moving nature of events and changing guidance, Action on Hearing Loss will update this statement on a rolling basis. If you would like to confirm that you have the latest version, or for further information, please contact either:
Ayla Ozmen, Head of Research and Policy
Email [email protected]
Call 07787 538267
Rob Geaney, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns
Email [email protected]
Call 07709 357786
1. Accessibility of public health information
We welcome that the majority of audio public health messaging currently available is subtitled. A large proportion of current public health messaging remains inaccessible to British Sign Language (BSL) users however. For many of those whose first language is BSL, reading written English can be difficult. Critical information on the GOV.UK website regarding coronavirus is not being translated into BSL.
SignHealth, the Deaf health charity, has produced BSL versions of some public health information, though this hasn’t been promoted by the government and public heath messaging will continue to evolve rapidly with no plans for BSL translation. We welcome the government's recent publication of short BSL videos including basic public health information, however, the content of the videos is extremely limited, including basic guidance to wash your hands, for example.
With regard to broadcast media, BSL versions of the day’s news are available at limited intervals of the day. With significant announcements being announced at short notice however, timely access to information has become more important than ever. The government’s decision to work with broadcasters to provide BSL interpretation for the daily press conferences is therefore a welcome step that should continue. There was, however, unfortunately no BSL interpretation for the announcement that took place at a slightly later time on 23 March. With such critical information being delivered by the Prime Minister during this announcement, it is vital that the BSL community have access to this.
Recommendation
The government should provide and publicise comprehensive, timely public health information in BSL and make sure BSL interpretation is provided for all daily televised coronavirus briefings and announcements.
2. Accessibility of health services
Remote appointments
People are increasingly being encouraged, and choosing, to have health appointments over the telephone. For many people with hearing loss, telephone conversations will be difficult or impossible. For some, in some circumstances, video conversations will also be difficult.
The Accessible Information Standard (AIS) puts a legal requirement on all health and social care providers to meet the communication needs of people who are deaf or have hearing loss. This includes identifying, recording and meeting people’s specific communication needs, many of which will have, until now, been met by face to face contact. The communication preferences of many will change in the current context, however, and it may become difficult to meet the needs of others, who require face to face communication, without putting public health at risk.
Our research showed that only 1 in 10 people with hearing loss had been asked about their communication needs in line with the AIS. In addition, we know that 9 million people have unaddressed hearing loss and people take an average of 10 years to seek help for their hearing loss. So many people whose communication needs have not been identified will also struggle to communicate remotely.
In these exceptional circumstances, there are simple options that, although sub-optimal in usual times, will improve accessibility of services for those who are deaf or have hearing loss. These include:
- adopting simple communication tips to ensure understanding in telephone conversations
- using screens where possible
- utilising Video Relay Service
- allowing friends and family to speak on behalf of patients, if requested.
View more communication tips for healthcare professionals.
BSL interpreters
There is already a shortage of BSL interpreters across the UK. In a recent Action on Hearing Loss survey, more than half (57%) of people who are deaf said they felt unclear about their health advice because a sign language interpreter was unavailable for their appointment.
More recently, we have had reports of interpreters being asked to self-isolate as they have been working in hospitals or GP surgeries where cases of coronavirus have been found. This problem is likely to escalate and so access to interpreters will become even more restricted.
Furthermore, the government guidance on who falls into the ‘key worker’ category does not explicitly include communication support workers, including interpreters.
Text Relay
BT provides the only text relay system across the UK – its Relay UK system. Every communication provider is required to provide access to a text relay service under the Universal Service Obligation, which in effect means Relay UK. The system is required to answer over 90% of calls within 15 seconds, and 95% of emergency calls within 5 seconds.
With many people now unable to access services or make appointments in person, this service will be experiencing a substantial increase in demand.
NHS111
If people are experiencing coronavirus symptoms, they are currently being directed to access the NHS111 service via an online form. If, however, upon completion of the form, you are suspected of having coronavirus and your symptoms are severe – that is, you are so ill that you have stopped doing all of your usual daily activities, you will be directed to call NHS 111 for further clinical advice.
There is also the option to access the NHS 111 service via textphone or the Text Relay service. This service can be used at any time, though is not currently being widely promoted.
BSL users can also access the NHS 111 BSL Service or by using the InterpreterNow app on their smartphone or tablet. We welcome that the availability of this service has now been extended to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Before the coronavirus outbreak, BSL users had reported waiting times of over an hour and we understand that InterpreterNow had only one interpreter available for NHS111 access at any given time. We understand that NHS111 has now increased the number of interpreters available and is continuing to do so to meet demand.
We understand that the government is planning to promote these access points on phase two of the government’s national coronavirus marketing materials.
Recommendations
- The government and professional bodies should promote awareness of the prevalence of hearing loss in those at risk of becoming severely ill with coronavirus, and simple options for meeting communication needs, among health professionals.
- Schools and nurseries should recognise communication support workers who cover critical public services as key workers.
- BT should provide continuous monitoring of the KPIs for the Relay UK system and, if necessary, consider what steps it can take to ensure that calls to health providers continue to meet the targets required.
- The government should meet commitments to promote all access options to NHS111 and increase the number of interpreters available via InterpreterNow.
3. Audiology services
Guidance issued by NHS England and Improvement (NHSEI) sets out how providers of community services can release capacity to support the COVID-19 preparedness and response. This guidance includes stopping the delivery of audiology services, aside from urgent treatment, for example for idiopathic sudden hearing loss and foreign bodies in the ear canal, and the provision of or referral for microsuction and specialist batteries.
We welcome these exclusions, particularly highlighting the need for urgent treatment in some cases, but believe, even in the current context, audiology can and should continue providing a service that goes beyond these minimal exclusions while still maintaining social distancing and with very limited staffing.
Currently there is variation in availability of audiology services across the country: some departments are still offering a comprehensive audiology service, some are offering certain appointments remotely, and others have cancelled all clinics and are only providing an essential service for urgent hearing aid repairs or replacement batteries via post. Most audiology providers on the high street are maintaining a basic service including remote appointments, batteries and hearing aid repair.
Hearing aids are a lifeline for so many people, and for some, are the only way they can access sound. As more people, especially the over 70s, are being encouraged to self-isolate, those who wear hearing aids will increasingly rely on communicating with loved ones over the telephone and receiving the news via the radio or television. So working hearing aids are essential. Hearing aids do need regular basic maintenance and can stop working for a number of reasons but fortunately these can all be easily rectified by an audiologist or trained volunteer and in the majority of cases do not require the patient to be present.
Hearing aid batteries need replacing every 5 days to 2 weeks – depending on the type of hearing aid. Most audiology services already have a system in place for patients to receive batteries by post.
The British Academy of Audiology has made recommendations on the type of paired back service that could be provided in the current context.
While we think that in many cases it remains possible for services to continue offering a basic service, beyond the critical services highlighted by NHSEI, we understand that some services will be unable to continue to provide such a service. In light of this, Action on Hearing Loss is currently monitoring the support still available and will explore what service we can deliver through our information line; remotely through our local services; and in partnership with others, to provide information, batteries and hearing aid repairs.
Cochlear implant services
In order to free up capacity and beds, the NHS is cancelling all routine surgery, which includes cochlear implantation surgery. The British Cochlear Implant Group has written to NHS Trusts reminding them of the urgency of cochlear implant surgery in specific cases, such as those who are at risk of cochlear ossification as a result of meningitis. In such cases there is a need for surgery in the immediate term before cochlear implantation becomes unviable, so these should still be treated as a priority.
We are aware that some implant centres have cancelled all appointments and surgeries, only providing urgent repairs for existing patients.
Recommendations
- Audiology services should continue providing patients remote appointments, as well as batteries and hearing aid repair by post or via a friend or relative, wherever possible. Where this is not possible, providers should contact Action on Hearing Loss.
- NHS Trusts should treat specific cases of cochlear implantation surgery as a priority.
4. Coronavirus Bill
The government has published its emergency legislation, the Coronavirus Bill. The Bill is expected to become law on Thursday 26 March. Clause 13 of the Bill removes existing regulations which delay a patient’s discharge from hospital – it removes the need for a NHS Continuing Healthcare Assessment and provides simpler procedures to transfer a patient from Acute to Social care.
The Bill also diminishes the duties on Local Authorities in Part 1 of the Care Act 2014 to assess needs for care and support, and to meet those needs. The Bill will replace these duties with a power to meet needs for care and support, underpinned by a duty to meet those needs where not to do so would be a breach of an individual’s human rights.
As it is currently only those with the highest levels of need who receive care and support however, it cannot be right to leave this group of people without the right to assessment and support.
Recommendation
Provisions in the Bill must be revised to ensure rights to assessments, care plans and rehabilitation for those with the highest levels of need are maintained.
5. Loneliness and isolation
Increased isolation will inevitably affect many people’s wellbeing and mental health due to a lack of social contact and difficulty accessing support. People who are deaf or have hearing loss are at greater risk of further isolation due to stricter social distancing measures.
BSL users whose preferred method of communication is face to face, will be particularly impacted. Whilst initiatives to tackle social isolation during the pandemic are underway, these initiatives primarily involve moving support online. For BSL users and those with hearing loss this does not necessarily provide the same level of accessibility, especially for older people who might lack the necessary digital skills.
The coronavirus pandemic will peak and begin to recede, but unfortunately, loneliness and social isolation will remain for many who are deaf or have hearing loss. Further research is needed to tackle this issue long term.
Recommendation
The government should ensure that loneliness stays high on the agenda through the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. | https://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/about-us/policy-research-and-influencing/coronavirus-policy-statement/ |
NPR affiliate show, The 21st, aired a segment on how LEP and Deaf patients are getting better care at Illinois health centers thanks to immediate access to medically qualified interpreters (VRI). The 21st is a public radio talk show that explores news, culture and stories that matter to Illinois. The segment featured InDemand trilingual interpreter Jinhi Roskamp and Rush-Copley Medical Center, Patient Advocate and Language Services Coordinator, Rosalinda Justiniano.
Listen to the full segment >
EXCERPT: When you’re at the hospital in need of medical care, you just want to feel better. The last thing you want to think about is if you’ll be understood or not.
But for millions of people in Illinois, that is often the reality. In Chicagoland alone, there were more than a million people considered limited English proficient in 2011. That’s according to The Migration Policy Institute.
Last week we were talking about a new initiative by immigration advocates to make hospitals more welcoming to immigrants.
An inability to communicate effectively with your doctor or care provider could lead to mistakes or a misdiagnoses. It can also discourage people from seeking the medical help they need in emergencies. Unfortunately, training and providing these interpreters to have on staff can be costly and if it’s an emergency, they may not be available at a moment’s notice.
Now, technology called Video Remote Interpreting, or VRI, is bringing interpreters directly to patients through video. Medical interpreters trained in over 200 languages, including American Sign Language, video conference in to patients.
To learn more about VRI, we were joined on the line by Rosalinda Justiniana. She’s a Patient Advocate and Language Service Coordinator for Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora. Also joining us on the line from Lombard was Jinhi Roskamp. Jinhi is a trilingual interpreter for a VRI company called InDemand Interpreting. | https://www.indemandinterpreting.com/in-the-news/indemand-interpreting-21st-public-radio-talkshow/ |
While the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, many people have postponed needed care in order to stay home to avoid contracting or spreading the virus. We want to assure you that our hospitals and care centers are safe, and we encourage you not to postpone treatment when you need it, especially in an emergency.
As we begin to see patients for care that was delayed due to COVID-19, we’ve taken significant steps to keep our employees, patients, and visitors safe. We invite you to read about these measures below and reach out to your health care provider’s office with any questions. We are here to help.
A SAFE CARE ENVIRONMENT
Separate COVID-19 screening and assessment sites:
To provide the safest care to all patients, separate locations for COVID-19 assessments and treatment have been established. Telehealth appointments are also being offered to patients with respiratory concerns. Ensuring there are offsite and virtual options for COVID-19 care ensures that medical practices can continue to see patients in the safest environment possible.
Screening process at all facilities:
Everyone who enters Northern Light Health facilities will be screened for symptoms. As an added layer of protection, temperature checks using touch free thermometers are being conducted during the screening process. Those who answer positively to a screening question or have a temperature above 100.4 will be directed away from the facility and referred to the appropriate level of care.
Universal masking and physical distancing:
All Northern Light Health employees—clinical and non-clinical—are required to wear a face mask at all times while at work. Patients and visitors are also required to wear a face covering. Patients without a face covering will be provided a mask during the screening process to wear while within NLH facilities. Additionally, patients will be asked to maintain physical distancing, and scheduling of patients as well as the layout of reception areas are being changed to accommodate it.
Visitor policy:
No visitors are allowed at Northern Light Health hospitals and other facilities, including primary care and specialty care centers, with limited exceptions.
NEW WAYS TO ACCESS CARE
Care at home through telehealth:
From primary care to specialty care, telehealth visits are a convenient way for you to get the care and guidance you need without leaving home. During a telehealth visit, using your phone, tablet, or computer, you and your provider can accomplish much of what you would be able to do in a typical office visit, including addressing medical issues, diagnoses, symptoms, prescriptions, and more. Please visit
NorthernLightHealth.org/Telehealth
to learn more, or call your health care provider’s office to discuss the telehealth options available to you.
Online patient portal:
Visit
MyNorthernLightHealth.org
for secure 24/7 access to your patient portal, where you can manage your appointments, request prescription refills, and send secure messages to your health care team.
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Language Assistance Available: | https://northernlighthealth.org/Our-System/Mercy-Hospital/Patients-Visitors/Your-safety-is-our-top-priority |
Persons who prefer to speak in English or a language other than English or who are deaf or hard of hearing enjoy equal access to all services of Contra Costa Health Services.
Medical interpretation is available to all patients of Contra Costa Health Services who prefer a language other than English. This service is available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week at no cost to the patient.
All of our medical interpreters are specially trained to assist patients and health care providers to communicate with each other in the preferred language during the provision of care, when making medical appointments, receiving health care information or when discussing billing or health related financial information.
The health professional will connect with an interpreter during clinic visits or during a hospital stay every time they communicate with the patient or client that prefers a language other than English. Contra Costa Health Services does not rely on family members or friends to provide these services for the patient or client.
Documents used by Contra Costa Health Services are available in English, Spanish and other languages as requested. The translation is provided at no cost to the patient or client.
For help with medical interpretation or translation services please call the following numbers Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contra Costa Health Services assist in evaluating and improving the health of the newly arriving refugees and asylees.
Refugee status is granted by the President and Congress of the United States. A Refugee is any person who is unable to return to his or her own country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
Outreach, health screenings, health education, immunizations, tuberculosis follow-up and care, referrals to health and human services, interpretation, and health advocacy. | https://cchealth.org/language-assistance/ |
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Self-care and treatments
Advice about how to look after yourself at home if you have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19, and read about treatments for COVID-19.
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Halcyon Medical CentreUnit 824 Martineau PlaceBirmingham, B2 4UHTel: 0121 203 9999
Thousands more GP appointments are available in the Black Country and West Birmingham today than before the pandemic, new data has revealed.
The latest figures for GP access show that 570,191 appointments were booked during August 2021, up from 547,384 in August 2019. Of these, 57% were carried out face-to-face and 49% took place on the same day they were requested (up from 41% in 2019).
The additional appointments are the result of an increase in digital consultations, which is part of the NHS’s long-term strategy for primary care but was accelerated during the pandemic so GPs and their clinical teams could continue to see patients safely.
The new statistics have also revealed that DNAs – where a patient fails to attend an appointment but does not cancel so it can be rebooked by the practice – are down, from 7% of all appointments in 2019 to 5% today.
However, this means there are still more than 25,000 GP appointments being missed in the Black Country and West Birmingham each month, so people are being urged to contact their practice if they cannot attend, and the slot can then be offered to someone else who needs it.
While digital and telephone consultations now make up more than 40% of patient contacts, GPs will always examine a patient in person if medically necessary, while face-to-face appointments are still available for anyone unable to use technology. All patients have the right to request a face-toface appointment, although this may not be the fastest way to be seen as priority must be given to the most vulnerable.
Changes from Monday 4th October 2021
From Monday 4th October the patient waiting area will be open for patients who have booked appointments for face to face consultations. You will be asked to take your temperature and sanitise your hands on arrival. Please wear a face covering.
IF YOU ARE A REGISTERED PATIENT AND REQUIRE URGENT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WHICH CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE SURGERY RE-OPENS, PLEASE TELEPHONE 0121 203 9999 & CHOOSE OPTION 2 & YOU WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO OUR OUT OF HOURS PROVIDER.
Cancelling your Appointment
If you are unable to attend an appointment with one of the doctors or nurses, please telephone or use the link at the bottom of this page to cancel your appointment.
By giving us as much notice as you can you are helping us to make sure that someone else is given your slot.
Birmingham NHS Walk-in Centre, lower ground floor, Boots the Chemist, 67-69 High Street, Birmingham, B4 7TA, tel. 0121 255 4500.
NHS 111: Call 111 for confidential healthcare advice 24 hours a day.
Urgent Care Centre: The nearest Urgent Care Centre is Summerfield Urgent Care Centre, 134 Heath Street, Winson Green, Birmingham, B18 7AL, tel. 0345 245 0769.
Accident & Emergency Departments: HOSPITAL A&E DEPARTMENTS ARE FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES NOT MINOR INJURIES OR HEALTH PROBLEMS. The nearest hospital is City Hospital, Dudley Road, Winson Green, Birmingham, B18 7QH, tel. 0121 554 3801.
Halcyon Medical is committed to developing a culture within the organisation that promotes and champions the privacy and dignity of all patients. It is recognised that how care is delivered can directly influence a person’s self-image.
Some health care interactions and treatments, particularly where they involve intimate parts of the body and states of undress can make patients feel vulnerable or distressed. The presence of a chaperone may assist in supporting and reassuring the patient during the healthcare interaction. The healthcare professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations in accordance with the Practice’s Chaperone Policy.
Halcyon Medical believes respect, explanation, consent and privacy are paramount to ensuring you receive a positive patient experience whilst visiting the Practice.
What to expect
You should expect to be offered a chaperone for any intimate examinations that are requested as part of your treatment plan. You can request a chaperone is present during any health interaction that you feel uncomfortable with, for example, assistance with personal care.
Expect the role of the chaperone to be clearly explained to you and the person introduced to you by the health professional who is to undertake the health care interaction or examination/procedure.
Who can be a chaperone?
A member of staff can be a chaperone, such as a Nurse, HCA or other trained non-clinical member of staff.
Can a family member act as a chaperone?
Your family member cannot act as a chaperone, formally witness or take part in a clinical examination or interaction. You can however request that a member of your family or a friend be present as an informal chaperone during the examination, procedure or interaction. A situation where this may not be appropriate is where a child is asked to act as a chaperone for a parent undergoing an intimate examination.
Can I refuse a chaperone?
You have the right to refuse that a particular person is a chaperone; in this instance a member of staff will document the reasons for your refusal and your health interaction will be reviewed.
What is the chaperones responsibility?
What if a chaperone cannot be offered?
If in the unlikely event a chaperone cannot be offered because of an emergency or staff availability then expect to be informed. You may be asked in this instance if you would consent to proceeding with the interaction in the absence of a chaperone or more appropriately offered an alternative appointment when a chaperone will be available.
Where you express a personal preference, every effort will be made to ensure that intimate procedures are carried out by a member of staff of the same sex, if this cannot be achieved because of the specialist nature of the procedure, a chaperone of the same sex will be offered. If this is not possible, the reasons will be documented in your notes and an incident form completed, which will be communicated to the Practice Manager. | https://halcyonmedical.co.uk/info.aspx?p=5 |
A Better Way to Love Ourselves
Self-esteem has always been a prominent concept throughout our lives. We were taught that we needed it to be happy and that it was achievable by anyone who wanted it, meaning those who were willing to work hard for it. In our perpetual rat-race, our parents, and their parents, believed that competition was healthy and that striving to be better than your neighbor created meaning; it seemed like a well-thought-out and well-intentioned program: we would build our society through the efforts of those individuals who motivated themselves by way of their desire to best all of their peers. It seemed so logical and perfect; yet, the consequences have been horrifying. Social isolation and perfectionist behavior have risen exponentially over the past several decades; the need to be better has evolved into the necessity for perfection, which in turn fueled our paranoia and distrust of our friends, whom we reduced to competitors in a turbulent and volatile labor market.
In this blog post, I’m going to put economics aside, which isn’t to say that employment opportunities aren’t significant to our well-being, but I want to particularly focus on the notion of self-esteem; the idea that I have to feel good about myself because of my adaptive and wonderful traits. It seems like such a reasonable concept, and so achievable for most; yet, there seemingly aren’t many who’ve attained it. And the question is why? I believe that the answer is simple: In a world of constant competition, self-esteem and self-regard fluctuate. One day you’re a genius, and the next you’re a loser. One day you’re beautiful, and the next you’re old. How can it be any different when self-esteem, correctly phrased ‘conditional self-acceptance’, is based on the idea of your exceptional qualities being perceived as such in terms of how you compare with others, being based on external factors? In that respect, self-esteem is flimsy and weak, destined to crash, while taking your sanity with it.
The idea that we can pin down certain character traits and call that cluster Mike, or Bill, or Bob is absurd. Due to recent advances in neuroscience, we know that personalities are continually fluctuating, changing over time, and reshaping into different combinations of traits, or patterned behaviors, to be more precise. To characterize oneself in that regard, as a stable set of characteristics, seems to be kind of ridiculous in that light. If we’re ever-evolving creatures, how can we ever really be any of those particular traits?If we were to truly consider our lives, we’d realize that, in fact, we are one thing in one and moment and its opposite in another; sometimes we speak and act in ways that cause us to be perceived as intelligent and of sound judgment, and other times, we speak and act in ways that make us appear foolish.
To call oneself smart is to say that one has been, is, and always will be smart; that is their inherent trait. However, the evidence bears witness to the fact that seemingly intelligent people are capable of doing incredibly foolish things. The consideration of oneself as intelligent is rigid, with the power to hold one back from learning and taking risks; it engenders the fear of devaluation, which can only occur after one ascribes the label of intelligence to oneself, desiring to continually hold onto it at any cost, even that of growth.
In our culture, some people would sacrifice any of their relationships for perfection. They would, and do, go to great lengths to perceive themselves as special; to be better than the rest. Learning, which invariably involves failure and making mistakes, has been replaced with safety and self-esteem. The idea is, in order to have self-esteem, conditional self-acceptance, in order to be mentally healthy, I have to maintain my perception of my competence, and I can’t do that if I fail and make mistakes. Our shaky egos are solidified through our fear and avoidance of learning.
It is only through our stagnation that we’re able to maintain our illusions of competence, failing to realize that intelligence, genius, and competence are in themselves nothing but mirages; concocted images that fail to correspond to reality. If you were to ask the DaVinci and the Einsteins of the world if they considered themselves to be geniuses, they would have likely laughed, and we would, in turn, simply consider them to be modest, unaware of their wisdom. Einstein knew what most didn’t; he knew that the more he learned about the universe, the more he knew how little he actually knew.
Although an expert in several disciplines, Einstein was aware of the fact that he wasn’t able to be an expert in all, or even most, of them, essentially cracking the foundations of the notions of competence and genius, all-encompassing terms which describe an individual’s abilities in all areas, excluding the evidence that while one can be highly knowledgeable in some fields of thought, they can’t be highly knowledgeable in all.
So, this begs the question: if not self-esteem, conditional self-regard, then what? How can we feel good about ourselves if we can’t assign all-encompassing labels to ourselves? If we consider beauty, which is ever-changing and perceived in comparison to others, and competence, which is limited and ever-evolving, to be subjectively valuable, we accept that all traits of value are subjectively valuable; therefore, if all of our positively perceived traits are valuable simply because we say they are, we have the power to create value and esteem for ourselves in whichever ways we choose.
We have the power to choose to love and accept ourselves (knowing that labels, whether positive or negative, are inadequate representations of reality) simply because we are who we are, like anyone else, creatures who are learning to love and grow and to make sense of their lives and the world around them. What we weren’t taught when we were children was that we had the power and the ability to unconditionally love and accept ourselves; that our self-worth didn’t have to be based on externally validated qualities, which we technically couldn’t even have. We could have chosen something different and something better, and we still can.
When we choose to love and accept ourselves, we choose to disavow the unreasonable expectations we set for ourselves; we discard our desires to always be beautiful, smart, and perfect. And when we make that choice, we’re choosing growth; we’re choosing to disallow our perceptions of our aptitude to preclude us from reaching our full potentials. We, then, begin to love ourselves in the way self-love was meant to be; it becomes an awakening of sorts. And, when there isn’t an exuberant self-image to maintain and the subsequent failure to do so, depression and anxiety seem more much more manageable.
The other day, I read an article about resilience, and the aspect of it that struck me was a story about an army veteran who simply decided to reject the insults of his childhood bullies; his resilience, he stated, stemmed from his unwillingness to accept their perceptions of him. I recall thinking, my god, that is the most powerful thing that any individual can do: to remain internally unmoved by their tormentors. In essence, this person learned one of life’s great truths: the fact that all of us have the ability to create our own self-perceptions.
And it is this insight which can unlock the doors to unperceived opportunities and unimagined experiences. We don’t have to continue to base our self-worth on external factors; we have the power to turn inwardly. Sartre once remarked that man is condemned to freedom, to create himself and his life out of virtually nothing; what we now know is that man is also given the ability to create his own perception of himself, and what can be more liberating? | https://existentialcafe.blog/2018/11/17/the-toxicity-of-self-esteem/ |
While our past circumstances might have been responsible for our low self-esteem, we shouldn’t overlook the role our daily practices and habits play in forming our self-image. If we want to do away with our people-pleasing behavior and feel more confident about our self-worth, we must work on these toxic habits that make us feel bad about ourselves.
From over-working ourselves to the brink of burnout to spending hours scrolling through the social media feeds, we all have some toxic habits that actually stem out from deep-rooted behavioral patterns. In order to have well-rounded emotional and mental health, we must try to identify them first.
What Is Self-Esteem?
Before getting into the toxic habits that cause low self-esteem in us, let’s get clear on what is self-esteem. Simply put, our self-esteem is the way we perceive ourselves. It is our inner voice that determines our worth, how are we as a person, and what we deserve from others. It is based on several mental building blocks such as self-identity, self-meaning, and self-concept. Ergo, a poor self-image or identity means low self-esteem.
10 Toxic Habits Responsible For Your Low Self-Esteem
If we continue seeing ourselves in a poor light and be our harshest critic, deep down we will always believe we deserved the maltreatment that we received and will fail to maintain high standards in all aspects of our lives. It is therefore important to be aware of these self-sabotaging behaviors and toxic habits for healthy self-esteem.
1. Making Assumptions
If we keep up our toxic habits such as jumping the gun and always arriving at the worst possible conclusion about situations or people, we will suffer from anxious thoughts that will convince us that everything and everyone is against us. Such negative thoughts will make us believe that either we are unfortunate enough to always get the short end of the stick or that people around us secretly hate us; in a nutshell, there is something inherently wrong with us
2. Procrastination
This is one of the most underrated toxic habits that lead to low self-esteem issues among many. The habit of keeping things pending makes us miss out on deadlines and perform poorly at work as well as in other pursuits. When we keep failing to show up or turn in work on time, it doesn’t help with our reputation. As a result, we get negative feedback from others, and on top of that, the guilt of letting others down gnaws at our emotional well-being.
3. Holding On To The Past
We all make mistakes and as much as it is important to learn from our errors, it’s equally important to let go of the past and move on with our head held high. But when we choose to keep holding on to the past, we are constantly living in fear and doubt. It makes us lose our confidence and carry the unnecessary emotional baggage of hate and guilt. Holding on to a grudge or lamenting over a mistake doesn’t solve the problem. It only deprives us of the blessings of the present time.
Related: What Is The Point Of Life? The Answer Is Not What You May Think It Is
4. Living In The Comfort Zone
Although we need to prioritize rest and self-care, never venturing out of our comfort zone is one of the toxic habits that cause our self-worth to deteriorate. If we stick to the old and the familiar and never try out anything new, we will not be able to develop a well-defined self-image and self-confidence. Expanding our horizons is very important for our self-esteem issues.
5. Comparing Yourself With Others
When we set ourselves against others, we focus only on their achievements, ignoring their hard work and discounting our own honest efforts. This is one of the toxic habits that gradually but steadily make us believe that we are not destined for success or happiness. We start suffering from an inferiority complex and go on a downward spiral with our mental health. Research suggests a strong link between the habit of social comparison and poor emotional health.
6. Not Planning
Planning for the future and moving forward with a clear vision gives us a goal in life and as we keep reaching one milestone after another, our self-esteem gets boosted. On the other hand, when we live our lives without any ambition or direction, this has an adverse effect on our self-worth. It is advisable to have a specific plan or a To-Do list for every day to get out of any funk.
Related: 7 Examples of How Successful People Set Goals and Achieve Them
7. Perfectionism
While pushing ourselves to accept new challenges, we must be aware of the pitfall of perfectionism. As said earlier, we must not pit ourselves against others and thus not try to prove our worth by trying to achieve an unrealistic goal. We need to give our best shot and only try to be better than yesterday. Perfectionism, like the other toxic habits, lead us to people-pleasing, over-working, and other unhealthy practices.
8. Lack Of Boundaries
Healthy boundaries are a must for healthy self-esteem. Lack of boundary leads to mistreatment by others and this, in turn, gives way to poor self-esteem. If we keep saying yes to everyone and everything, we give away our power. In order to have a strong self-image, we must set healthy standards for people and ensure that we are not being vulnerable or being taken for a ride. According to a study, the need for boundaries is imperative for professional success.
9. Unhealthy Coping Skills
Coping mechanisms serve us well when we are hurting and not being able to face our demons. But practicing unhealthy coping skills like turning to food or substance for a quick fix is one of the most toxic habits that can ruin our lives and damage our self-esteem. Depending on anything that is not good for us in the long run, is a crutch that will only make us lose our confidence and self-worth.
10. Not Taking Ownership
Finally, we need to come out of the victim mentality and start taking responsibility for our self-esteem. Maybe our parents, childhood bullies, or high school coach have instilled in us the lack of healthy self-worth, but we must take ownership of our lives and start taking action to improve the way we see ourselves.
Related: 10 Principles of Successful People from Stanislav Kondrashov
Let’s Look At Some Points That Can Boost Your Self-Esteem:
- Do things that make your heart happy.
- Don’t practice negative self-talk.
- Do things that you are good at.
- Whenever a negative thought crosses your mind, do something positive and constructive.
- Exercise more as it improves your mental health.
- Practice gratitude more.
- Choose to be with people who lift up your spirit.
- Forgive more.
- Try to be of service to others.
- Celebrate your accomplishments, even if they seem to be insignificant to others.
Remember, The Only Way Is Forward
The reasons for our poor self-esteem can be buried in our upbringing, but what we need to keep in mind is we are in charge of our life now. By doing away with these toxic habits and cultivating more self-help practices we can become the best version of ourselves and get rid of our low self-esteem issues. | https://themindsjournal.com/toxic-habits-and-self-esteem/ |
By Euro Weekly News Media • 05 March 2019 • 19:23
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF: Your thoughts influence your life.
Source: Shutterstock
There is no other person in the world better qualified at being you than you.
You are unique and have so much potential. Sadly, much of this potential is unexpressed, we tend to disappear into society becoming anonymous, leaving others to break the mould and achieve remarkable things in their lives. Are others just lucky? Handed better opportunities? We witness new heights and successes being reached, hear amazing stories of people beating the odds and achieving what seems to be the impossible. So, why not us?
Well, we are all capable of achieving incredible things in our lives and the first step is by truly believing you can. Life is a journey and when we have self-belief, magical things happen. However, we must accept that mistakes will be made along the way, as of course the path will be fraught with challenges. Everyone makes mistakes and those who say they don’t probably don’t try anything.
So, how do you start believing in yourself? Firstly change your philosophy, be the person you want to be by visualising the outcome you want, change your self-image to one of positivity. We all have a self-image, our imagination is a wonderful thing which you can start to use in a more positive way. Dismiss any reasons why you cannot achieve something and think of the many reason why you can. Be persistent with your new self-image as this demonstrates faith in yourself. Hold a constant positive image of the person you want to become until it becomes habitual. Thinking positively or negatively are habitual ways of thinking, so be mindful of this. With work, you can change your self-image and change your world. Marcus Aurelius one of the most respected Emperors in Roman history once said ‘’a man´s life is what his thoughts make of it.’’
Our self-image has been built up over a lifetime, formed from our successes and failures and the way people react to us. It is our own perception of the type of person we are. If you perceive yourself as a failure then no amount of positive thinking will work, as it’s not consistent with how you see yourself.
Once you have a consistent healthy self-image you will feel good and be more confident and start to achieve more.
So maybe now is the time to make a choice and take a leap of faith. Work on yourself as you deserve it as much as anyone. Believe you are capable of much more.
Do not concern yourself about making wrong choices, these are learning opportunities that will steer you, correcting you towards your destination. Opportunities are all around us and you´ll be amazed at how they will start to present themselves once you see yourself achieving them.
We are reflections of our thoughts and our thoughts create our daily reality.
If you can change your thoughts, you can change your life.
Start NOW!
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Of the whole Istanbul, the area of Fener is certainly the richest in history, the most fascinating and characteristic.
After the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, the Fener district became home to many of the Greeks in the city. The Patriarchate of Constantinople moved to the area as well and is still located there. During the Ottoman period, the Greek inhabitants of Fener were called “Phanariotes” and were important assistants to the Sultan in various capacities and offices.
Once entered in the quarter of Fener, the roads will start to get narrower and labyrinthine. We´ll discover historic wooden mansions and churches dating from the Byzantine and Ottoman eras. We are going among houses of bizarre colours and shapes, where we can feel the Greek history of Istanbul.
PROGRAMME
In Fener is situated one of the most important locus for Christianity: the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. It is for the Orthodox believers the equivalent of St. Peter in Rome for the Catholics. The historic and symbolic importance of this place is huge. It is one of the five main centres of Christianity: in fact, in order of hierarchy, the Patriarchate of Constantinople is the second after Rome and precedes Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem.
The Church of St. George (Καθεδρικός ναός του Αγίου Γεωργίου,) is the principal Greek Orthodox cathedral still in use in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and (as Constantinople), the capital of the Byzantine Empire until 1453. Since about 1600 it has been the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the senior patriarchate of the Greek Orthodox Church and recognised as the spiritual leader of the world’s Eastern Orthodox Christians.
Greek Orthodox College, known in Greek as the Great School of the Nation (Μεγάλη του Γένους Σχολή) is the oldest surviving and most prestigious Greek Orthodox school in Istanbul. Despite its function as a school, the building is often referred to as “the 5th largest castle in Europe” because of its castle-like shape.
The Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora (Ἐκκλησία τοῦ Ἁγίου Σωτῆρος ἐν τῇ Χώρᾳ) is a medieval Byzantine Greek Orthodox church preserved as the Chora Museum. The Chora Church is not as large as some of the other surviving Byzantine churches of Istanbul (it covers 742.5 m²) but it is unique among them, because of its almost completely still extant internal decoration. The interior of the building is covered with some of the oldest and finest surviving Byzantine mosaics and frescoes; they were uncovered and restored after the building was secularized and turned into a museum.
AND MORE…
Hagia Sophia (Αγία Σοφία) was a Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal basilica (church), later an imperial mosque, and now a museum. From the date of its construction in 537 AD, and until 1453, it served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral and seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople (except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted by the Fourth Crusaders to a Catholic cathedral under the Latin Empire).
Because of this history, it is unique among all the world’s grandest temples.
The dome is 56 metres high, and over 31 metres across, and is the largest one built in the Byzantine empire. Despite damage by earthquakes, fires, and the passage of time, the original design has lived on for close to 1500 years.
The Hagia Sophia has served as both a shrine of peace and an everlasting fountain of mystery down the centuries.
Hagia Sophia is wonder of the world – it has spanned so many centuries, cultures, religions, artistic movements, political junctures,
Enjoy a journey through one of the oldest buildings in the world with us!
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For information and reservation contact us: | https://savourturkey.com/en/tours/instanbul/fener-greek-tour-in-istanbul/ |
In 2020, Istanbul's most iconic landmark has been transformed from a museum into a mosque
The Hagia Sophia is amazing for its sheer size. Since 1453, it has been a mosque, and in 1935, 12 years after Turkey was declared a secular republic, it became a museum. After 85 years, the museum again turned into a mosque. “Around the World” recalls some interesting facts from the history of Hagia Sophia.
Sofia, no
A considerable number of people believe that the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople was consecrated in honor of a certain saint named Sophia – for example, in honor of St. Sophia of Rome, who suffered for her faith in 304, or in honor of Sophia, who was the mother of teenagers Faith, Hope and Love, martyred, according to church tradition, about a century and a half earlier, and was glorified as a saint along with them.However, this is not so: the cathedral was dedicated to the Wisdom of God (in ancient Greek Σοφία & nbsp; – “skill”, “knowledge”, “wisdom”), a special property of God in Christianity, which was identified with Christ and was especially revered in the east.
An analogue of the Wisdom of God can be found not only in Christianity: in ancient Greece, this property was closely associated with Athena, this term is also used in Judaism and is found in the Old Testament. Moreover, there is a parallel in Islam -there Divine knowledge is personified by the Preserved Tablet, which is the source of all sacred scriptures, in which all events of the past, present and future are recorded.
Most of the other Hagia Sophia, by the way, is also dedicated to the Wisdom of God. This applies, among other things, to St. Sophia of Kyiv and St. Sophia of Novgorod (one of the oldest churches in Russia), built in the 11th century, as well as, say, Hagia Sophia in Vologda (XVI century), the oldest stone building in the city. It is noteworthy that three previous Christian churches built on this site in the 6th-5th centuries were also consecrated in honor of Sophia the Wisdom of God.
The Cathedral of Constantinople, after being turned into a mosque, retained its name: in Turkish it was called Ayasofya.
A masterpiece in five years and ten months
Notre Dame Cathedral was built in 182 years (1163-1345), St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome – 120 years (1506-1626), St. Isaac's Collection in St. Petersburg – 40 years (1818-1858). Hagia Sophia of Constantinople was built in five years and ten months by 10 thousand workers.
Construction began in the spring of 532, 40 days after the inhabitants of the city, who raised the Nika uprising (the largest in the history of the city – about 35 thousand people were killed during the suppression), burned the previous basilica of Hagia Sophia along with a significant part of Constantinople. That one was built 117 years earlier by order of Emperor Theodosius II & nbsp; – on the site of a previous church with the same dedication that died in a fire.
It is noteworthy that the first Christian church of Hagia Sophia was erected on this site back in 337 by order of Emperor Constantine the Great and stood until 404, until it died – you can easily guess! – in fire during the next uprising (yes, uprisings and fires were not uncommon in the capital of the Byzantine Empire). Then Theodosius II was already ruling in Constantinople, on whose account, therefore, two Saint Sophias – 404 and 415.
But the current one, built by Emperor Justinian, far surpassed them all. Suffice it to say that Justinian, who conceived the new temple as a visiting card of the capital and a monument to his reign, attached to the former market square, on which the first three Sophias stood, several surrounding ones, bought from the owners of the plots, and demolished all the buildings on them.
He entrusted the construction to Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Trall, who built a few years earlier next to the house where Justinian lived in his youth, the church of Sergius and Bacchus, where the emperor and his family loved to visit.
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Justinian decided to build his Hagia Sophia on a grand scale and succeeded: the cathedral is 82 meters long, about 73 meters wide, and the 31-meter diameter dome rests on four massive pillars, and its top is 55.6 meters away from the floor (in the first version, the dome was flatter and its height was lower; it acquired its current appearance and parameters after restructuring).
At the same time, the drum of the dome is cut through by 40 windows, as a result of which the space under it is flooded with light, and the the vault with the mosaic seems to be hanging in the air. This dome was the largest on the planet for nine centuries – until it was overtaken by the Florentine Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, where the dome has a diameter of more than 42 meters.
At the same time, Hagia Sophia itself remained the largest building and the largest Christian church on the planet for about the same period. The staff of the cathedral under Justinian was 525 people (later it was increased), of which there were 50 priests alone – twice as many as singers.
Gothic mosquesHagia Sophia is the most famous Christian church turned into a mosque, but far from the only one. Such a fate befell many churches throughout Byzantium, as well as in some other once-Christian countries that fell under Muslim rule. And there, church buildings, like the Cathedral of Constantinople, acquired minarets, lost images and statues, but nevertheless retained recognizable features.
One of the most exotic results of such changes is Hagia Sophia in Nicosia, aka Selimiye Mosque, as well as St. Nicholas Cathedral in Famagusta, aka Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (both in the territory of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). Before becoming mosques, they were Gothic cathedrals, with the second modeled on the late Gothic Reims Cathedral with all the indispensable features of this style.
Collapses and reconstructions
Although Hagia Sophia may appear to be strong and unshakable, this impression is misleading: less than twenty years after its completion, two earthquakes cracked the central dome and the eastern semi-dome, and underground points on May 7, 558 caused the collapse of the central dome. (Modern Turkey in general and the region where present-day Istanbul is located, in particular, have been a seismically restless place for many centuries and remain so to this day.) However, not only earthquakes led to the collapse, but also errors in load calculations made by designers.
The reconstruction, which included the construction of a new shape of the dome and some alterations to the interior, was completed by 562. In this form, the cathedral stood for several centuries, having survived the era of iconoclasm with the smearing and destruction of icons and mosaics, the strongest fire and another earthquake in 859, which caused the collapse of one of the half-domes, and finally the earthquake of 989, as a result of which one of the arches of the dome collapsed. The then Emperor Vasily II called on the prominent Armenian architect Trdat to restore the cathedral, who, in addition to restoring and strengthening the arch, carried out a number of construction and reconstruction works that took six years.
And then the building experienced many misadventures from nature. In particular, it was especially severely damaged in the middle of the 14th century by earthquakes that caused a partial collapse of the domes. Since then, the cathedral has undergone numerous restorations and reconstructions, the most extensive of which took place in the late 40s of the XIX century, not to mention the numerous changes made after the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
The latter included the addition of minarets and additional premises and services to the cathedral building, the destruction of interior details associated with Christian worship and the addition of those for Islamic worship, hiding images, etc.
Exhibition of achievements of the imperial economy< /h2>
Justinian built the cathedral as a symbol of the power and wealth of his empire and did not spare not only bricks, mortar and laborers. The best marble and other building materials were brought to Constantinople from all over the empire, even from Africa.
By decree of the emperor, the architectural elements of ancient buildings – green marble columns – from Ephesus, porphyry – were used to decorate the cathedral – from Rome, and also gold, silver, ivory, and so on, and so forth, and so on. To decorate the altar, a wide variety of precious stones were used in countless quantities.
It is not surprising that Justinian spent several annual budgets of the empire on the construction and decoration of the cathedral, and also ordered that part of the income of some city trade and craft corporations be given to the construction and subsequent maintenance of the temple (by the way, Sultan Mehmed II had to do the same, conquered Constantinople in 1453).
The traditions of Justinian were continued by other rulers . So, at the end of the 10th century, Emperor Theophilus installed in the cathedral a carved door from a pagan temple in Tarsus – it is dated to the 2nd century BC. e. And Sultan Murad II, who ruled in the 16th century, installed huge vessels for ablutions, taken from Pergamum and made there between the 4th and 1st centuries. BC e. from solid pieces of marble.
All these riches were very attractive to the invaders. Many people think that the capture of Constantinople by the Turks caused the greatest damage to Hagia Sophia (and the entire Byzantine Empire), but this is not so: most of the valuables were taken out of here when the city fell under the onslaught of the Crusaders in April 1204 during the Fourth Crusade. | https://allposobie.ru/cathedral-mosque-museum-one-and-a-half-thousand-years-of-history-of-hagia-sophia-of-constantinople-in-entertaining-facts/ |
ISTANBUL—Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, one of the most famous landmarks in the world and a powerful religious symbol for both Christians and Muslims, will be turned into a mosque if Turkey’s Islamic-conservative government has its way.
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc recently threw his weight behind calls to convert the building from its present status as a museum into a mosque, and a right-wing opposition party in Ankara has tabled a bill in parliament calling for the conversion.
Built in the 6th century, the Hagia Sophia was the most important church of the Byzantine Empire for almost a millennium before the Muslim Ottomans turned it into a mosque after their 1453 conquest of Constantinople, as Istanbul was then called.
After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, the founder of modern Turkey’s secular republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, declared the Hagia Sophia a museum open to visitors of all faiths in 1935. A UNESCO world heritage site since 1985, the majestic building draws close to than 3.3 million visitors annually and is one of Istanbul’s main tourist attractions.
The Hagia Sophia reflects both its Christian and Muslim traditions. Circular wooden frames bearing the names of Allah, the Prophet Mohammed, his two grandchildren and of the first four caliphs adorn columns under the main dome, close to a Christian mosaic depicting the Virgin and the Child in the apse of the former basilica.
But Deputy PM Arinc says he wants the Hagia Sophia to be a mosque again. “We look upon this poor Hagia Sophia today,” he said during a speech near the building last month. “We pray that she may smile again very soon.”
Arinc reminded his audience of two other former Byzantine churches named Hagia Sophia, one in Iznik south-east of Istanbul and one in Trabzon on Turkey’s north-eastern Black Sea coast, whose conversion from museums into mosques he oversaw in recent years.
Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has roots in political Islam, is frequently accused by critics of trying to force its Islamic values on society. The government encourages the building of new mosques. Turkey currently has close to 85,000 mosques, around 10,000 of which were built since the AKP came to power in 2002. A huge mosque is currently being constructed on the highest hill overlooking Istanbul.
But there have been no efforts to take working churches away from Christian communities and turn them into mosques. In 2011, the government ordered the return of property confiscated decades ago to the dwindling Christian and Jewish communities in Turkey, which number less than 200,000 people in a country of 75 million.
In his speech outside the Hagia Sophia, Arinc said representatives of non-Muslim faith groups in Turkey had told him they would respect a decision to turn the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in Istanbul, the office of Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians around the world, has not commented on the issue.
Arinc can be confident that the government in Ankara, and possibly a majority in parliament, stands behind his initiative of transforming former churches into mosques. According to local media reports, Emine Erdogan, the wife of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prayed in the former Hagia Sophia in Trabzon during a visit there three weeks ago.
In Ankara, the right-wing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) presented a draft law to parliament that could serve as a legal framework for the conversion of the Istanbul Hagia Sophia. The bill, sponsored by deputy Yusuf Halacoglu, argues that the 1930s cabinet decision to turn the Hagia Sophia into a museum was never published in Turkey’s official gazette and was therefore null and void. No date has been set for a vote on the bill.
Government officials have not said how they intend to combine the Christian heritage of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia with the religious demands of a mosque. In Trabzon, Byzantine mosaics are hidden behind curtains at prayer times, in line with Islam’s ban on pictures of humans and animals. But given the size and the placement of mosaics high over the ground in Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, curtains would hardly be a solution there.
A conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque would have international implications. The government of Greece, Turkey’s Christian neighbour, has already reminded Ankara that Byzantine churches were part of the world’s cultural and religious heritage. Turkey responded by pointing out that there was not a single working mosque in Athens and said Ankara did not need lessons in religious freedom issues by Greece.
Turkey has also been asked to explain the Hagia Sophia to UNESCO, the UN’s cultural organization.
“UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre has asked Turkey to provide more information about plans for Hagia Sophia,” spokesman Roni Amelan said in an email this week. “We are waiting for the response and cannot comment before we know more.”
But in Turkey itself, international considerations seem remote for many. The Association of Anatolian Youth, a nationalist youth organisation, said earlier this year it had collected just under 15 million signatures supporting the conversion of the Istanbul Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Although not independently verifiable, the figure could suggest that Arinc’s plan may pay off for Erdogan’s AKP in local elections scheduled for March 30.
Several Turks interviewed on the square in front of the Hagia Sophia in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul recently also expressed support for the conversion.
“If there was a referendum, 85 percent of people would vote for it to become a mosque,” said Murat Ozturk, a 29-year-old civil servant. “For Turks, this is a symbol,” he added. “Of course it should be a mosque,” said another man on the square.
Turkish historian Mehmet Celik told a television interviewer that the Hagia Sophia was a cornerstone for Turkey’s national identity as a country born by expelling foreign occupying powers after World War I, when British and French troops ruled Istanbul.
“The Turkish nation still feels led and controlled by the West,” he said. “Only when the Hagia Sophia is a mosque again, it will feel truly sovereign.”
But Ayse Hur, another historian, said Turkey should accept once and for all that the Hagia Sophia was part of Christian, and not of Islamic, culture. | https://www.thedailybeast.com/turkeys-government-wants-to-convert-hagia-sophia-into-a-mosque |
This week in history: Hagia Sophia
This week in 537, eastern Roman emperor Justinian I finished construction of the Hagia Sophia: the great cathedral of his capital, Constantinople. Upon completion and for centuries thereafter, it was the largest building in the world. Justinian’s realm was the remainder of the Roman Empire: the original mega-state’s eastern half, which survived the fall of the West and which we call the Byzantine Empire. And the Hagia Sophia became the central cathedral of the eastern region of the Roman Christian Church, not to mention the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople. Eventually, the two great sections of the church broke into the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church — the latter led by the Patriarch of Rome, a.k.a the Pope. The Hagia Sophia remained the central cathedral of the Eastern church and the Byzantine Empire until 1453, when Constantinople fell to Muslim invaders and became the capital of the Turks’ new Ottoman Empire. The conquerors turned the cathedral into a mosque and added its now-iconic minarets: the slender towers you see on many mosques, used for the call to prayer. In the 1930s, however, the new, secular state of Turkey closed the mosque and transformed it into the Ayasofya Muzesi, or the Museum of the Hagia Sophia. You can visit the museum to this day, in Istanbul: the Turkish name for Constantinople. | https://pintsofhistory.com/2019/12/23/this-week-in-history-hagia-sophia/ |
The city of Istanbul, Turkey, is a kind of connecting bridge between the west and the east, as it has one foot in Europe and the other in Asia. It is vibrant, cosmopolitan and at every corner it tells a story. One of its greatest treasures, and the city’s greatest symbol, is the ancient Byzantine basilica Hagia Sophia built in the 5th century, during the Byzantine Empire, to be the cathedral of Constantinople. It is impressive to think that that gigantic temple, considered the largest in the Byzantine Empire, was built at a time so distant from ours and with such architectural perfection. A tremendous piece of engineering.
But history has its curves there and in 1453, when the Ottoman Turks invaded the Byzantine Empire, Hagia Sophia was transformed into a mosque. Better that way. It wasn’t brought down, like so many other gems of that time. Then, its big pink dome came to live with four minarets. Well … the story doesn’t stop there. In 1934, the church/mosque disputed by Christians and Muslims was transformed into a museum. It began to exhibit symbols of the two religions side by side. There are Christian mosaics coexisting with medallions with inscriptions from the Koran and it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A symbol of the Turkish secular state.
This week, Turkey’s President Erdogan announced that the Hagia Sophia museum will once again function as a mosque and that it will remain open for both Turks and foreigners, Muslims and non-Muslims. There were protests from several countries as Hagia Sophia adds values that transcend religions and unite humanity. The first prayer at the mosque will be held on July 24.
If you can no longer visit the interior of Hagia Sophia, here is a tip to enjoy a wonderful sunset, with the silhouette of the mosque-basilica almost within reach, from the terrace of the Four Seasons Sultanahmet. In fact, this hotel occupies a historic building that served as a prison for intellectuals and politicians, in a very central point of Istanbul.
If you haven’t been to Turkey yet, this is a country that deserves to be visited. Combining the vibrant mood of Istanbul with a bucolic balloon ride in Cappadocia is a nice little fold.
XoXo and see you next week. | https://camilacoelho.com/2020/07/14/traveltip-hagia-sophia-will-become-a-mosque-again/ |
If you happen to solely know one reality in regards to the Roman Empire, it’s that it declined and fell. If you already know one other, it’s that the Roman Empire gave strategy to the Europe we all know at this time — within the fullness of time, at the least. A great deal of historical past lies between our twenty-first century and the autumn of Rome, which in any case wouldn’t have appeared like such a decisive break when it occurred. “Most historical past books will let you know that the Roman Empire fell within the fifth century CE,” says the narrator of the animated TED-Ed lesson above. “This might’ve come as an excellent shock to the hundreds of thousands of people that lived within the Roman Empire up by the Center Ages.”
This medieval Roman Empire, higher often called the Byzantine Empire, started within the 12 months 330. “That’s when Constantine, the primary Christian emperor, moved the capital of the Roman Empire to a brand new metropolis referred to as Constantinople, which he based on the location of the traditional Greek metropolis Byzantium.” Not solely did Constantinople survive the barbarian invasions of the Empire’s western provinces, it remained the seat of energy for eleven centuries.
It thus remained a protect of Roman civilization, astonishing guests with its artwork, structure, gown, legislation, and mental enterprises. Alas, lots of these glories perished within the early thirteenth century, when the town was torched by the disgruntled military of deposed ruler Alexios Angelos.
Among the many surviving buildings was the jewel in Constantinople’s crown Hagia Sophia, about which you’ll be able to be taught extra about it in the Ted-ED lesson simply above. The lengthy continuity of the holy constructing’s location belies its personal troubled historical past: first constructed within the fourth century, it was destroyed in a riot not lengthy thereafter, then rebuilt in 415 and destroyed once more when extra riots broke out in 532. However simply 5 years later, it was changed by the Hagia Sophia we all know at this time, which has since been a Byzantine Christian cathedral, a Latin Catholic cathedral, a mosque, a museum (on the behest of secular reformer Mustafa Kemal Atatürk), and most recently a mosque once more. The Byzantine Empire could also be lengthy gone, however the finish of the story instructed by Hagia Sophia is nowhere in sight.
Associated content material:
An Introduction to Hagia Sophia: After 85 Years as a Museum, It’s Set to Turn out to be a Mosque Once more
360 Diploma Digital Excursions of the Hagia Sophia
Hear the Hagia Sophia’s Awe-Inspiring Acoustics Get Recreated with Pc Simulations, and Let Your self Get Transported Again to the Center Ages
Hear the Sound of the Hagia Sophia Recreated in Genuine Byzantine Chant
French Illustrator Revives the Byzantine Empire with Magnificently Detailed Drawings of Its Monuments & Buildings: Hagia Sophia, Nice Palace & Extra
Istanbul Captured in Lovely Shade Photos from 1890: The Hagia Sophia, Topkaki Palace’s Imperial Gate & Extra
Primarily based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and tradition. His initiatives embody the Substack publication Books on Cities, the guide The Stateless Metropolis: a Stroll by Twenty first-Century Los Angeles and the video sequence The Metropolis in Cinema. Observe him on Twitter at @colinmarshall, on Fb, or on Instagram. | https://www.educationonlines.net/how-the-byzantine-empire-rose-fell-and-created-the-wonderful-hagia-sophia-a-historical-past-in-ten-animated-minutes/ |
Audio technology has made many exciting advances in the past few years, one of which enables recording engineers to capture the sound of a specific space and recreate it elsewhere. Through a process called “convolution reverb,” the sound of a concert hall or club can be portable, so to speak, and a band or group of singers in a studio can be made to sound as if they were performing in Carnegie Hall, or inside a cave or grain silo.
Also being recreated are the sounds of gothic cathedrals and Byzantine churches—acoustic environments being preserved for posterity in digital recordings as their physical forms decay. This technology has given scholars the means to represent the music of the past as it sounded hundreds of years ago and as it was originally meant to be heard by its devout listeners.
Music took shape in particular landscapes and architectural environments, just as those environments evolved to enhance certain kinds of sound. Medieval Christian churches were especially suited to the hypnotic chants that characterize the sacred music of the time. As David Byrne puts it in his TED Talk on music and architecture:
In a gothic cathedral, this kind of music is perfect. It doesn’t change key, the notes are long, there’s almost no rhythm whatsoever, and the room flatters the music. It actually improves it.
There’s no doubt about that, especially in the case of the Greek Orthodox cathedral Hagia Sophia. Built in 537 AD in what was then Constantinople, it was once the largest building in the world. Though it lost the title early on, it remains on incredibly impressive feat of engineering. While the structure is still very much intact, no one has been able to hear its music since 1453, when the Ottoman Empire seized the city and the massive church became a mosque. “Choral music was banned,” notes Scott Simon on NPR’s Weekend Edition, “and the sound of the Hagia Sophia was forgotten until now.”
Now (that is, in the past ten years or so), well over five centuries later, we can hear what early medieval audiences heard in the massive Byzantine cathedral, thanks to the work of two Stanford professors, art historian Bissera Pentcheva and Jonathan Abel, who teaches in the computer music department and studies, he says, “the analysis, synthesis and processing of sound.”
Now a museum, the Hagia Sophia allowed Pentcheva and Abel to record the sound of balloons popping in the space after-hours. “Abel used the acoustic information in the balloon pops to create a digital filter that can make anything sound like it’s inside the Hagia Sophia,” as Weekend Edition guest host Sam Hartnett explains.
Pentcheva, who focuses her work “on reanimating medieval art and architecture,” was then able to “reanimate” the sound of high Greek Orthodox chant as it would have been heard in the heart of the Byzantine Empire. “It’s actually something that is beyond humanity that the sound is trying to communicate,” she says.” That message needs a larger-than-life space for its full effect.
Hear more about how the effect was created in the Weekend Edition episode above. And in the videos further up, see the choral group Capella Romana perform Byzantine chants with the Hagia Sophia effect applied. Just last year, the ensemble released the album of chants above, Lost Voices of Hagia Sophia, using the filter. It is a collection of music as valuable to our understanding and appreciation of the art of the Byzantine Empire as a restored mosaic or reconstructed cathedral.
via Kottke
Related Content:
Mapping the Sounds of Greek Byzantine Churches: How Researchers Are Creating “Museums of Lost Sound”
The Same Song Sung in 15 Places: A Wonderful Case Study of How Landscape & Architecture Shape the Sounds of Music
David Byrne: How Architecture Helped Music Evolve
A YouTube Channel Completely Devoted to Medieval Sacred Music: Hear Gregorian Chant, Byzantine Chant & More
Josh Jones is a writer and musician based in Durham, NC. Follow him at @jdmagness. | https://www.openculture.com/2020/03/hear-the-sound-of-the-hagia-sophia-recreated-in-authentic-byzantine-chant.html |
What are the best Byzantine Sites, Museums and Ruins?
1. Hagia Sophia
One of many important Byzantine sites in Istabul, the Hagia Sophia is a world famous sixth century church turned mosque. Whilst the original Hagia Sofia was built in the fourth century AD by Constantine the Great, very little remains of this structure nor the one built after it in the fifth century. The current building dates back to between 532 and 537 AD, during which time it was constructed under the order of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian.
Visitors can view remnants of the first two Hagias Sophias as well as touring the current building with its stunning mosaics and ornate Muslim altars and chapels. Outside, cannonballs used by Mehmet the Conqueror during his invasion of the city line the paths and there is an eighteenth century fountain for ritual ablutions. Hagia Sophia is a beautiful mixture of Muslim and Christian influences and architecture, including the Byzantine mosaics, which can only really be seen in the higher galleries for a further fee.
Agios Eleftherios is a very small yet important Byzantine church in Athens known as the little cathedral, one of many religious Byzantine sites.
Built in the twelfth century, Agios Eleftherios was once the main church in Athens. This fact, coupled with the vision of the diminutive church next to the monolith of Athens Cathedral has led to it being known as the "little cathedral".
The Church of Saint Nicholas at Myra is an ancient Byzantine church which charts the life of this famous Christian Saint and is one of the oldest surviving churches in existence. Though there may have been a church constructed on the present site shortly after the death of St. Nicholas, the church which exists now has its roots in the 9th century.
Despite its relatively modest size the Church of Saint Nicholas is nonetheless spectacular, and is popular with pilgrims and tourists alike. Particular highlights are the magnificent vaulted rooms, and the small gallery nearby containing the remains of some wonderful mosaics and frescoes.
There are a number of sarcophagi contained within the church, firstly in a gallery adjacent to the first chapel. The most notable sarcophagus is located in a separate, narrow gallery, which is said to be that of St. Nicholas himself, although his remains are more likely to have been stolen – apparently by Italian sailors who whisked them away to Bari where they built the Basilica of Saint Nicholas. The church is open to visitors all year round, with reduced opening hours during the winter months.
The Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki is dedicated to exploring various aspects of the Byzantine period, from its beginnings in the third and fourth centuries AD to its fall to the Ottomans in 1453. The museum explores various social aspects relating to this period including politics, ideology, religion and social structures. From mosaics and icons to ecclesiastic objects and everyday utensils, the museum displays almost 3,000 artefacts from the Byzantine period throughout its eleven rooms, categorising them and creating a chronological narrative for visitors to follow.
5. Kapnikarea
Sitting right in the middle of bustling modern streets, Kapnikarea is a beautiful 11th century Byzantine church in Athens. Built around 1050 AD, the church was constructed atop the remains of an earlier ancient Greek temple, probably dedicated to either Athena or Demeter.
Kapnikarea looks oddly out of place in the middle of a busy thoroughfare however its beauty is in its size. Small but perfectly formed, the Church of Panaghia Kapnikarea is an excellent example of a well preserved Byzantine building. Inside, visitors can also discover the excellent decorative art, particularly the Mosaic of the Madonna and Child.
The Basilica Cistern is a subterranean wonder and one of the greatest - and certainly the biggest - of Istanbul’s surviving Byzantine sites. With its imposing columns, grand scale and mysterious ambience, this subterranean site seems like a flooded palace, but it is in fact a former water storage chamber.
Built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian in around 532AD, the Basilica Cistern measures approximately 453 feet by 212 feet and would have stored around 80,000 cubic metres of water at a time to supply the palace as well as the city of Byzantium. Today, visitors can explore the site, treading its raised platforms to view its 336 beautiful marble columns, enjoy its vaulted ceilings and experience its eerie nature complete with dripping water. Amongst the highlights at the Basilica Cistern are two mysterious columns depicting the head of the mythological figure Medusa.
Yedikule Zindanlari is an impressive Byzantine and medieval fort in Istanbul. One of several Byzantine sites in the city. Originally part of the Theodosian Wall, built by Theodosius II in the fifth century, the fortress was added to over the centuries, including by Mehmet the Conqueror during the Ottoman period. Today, this imposing fort is open to the public and visitors can see its dungeons as well as walking along its well-preserved walls and battlements.
The historic Hagia Sophia in Trabzon, Turkey, is an impressive 13th century Byzantine church which now operates as a museum boasting a range of fascinating ancient frescoes. Originally constructed under the direction of Trebizond Emperor Manuel I between 1238 and 1263 AD, the Hagia Sophia was originally built to serve as a Church and its design reflects late-Byzantine architecture.
Today the Trabzon Hagia Sophia stands as an example of outstanding Byzantine architecture, containing three naves and three porticoes as well as numerous frescoes depicting Biblical scenes such as the birth, crucifixion and ascension of Jesus Christ, the twelve apostles and the frieze of angels. These frescoes had been covered after the Ottoman conquest and were only revealed during the 20th century restoration. Perhaps the most outstanding piece of decorative art within this group is the bas-relief frieze of Adam and Eve, located to the south.
Beautifully situated in a mountain-girt bay, Gemiler Island is packed with c.1,500 year old Byzantine remains. The island, just 1km long, has been surveyed by Japanese archaeologists who have revealed the existence of a thriving small town clinging to the northern shore. Unlike the classical cities of the region, there are none of the typical public buildings, no theatre, no baths, no gymnasium, no colonnaded streets, no agora, just a dense collection of houses, cisterns and four main churches. Today, one can explore the remains of these early churches, decorated with mosaics and frescoes, discover a huge public cistern and walk in a unique processional passageway up to the cathedral church and the island’s summit with its stunning 360-degree views.
An example of the Byzantine sites in Bulgaria, Bachkovo Monastery is said to be the second largest monastery in the country and one of its oldest. Destroyed by the Ottomans in the 15th to 16th centuries, it was in fact only the ossuary of Bachkovo Monastery which survives today of the original monastery. Today, visitors come to Bachkovo to see its many works of art as well as to appreciate its history, which includes various cultural influences, among them Georgian and Byzantine. | https://www.triphistoric.com/explore/articles/incredible-byzantine-architecture-sites-and-ruins |
First of all, what is Byzantium? It is a very interesting topic and will take me hours to explain, so to make things simple, the Byzantine Empire was one of the longest surviving empires in the world and lasted for 1,100 years. One interesting fact is that they can be credited for inventing – the fork.
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In this article, let me share with you the places I’ve travelled to that have a rich legacy of Byzantium, from Istanbul to Thessaloniki, to the mystical monasteries of Meteora and Ohrid. These places have certainly given me the feeling of what the Byzantine world would look like, even if it has already been gone for centuries.
The Byzantine Empire, based in Constantinople, now Istanbul was the Eastern Roman Empire that survived as the remains of the once powerful Roman Empire. In the year 330, the emperor Constantine the Great moved the capital of the Roman world from Rome to his new city of Constantinople found along the Bosporus Sea, a narrow strait between Asia and Europe. For the next 1,100 years it would be the seat of a powerful empire that controlled both land and sea. The empire was at its height in the year 565 when it regained most of the old territories of the Roman world in the Mediterranean from Southern Spain in the west to Armenia in the east, from the Black Sea coast of Ukraine in the north to Egypt in the south. For the next centuries during the Middle Ages, the empire remained wealthy from trade all over the East Mediterranean and with goods coming from the Silk Road from China, but its borders were gradually decreasing from enemy threats of the Arabs, Bulgars, and Turks on all sides. The empire reached its end in the 15thcentury only holding onto the capital and its surroundings, and in 1453, the Byzantine Empire completely fell to the Ottoman Empire.
Today, Byzantium will still be remembered for its rich cultural legacy in the arts and architecture. Even if the Byzantines are an underrated civilization, they have contributed a lot to our society today including the codification of laws and the legal system which are used in most countries today to the simple invention of the fork for eating. It is impossible to imagine not eating with a fork, especially for me who even uses it for pizza and burgers.
I. ISTANBUL
Where else to begin a tour of the old Byzantine but in its capital, what is today Istanbul. Istanbul is located between Asia and Europe along the coasts of the Bosporus and Marmara seas. Almost everything in the city is found on the European side on the west, which was the imperial center for both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Today, what you see in Istanbul is mostly the remains of the Ottoman era, such as the large and impressive mosques and minarets, the busy Spice and Grand Bazaars, carpets, spices, and of course the cuisine. Kebabs, mezze platters, desserts and snacks such as baklava and simit. Turkish happens to be my favorite cuisine and the food of Istanbul never disappoints.
The most famous attraction of Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia or Church of Holy Wisdom dates back to the Byzantine era and was built all the way back in 537 by Emperor Justinian I, almost a thousand years before St. Peter’s Basilica was built in Rome. The Hagia Sophia was the largest church in the world with a dome that is unimaginable, and today it still remains impressive. Near the Hagia Sophia is the former Hippodrome or public gathering square in Byzantine times and some of it remains intact such as the columns. Near it as well is the Basilica Cistern which was also built during the reign of Justinian I (527-65). Built to store the city’s water supply back then, today it is a scenic place especially with the lights underneath lighting up the columns. Other than these, you will randomly bump into ancient looking structures all over Istanbul, and these are definitely remnants of Byzantium such as the ruins of the old Magnaura Palace in the city center, the Hagia Eirene which was once a church now found near Topkapi Palace, then there’s the column at the Forum of Constantine found at the southern entrance to the Grand Bazaar. There’s also the massive remains of the Aqueduct of Valens in the west side of the city, and the Church of Chora with its interior walls ornately decorated with late period Byzantine frescoes. Surrounding the city till this day on 3 sides are the Walls of Theodosius, impregnable walls that would be difficult to breach as it had 3 layers. So, to anyone who travels to Istanbul, watch out for these ancient landmarks.
II. THESSALONIKI
In northeastern Greece, along the north shores of the Aegean Sea and not that far from Istanbul is the city of Thessaloniki, the 2nd largest in Greece after Athens and centuries ago, the 2nd city of the Byzantine Empire. Unlike Athens or in most of Greece, you will find more medieval Byzantine remnants rather than ancient Greek ruins in Thessaloniki. What you will find in the historic centre of the city is the Church of St. Demetrios built all the way back in the 4th century and near it the Triumphal Arch and Rotunda of Galerius. Most of the city does not really have attractive buildings, but still, found between them are attractive Greek style streets as well as hidden treasures like the remains of the Roman Agora and the Turkish bathhouse which was built over an old Byzantine structure. To get views of the city, you can go to the uphill vantage point where you will also find the Byzantine era city walls, which are a miniature version of the massive ones at Istanbul. Meanwhile, by the harbor of Thessaloniki is its most famous attraction, the White Tower built by the Ottomans after they captured the city in 1430. All of these landmarks mentioned are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and as you look closely, you will still see the flag of the Byzantine eagle on display outside Byzantine era buildings like the Church of St. Demetrios, but other than that, you can enjoy Greek cuisine and delicacies here.
III. METEORA
One of Greece’s most famous landmarks and a work of architecture that is unbelievable are the 6 monasteries built high above narrow natural pillars known as Meteora. The rock formations of Meteora in northwestern Greece, near the Pindus Mountains and the border with Albania is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is both a destination for history and nature. The monasteries were first built in around the 11thcentury during the Byzantine Empire era when monks wanted to live a life of peace and quiet away from civilization. Originally there were 24 monasteries above the large stone pillars, but only 6 survive and are functioning today as Greek Orthodox monasteries. The largest of these monasteries is the Grand Meteoron, built in the 14th century when Byzantium was nearing its end. In its church and hallways you will see a rich collection of late-period Byzantine fresco art as well as the quarters, dining hall, and kitchens of the monks, as well as a large courtyard. From here, you can view the 5 other monasteries which all have the same red brick architecture. These are the monasteries of Varlaam, Rousanou, St. Nicholas Anapausas, St. Stephen, and The Holy Trinity. Meteora is surely worth visiting and is a perfect place to take a hike.
IV. OHRID
Now up to the inlands of the Balkan Peninsula to the small city of Ohrid on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. The old town and lake of Ohrid is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for history and nature. It is one of the few places on earth where you will find so many Byzantine era churches intact and right beside each other. Ohrid has a total of 365 churches, one for each day of the year and is known as “The Jerusalem of the Balkans”. Ohrid has been around since Ancient Greek times and grew to become a center of learning and worship during the period under the Bulgarian Empire between 990 and 1015. In 1018, it was retaken by the Byzantine Emperor Basil II “The Bulgar Slayer”. The famous attractions in Ohrid include the isolated Church of St. John at Kaneo facing the lake, the cathedral also known as Hagia Sophia, the large Church of St. Kliment and Pantelemion, the Church of Theotokos Peribleptos which have stunning darkly colorful frescoes in its interior walls.
A hidden treasure in Ohrid is found a few kilometers south of the old town and on a crag beside the lake, this landmark is the monastery and church of Sveti Naum, which is a quiet, peaceful, and mystical place which has impressive frescoes and the relics of the saint who is from Ohrid as well. In the old town, you will see several houses with the Byzantine architecture of protruding upper floors. To see the whole town with the lake at the background, go up the hill to Samuil’s Fortress, which was once the citadel of the city under Bulgarian rule and its structure dates back to the Ancient Greek period in the 4th century BC. When in Ohrid, the food is much different, it is no longer Greek or Turkish but the meaty Yugoslavian cuisine which tastes good as well.
Nowadays, not a lot of us have an idea of what the Byzantine world was like, but reading about it in books shows a colorful world of interesting figures, endless conquests and military expeditions, poisoning and plots, family dramas, trade between east and west, inspiring stories of how commoners became emperors such as Basil I and Justinian I. It would be hard to imagine the Byzantine world by just reading about it in books, the best way to relive the empire is to travel to places like Istanbul, Thessaloniki, Meteora, and Ohrid. These places do not completely have the Byzantine world intact but its churches with a simple brick exterior and rich and colorful interiors will help you imagine the world of Byzantium while the walls of Istanbul and Thessaloniki will show you how powerful the empire was in military strength.
There are still a lot more places of the Byzantine world I have yet to see, like the cathedral mosaics of Ravenna, as well as Sicily, Cappadocia, and Trabzon. Hopefully I will be able to see them in the future. Byzantium may not be remembered as much because there are no popular movies or series produced about their history, but still even if they remain an underrated civilization, we must remember them for the introduction of the fork to Europe and the rest of the world and for their exceptional skills in so many things – including running an empire that lasted for more than a thousand years.
Because of their great skills and contributions to society, I have always found Byzantium interesting and something that must be further discovered.
Well, this is all for now for my article on Byzantium. Thanks for reading! | https://thetravelingtitasofmanila.com/2019/03/23/inventors-of-the-fork/ |
Hagia Sophia is the national landmark of Turkey, situated in the heart of the capital Istanbul with many interesting facts. It was constructed by the Roman empire because of the basilica in 537 AD and has survived by way of numerous transformations. Around 3.47 million vacationers visited the landmark in 2015, making it probably the most popular vacationer site in complete Turkey.
Hagia Sophia facts
Hagia Sophia Quick Facts
- The Blue Mosque and Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul had been designed with the inspiration of Hagia Sophia.
- It was enlisted on the earth heritage site by UNESCO in 1985.
- Hagia Sophia is a former Christian patriarchal basilica (church), later an imperial mosque, and now a museum.
- Over 3 million vacationers go to the landmark each year, making it probably the most visited vacationer site in Turkey.
- Hagia Sophia has 40 home windows within the space the place worshipers sit and it’s often known as well-known reflecting mystical light.
- Hagia Sophia was initially constructed because of the Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal Basilica in 537 AD by the Byzantine Roman Empire in the course of the reign of Justinian I.
- It remained the world’s largest cathedral for practically a thousand years, till the Seville Cathedral was accomplished in 1520.
- It was designed by the Greek geometers Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles.
- It was additionally added Four minarets, every 60 meters (200 feet) tall outdoors the church.
- After a great earthquake in 989 ruined the dome of Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine officers summoned Trdat the Architect to Byzantium to arrange repairs.
- The cause the Hagia Sophia was chosen as one of many seven wonders of the ancient world was due to its quintessential Byzantine architectural type.
- It was transformed right into a mosque by Mehmed the Conqueror of the Ottoman empire in 1453. It remained a mosque till 1931 and was opened as a museum in 1935 by the Republic of Turkey.
- The constructing was a mosque from 29 May 1453 till 1931. It was then secularized and opened as a museum on 1 February 1935.
- Hagia Sophia is the third Church of the Holy Wisdom to have been constructed on the site. The two that had been constructed earlier had been destroyed on account of rioting.
- In the museum at this time, there are Islamic and Christian influences and options.
- The 15 meters (50 foot) silver iconostasis from the times when Hagia Sohpia was a church is on display within the museum.
- The 4 minarets surrounding the principal dome were later added by the Ottoman empire. One minaret was constructed out of red bricks whereas the opposite three had been constructed of white limestone and sandstone.
- It incorporates two floorings centered on a large nave that has a great dome ceiling, together with smaller domes, towering above.
- Hagia Sophia was the seat of the Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople and a principal setting for Byzantine imperial ceremonies, resembling crowning ceremonies.
20. Origin
Hagia Sophia, Turkish Ayasofya, Latin Sancta Sophia, additionally referred to as Church of the Holy Wisdom or Church of the Divine Wisdom, cathedral constructed at Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) within the sixth century A.D. (532–537) beneath the course of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I.
21. Temple of Artemis
To fortify (and beautify) the inside of the church, columns from the long-abandoned and destroyed Temple of Artemis in Ephesus had been used for the Hagia Sophia. Additional constructing supplies may have come from ancient sites in Baalbeck and Pergamum.
22. A church
The unique construction on the site was a church, nevertheless, it was transformed right into a Roman Catholic cathedral whereas Constantinople was occupied by crusaders in the course of the 4th Crusade. It was turned back into an Eastern Orthodox church in 1261, and some of the well-known mosaics on its inside – the Deësis mosaic – were really commissioned in the identical year to rejoice this!
23. Talisman of the doorways
Who can ignore the myths that encompass the ostentatious doorways of the Hagia Sophia? There are 361 of them, and they’re magnificent in their very own right, however, of explicit curiosity are the 101 which might be bigger than all the remaining, Hagia Sophia facts. They are stated to have a talisman. Why? Because, when they’re counted, it’s stated that at all times one more door appears to seem.
24. The secret in Deesis Mosaic
Deesis Mosaic, which dates back to the 13th century, is assumed to occupy the place of an earlier mosaic beneath it. Located within the Upper South Gallery, some have steered that the determine of Jesus depicted isn’t the actual one. Why?
A scar situated on Jesus’s right forehead seems because of the number 11. Sources imagine that there’s a link between the quantity and Apollon, who was a Pythagoras cult member. The mosaic creators had been Pagans who had been later Christianised by drive, and who, allegedly had supposed to attract Apollon moderately than Jesus.
25. Transformed in a mosque
After the Ottoman invasion in 1481, Sultan Mehmet II declared that the building could be transformed from a church right into a mosque. That means it is really spent more time as a church or cathedral than a mosque to this point in its lifetime! This conversion has occurred throughout the centuries, beginning with fixtures like minarets being put in, and the building of madrasahs throughout the complicated.
26. Dimensions
Its dimensions of 82 meters (270 feet) long and 73 meters (240 feet) extensive, sporting a dome 33 meters (108 feet) in diameter with a crown that rises 55 meters (180 feet) from the ground level is formidable at its time of development.
27. Lost lots of artwork to iconoclasm
The Hagia Sophia museum is wealthy in artworks of each Muslim and Christian variety. One can solely think about how a lot more of Christian paintings there would have been if iconoclasm had not taken place- that is the idea within the significance of the destruction of photographs and monuments for worry of those turning into the middle of reverence moderately than God.
During the iconoclasm interval, many artworks or photographs had been plastered over, destroyed, or altogether eliminated. People would really come to hope and make needs in front of Hagia Sophia’s icons with the idea that they’d come true.
28. Conversion
From the date of its development in 537 till 1453, it served as a Greek Orthodox cathedral and seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople, besides between 1204 and 1261, when it was transformed to a Roman Catholic cathedral beneath the Latin Empire.
29. The “wishing column”
Also referred to as the “sweating column,” the “wishing column,” and the “perspiring column,” the weeping column stands within the northwest portion of the church and is one among 107 columns within the building. The alleged blessing of St. Gregory has led many to rub the column in the hunt for divine therapeutic.
30. Hagia Sophia home windows are well-known
Apart from the Hagia Sophia itself, and its dome, one different excellent function of Hagia Sophia is its forty home windows beneath the massive dome throughout the building. When the solar shines, it casts a light into the cathedral that creates a mystical aura reflecting into the nave.
The well-known home windows, whereas letting light into the constructing additionally would present structural issues or put on and tear, whereas easing the strain of the dome on the pendentives, Hagia Sophia facts.
31. Lustration urns
Two large marble lustration (ritual purification) urns had been introduced from Pergamon in the course of the reign of Sultan Murad III. From the Hellenistic interval, they’re carved from single blocks of marble.
32. Marble Door
The Marble Door contained in the Hagia Sophia is situated within the southern higher enclosure or gallery. It was utilized by the individuals in synods, who entered and left the meeting chamber by way of this door. It is alleged[by whom?] that every facet is symbolic and that one facet represents heaven whereas the opposite represents hell. Its panels are lined with fruits and fish motives. The door opens into an area that was used as a venue for solemn conferences and necessary resolutions of patriarchate officers.
33. ‘Weeping Column’
Hagia Sophia has a column often known as the wishing column, sweating column, or sweating column that’s damp to the contact. It is situated on the northwest portion of the church, and on it, there’s a gap by which people jam their fingers to obtain therapeutic from their illnesses! It is believed that it has the blessing of St. Gregory who appeared close to it, thus offers therapeutic.
A finger that emerges moist from the outlet is believed to be a sign of the achievement of 1’s needs and the supply of therapeutic. Protective bronze plates put over the outlet were no determent to pilgrims who nonetheless discovered a strategy to enter the outlet, Hagia Sophia facts.
34. Destroyed and rebuilt over 8 times
After its destruction in 404, it was rebuilt because of the Church of Theodosius II in 415. Unfortunately, that church was additionally burnt down in a fireplace in 532. Following that, the building was destroyed and rebuilt after a number of earthquakes. The Hagia Sophia is definitely constructed on a fault line, making it further weak to earthquakes and natural disasters! There had been earthquakes in 553, 557, 558, 869, 989, and 1344 that resulted in extreme injury to the building.
Over time it has been restored to its glory, however, the humidity in Istanbul at this time implies that some spots nonetheless endure from water injury. While it is nonetheless charming in its grand magnificence, it was even positioned on the World Monuments Watch in 1996 and 1998 because it wanted pressing repairs, and the most recent renovations had been carried out as not too long ago as 2006. Renovation and restoration work nonetheless takes place at this time, however, you possibly can admire the great thing about the inside with no fear.
35. The Nice Door
The Nice Door is the oldest architectural component discovered within the Hagia Sophia courting back to the 2nd century BC. The decorations are of reliefs of geometric shapes in addition to crops which might be believed to have come from a pagan temple in Tarsus in Cilicia, a part of the Cibyrrhaeot Theme in modern-day Mersin Province in south-eastern Turkey. It was integrated into the construction by Emperor Theophilos in 838 the place it’s positioned within the south exit within the interior narthex.
36. The Logos in Christ
The church was devoted to the Wisdom of God, the Logos, the second particular person of the Holy Trinity, its patronal feast happening on 25 December, the commemoration of the start of the incarnation of the Logos in Christ.
37. Darkish and gory
Being the principal religious building in Istanbul (initially often known as Byzantium after which Constantinople), the Hagia Sophia was at all times affected when the city was overtaken by invaders. It was ransacked and desecrated by crusaders in the course of the Fourth Crusade, after which once more by the Ottomans throughout their invasion of Constantinople in 1481.
Today, centuries later, it stands as a museum and testament to its long history and presence all through the modifications that Istanbul has gone by way of. A morbid attraction inside its grounds is the mausoleum tombs of Ottoman Sultans that lie within the historic buildings next to the museum. After you have paid a go to the Hagia Sophia and its surrounding buildings, here is how one can spend 3 days exploring the remainder of Istanbul too!
38. Holy relics of Jesus
Another spectacular secret that the Hagia Sophia holds is its possession of the cross and nails which might be allegedly those used within the crucifixion of Jesus. They are held in a secret chamber. According to a story, the dear, holy relics had been introduced all the way in which from Jerusalem and hidden throughout the Hagia Sophia – those that imagine that Jesus will return to the world, additionally imagine he’ll first seem throughout the marvel in Istanbul.
39. The addition of Islamic artwork
Following the conquest of the city, the Hagia Sophia was transformed right into a mosque. In order to create an Islamic ambiance inside it, a number of Islamic motifs had been added.
The most necessary one was the verse from the Holy Quran which reads, “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth”.
There are additionally plaques on which the Holy Prophet Muhammad, and the name of 4 caliphs, who performed a vital function in making a sanctuary of Islam in Hagia Sophia, are honored. When the construction was consequently transformed right into a museum, makes an attempt had been made to take away the artwork, however, the authorities gave up on their try after they realized the placards had been larger in size than the Hagia Sophia’s doorways.
40. Upper gallery
The higher gallery, the matroneum, is specified by a horseshoe form that encloses the nave on three sides and is interrupted by the apse. Several mosaics are preserved within the higher gallery, space historically reserved for the Empress and her court docket. The best-preserved mosaics are situated within the southern part of the gallery.
The higher gallery incorporates runic graffiti presumed to be left by members of the Varangian Guard, Hagia Sophia facts.
41. Modernized into a museum
The first President of Turkey Mustafa Kemal Atatürk got here into energy in 1923. He banned quite a few Islamic customs and westernized Turkey. This was precedence for the secularization of the Hagia Sophia, later transformed into a museum.
Before its conversion, Hagia Sophia was Istanbul’s primary mosque. Its conversion was seen as helpful to the Eastern international locations and the world as it will present new data.
Turkey’s Kariye mosque turned museum was contested in court docket. The ruling made was in its favor, because the conversion was declared illegal. This might have set priority for different museums that had been as soon as mosques resembling Hagia Sophia to revert to being mosques.
42. The shape of the Dome
The dome is carried on 4 spherical triangular pendentives, one of the many first large-scale makes use of them. The pendentives are the corners of the sq. base of the dome, which curves upwards into the dome to assist it, restraining the lateral forces of the dome and permitting its weight to circulate downwards. It was the biggest pendentive dome on the earth till the completion of St Peter’s Basilica and has a lot of decrease height than another dome of such a big diameter, Hagia Sophia facts.
43. The diameter of the dome
The great dome on the Hagia Sophia is 32.6 meters (one hundred and 7 feet) in diameter and is simply 0.61 meters (two feet) thick. The primary constructing materials for the Hagia Sophia composed of brick and mortar. The brick mixture was used to make roofs simpler to assemble.
The mixture weighs 2402.77 kilograms per cubic meter (one hundred and fifty pounds per cubic foot), an average weight of masonry development on the time.
Due to the supplies plasticity, it was chosen over the lower stone on account of the truth that the mixture can be utilized over an extended distance. According to Rowland Mainstone, “it is unlikely that the vaulting-shell is anywhere more than one normal brick in thickness”.
44. Weight of the dome
The weight of the dome remained an issue for a lot of the constructing’s existence. The unique cupola collapsed completely after the earthquake of 558; in 563 a brand new dome was constructed by Isidore the youthful, a nephew of Isidore of Miletus.
Unlike the unique, this included 40 ribs and was raised 6.1 meters (20 feet), with a view to decrease the lateral forces on the church partitions. A bigger part of the second dome collapsed as properly, in two episodes, in order that at this time solely two sections of the present dome, within the north and south facet, nonetheless date from the 562 reconstructions. Of the entire dome’s 40 ribs, the surviving north part incorporates eight ribs, whereas the south part contains six ribs.
45. Imperial Door
The Imperial Door is the door that might be used solely by the Emperor in addition to his personal bodyguard and retinue. It is the biggest door within the Hagia Sophia and has been dated to the sixth century. It is about 7 meters long and Byzantine sources say it was made with wood from Noah’s Ark.
46. Wishing column
At the northwest of the building, there’s a column with a gap within the center lined by bronze plates. This column goes by totally different names; the “perspiring” or “sweating column”, the “crying column”, or the “wishing column”, Hagia Sophia facts.
The column is alleged to be damp when touched and has supernatural powers. The legend states that since Gregory the Wonderworker appeared close to the column within the year 1200, it has been moist. It is believed that touching the moisture cures many illnesses.
47. Nothing unique stays now
The spot the place the Hagia Sophia stands initially housed because the Church of Constantius II, constructed over 1500 years ago in 360 AD! It was often known as the ‘Magna Ecclesia’ or ‘Great Church’ because it was larger than all of the church buildings within the city at its time. Unfortunately, this church was burnt down throughout riots in 404, and there are not any stays of this unique construction at this time.
The primary constructing of the Hagia Sophia was inaugurated in 537, after 5 years and 10 months of development. Even back then it was seen as a significant architectural work and concerned supplies from throughout the Byzantine empire! Imperial ceremonies resembling coronations often came about inside its partitions.
48. The massive dome
Famous particularly for its huge dome, it’s thought-about the epitome of Byzantine structure and is alleged to have “modified the history of structure“.
49. Constructed from important materials
Hagia Sophia’s columns had been from the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus which is without doubt one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Large stones had been acquired from Egypt whereas black stone was acquired from the Bosphorus. Additionally, green marble and yellow stone had been acquired from Thessaly and Syria respectively. All these supplies from across the Byzantine Empire and past made Hagia Sophia as magnificent as it’s.
The options of the Hagia Sophia as described are splendid, and a visit there would assist respect their individuality in addition to their coming collectively to type the entire. Conversion of the church to a mosque, then the museum ensures that all the pieces are accessible for viewing.
It is feared that an earthquake may carry Hagia Sophia down because it was constructed over a fault line. The Museum might additionally do with some refurbishment because it has been stated that Hagia Sophia is in such a state of disrepair it desperately wants work, Hagia Sophia facts.
50. Tears of the Virgin Mary
A narrative in regards to the Virgin Mary makes up one other necessary part of the Hagia Sofia. It is alleged that one day when she was instructed that her son Jesus had been captured and tortured, she turned overwhelmed by her tears. One of those tears dropped from her cheek and made a gap on the pillar on which she was leaning.
During the development of it, the emperor introduced this pillar to the Hagia Sophia with a view to bless the construction. For this cause, it’s believed that the stone is certainly blessed and when the building was in operation, these eager to make a want would ritually place their finger within the gap that the tear carved, and expressed their needs.
51. Narthex and portals
The Imperial Gate was the main entrance between the exo- and esonarthex. It was reserved solely for the Emperor. The Byzantine mosaic above the portal depicts Christ and an unnamed emperor. A long ramp from the northern part of the outer narthex leads as much as the higher gallery.
52. “Holy Wisdom”
Sophia means “wisdom” in Greek whereas Hagia means “holy or divine”. So, Hagia Sophia means “holy wisdom”. However, the church’s full name in Greek is Ναός τῆς Ἁγίας τοῦ Θεοῦ Σοφίας, Naos tēs Hagias tou Theou Sophias, whose translation to English is “Shrine of the Holy of God”, Hagia Sophia facts.
53. A museum since 1935
Under President Ataturk of the newly secular Turkish republic, the Hagia Sophia was transformed right into a museum for visitors and re-opened in February 1935. To get it prepared for the general public, the plaster and whitewash had been eliminated to showcase the mosaics and unique marble decor.
54. Loggia of the Empress
The loggia of the empress is situated within the center of the gallery of the Hagia Sophia, above the Imperial Door, and instantly opposite the apse. From this matroneum (women’s gallery), the empress and the court-ladies would watch the proceedings down under. A green stone disc of verd vintage marks the spot the place the throne of the empress stood.
55. Reconstruction during Byzantine period
Hagia Sophia is undoubtedly crucial Byzantine (Istanbul) empire buildings, and likewise one of many world’s best monuments. Emperor Justinian dominated for 38 years, throughout which a revolt came about, and the church building was destroyed. The emperor nonetheless ordered and oversaw Hagia Sophia’s development and inaugurated it in 537 CE. He was very happy with this work.
56. The third Church
Hagia Sophia is the third church to have been constructed on the same site. The first church was often known as the Μεγάλη Ἐκκλησία, Megálē Ekklēsíā, that means “Great Church”, and after this church was burned in 404 the second church was ordered by Theodosius II, Hagia Sophia facts.
However, this church additionally shared the identical destiny; it was burned to the ground on account of the Nika Revolt in opposition to Emperor Justinian I. In the wake of the revolt, on the identical site, the Hagia Sophia was constructed beneath the course of Emperor Justinian I between 532 and 537.
57. 5 years, 10 months, and 4 days
While it took practically a century to assemble the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, the Hagia Sophia was inbuilt report time; 5 years, 10 months, and 4 days. Building such a church was stated to take the work of more than 10,000 men.
58. Signature of a Viking: Halvdan
People from Northern Europe had been often known as Vikings a thousand years ago. Known to be ferocious warriors, they desired to discover the world past their shores – they, too, had been visitors of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia and left their writings and signatures on its marbles and partitions. Ones etched within the ninth century are seen even at this time.
Written within the old Viking language, the interpretation reads: “Halvdan was here.” People who walked previous these writings barely seen them, Hagia Sophia facts.
59. The largest cathedral on the earth
It remained the biggest cathedral on the earth till the development of Medieval Seville Cathedral in 1520. Another reality is that solely Patheon in Rome has barely a larger dome than the dome of Hagia Sophia on the earth.
60. Was designed with a really giant dome
Hagia Sophia was designed with a really giant dome which is alleged to have modified the history of the structure. Because of the forty home windows across the base of the dome, it’s well-known for the paranormal high quality of light that displays all over the place within the inside of the nave, the realm the place worshippers sit.
The distinctive character of the design of Hagia Sophia exhibits the way it is, without doubt, one of the oldest monuments of the ancient structure and a supreme masterpiece of Byzantine structure.
61. Islam and Christianity
It has the final word distinction of two religions collectively. Both Islam and Christianity have their foothold in museums. While the Islamic calligraphic roundels are suspended from the principal dome, the museum additionally has uncovered Christian mosaics as its prime function, Hagia Sophia facts.
62. A declaration
On Saturday, July 16, 1054, as afternoon prayers had been about to start, Cardinal Humbert, legate of Pope Leo IX, strode into the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia, right as much as the principal altar, and positioned on it a parchment that declared the Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularius, to be excommunicated.
He then marched out of the church, shook its mud from his feet, and left the city. Every week later the patriarch solemnly condemned the cardinal. This occasion opened a brand new web page within the history of Christianity because the Great Schism between Catholics and Orthodox started.
63. The most well-known and intense restoration
The most well-known and intense restoration of the Hagia Sophia was ordered by Sultan Abdülmecid. The restoration was accomplished by eight hundred employees between 1847 and 1849. Sultan commissioned Swiss-Italian architect brothers Gaspare and Giuseppe Fossati who consolidated the dome and vaults, straightened the columns, and revised the ornament of the outside and the inside of the building.
64. The principal mosque of Istanbul
Hagia Sophia remained the principal mosque of Istanbul for about 500 years till it was transformed right into a museum on 1 February 1935 by the Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding father of the Turkish Republic, Hagia Sophia facts.
The Turkish Council of Ministers acknowledged that due “to its historical significance, the conversion of the (Hagia Sophia) mosque, a unique architectural monument of art located in Istanbul, into a museum will please the entire Eastern world and its conversion to a museum will cause humanity to gain a new institution of knowledge.”
65. Best surviving examples of Byzantine architecture
Even at the time when it was constructed, the Hagia Sophia was considered an architectural marvel, and plenty of neo-Byzantine church buildings and Ottoman mosques have been modeled on it.
Its richly adorned interiors, with partitions lined in mosaics and towering marble pillars, are a trademark of Byzantine type and grandeur. The sheer size and scale are tough to explain – it is actually one thing you have to see with your individual eyes!
Of course, its well-known dome is what the Hagia Sophia is understood worldwide for. The primary dome is a surprising 55.6 meters above ground level, with a diameter ranging between 31.24-30.86 meters.
Smaller domes and arched openings encompass this primary dome, and you’ll see how this has influenced different neo-Byzantine buildings just like the Blue Mosque or Topkapi Palace. These Three iconic buildings are what each customer to Turkey undoubtedly has to see before they go away!
66. Iconoclasm
Despite the opposition of rich Greeks in addition to the peoples of Italian provinces, iconoclasm was carried out within the Byzantine Empire at intervals. During the eighth and ninth centuries A.D, the interval of iconoclasm led to the elimination of many mosaics and work from the Hagia Sophia.
67. Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles
Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles had been the architectures that Emperor Justinian I commissioned to design the Hagia Sophia. Isidore of Miletus was often known as a physicist and mathematician who taught at the universities of Alexandria after which Constantinople before he was employed to design the Hagia Sophia. Anthemius of Tralles was a famed, mathematician and geometrician.
68. Mosaics had been uncovered
A lot of mosaics had been uncovered within the 1930s by a team from the American Byzantine Institute led by Thomas Whittemore. The team selected to let various easy cross photographs stay lined by plaster, however, uncovered all main mosaics discovered, Hagia Sophia facts.
Due to its long history as each a church and a mosque, a selected problem arises within the restoration process. The Christian iconographic mosaics are being regularly uncovered. However, so as to take action, necessary, historic Islamic artwork must be destroyed. Restorers have tried to keep up a steadiness between each Christian and Islamic culture.
69. Floor
The stone-ground of Hagia Sophia dates from the sixth century. After the first collapse of the vault, the damaged dome was left in situ on the unique Justinianic ground and a brand new ground laid above the rubble when the dome was rebuilt in 558. From the set up of this second Justinianic ground, the ground turned a part of the liturgy, with important places and areas demarcated in numerous methods with totally different colored stones and marbles.
The ground is predominantly of Proconnesian marble, quarried on Proconnesus (Marmara Island) within the Propontis (Sea of Marmara). This was the principle white marble utilized in Constantinople’s monuments. Other elements of the ground had been quarried in Thessaly in Roman Greece: the Thessalian verd antique “marble”. The Thessalian verd vintage bands throughout the nave ground had been usually likened to rivers.
70. Reflection of lights
Hagia Sophia is known for the light that displays all over the place within the inside of the nave, giving the dome the looks of hovering above. This impact was achieved by inserting forty home windows across the base of the unique construction. Moreover, the insertion of the home windows within the dome construction decreased its weight.
71. Sign of the Byzantine Empire
While the Hagia Sophia was being constructed, the supplies used to assemble the church had been sourced from everywhere in the Byzantine Empire. For occasion, the columns had been from the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of many Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, giant stones from Egypt, black stone from the Bosphorus, yellow stone from Syria, and green marble from Thessaly.
72. Buttresses
Numerous buttresses have been added all through the centuries. The flying buttresses to the west of the building, though thought to have been constructed by the Crusaders upon their go-to Constantinople, are literally constructed in the course of the Byzantine period.
This exhibits that the Romans had prior data of flying buttresses which can be seen in Greece, on the Rotunda of Galerius in Thessaloniki and on the monastery of Hosios Loukas in Boeotia, and in Italy on the octagonal basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. Other buttresses had been constructed in the course of the Ottoman occasions beneath the steering of the architect Sinan. A total of 24 buttresses had been added.
73. Minarets
The minarets had been an Ottoman addition and never a part of the unique church’s Byzantine design. They had been constructed for notification of invites for prayers (adhan) and bulletins. Mehmed had constructed a wood minaret over one of many half domes quickly after Hagia Sophia’s conversion from a cathedral to a mosque. This minaret doesn’t exist at this time, Hagia Sophia facts.
74. An architectural yardstick
The Basilica type and the massive 32-meter dome of the Hagia Sophia construction make it excellent. Its construction is nearly sq. with three aisles separated by columns with galleries above it. Marble piers assist a heavy dome that sits on its top.
Hagia Sophia has home windows that obscure the help when the sun shines making the cover seem like floating.
These and plenty of different architectural marvels have made Hagia Sophia more than ordinary-it design impressed that of different mosques just like the Blue Mosque of Istanbul and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.
75. Islamic and Christian influences
Hagia Sophia was constructed as a Cathedral and its name means holy knowledge. It was constructed beneath a formally Christian state at a time when residents had been dissatisfied with their authorities and had been rioting, Hagia Sophia facts.
Justinian, the ruler then, managed to quell the riots and had the Hagia Sophia constructed with easy decorations that had been largely photographs of the cross, and later ornate mosaics.
With the end of Justinian’s rule by means of defeat by Mehmed II, sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Hagia Sophia was transformed into a mosque, and modifications in decorations had been made. Christian decorations had been lined up moderately than destroyed. These had been later unearthed, therefore the present-day Hagia Sophia museum presents each Muslim and Christian influence.
76. The fall of Jerusalem
The fell of Jerusalem by the hands of Ayyubid Sultan Saladin shocked the Western world who determined to take revenge instantly. Jerusalem didn’t fell to the disoriented crusaders however Constantinople did. In 1204, the cathedral was ruthlessly attacked, desecrated, and plundered by the crusaders who ousted the Patriarchy of Constantinople and changed it with a Latin bishop.
77. The rule of the Ottoman Empire
A brand new web page was opened within the Hagia Sophia’s history on 29 May 1453. The city of Constantinople fell by the hands of the Ottoman Empire beneath the rule of Sultan Mehmed II which marked the end of the Byzantine Empire. Sultan instantly referred to as for a restoration of the Hagia Sophia and its conversion right into a mosque.
78. Removal of designs
The alter, bells and sacrificial vessels of the Hagia Sophia had been eliminated whereas Sultan protected the quite a few frescoes and mosaics which had been whitewashed in plaster and lined in Islamic designs and calligraphy.
A Mihrab (prayer area of interest), Minbar (pulpit), and a fountain for ablutions in addition to Four minarets, every 60 meters, had been added to the outside, and a school, kitchen, library, mausoleums, and sultan’s lodge joined the site over the centuries.
79. Mosaics
The unique Byzantine rulers and caretakers of the building adorned the inside with beautiful mosaics and frescos depicting biblical scenes and figures similar to Jesus, the Virgin Mary, saints, apostles, and even Byzantine emperor or empresses. After the Ottomans conquered Constantinople, they lined up the frescos and mosaics with whitewash and plaster as Islam doesn’t enable iconoclastic works venerating depictions of icons and figures.
It was solely in 1930 that excavations and renovations uncovered these mosaics and artifacts. Some of the oldest marble reliefs courting back to the sixth century nonetheless exist at this time and could be seen in an excavation pit next to the museum’s entrance. They depict 12 lambs, representing the 12 apostles of Jesus.
80. A wide range of ornate mosaics
A wide range of ornate mosaics had been added over the centuries by every emperor after Justinian I. They included imperial portraits, photographs of the imperial family, totally different emperors, saints, photographs of Christ, and the Virgin Mary with Jesus as a toddler.
81. Built and rebuilt
The unique church on the site of the Hagia Sophia is alleged to have been constructed by Constantine I in 325 on the foundations of a pagan temple. It was broken in 404 by a fireplace that erupted throughout a riot following the second banishment of St. John Chrysostom, then patriarch of Constantinople. It was rebuilt and enlarged by the Roman emperor Constans I. The restored building was rededicated in 415 by Theodosius II. The church was burned once more within the Nika rebel of January 532.
82. Roman porphyry
The primary construction; the porphyry columns got here from Rome and the marble columns got here from Ephesus. Marble in diverse colors, alabaster, and onyx had been lower, fitted, piered, and veneered to cover partitions and pavements in geometric patterns. It was constructed by the Greek architects, Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus.
83. One of Hagia Sophia’s options is a great dome
Hagia Sophia’s partitions as soon as needed to be reconstructed to assist an enormous dome that sits atop it, as its weight prompted the partitions to lean outward. Its sheer size which is 31.7 meters in diameter and 55.6 meters high from ground level is breathtaking. The pendentives that sit between the arches that assist the dome had been additionally a novel function utilized in development then.
Getting around the dome to remain on top of a square constructing by itself is spectacular, therefore the fascination with the Hagia Sophia.
It is alleged that the massive dome is an emblem of the realm of heaven and its glory. This dome is definitely worth the point out as it’s the most putting component of Hagia Sophia, and the second-largest within the world- pantheon in Rome boasts a barely larger dome
84. The site of two different church buildings
Hagia Sophia is the third development on the spot on which it sits. The different two constructions had been church buildings as properly. The first one, Μεγάλη Ἐκκλησία, Megálē Ekklēsíā, that means “Great Church” was burned in 404.
Theodosius II ordered the erection of a brand new church which was constructed however was additionally razed to the ground throughout a revolt in opposition to Emperor Justinian I. This emperor commissioned architects, Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, to construct the Hagia Sophia within the wake of the revolt.
The two males had been Mathematician- Physicist, and Mathematician- Geometrician respectively, Hagia Sophia facts.
85. The interior
All inside surfaces are sheathed with polychrome marbles, green and white with purple porphyry and gold mosaics, encrusted upon the brick. This sheathing camouflaged the massive pillars, giving them, at a similar time, a brighter aspect. | https://www.countryfaq.com/hagia-sophia-facts/ |
Description:
When Emperor Constantine found the city of Constantinople, it was soon to become the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. But the Christin city needed a great church to represent it’s great value, so the Hagia Sophia was built (Krystek, Lee). The Hagia Sophia was built by the Byzantine Empire in 537 C.E., which was an Empire influenced greatly by the greek and roman styles (Krystek, Lee). It has a square base with a large dome on the top. Round arcs surrounded the large dome, adding mystical beauty to the Hagia Sophia (Krystek, Lee). Also, multiple colors of bricks were used to create patterns on the outside of the Hagia Sophia. On the inside, the walls are made of marble with glass panes which bring beautiful sunlight into the large museum (Krystek, Lee). The Hagia Sophia is very significant because it was rebuilt many times. The first church was built and then burnt down in 404 C.E. (Krystek, Lee). It was then rebuilt and burned down by riots in 502 C.E. (Krystek, Lee). Then the 3rd church was built by Justinian. After long periods of time, Sultan Mehmed conquered Constantinople and changed it to an islamic city, converting the church to a mosque (Krystek, Lee). In 1934, President Ataturk changed the mosque to a museum for the people and tourists, instead of a sacred place of worship (Krystek, Lee).
On the other hand, there is the Suleymaniye Mo...
... middle of paper ...
...nto consideration that Mimar Sinan was influenced by the construction of the Hagia Sophia, which could explain why they are similar in some aspects.
Works Cited
Cooksey, Chris. "Tyrian Purple." Webmaster, 19 Mar. 2012. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
Hagia Sophia Istanbul. "Hagia Sophia Facts." Hagia Sophia. N.p., 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
Krystek, Lee. "Hagia Sophia." The Museum of Unnatural Mystery. N.p., 2012. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
Michael, Douma. "Prussian Blue and Vermillion." Pigments Through Ages. Institute for Dynamic Educational Development, 2008. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
Newton, Henry, and William Winsor. "Spotlight on Colour: Flake White." Winsor&Newton. N.p., 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
Tarihi, Anadolu. "Suleymaniye Mosque." Anatolia History. Elmalma, 16 Oct. 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
Tschanz, David. "Suleimaniye Mosque." Academia.edu. N.p., Apr. 2012. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
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This was a somewhat moderate description of the fanaticism that erupted in Greek media: On the same day, the popular Greek historian Eleni Glykatzi-Arveler appeared on national television to state the following: “For me, [the transformation of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque] is the Second Fall of Constantinople. If I hear that the mosaics of Hagia Sophia are crying, I will not be surprised. And I won’t ask for whom the bells toll mournfully… [They will toll] for all of Christendom.” The historian concluded her statement by affirming that “the Greek people will always say ‘Holy Mary, do not cry; with years and with time, [Constantinople and the Hagia Sophia] will be ours once more.’” This obscure comment was a direct reference to a well-known piece of Greek nationalist folklore: a 19th-century folk-song that prophesized an eventual Greek reconquest of Istanbul and Hagia Sophia, a myth that has been at the core of Greek religious fundamentalism and nationalism for about two centuries.
Despite more sober statements by Greek political authorities – such as the minister of culture, Lina Mendoni, who warned about the reignition of religious and national fanaticism – many endorsed a more aggressive stance: The church of Greece ordered that church bells all over the country should toll mournfully on the day of the first Muslim prayer in the space, and protesters in many places (especially in Northern Greece) held banners declaring the Hagia Sophia to be “a Christian Church” and images in which its minarets were photoshopped out.
The fabrication of the historical and ideological narrative that has allowed Greeks to consider themselves as the primary inheritors of the Byzantine legacy – or as the rightful owners of a monument that stands outside their current national borders – has, of course, begun long before current events.
By going back to the 19th century, and to discourses of architectural historiography and nation-building in Greece, this essay sheds light on current events by referring to the diachronically complicated relation of the Greeks – the political and intellectual authorities of the modern-Greek nation-state and the national imaginary that they have cultivated – to the Hagia Sophia. By doing so, the article points to a particular paradox: Byzantine architecture was not immediately embraced as the national heritage of Greece, but only several decades after the foundation of the country in the late 19th century. This is compared to other European nation-states that embraced their medieval monuments as national symbols early on. The long and complicated process of this recognition reveals a fundamental difference not only in the Greek national imaginary, but also in the local epistemology between the local Byzantine churches and monuments (those that after 1830 stood within the Greek border) and the more distant (less tangible and more mythicised) Hagia Sophia. Last but not least, this same 19th-century discourse can, to some extent, explain why, in the early-21st century, several voices in Greece seem to be laying exclusive, “national” claims over a monument that is broadly considered to be a site of “World Heritage”.
The historiography on Hagia Sophia in the early modern era – the process by which it was “discovered” by European architects and historians and inducted into the Western canon of architectural history, as well as the process of its material and symbolic appropriation by Ottoman Sultans – has been the subject of numerous studies. As Ludovic Bender has shown, the discovery of the Hagia Sophia by Western architects was a long discourse that began in the late-17th century and continued until the 1830-40s. This latter period, which (as Bender argues) marked the beginning of a more systematic study and historiography of Byzantine architecture in Europe, coincides with the foundation of the Modern Greek nation-state in the 1830s.
The modern-Greek state was founded in the 1830s on the ideological premise of a re-birth of its Classical past. This essentially meant that, for most of the 19th century, ancient Greek monuments were praised and protected, whereas any other built heritage – including Byzantine architecture – was, at best, treated as an object of lesser importance (and, at worst, dismissed as an unwanted “Oriental” miasma). At a time when European architects were beginning to be interested in Byzantine architecture and to study it systematically – be it in Ravenna, Venice, Istanbul or in different locations in Greece, the architects and intellectual authorities of the modern-Greek nation-state appeared to be unwilling to embrace these buildings as worthy of study and preservation. A Royal Decree issued in December 1837 by Otto, the Bavarian King of Greece, grouped the Byzantine churches of Athens together with Venetian and Turkish monuments (placing them all under the broad label of “medieval relics”) and commanded their preservation for the rather vague reason that they “add to the curiosities of the capital” (“αυξάνουν τα περίεργα της πρωτευούσης”). Yet the decree in reality did little to prevent the abandonment and dilapidation of Byzantine churches in Athens throughout the 19th century.
The “discovery” of Byzantine architecture in Greece – its treatment as an object of study and of artistic value – began in the 1830-40s, but it had originally little to do with Greek architects and historians. It was initiated by the observations of a small number of French architects and antiquarians such as Abel Blouet, André Couchaud, and Albert Lenoir, who wrote the first articles and books on the subject. And I say “a small number” because the majority of European antiquarians, who traveled to Greece in the 19th century in search of Classical ruins, continued to show little interest in Byzantine relics; very often they scorned them and at times they even had a hard time understanding them. The Byzantine churches of Mystras, for instance, (which would be studied and admired by French, Greek and other archaeologists in later years) were dismissed by Chateaubriand in 1811 as a “confused mixture of the oriental kind, and of Gothic, Greek and Italian style”. In the 1830s things changed: French architects and archaeologists began to develop an interest in Byzantine architecture in Greece. But, at the same time that the Lyonnais architect André Couchaud was publishing in Paris what is considered the first book on the Byzantine churches of Greece, for Greek intellectual circles of the mid-19th century, Byzantium and its architectural heritage was still a highly controversial matter. Many saw the Byzantine churches of Athens as the miserable and tasteless leftovers of an unwanted Oriental past, and argued for their demolition whenever they hindered the construction of new streets. “What is Byzantine ecclesiastic architecture?” wondered one Greek historian, only to give an answer that echoed Chateaubriand’s aforementioned dismissal: “the ruins of the ancient art, rather irregularly composed with one another; the Roman arch on the Greek column”.
The problem of Byzantine architecture in Greece was not only a matter of preserving its ruins, but also of emulating its style in new designs: the predominant style for new public and private buildings in 19th-century Athens was neo-Classical. The few neo-Byzantine designs that appeared in the Greek capital provoked strong reactions from locals. At a time when a neo-Byzantine design for the Cathedral of Marseille by Leon Vaudoyer began construction in 1852, a neo-Byzantine scheme for Athens Cathedral provoked heated opposition. Originally designed in the 1850s by Greek architect Dimitrios Zezos following the requests of the Bavarian King Otto for a “Greco-Byzantine” building, its Byzantine style was further accentuated by the French architect Florimond Boulanger in the 1860s. But these designs were met with fierce resistance and criticism in the local press, and the structure was eventually recast in a more neo-Classical style. Another example is the architect Theophil Hansen, who worked in Athens and designed several of its main public buildings almost exclusively in a neo-classical style, and only built projects in a neo-Byzantine style after leaving Athens and moving to Vienna: for instance, the city’s Arsenal – now the Museum of Military History – or, more notably, the Orthodox Church of Holy Trinity in the Fleischmarkt area, designed in a strikingly neo-Byzantine style for the Greek community of Vienna. The story of the commission and design of each of these buildings definitely needs a closer investigation, but these incidents point to the following conclusion: while Byzantine architecture was part of the acceptable vocabulary of forms for historicist architects in many European cities, in Athens it remained an illegitimate or questionable stylistic choice at least until the end of the 19th century.
Alongside the numerous articles dismissing and ridiculing the Byzantine churches of Athens, around the 1850s and -60s, the Greek daily and weekly press also published a number of articles, also by Greek authors, which praised the architectural splendor and religious importance of Hagia Sophia, meanwhile protesting its contemporary use as a mosque and the interventions of Ottoman authorities in it. This sudden rise of interest in Hagia Sophia among Greek authors had been sparked by the work of historians like Konstantinos Paparrigopoulos and Spyridon Zambelios who, through their books, managed to incorporate (the previously rejected) Byzantine middle ages into the narrative of Greek national history, framing it as the middle period that joined Classical antiquity and the modern present into a cultural and historical continuum. One of the many side-effects of this historiographic and ideological paradigm shift was that Hagia Sophia became, for the Greeks, a national symbol of equal magnitude as the Parthenon. But the contradiction remained: whereas Greeks lamented the fate of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, many still scorned the numerous Byzantine churches within their own national borders and paid little attention to their dilapidation.
But even Hagia Sophia was not unanimously accepted as national and religious heritage by the Greeks in the 19th century. Adamandios Korais – a man whose writings laid the foundation of a modern-Greek national conscience in the early 1800s and fuelled the war through which the Greeks gained their independence from the Ottoman Empire in the 1820s – was famous for rejecting the heritage of Byzantium and its monuments. In a text called “Dialogue between two Greeks” (“Διάλογος Δυο Γραικών”) published in Venice in 1805, Korais staged a conversation between a Christian commoner (Kleanthes) and a didactic enlightened intellectual (Aristocles), in which Hagia Sophia was scorned as the indulgent and over-costly work of an Oriental despot – the kind of leader that an Enlightened nation should never wish for. Discussing the issue of churches, Kleanthes expresses admiration for Hagia Sophia and the hope that a Christian sermon will take place in it someday. Aristocles rushes to educate him on the history of the construction of Hagia Sophia, and to point out that, in order to raise funds for this majestic construction, emperor Justinian (as well as Constantius before him) made significant cuts from the salaries of teachers and funds otherwise destined for the development of the arts and the sciences. To the shock of Kleanthes, Aristocles gives the final ideological blow to the Byzantine monument by saying: “The glorious edifice of the Hagia Sophia, my friend, is the reason why neither you nor many of us [modern Greeks] can understand the wise language of our forefathers.” And then adds: “Whoever [of our rulers] today dares to spend for the construction of luxurious temples the funds that are needed for the foundation of schools and the feeding of teachers, ought to be locked up where they lock up fools and maniacs.” To understand the importance of this accusation, a comparison with parallel central-European discourses is helpful: In his famous text “Von Deutscher Baukunst” in 1773, Goethe laid the foundation of German nationhood by projecting it onto the Gothic cathedral of Strasbourg, and thus paved the way for many European architects embracing Gothic architecture in the 19th century. Conversely, Korais used Hagia Sophia as the negative example of “Oriental” indulgence and backwardness, using it as a cautionary tale that warned the emerging Greek nation to avoid the mistakes of its past.
This outlook accounts partly for the fact that Greek intellectual authorities caught up with the Europeans’ interest in Byzantine architecture with a significant delay, at the end of the 19th century. This change occurs in the 1880s, when Georgios Lambakis founded the Greek “Christian Archaeological Society” (1884), an Athens-based group aimed at the study and protection of Byzantine antiquities in Greece. But even then, Byzantine churches were not unanimously accepted as architectural monuments worthy of preservation. The most famous example of this is the case of the 11th-century church of Kapnikarea, whose position in the middle of a main axis of modern Athens (Ermou street) had sparked continuous complaints from the 1830s onwards. Despite rising awareness of the value of such monuments (as evinced by the foundation of Lambakis’ Society in 1884), the Greek press was still full of articles arguing for its demolition; such as the following satirical poem, entitled “To Kapnikarea” and published in the magazine “Το Άστυ” as late as 1889:
My holy church, jumping out like a filthy stick in the middle [of the street], worshiped only as an antique, and unfairly taking up such a place.
My holy church, for you, the whole world is a mess; we have all lost our sense, and every man has their own opinion.
My holy church, our Mayor himself we will bring to you, as a golden offering, if only you could listen to our sorrow and perform this little miracle:
Just as the workers will try to uncover your foundation, may your walls tremble, all at once, and may you become a ruin within the hour!
Thus, you will be our aid, in getting rid of this ugliness. And we, who have suffered beyond belief, will save ourselves from all this noise!
Nowadays, Greek architects and the broader public appreciate the value of local Byzantine monuments. This is largely due to the work of later generations of architects like Aristotelis Zachos, Anastasios Orlandos, and Panayotis Michelis, whose writings and teaching in the first half of the 20th century established Byzantine architecture as part of the teaching curriculum in Greek architecture schools, and as a key component of Greek architectural heritage. But the fact remains: long before it was embraced by Greek intellectual authorities, Byzantine architecture in Greece and elsewhere was already an object of international interest. And while many European architects and antiquarians were discovering, documenting, and investigating Byzantine monuments in Greece, the Greeks (at least until the beginning of the 20th century) remained ambiguous towards them.
But let us return to the monument that is at the center of recent media debates: The thematization of Hagia Sophia in the Greek national and historical imaginary has little to do with its architecture and materiality and more with the religious and territorial symbolisms that have been projected onto it. What I want to argue is that Hagia Sophia – and, to some extent, Byzantine architecture in general – has entered the modern-Greek historical conscience and discourse not through architecture and archaeology (and other material artifacts), but through folklore and the nationalist narratives that drove ethnography in the 19th century.
A key moment for this occurred during the 1820s (during the Greek War of Independence), through the transcription and publication of an alleged oral tradition (to which Eleni Glykatzi-Arveler referred in her statement): a 19th-century Greek folksong recounting the events of the Siege of Constantinople in 1453, and focusing on a scene in which Christians lament the loss of Hagia Sophia to the Muslim besieger and try to salvage the church’s holy relics. At the end of the song, the Virgin Mary weeps over the Ottoman conquest of the city, the church, and its relics, but a voice from the Heavens reassures her: “Hush, Virgin Mary, don’t cry, don’t shed your tears; with years and with time, they [the grounds of Constantinople, the church of Hagia Sophia and its holy relics] shall be Yours once more” (“Σώπα, κυρία Δέσποινα, μην κλαίης, μη δακρύζης· Πάλε με χρόνους, με καιρούς, πάλε δικά σου είναι”). Paraphrased to the plural first-person – “Ours once more” (Πάλι δικά μας θα’ναι), – so as to appeal to the national “We”, this last verse of the folk song went on to become the leitmotiv of Greek nationalism and irredentism for the following century. Rooted in a purported popular tradition, this slogan fuelled the ambition of a Greek reconquest of Constantinople, Hagia Sophia, and the former territories of Byzantium from the 1820s to the early-20th century (and several wars and hostilities of Greece towards Turkey). This ambition was put to a definite halt in the 1920s; but Glykatzi-Arveler’s evocation of this old piece of nationalist folklore in her recent statement indicates that such ideas still resonate with a part of the Greek public.
The first publication of this folksong – the first transcription of this purported oral tradition – was made by the Frenchman Claude Charles Fauriel in a collection of “Chants populaires de la Grèce moderne” published in 1824-5, in the midst of the Greek Independence War. Fauriel claimed that the song was at the time “known in all parts of Greece”. The fact that he himself had never actually set foot in the country (and only collected Greek folk songs through what others who lived or traveled there would send him in written form ) should be enough to raise suspicions about the originality and validity of this purported oral tradition. But the song’s compliance with the illusions of national grandeur nurtured by both the Greek revolutionaries of the 1820s and the cultural elite of the subsequent modern Greek nation-state erased all potential doubt. This allowed the song, along with its conception of Hagia Sophia as an object of national desire, to enter the canon of Greek folklore. In the decades that followed Fauriel’s book, it was reproduced with small variations by the founding fathers of Greek ethnography, Spyridon Zambelios and Nikolaos Politis, as well as many more of Greece’s most respected philologist-folklorists.
We could perhaps conjecture that, at least until the early-20th century, more Greek ink was spilled over the aforementioned folk song and other popular lore surrounding Hagia Sophia, than over the material reality, history, and architectural and artistic features of the actual building. Being outside the national border, Hagia Sophia could not be examined from up close like other Byzantine churches that were situated inside the country. In lieu of material artefacts, Hagia Sophia appealed more to Greek scholars in the field of philological folkloristics (the ethnographic academic field that examines oral traditions) than to those working in architectural history or medieval archaeology. As such, Hagia Sophia is not a typical architectural monument with a physical presence, but rather a “monument of the word” (“μνημείο του λόγου”). This latter expression – “monument of the word” was coined by folklorist Nikolaos Politis at the end of the nineteenth century in his attempt to distinguish the rather elusive and immaterial objects of his work (folk songs, fairy-tales, etc.) from the more concrete material artifacts examined by archaeologists. For Politis and for many scholars around him, oral popular traditions were as important as material relics. And thus, the collection of folk songs, fairy-tales and other popular sayings about Hagia Sophia were equally important as the study of the building itself. One could perhaps understand Politis’ conception of the “monuments of the word” as precursors to what UNESCO would in later years call “Intangible Cultural Heritage”. But in the 19th century, such ideas were defined along national lines and didn’t go as far as what UNESCO defines (for Hagia Sophia and many other sites) as “World Heritage”. For the Greek historical imaginary (and for a large part of Greek scholarship), as it was forged in the 19th century, Hagia Sophia is less as a monument of international and transcultural historical significance and artistic value, and more the object of a “local” tradition, and of a quasi-national and quasi-religious desire and entitlement. It is ultimately more “Ours” than anybody else’s.
A good example of this concept is a book published in Athens in 1918, titled “The symbols of National Faith - Constantinople and Hagia Sophia” (“Τα σύμβολα της Εθνικής Πίστεως – Κωνσταντινούπολις και Αγία Σοφία”). The book was essentially an anthology of previous writings on Hagia Sophia by Greek authors from the 19th until the early 20th century – by the aforementioned Zambelios and Politis, among many others – in which historical accounts were juxtaposed with nationally charged and obscure folklore: from a petrified Byzantine emperor coming back to life to re-conquer Constantinople, to half-fried fish refusing to die until the city returns to Christian hands. (Needless to say, the aforementioned folk song about the Siege of Constantinople and the prophecy of it becoming “Ours once more” features prominently in the pages of the book, as well as its cover, where one can read the phrase “I’m yours once more” (“Πάλι δικά σας είμαι [sic]”) in quotation marks, under the title.) The book does contain a couple of historical accounts about the construction of Hagia Sophia, but not much architectural analysis. Essentially, it tells us little about the architecture and the art of Hagia Sophia, but a lot about its authors and how they perceived the monument.
Those in Greece who feel “personally” or “nationally” affected by the transformation of Hagia Sophia (back) into a mosque, and who cry out or imply that this is “Ours” more than anybody else’s, ought to reflect on the following: We can now appreciate this monument because of an international dialogue of scholars who studied it from up close, deciphered its history and unveiled the value of its art and architecture. Until more recent years, Greek authors limited themselves to the reproduction of national folkloric myths for internal consumption and contributed little – or, at least, no more than others – to the international archaeological and historical discourse that made Hagia Sophia the valuable historical artifact that it is today. On top of this, and before we lay national claims on a monument that stands outside our national borders, we also ought to be reminded that, for almost a century, some of Greece’s most famous authors and intellectuals (as well as, presumably, much of the broader audience) rejected Byzantine monuments, within and beyond the Greek borders, as something profoundly other and alien.
It is important to acknowledge that recent events are not the subject of a bilateral national feud, but of an international debate; and that the Turkish government’s decision pertains to interior crises and political maneuvers, or to broader geopolitics that surpass the Greco-centric (nationalist and irredentist) view of Istanbul and Hagia Sophia. Even if we wanted to reduce what is currently happening to a history of Greek-Turkish relations in terms of the treatment of religious monuments, perhaps we ought to begin by counting how many traces of Muslim history that existed on ancient and medieval monuments within Greece have been removed, erased or silenced; or how many (historical and modern) mosques in Greece have been demolished, locked up, turned into museums (whose curation does little to highlight their Islamic history and artifacts), cinemas (whose occasional screening of “adult” film content has been more disrespectful than any Muslim prayer in a former Christian church), bars, or even warehouses. A recent survey, made by Turkish architect Mehmet Almin Yilmaz, has shown that in 18 different countries all over eastern Europe, all in the former territories of the Ottoman Empire, 329 works of Islamic architecture (mosques, masjids, Sufi lodges, and tombs) have been converted into churches. Greece is at the top of the list, with around 100 constructions: in different parts of the country, 74 mosques, 19 tombs, 1 imaret, and 2 prayer halls were converted into churches, and 5 minarets have been converted into bell towers. In the face of recent Greek reactions about the re-conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, Turkish media raises awareness about the chronic mistreatment of Muslim religious monuments by Greek authorities.
In the face of recent events, and of the numerous imaginary claims of ownership over a monument that lived through centuries and bears the marks of different peoples, I am reminded of Lord Byron’s “The Siege of Corinth” (1816), a poem inspired by his first visit to Greece, a few years before the Greek Independence War would trigger the gradual territorial shrinking and eventual collapse of the Ottoman Empire. In this poem, set in Corinth, Byron describes a battle between Greeks and Turks inside a Byzantine church, creating a poetic scene which, even though incredibly gory and violent (and quintessentially Orientalist), makes for an interesting allegory of the intermingling of cultures and architectures in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire. At the end of the poem, as the battle peaks, a Greek warrior called Minotti blows up the church with dynamite. Pieces of the church and the bodies of the two armies are blown into the air. When they land, they form a ruinous landscape formed of piles of architectural parts and human limbs of Muslims and Christians; a landscape in which (as Byron describes) not even the mothers of the fighters can distinguish one from the other:
When old Minotti's hand
touched with the torch the train–
'tis fired!
Spire, vaults, the shrine, the spoil, the slain,
the turbaned victors, the Christian band,
all that of living or dead remain,
hurled on high with the shivered fane,
in one wild roar expired!
[...]
Up to the sky like rockets go
all that mingled there below
[...]
Down the ashes shower like rain;
Some fell in the gulf, which received the sprinkles
with a thousand circling wrinkles;
Some fell on the shore, but, far away,
scattered o'er the isthmus lay;
Christian or Moslem, which be they?
Let their mother see and say!
[...]
Not the matrons that them bore
could discern their offspring more.
The decision taken in 1934 by Atatürk and his cabinet members for the Hagia Sophia to become a museum reflects the worldview of the Republic of Turkey and its interpretation of ‘common cultural heritage’. Secular Turkey opted for the museum function, to allow for scientific research that would inform the best way to safeguard a monument of universal value and present it in the best possible way. With the transformation to a museum, the artistic attributes of the monument that had previously been covered over were once again made open and visible. This function allowed the figured mosaics and calligraphic plates to stand side by side in peaceful co-habitation. The mihrab, pulpit, sultan’s gallery and lecterns, which had been added for use as a mosque during the Ottoman period, were preserved in situ, and the Hagia Sophia was presented for the people from around the world to visit as a monument reflecting our multi-layered history.
Instead of reproducing harmful stereotypes of “Oriental barbarism”, “Turkish provocations”, or national and religious myths of Hagia Sophia for internal consumption, we ought to spend our time reading the many interesting things written by our Turkish colleagues as well as researchers from around the world. We have, still, a lot learn about the history of this monument – and especially about its long history in the Ottoman world, which is largely ignored by Greek historiography – in order to understand that it is not, and will never be “ours once more”.
Nikos (Nikolaos) Magouliotis is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Institute for the History and Theory of Architecture (gta) at ETH Zurich.
***An earlier version of this essay was published in Greek, in Archetype magazine (August 13, 2020).
Notes
A fundamental study in this field (which has largely inspired this article) is Michael Herzfeld’s book Ours Once More: Folklore, Ideology, and the Making of Modern Greece (1986). For a more recent analysis of the competing “nationalisms” or “imperialisms” expressed over the Hagia Sophia controversy, see this article by Akis Gavriilidis.
To name a few: Ludovic Bender, "Regards sur Sainte-Sophie (fin XVIIe - début XIXe siècle): prémices d'une histoire de l'architecture byzantine", Byzantinische Zeitschrift 105.1 (2012): 1-28; Gülru Necipoğlu, “The Life of an Imperial Monument: Hagia Sophia after Byzantium”, in Mark and Çakmak (eds), Hagia Sophia: From the Age of Justinian to the Present (1992.),195-225; Robert S. Nelson, Hagia Sophia, 1850-1950: Holy Wisdom Modern Monument (2004).
Yannis Hamilakis, The Nation and its Ruins: Antiquity, Archaeology and National Imagination in Greece (2007), 57-123.
I am currently working on a paper on this topic, due for publication within 2020 in the Journal of Architecture, as part of a special issue on the architectural historiographies on the peripheries of Europe, edited by Petra Brouwer and Kristina Jõekalda.
See for instance: Kostis Kourelis, "Byzantine Houses and Modern Fictions: Domesticating Mystras in 1930s Greece", Dumbarton Oaks Papers 65-66 (2011–2012): 297-331.
F.-R. de Chateaubriand, Itinéraire de Paris à Jérusalem [...], vol. 1 (Paris: Le Normant, 1811), 91.
A. Couchaud, Choix d'Èglises Byzantines en Grèce (Paris: Lenoir, 1842). For a more thorough analysis of the debates around the heritage of Byzantium in mid-19th-century Greece, see: Φ. Δημητρακόπουλος, Βυζάντιο και νεοελληνική διανόηση στα μέσα του δεκάτου-ενάτου αιώνος (1996).
Παύλος Καλλιγάς, “Φιλολογικόν σχεδίασμα περί των συλλογών και κανώνων της Ελληνικής Εκκλησίας” [originally published in 1840], in: Παύλου Καλλιγά – Μελέται Νομικαί, Πολιτικαί, Οικονομολογικαί, Ιστορικαί, Φιλολογικαί, κλπ. [...] (1899), 305-306.
Α. Κοραής, Τι πρέπει να κάμωσιν οι Γραικοί εις τας παρούσας περιστάσεις; Διάλογος δύο Γραικών κατοίκων της Βενετίας [...]. (Βενετία, Εκ της τυπογραφίας Χρυσίππου του Κριτοβούλου, 1805.), 25-27.
It should be noted that this happened years after academic chairs for such topics had already been founded in French and German universities. Lambakis first studied Theology in Athens, and then he went to Germany in order to study Christian Archaeology. The latter is indicative of the underdevelopment of Christian Archaeology in Greek academia at the time. And the former explains the religiously-charged and often obscure way in which he wrote about Byzantine architecture.
Δόν και Χώτος [sic], “Στην Καπνικαρέα”, Το Άστυ 207, October 9, 1889.
C.-C. Fauriel, Chants populaires de la Grèce moderne, Vol. 2: Chants historiques, romanesques et domestiques (Paris: Firmin-Didot, 1825), 338.
For more on this idea, see Herzfeld, Ours Once More.
Fauriel, Chants populaires de la Grèce moderne, Vol. 2, 337.
Α. Κυριακίδου-Νέστορος, Η Θεωρία της Ελληνικής Λαογραφίας - Κριτική Ανάλυση (2007), 74-5.
I am referring to publications made by Greek authors within Greece; it should be acknowledged, however, that there were several relevant publications about Hagia Sophia and its history and material reality by Greek authors living in Istanbul or elsewhere; from the anonymously published [attributed to Constantios] Κωνσταντινιάς Παλαιά τε και Νεωτέρα (Venice, 1824) to Alexandros Paspatis’ Βυζαντιναί Μελέται (Istanbul, 1877).
See Herzfeld, Ours Once More.
Necipoğlu, “The Life of an Imperial Monument: Hagia Sophia after Byzantium”, p. 204.
See, for instance, the forum "Hagia Sophia: From Museum to Mosque" hosted by the Berkley Center at Georgetown University; and "An open letter on the status of Hagia Sophia" posted on Medium (June 30, 2020).
Author Acknowledgments
I am grateful to Konstantina Kalfa, Richard Wittman, and Emily Neumeier for their careful comments and corrections on previous versions of this text. I am also thankful to the editors of Archetype magazine in Greece for publishing a version of this text in Greek; and to Esra Akcan and Peter Christensen for inviting me to present a small part of it on a digital panel organized by the Einaudi Center for International Studies at Cornell University.
The present article is part of my doctoral research on the historiography of Byzantine and Vernacular architecture of Greece in the 18th and 19th centuries, at ETH Zurich/gta, under the supervision of prof. dr. Maarten Delbeke. My understanding of this topic and the present essay owes a lot to the work of authors like Michael Herzfeld, Eleni-Anna Chlepa, Kostis Kourelis, Fotis Dimitrakopoulos, and many others whose work has laid the groundwork for a critical historiography of Byzantium and Byzantine architecture in 19th- and 20th-century Greece. | https://www.stambouline.info/2020/12/hagia-sophia-and-greeks.html |
Hagia Sophia (Istanbul)
The church of the 'Holy Wisdom', built in the Byzantine Empire, had been one of the largest religious buildings until 1935, when it was converted into a museum.
Nghệ thuật tạo hình
Từ khoá
Hagia Sophia, vương cung thánh đường, nhà thờ hồi giáo, tháp, nhà thờ, viện bảo tàng, Ottoman, Byzantine, Thổ Nhĩ Kỳ, Constantinople, Istanbul, Bosphorus, Anatolia, chính thống, Hồi giáo, Cơ đốc giáo, Thượng Đế, Tuổi trung niên, tòa nhà, địa điểm hành hương, đá hoa, Chúa Kitô, tông đồ, kiến trúc, hoàng đế, vương quốc, tôn giáo, công trình tôn giáo, BYZANTINE EMPIRE, Đế chế Ottonam, phòng trưng bày phía trên, mái vòm, thư pháp
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World religions today
The geographical distribution of major (world) religions has been influenced by historical events. | https://cl.mozaweb.com/vi/Extra-Canh_3D-Hagia_Sophia_Istanbul-38596 |
Jul 12 2020
Hagia Sophia, or "Divine Wisdom" in Greek, was completed in 537 by Byzantine emperor Justinian.
"Opening of Hagia Sophia to prayer is a proud moment for all Muslims", said Rafat Murra, head of global press office of Hamas, in a written statement.
Erdogan has in recent years placed great emphasis on the battles which resulted in the defeat of Byzantium by the Ottomans, with lavish celebrations held every year to mark the conquest.
The US is "disappointed" in Erdogan's decision, State Department Spokesman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement on Friday.
Hagia Sophia was built as a cathedral in the Christian Byzantine Empire and was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople in 1453 and changed the city's name to Istanbul. Hagia Sophia was the most popular museum in Turkey a year ago, drawing more than 3.7 million visitors.
On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the iconic Hagia Sophia museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and on of the archaeological wonders of the world, will be reclassified as a mosque and will be opened for Muslim worship.
Far too many commentators and news reports have attempted to frame the issue - which will undoubtedly cause an enormous amount of political and diplomatic upheaval with many of Turkey's allies and close trading partners - as a dispute between Greece and Turkey.
"It is consistent with the government's projection in the east Mediterranean and Libya".
Erdogan has demanded that the the hugely symbolic world heritage site should be turned back into a mosque despite widespread global criticism, including from the United States and Orthodox Christian leaders.
The UN, specifically UNESCO, and the European Union have a duty to guarantee that architectural achievements like Hagia Sophia remain a cultural heritage for the world to, not only enjoy, but to learn from.
Christodoulides said Turkey's "escalating, flagrant violation of its worldwide obligations is manifested in its decision to alter the designation of Hagia Sophia, a world heritage site that is a universal symbol of the Orthodox faith". In 1931, it was closed to the public and became a museum in 1935 as part of a decree by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
"Like all our mosques, the doors of Hagia Sophia will be wide open to locals and foreigners, Muslims and non-Muslims".
In Istanbul, hundreds of people gathered near Hagia Sophia to celebrate the ruling.
The landmark has been regarded as a symbol of solidarity between different faiths and cultures.
Russian Federation has called the move "a mistake", while Cyprus has strongly condemned the decision as well.
"I underline that we will open Hagia Sophia as a mosque by preserving the common cultural heritage of humanity", Erdoğan stressed. Deputy Director Ernesto Ottone Ramirez offering a tepid affirmation that the site's status can not be altered without wider approval from the body's own intergovernmental committee. Cyprus's Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides said Cyprus condemned the decision; earlier, a resolution had been tabled in the Cyprus parliament to condemn the Turkish government's plans.
Tourists could still visit the Hagia Sophia, just as they are able to see the Blue Mosque nearby.
Erdogan's order has also caused consternation in Russian Federation. | https://nysepost.com/turkey-turning-hagia-sophia-back-into-mosque-divides-social-392211 |
Does your Office Comply with COSHH Regulations?
What Is COSHH and Why Was It Introduced?
The COSHH regulations have played an important part in improving safety standards in the workplace, raising awareness of risks and giving employers an incentive to ensure that both their workplace and workers are safe.
COSHH, which stands for ‘Control of Substances Hazardous to Health’ and was introduced as part of UK government legislation in improving workplace safety, as a formalisation of safety measures required by the Factories Act 1961 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, playing a vital role in many industries.
The result of this law (which was introduced in 2002) requires employers to control the exposure of hazardous substances to their workforce in order to prevent ill-health and potential life-threatening incidents from occurring.
What Types of Hazardous Substances Does COSHH Cover?
COSHH covers hazardous substances in many forms, from chemicals to vapours and fumes to dusts, as well as products containing chemicals, mists, gases and asphyxiating gases, biological agents and germs that can cause diseases such as Legionnaires disease and Leptospirosis.
Controlling risks at work and ensuring your employees remain safe are crucial factors to consider in any workplace. With such a large number of people to keep safe, safeguarding your office environment and keeping it COSHH regulated will mean assessing the risks that arise within your workplace.
Assess the risks that arise from the use of hazardous substances. This will include any arrangements to deal with accidents, incidents or emergencies, such as those resulting from serious spillages. The assessment must also include the health and safety risks arising from storage, handling or disposal of any of the substances.
Prevent, or if this is not reasonably practicable, control exposure to such hazardous substances. This can be achieved by providing staff with information, instruction and training about the risks, steps and precautions you have taken to control these risks, e.g. provision of appropriate rubber gloves or appropriate eye protection.
Once you have implemented the appropriate control measures, and provided the relevant safety equipment, you must then ensure they are routinely maintained and tested to certify that they are at the right standard and provide adequate protection to your staff.
Finally, it should be noted that it’s not just employers who have an obligation under COSHH regulations. For their own safety, employees are also required to ensure that they comply with COSHH, as they need to ensure that they follow safety measures correctly and report defective equipment.
This can be achieved by providing information, training and instruction for employees, including cleaning and maintenance staff, who work with substances hazardous to health. It’s also important to present to staff the potential personal results of not following training and safety procedures. This is because employees need to understand the outcome of your workplace risk assessment and what this means for them.
Additionally, when a contractor comes on site, they also need to be informed of what the risks are within your workplace and how you are controlling said risks. On the other hand, they will need to inform you if they are bringing hazardous substances onto your premises, and how they will prevent harm in doing so.
At Insight Services, we understand that there’s a number of health and safety regulations to consider, as cleaning often involves working with potentially harmful chemicals. We appreciate the importance of keeping employees safe, which is why we are approved by the leading certification ISOQAR who audit us against national standards for Health & Safety Management (ISO 18001) demonstrating our skills and industry experience. | https://astrumcommercialcleaning.co.uk/news/2017/10/26/example-news-story-7t837 |
Accuracy, quality, productivity, and timeliness are vital within the printing industry. When an error occurs it creates long delays that can cause serious consequences for a company’s reputation and customer base. With such high demands and pressures, it is easy for the industry to avoid and overlook health and safety hazards. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the printing industry employs around 120,000 workers, predominantly in small to medium businesses. They found that the most common types of accidents within the industry are manual handling (27%), slips and trips (22%), and machinery (22%).
Control Of Substances Hazardous To Health (COSHH)
Health and safety plans are crucial within the printing industry due to the ink production process. Printing ink comprises four main components, pigments, resins, solvents, and additives. All of which can cause serious ill-health if exposed to them such as skin problems, dizziness, drowsiness, and damage to internal organs. These chemicals all contain different forms of gases such as vapour, fumes, dust, gases, and powders. Thus, it is vital that a risk assessment is completed, and the area is clear around the heavy machinery to reduce any potential hazards. As part of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), a company is required to adequately control exposure to materials in the workplace that cause ill health.
Manual Handling
Lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling are all examples of manual handling activities across various industries. However, these examples cause the most injuries within the printing industry. Employers by law are required to assess, reduce, provide the appropriate training, and avoid manual handling risks where possible. Risk assessments are important, and it is paramount they are completed correctly. The manual handling assessment charts (the MAC tool) were developed to help individuals identify the high-risk manual handling activities. Designed to help people understand, interpret, and categorise the level of risks.
Reduce The Risks
Once a risk assessment has been completed there are certain steps that can be taken to reduce the risks to employees. Firstly, the use of mechanical aids such as pile turners, scissor lifts, reel conveyor trolleys, cylinder, and roller trolleys, and swing arm hoists and slings. Secondly, reducing the weight and size of a load. This can be done by reorganising or designing the task to decrease the required effort. In addition, improving the layout or the working area by adjusting height, space, and temperature. Lastly, provide your employees with the correct training on topics such as the regulations, how injury can occur, correct use of aids, and appropriate handling techniques.
Lindström Printer Wiper And Mat Rental
Modern printing companies require high-quality standard and superior printer wipers for cleaning printing plates, machinery, toner, and chemicals. Lindström industrial cleaning cloths and wipes are made from 100% cotton and are highly absorbent. They can be washed and reused numerous times, making them an excellent choice for environmentally conscious businesses
With a highly absorbent industrial ink wiper, your print technicians can be confident that they will leave a clean and dry surface wherever they are used. The superb absorbency and low linting characteristics of our cleaning rags will help ensure your business runs smoothly. Preventing expensive re-runs caused by dust or lint.
Additionally, like our industrial wipers, our absorption and spill mats are made from the most cost-effective and highly absorbent materials. They efficiently absorb solvents, powders, chemicals, and other liquids, cutting back on final clean-up.
Contact us today to discuss your workplace needs and requirements we will be happy to help and advise. | https://lindstromgroup.com/uk/article/why-are-safety-measures-so-important-in-the-printing-industry/ |
It has been said a thousand times: the biggest reason kids drink and drive, take drugs and do all kinds of crazy, dangerous stunts is that they think they’re immortal, invincible and bullet-proof. But is this what teenagers really think?
“It’s a sense of freedom, I guess,” says Allan, 17.
Allan is a self-proclaimed risk-taker.
“I just like to see how far I can go and what I can do and what I can accomplish out[side] of the everyday norm,” says Allan.
Risky behaviors can include rock-climbing, skydiving, street racing and even unprotected sex. It’s often said that teenagers feel invincible – but do they really feel this way? Researchers at UC San Francisco say no. In fact, they found that teenagers actually overestimate the danger of certain activities. And, while they know there are risks, they think the benefits and the fun are worth it.
“[Teenagers] are — compared to an adult — relatively uninformed. And if they are a novice and inexperienced with alcohol, drugs or sex, or any of those things — as everyone is in the beginning — they don’t know what to expect. Very often they don’t fully understand the complete nature of the risks they’re taking,” says Jeffrey Rothweiler, Ph.D., clinical psychologist.
“It might be that because the frontal lobes are not yet fully developed during adolescence that they’re more likely to make decisions, that they don’t fully think through the consequences of their actions,” says Elizabeth Sowell, Ph.D., neuroscientist. The prefrontal cortex matures the most between the ages of 12 and 20.
Allan knows there is a potential for injury with some of the risky actions he takes.
“I guess death is a factor, or getting paralyzed or … hitting the ground while you’re climbing. But you just try not to think about it, keep a positive attitude,” says Allan.
But in his mind, the benefits are worth it.
“Just being able to look back and see that you’ve done something. That you’ve accomplished … a rapid or a rock or a trail or something like that,” says Allan.
Tips for Parents
- Research shows that certain approaches to parenting can help prevent teens from engaging in all types of risky behaviors, from drug and alcohol use to dangerous driving to sexual activity. This includes having a warm, loving and close relationship with your teen; setting and consistently enforcing clear rules and consequences; closely monitoring your teen’s activities and whereabouts; respecting your teen; and setting a good example, especially when it comes to illicit drug and alcohol use. (Office of National Drug Control Policy)
- Encourage safe driving, healthy eating and good school performance; discourage drug use, teen sex and activities that may result in injury. (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, HHS)
- Teach healthy habits. Teach your teenager how to maintain a high level of overall health through nutrition, physical fitness and healthy behaviors. Make sure your teen gets eight hours of sleep a night — a good night’s sleep helps ensure maximum performance in academics and sports. Sleep is the body’s way of storing new information to memory and allowing muscles to heal. (HHS)
- Promote safe driving habits. Make sure your teenager uses a seat belt every time he or she is in a car, and ask your child to ensure that all other passengers are wearing their seatbelts when he or she is driving. Encourage your young driver to drive responsibly by following speed limits and avoiding distractions while driving such as talking on a cell phone, focusing on the radio or even looking at fellow passengers instead of the road. (HHS)
- Promotion of school success. Help your teen to become responsible for attendance, homework and course selection. Be sure to have conversations with your child about school and show your interest in his or her school activities. (HHS)
- Prevent violence. Prevent bullying by encouraging peaceful resolutions and building positive relationships. Teach teens to respect others and encourage tolerance. Teach your teens that there is no place for verbal or physical violence by setting an example with your words and actions and by showing them respect as well. (HHS)
- Know the 4“W’s”—who, what, when, where. Always know who your teen is hanging out with, what they will be doing, when and for how long they will be out, and where they will be. And check up on your child. Be aware of the dangers that can arise at teenage parties. Teen parties present an opportunity for your teen to experiment with alcohol or tobacco. One approach is to host the party so you have more control over ensuring that these parties stay safe and fun for everyone involved. (HHS)
References
- Office of National Drug Control Policy
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
- Connect with Kids
Follow me on Twitter and join me on Facebook for more information. | https://www.suescheffblog.com/invincibility-theory-among-teens/ |
Quarries health and safety guide
Guidance for employers and employees on how to eliminate or reduce the risk of serious injury and death from working in the quarrying industry.
Introduction
Quarrying may present significant risks to employees, as well as people living or working in the surrounding area.
There are approximately 900 quarries in Victoria, but only about 500 of these quarries operate at any given time. The operating quarries range in size from small family-owned quarries in remote areas to large quarries near metropolitan centres with many employees.
Incidents involving the operation and maintenance of fixed and mobile plant, falls from height, ground failure and explosives may place people's lives at risk.
These incidents can have catastrophic results. This guidance can help you understand the risks of working in the quarrying industry, and how you can make your workplace safer.
Quarrying industry
A quarry is a pit or excavation made in the land below the natural surface to extract stone and other materials.
Victoria's quarries supply a variety of raw materials, including:
- construction aggregates such as crushed rock, gravels or sands
- dimension stone used in building and construction
- limestone used in cement manufacture, road making or agriculture
- peat that can be used as a soil conditioner or other industrial uses
Risks
The quarrying industry has inherent risks because of the varied nature of the work and the environment in which it is done.
Hazards regularly found in quarries include:
- unstable ground
- mobile and fixed plant
- stored energy, such as compressed gases and fluids
- explosives
- electricity
- noise
- dust and other respirable substances such as silica
- vibration
- UV radiation
- hot or cold objects and environments
- dangerous goods
- hazardous substances
Serious or fatal risks to health and safety in quarries often include:
- being engulfed or struck by soil and rock as a result of working near or on unstable ground
- getting struck by moving plant such as excavators, trucks or light vehicles
- becoming entangled in fixed plant, such as conveyors, crushers and screens
- falling from height or on the same level
- lifting, carrying or handling heavy or awkward objects
- receiving cuts or punctures from sharp objects
- being burnt or shocked by electricity
Legal duties
Employers
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, employers must, so far as is reasonably practicable:
- provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to the health of employees, including independent contractors
- provide employees with the necessary information, instruction, training or supervision to enable them to do their work in a way that is safe and without risks to health
- consult with employees and HSRs, if any, on matters related to health or safety that directly affect, or are likely to directly affect them
- ensure that other people, such as drivers, visitors and the public, are not exposed to risks as a result of your business
Under Victorian OHS laws, employers are also responsible for the health and safety of all employees, including labour hire personnel or contractors, at their workplace. If you are a host employer with labour hire employees, you must treat labour hire employees and other contractors the same as your own employees. Employers must provide and maintain a safe working environment and conditions.
If you store dangerous goods, for example, substances that are flammable, explosive or toxic, you must comply with a range of additional specific legal requirements. See Dangerous Goods Act and Regulations in Further information.
Employers have specific duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 in relation to hazards such as:
- falls
- hazardous manual handling
- noise
- plant
- asbestos
- hazardous substances
- confined spaces
If an employee has a work-related injury or illness, you have duties under the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, one of which is to ensure their safe return to work.
The employer’s return to work duties include:
- appoint a return to work coordinator
- develop and implement a return to work plan
- support and monitor your worker when they return to work
Employees
Your employer is required to protect you from risks in your workplace.
At the same time, you have a general duty to take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by your work, and to cooperate with your employer’s efforts to make the workplace safe.
Employees should:
- follow workplace policies and procedures
- attend health and safety training
- help to identify hazards and risks
How to comply
Consultation
Regularly consult with employees to help identify issues in the workplace. Build a strong commitment to health and safety by including all views in the decision-making process.
Employees’ expertise and experience can make a significant contribution to improving workplace health and safety.
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, employers must, so far as is reasonably practicable, consult with employees when identifying or assessing hazards or risks to health or safety and making decisions about risk controls.
'Employees' includes independent contractors (and any employees of the independent contractor(s), including labour hire) who perform work which the employer has, or should have, control over.
If employees are represented by health and safety representatives, the consultation must involve those representatives.
Identify hazards
There are many potential hazards you need to think about when identifying things that could go wrong.
Consider what risks the following hazards could present:
- sloping or unstable ground
- falling rocks
- mobile plant
- fixed plant, including conveyors and crushers
- heavy transport equipment
- fires
- airborne dust, which may include silica
- UV radiation
- asbestos
- tailings dams
- electrical hazards
- noise
- dangerous goods, including explosives
- hazardous substances
Consider different operational situations, including shut-down, emergencies and maintenance, as well as any changes to throughput, materials or equipment, design and staffing levels.
For existing quarry sites, you should take into account hazards that may have been introduced during the exploration, design and development phases of the quarrying operation.
Assess risks
Once all the hazards have been identified, you should assess the risks to health and safety.
This includes considering:
- the nature of the hazard
- the likelihood of it causing any harm, and
- the possible severity of the harm that could be caused
Control risks
The hierarchy of control is a system for controlling risks in the workplace. Work through the following steps to control quarrying risks. In many instances, a combination of approaches may result in the best solution.
1. Eliminate hazards and risks
Eliminating the hazard and the risk it creates is the most effective control measure, so you should always try to do this first.
2. Substitute or isolate the hazard, or use engineering controls.
If you can’t remove the hazard, think about changing the work, separating the hazard from people or using engineering controls. For example, install emergency stop equipment.
3. Use administrative controls.
If there is still a risk, reduce it by changing the way the work is done. For example, develop performance standards for conveyors and the testing of components to ensure reliability of conveyor systems.
4. Provide personal protective equipment (PPE)
If no other measures will totally solve the problem, use PPE to reduce the risk. For example, provide respirators where necessary. Ensure that personnel are trained in the use of PPE and that the respirator is of a suitable type, fitted and maintained properly.
Review risks controls
It's important to review your risk controls regularly to ensure they are implemented correctly and to monitor their effectiveness.
You must review and, if necessary, revise your risk controls whenever any changes are made to the work or the workplace, such as changes to the way work is done or to the tools or equipment used. | https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/quarries-health-and-safety-guide |
The recent rise in the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns resulted in increased warnings about Legionella for some businesses. Buildings were shut down for months to limit the spread of Coronavirus, and this presented an opportunity for the growth of the bacteria that causes Legionnaire’s disease.
As an employer, ensuring the safety of your employees, associates, and customers within your walls must be one of your top priorities.
Even though Legionella is a relatively understated concern for most businesses, mitigating the risk of a possible outbreak of the infection is your responsibility as a business owner. The penalties for not doing so can stretch from fines to imprisonment. This is what drives so many businesses to review the risks associated with Legionella in their workplace and take a detailed look at their responsibilities and legal obligations.
In this article, we cover the main risks associated with Legionella in your workplace, how you can combat those risks to create a safer working environment for your employees, and what regulations you need to comply with as a business owner. We will also look at why you may need Legionella Awareness training.
What Is Legionnaires’ disease?
Legionnaires’ disease is a rare but severe form of pneumonia caused by infection from a bacterium known as Legionella. The bacteria cause inflammation of the lungs, leading to long-term health problems or possibly even death.
An analysis of the cases of Legionnaires’ disease in England and Wales showed that approximately 250 contract the disease on an average every year. However, the latest figures published by Public Health England reported that there were 503 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in 2019 in England and Wales.
Experts warn that the country faces a ‘potential time bomb,’ as the threat posed by Legionairre’s disease will rise as climate change continues.
The disease was first identified in 1976, six months after a mysterious outbreak infected over a 180 people and took the lives of 29 attendees at an American Legion convention at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. This was the first known modern outbreak of this disease.
It’s crucial that anyone responsible for a premises understands that nature of the risk involved and undertake Legionella Awareness training, as required.
How Do You Contract Legionnaires’ disease?
Legionnaires’ disease does not spread from one person to another. It spreads from the inhalation of water droplets that are contaminated with the Legionella bacteria.
The Legionella bacterium is so small that it is trapped in the air inside tiny water droplets such as mist and water vapour. Once you breathe in those water droplets, the bacterium makes its way to your lungs and causes an infection.
Legionella bacteria thrive in warm water and are usually found in freshwater sources such as rivers, streams, and lakes, etc.
Natural water sources do not pose a risk of infection from Legionella. The real problem arises when the bacteria makes its way to man-made water systems such as showerheads, sink faucets, air conditioners, hot tubs, decorative fountains, and water tanks, where it can multiply and potentially infect someone.
Although not common, in some cases, Legionnaires’ disease can also be caused by drinking contaminated water containing legionella.
Signs & Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease
The signs and symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are very similar to other types of pneumonia and may start to manifest around two to fourteen days after being exposed to the bacteria.
The disease usually feels like flu at first with symptoms such as:
- Headaches
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Chills
- Muscle aches
- Cough
After a few days, the symptoms may progressively get worse and you may experience:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Confusion
The Need for a Legionella Management Plan
Legionnaires’ disease has proven to be a fatal condition for many people across the world. However, these unfortunate fatalities could be prevented with the help of a Legionella management plan consisting of proper Legionella risk assessment procedures and control measures.
Those seeking to bolster their Legionella disease risk management should:
- Understand the health risks associated with legionella
- Understand how to identify and assess sources of risks
- Prepare a course of action for preventing and controlling these risks
- Maintain records and keep a check of what has been done to control these risks.
Let’s take a look at why every business owner needs to have a Legionella management plan in place.
Compliance with the Law
Businesses need to carry out frequent Legionella risk assessments to avoid litigation and potential breaches of the law. Violation of safety or health regulations and laws could potentially result in legal action against the those responsible.
With regards to safeguarding the people in your workplace from Legionella, UK health and safety legislations have set out certain provisions and guidelines that all business owners must comply with to fulfil their legal duties.
An employer’s duties to control legionella in the UK workplace are set out in:
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA)
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSWR)
- The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)
According to the duties listed under the HSWA, the key obligations of an employer to reduce the risk of exposure to Legionella on their premises include having to:
- Monitor their water temperature at regular intervals
- Flush both hot and cold taps for two minutes
- Record results of Legionella testing and retain them for at least five years
Additionally, the Health and Safety Executives Approved Code of Practice (L8) “Legionnaires’ disease: The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems” contains practical guidance on how a business owner can manage and control the risks of legionella in their water system.
As per recent guidelines from Public Health England, all businesses are also required to flush out the water system on their premises if it has been sitting stagnant throughout the lockdown period because these stagnant water systems pose a potential public health risk of a legionella outbreak.
Employee Safety
A Legionella management plan helps to safeguard the well-being of your employees and any visitors in your building.
As a business, your employees are your most valuable assets but if your water system is contaminated with Legionella, your employees are at risk of infection. This is why several businesses have a Legionella management plan in place to ensure that they create a safe and healthy workplace for their employees.
What Will Happen If You Don’t Have A Legionella Management Plan?
Since Legionella compliance is governed by several different regulations and legislations, fiscal punishments received by different parties for not having a proper management plan to control the risk of legionella bacteria vary.
As discussed earlier, without a legionella management plan in place, Legionnaires’ disease can prove to be fatal. If the potential loss of human life was already not enough, there can also be several hefty financial consequences for a business owner if they fail to manage the risks of Legionella on their premises.
In December 2018, a UK District Council was fined £27,000 after a Legionella outbreak nearly killed someone. Other businesses in the past have had to face even stricter penalties for not having proper risk assessment and management procedures in place, including fines worth millions of pounds, along with remedial orders and publicity orders.
Historically, financial penalties for businesses that have failed to put suitable measures in place to control the risk of legionella have ranged from £20,000 to £1.5 million.
Additionally, those found guilty of negligence leading to the loss of life due to this disease can be prosecuted under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act of 2007. In some cases, those who were found guilty of negligence also had to face three-to-twelve-month prison sentences.
Managing the Risk of Legionnaires’ disease
Before you begin managing the risk of Legionnaires’ disease, you must carry out a risk assessment of your building to identify and assess sources of possible Legionella contamination. All possible sources of Legionella should be identified with the help of professional water testing.
Legionella will usually present a risk to your water systems, especially if there is rust, sludge, or scale present, and the temperature of the water within the system is between 20oC and 45oC.
Once the growth of Legionella in your water systems is identified, you can move on towards managing this risk. You can do so by making sure that your water system is flushed out and that it is updated and maintained regularly to prevent rust and scale from growing.
Your water system also needs to be kept clean and regularly treated to kill Legionella and other micro-organisms.
You can also make use of modern water temperature monitoring systems that can control the temperature of the water in your system to avoid temperatures in which Legionella is known to grow.
Lastly, you need to ensure that water does not remain stagnant by keeping the length of pipes in your water system short and removing pipework that is of no use.
Recording Your Legionella Management Plan
Employers need to ensure that their legionella management plan and risk assessment procedures are well-documented and recorded. This will help prove compliance to the relevant authorities while also allowing the organisation to consistently update risk assessment procedures effectively.
Legionella Awareness Training Courses
If you run a business, you’ll need a substantial amount of knowledge and understanding of the Legionella bacteria and its infection to manage its risks.
Equipped with in-depth knowledge about your water system and the potential risks of Legionella, you can plan the best course of action for your organisation’s well-being. This will limit exposure to the bacteria.
Human Focus offers several online Legionella Awareness training courses. Legionella Awareness Plus comes in three modules and covers the essentials of what those in charge of premises need to understand about this risk.
Human Focus also offers a more in-depth five-module course that explores about what you need to do to control Legionella. For instance, what types of water systems are there, what levels of risk do they present, and what you need to do to ensure they remain safe. We also have an awareness level single module course that covers the basics Legionella, so that your employees can understand the risks involved.
The Bottom Line
Legionella is a very serious disease that every business should be knowledgeable about. Employers also need to be aware of their legal responsibilities and the health risks associated with the Legionella bacteria. Being aware of the control measures required to minimise the possibility of a Legionella outbreak can help employers create a safe and effective management plan to protect themselves and their employees. | https://humanfocus.co.uk/blog/legionella-management-plan-for-employers-business-owners/ |
Every year across the world people lose their lives in the process of earning a living. Far from being limited to high-risk niches like law enforcement, workplace fatalities actually happen in a wide range of occupations. Statistics show that construction workers and those toiling in agricultural jobs are particularly at-risk, but even comparatively safe working environments have their dangers.
That is why workplace safety should be at the top of every employer’s priority list, with the following five policies being especially beneficial in this regard:
1. Appointing a dedicated safety specialist
Unless you’ve got a background in workplace health and safety, chances are that you’ll need to hire a professional in the early stages of setting up your business. Ideally, this person would have formal training in the health and safety department as well as several years’ worth of experience in similar circumstances.
Depending on the industry you operate in, you can either make a temporary appointment or a permanent hiring, but whatever you do, make sure that the person you’re entrusting your company’s safety to is competent and knows how to communicate well over the course of your working relationship.
2. Assessing all potential risks
The first step towards creating a safe environment lies in identifying all the potential hazards in it. For instance, a chemical company will always be aware of which of their substances are particularly dangerous to their employees, and will take steps to contain them.
Every business has its own particular risks, so it is necessary to evaluate them on a regular basis and record your findings. Be aware that, as work conditions change, new evaluations will need to be performed in order to maintain adequate safety levels. Your chosen safety consultant can conduct such examinations within an agreed-upon time-frame.
3. Investing in safety facilities
Once all potential risks have been assessed, it’s time to start equipping your working environment with everything it needs to ensure the safety of the people who will be operating in it. Aside from regular welfare amenities such as toilets, hand basins and access to drinking water, there are plenty of other things that need to be looked after. For instance, ensuring that optimum temperatures are maintained inside your working environment becomes all-important once winter arrives. Also, don’t forget to include adequate fire safety facilities, including extinguishers and an alarm system, as well as one or more first aid kits that are fully stocked and easily accessible for all employees.
4. Conducting safety training sessions
Just like with everything else, the importance of safety is best understood if taught in an engaging and informative manner. Make sure you and your chosen safety consultant conduct regular training sessions that instruct employees on all the safety measures and procedures they must follow. Don’t hesitate to ask for the input and feedback of your employees, as they will be more likely to identify potential safety flaws on a day-to-day basis.
In general, the youngest of your workers are the ones most likely to suffer accidents for lack of knowledge, so take the time to really ensure that your message resonates with them.
5. Writing a health and safety policy
Talking about safety procedures is all well and good, but once things get serious documenting them is the only way to go. Not only will this protect you in case of a lawsuit, it will also allow your employees to periodically review safety procedures and protocols.
Be sure to write a health and safety policy that’s easy to understand but that nevertheless covers all the bases of your operation. And take the time to post a condensed version of it on posters that all your employees can see. As always, any updates to your working environment should also be reflected in your documentation.
Conclusion
That concludes our quick rundown of the top tips that a company can employ to ensure optimum safety levels for its staff. All of the aforementioned policies can be implemented regardless of the company’s size or number of employees.
While some may indeed require a substantial investment on the your part, keep in mind that you just can’t put a price on health and safety, and that whatever money you invest now will inevitably pay dividends down the line as you nurture a safe and content workforce. | https://www.noobpreneur.com/2017/02/08/5-essential-workplace-safety-tips-that-all-companies-should-employ/ |
Brussels, 04 Nov 2005
In an opinion published on 3 November, the Scientific Committee of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) proposes a harmonised and transparent scientific approach from Europe to the risk assessment of substances which have both genotoxic and carcinogenic properties.
Genotoxic and carcinogenic substances have the potential to directly interact with genetic material (DNA) in the cells of the body and to cause cancer. It is thought that any exposure is undesirable since there may be a risk associated with exposure even to low amounts, especially if consumed on a regular basis. This opinion focuses on exposure to food. One of the most difficult issues in food safety is to advise on the potential risks to human health for these substances.
As there is currently no international scientific consensus on the best approach for assessing this risk and as different approaches are used around the world, the European Food Safety Authority asked the Scientific Committee to propose a harmonised EU approach.
In many countries and especially within the European Union, the current rule is to reduce exposure to such substances to a level that is 'as low as reasonably achievable', known as the ALARA principle. However, such advice does not provide risk managers with a basis for setting priorities for action, either with regard to urgency or the extent of necessary measures. Several of the approaches currently used for the risk assessment of these substances take into account the fact that some carcinogens are more likely than others to induce a tumour at a given dose (potency). Information about potency is mostly derived from laboratory studies on rodents, since human data are rarely available. In these studies, animals are exposed to the substances of interest at high dose levels for the major part of their lifetime, so that any detectable and statistically significant tumour incidence can be identified.
To provide advice on the possible consequences for humans, the significance of these animal results must be interpreted in the context of human exposure levels, which are usually much lower than the doses used in laboratory studies. A wide range of models have thus been developed to convert the results from animal studies into data consistent with the exposure experienced by humans. This approach is, however, unreliable as the data changes in accordance with the model used.
The Scientific Committee therefore recommends using a different approach, known as the margin of exposure (MOE) approach. The MOE approach uses a reference point, often taken from an animal study and corresponding to a dose that causes a low but measurable response in animals. This reference point is then compared with various dietary intake estimates in humans, taking into account differences in consumption patterns. The margin of exposure approach can be applied in cases where substances that are both genotoxic and carcinogenic have been found in food, irrespective of their origin, where there is a need for guidance on the possible risks to those who are, or have been, exposed.
With respect to the selection of human intake estimates, the Scientific Committee recommends that different exposure scenarios (for the whole population and for specific groups of the population) should be provided, depending on the substance considered and its distribution in the diet.
Moreover, the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that substances which are both genotoxic and carcinogenic should not be approved for deliberate addition to foods or for use earlier in the food chain if they leave residues which are both genotoxic and carcinogenic in food.
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The preceding chapters have traced the development of attribution theory from early studies of the phenomenology of physical and social causality, through the contemporary formulations of Kelley, Weiner and others, to the notion of functional attribution and the idea that explanations can serve psychological purposes for the explainer. With respect to addiction, prominence has been accorded to the work of Eiser who showed how the type of explanation offered for using a drug varied predictably according to the nature of the drug use, as well as having implications for expectancies and future behaviour. It was also Eiser who suggested that, within a given society, the appropriate explanations for drug use were learned at the same time as the drug using habit itself was acquired.
To support these arguments, a number of studies have been cited illustrating the attributional nature of answers to questions. Whilst many of these studies were concerned with addiction, reflecting the subject matter of this book, it is a fact that most of the existing attributional evidence comes from groups of people with no drug or other problems. It is important to emphasise that making attributions is not a unique characteristic of drug users or other deviant groups, but a process that engages us all at various times. Consequently, it would be quite incorrect to visualise attribution as something in which problem groups engage, but which has nothing to do with explanations offered by non-problem, or 'normal', groups. The underlying processes are assumed to be common to all, within a given culture.
Attributions and Lies
It is also important to reiterate that attribution and attributional research reflect the manner in which explanations are derived and their subsequent functionality, but say nothing whatsoever about the validity or 'truth' of the explanations themselves. Attribution research clearly does not offer some way of discriminating between truth and lies; least of all does it represent a unique way of investigating the quality of the verbal reports of deviant or 'bad' people.
However, it seems that these essential facts about the nature of attribution theory are not always grasped, and the term 'attribution' is sometimes misused. For example, at a recent conference (October 1990) a speaker reported findings from a recent life-event study, in which people were interviewed about the possible causal role of stressful events in mediating psychological problems. A member of the audience questioned the validity of the data, which he was clearly entitled to do given the known problems in this area. But the precise form of the question was most revealing.
'Are these reports true, do you think?' he asked. 'Or are they just attributions?'
This type of confusion is fairly widespread. Due to a lack of appreciation of how attribution theory developed, and of the nature of the hypotheses that may and may not be derived from the body of theory, some individuals appear to employ the term simply as a user-friendly word for lying. The implication is that people either give true causal accounts of their behaviour OR they make attributions.
From such a standpoint, all manner of elementary confusions follow. For example, when asking regular drug users to explain their addiction (as in the Coggans and Davies study op cit) they must give addiction-type (internal-stable) explanations if they are to be truthful; otherwise they are just 'making attributions' (i.e. lying). And in the McAllister and Davies study (op cit), despite the clear functional shift revealed, the heavy smokers were 'telling the truth' at the second interview, whereas at the first interview they failed to do so (they just 'made attributions'). It appears that the failure to grasp the interactive nature of the cognition/behaviour dialectic leads to naive expectations that events will 'cause' verbal explanations in a direct way. For example, if drug users say they cannot stop using because they are addicted, that is simply because they are. If they say they crave their drugs, that is because they do.
Faced with this type of view, which sees behaviour and verbal reports as simple cause and effect, with deliberate falsification as the only mechanism capable of disrupting the connection, it is difficult to know how to make any further progress; yet the view is a popular one, and appears to underlie a good deal of questionnaire and interview-based research at the present time. The functional interpretive and constructive aspects of cognition and language appear to be denied, there are no shades of meaning, no awareness of nuance or of implication, no 'implicit theories', and equally-valid but alternative forms of representation simply do not exist. The assumption appears to be that people think in only the most rudimentary manner; there is only one reality, and people either represent it, or they tell lies. But perhaps most importantly, the entire symbolic-interactionist nature of language is ignored both historically and philosophically; language is downgraded to the level of a vicarious literal transaction whose only function is either to represent reality correctly, or else to deliberately obscure it.
By contrast, the functional attribution perspective indicates that human actions can be explained in a virtually limitless number of alternative ways; that the people to whom the explanations are addressed can be expected to make quasi-logical inferences on the basis of those explanations; and that by choosing one form of explanation rather than another, the explainer exercises a degree of control over the inferences that others will in fact make. The differing forms of explanation involved vary primarily in the emphases given to particular elements. For example, most human action comes about as a result of the interaction of a plethora of internal and external factors of various kinds; but by stressing particular subsets of these we can influence the conclusions arrived at by others. Within such a process, there is no sharp dividing line between truth and lies, so the application of such labels is arbitrary and subjective.
Where Does Truth Lie?
Attribution theory then explains certain things about the process of explanation, and permits the derivation of hypotheses which may be tested; but it reveals neither truth nor lies. With respect to explanations for illicit drug use, the present text argues that the passive and helpless state implied by the word 'addiction' derives from an 'implicit theory' (Ross 1989 op cit) which is primarily functional within a particular context, and that in other contexts people can and indeed do explain similar acts in terms which imply greater control and volition.
However, whilst addiction is revealed primarily as a functional form of explanation in a given context, from an attributional standpoint we cannot go further and assert that therefore people really are in control of their drug use simply because they report being in control in other contexts. Demonstrating that the state implied by the language of addiction is a functional form of attribution does not enable us to conclude that therefore a different form of explanation must be 'true'. If addiction and helplessness are functional in one context, then control and volition may be functional in another. Consequently, if we argue for the truth of either of the central styles of attribution, (i.e. on the one hand, a compulsion explanation, or on the other a volitional explanation of drug use) we make exactly the error outlined at the start of this chapter.
On the face of things, we have arrived at an impasse in which all that exists is functional explanation, with the real nature of the drug-using experience becoming if anything even more elusive than it was before. In fact, however, the answer to the riddle is obvious, if a little difficult to accept at first sight; namely, there is no single 'truth' to be found. The nature and consequences of drug use cannot be divorced from the contexts within which it takes place; the experience and social consequences of drug use are not fixed entities, but vary according to the social, legal and other sanctions that surround the activity. Consequently, the reports of drug users about their experiences and behaviour are primarily revealing about the circumstances and conditions under which drug use takes place, rather than revealing immutable and certain facts about the inevitable nature of drug use itself. In circumstances where drug users regularly behave like stereotypical junkies, and report that their drug use is beyond their capacity to control, we must therefore turn our attention outwards and try to identify those aspects of the social world that make such types of behaviour necessary, and that provide the functional basis for the accompanying reports of helplessness and addiction.
Drug Use and Context
The evidence from studies of the attributional nature of addiction implies that the meaning, experience and implications of using mind-altering substances vary according to context. In most of the experimental and quasi-experimental studies reviewed in previous chapters, the level of contextual variation achieved was usually only a trivial representation of the possible larger contexts for drug use; for example, a different style of interviewer, or a different label on a questionnaire. In the real world, these simple differentiations are represented by major structural components of the legal, medical and social systems within which drug use and misuse take place. Within a given context, the reality of drug taking assumes a particular form or 'social reality' (Cohen 1990). Change the context, and the reality also changes.
Consequently, a society has the capacity to create a drug problem in whatever image it wishes. Surrounding drug use by tougher legislation, longer and more frequent prison sentences (see for example Haw 1988), unhelpful health messages based on fear arousal (see Davies and Coggans 1991 op cit) and alarm and outrage in the media (see Royal College of Psychiatrists Report 1987 op cit) creates a system characterised by fear, moral censure, crime, and an escalating black economy. Within such a system, particular forms of explanation have survival value. Attribution studies of drug users show, in a microcosm, how such a context produces a form of 'addicted explanation' which is inextricably intertwined with that context. The story does not stop there, however. Attributional research shows how forms of explanation can be related to future behaviour and expectancies. Consequently, having created the circumstances within which a particular form of explanation is adaptive, we can reasonably expect consequences to flow from that form of explanation. Since a climate has been created, with respect to drug problems, within which explanations that remove personal responsibility are strategically the best, we would expect that services might be provided on those terms; and we could anticipate that users would then require to present themselves to agencies in the same terms in order to receive whatever benefit was to be had.
This seems to be exactly what has happened. At the present time, the services on offer are generally geared to providing for helpless drug addicts who use drugs 'against their will' and who are trying to stop. As a result, people who encounter problems stemming from their use of drugs tend to present at agencies in accordance with that agenda. However, many people familiar with illicit drug use at the street level rather than in the hospital or clinic setting, will be impressed by the fact that most users appear to take drugs on purpose because they enjoy it, and their immediate problems frequently arise from their desire to keep using rather than their desire to stop.
It is thus possible to argue that service provision is required of a type that caters for the needs of drug users wishing to continue, with a correspondingly lesser role played by 'stopping' services; a suggestion which is however in opposition to the prevailing ethos. By and large, the services required to help the majority of continuing users to function as well as possible remain scarce and under-developed, or else the province of isolated and charismatic characters whose motives sometimes appear uncertain. This is unfortunate, since there are reasons for supposing that services of this latter type are now required with increasing urgency.
Drug Use and AIDS/HIV
The link between intravenous (IV) drug use and HIV infection, with transmission of the virus from user to user occurring as a consequence of the use of contaminated needles which are shared, is well established (though the different dynamics associated with borrowing as opposed to lending still require more investigation). Furthermore, a government review body (Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs 1988) has concluded that HIV/AIDS represents a more serious threat to society than does drug use per se, a view with which many would concur. Consequently, policy on drugs has to reflect the need to control and contain the spread of HIV as a matter of priority, notwithstanding the other health risks associated with intravenous injection and the use of non-sterile equipment. The need for a 'new paradigm' in dealing with drug problems has been emphasised in detail by Stimson (1990) and there is no need here for a lengthy exposition of those arguments. It remains to say, however, that the IV drug use/HIV link has given new urgency to the need for services for continuing drug users, in order to monitor and as far as possible guide drug users in the direction of safe use. Such services clearly need to be user-friendly, non-censorious, and free from the risk of prosecution, or they will simply not be used. This 'harm reduction' approach represents the best hope of limiting the spread of HIV into the general population via IV drug use, as well as controlling the other potential sources of harm that may arise. Services catering primarily for the needs of users who are trying to stop, and who are seen as helpless victims, clearly do not address the larger problem: namely, drug users wishing to continue with their use and consequently having no reason to contact existing agencies working to a drug stopping agenda. Something has to be done to draw this larger group into agency contact, where their drug-use can be monitored and their manner of use challenged if necessary, in the interests of personal and public health.
The basic agenda for such service provision requires users to take responsibility for the extent and manner of their use. But people can only be persuaded to use their drugs in a safer manner (e.g. smoke instead of inject) or a way that minimises the danger of infection (e.g. delay injecting until a clean needle is available) if in principle they are capable of implementing decisions about their drug use. If the prevailing view is one of helpless junkies driven by forces beyond their capacity to control, then any such attempt to alter drug use is rendered futile by the attributional style with which it is associated. Being 'addicted' is the antithesis of making and implementing decisions, and within such a framework people 'have to have' their drugs whatever the cost.
Addiction is therefore a specific subspecies of learned helplessness, a phenomenon which has been much researched in other contexts and has generally been found to hinder the individuals' attempts to take an active and constructive role in his/her own health-related behaviour. In particular, feelings of lack of control are associated with higher levels of experienced stress, and a general lowering in the ability to cope (see for example Fisher and Reason 1988; Fisher and Cooper 1990; Cooper and Payne 1988).
It is apparent that the increased responsibility expected from drug users in terms of making decisions about substances, sources of supply, routes of administration and lending/borrowing of needles, cannot take place within a framework which stresses a mechanistic view of the drug-taking process; that is, as an addictive process that happens to people, rather than something that people do. Such a view alienates people from their own behaviour and intentions. In order to cope with the decisions necessary to minimise the possible harmful consequences of drug use to self and to society, issues of volition and control, and thereby of competence, have to replace mechanistic conceptions. Progress can only be made along this route if the notion of addiction is seen for what it is; namely, a preferred style of explanation whose primary purpose is functional. It removes blame and responsibility in a climate of moral censure. However, that particular functionality is actually dysfunctional at another level. Whilst the addiction attribution minimises possible harm to the drug user deriving from the social and legal sanctions surrounding drug use, it does nothing to minimise the possible harm that might come from using drugs incompetently, and it reduces the likelihood of competent use. A new context for drug use is required within which a different set of attributions is functional, attributions that help the person to cope with the problems that may arise due to their drug use, rather than attributions whose function is to minimise the impact of the legal and social sanctions on drug use imposed by the society within which it takes place.
The involvement of HIV/AIDS with intravenous drug use now gives a particular impetus to the need for a drug-using context within which explanations in terms of volition and control are functional, types of explanation which have different implications for drug-using behaviour than currently-preferred explanations in terms of pharmacology and helplessness. People believing themselves to be helpless cannot guide or take responsibility for their actions; and the involvement of HIV with drug use now requires with some urgency that drug users do exactly that. In a society trying to limit the spread of HIV/AIDS via incompetent drug use, the addiction attribution is probably the single major obstacle to progress. It impairs the capacity to cope with the problems arising from unwise drug use per se and the ability to make and implement competent drug-taking decisions. The link between HIV and IV drug use now makes it imperative that if people decide to use drugs, and many people make that decision and will continue to do so, then they should use their drugs competently above all else.
Living with Drugs
Illicit drugs are probably not going to go away by themselves, and the possibility that a 'war on drugs' will succeed in eliminating them from our midst seems increasingly unlikely. History has shown us how prohibition can create more problems than it solves. At a time when borders are being dismantled and when international communication and travel are commonplace, the problems of trying to ensure that particular substances do not reach particular destinations are likely to increase rather than decrease. The problem is compounded by the fact that there are major economic incentives to overcoming whatever barriers are put in place; and the commodities themselves are easy to hide or disguise.
Consequently, the realistic option is the pragmatic one; learning to live with drugs whilst minimising the harm that some individuals may encounter with their use. Furthermore, in all probability drug use is going become more rather than less prevalent, a developing context within which harm reduction will make progressively more sense, whilst the drive to stamp out drugs will become increasingly out of touch and ostrich-like. In a world where experimentation with, and use of, illicit substances becomes more common, a framework is required which normalises this activity as far as possible, whilst providing users with the services they require in the interests of minimising harm, and controlling the spread of HIV and other infections. The alternative is a society in which an increasing number of people become sidelined in the 'helpless addict' role, unable to make decisions about their drugs or their manner of use, and unable to take part in that society on anything resembling normal terms; whilst the drive to eliminate the substances from our midst exacts an ever increasing toll in terms of societal disruption and the invasion of civil liberties.
It goes without saying that the approach being advocated requires some dynamic response; specifically it requires a step back from the worst excesses of the existing system, to a less punitive set of circumstances within which alternative forms of attribution may be encouraged to grow and eventually flourish. The two essential ingredients of any attempt to encourage drug use on terms which are controlled and manageable are, firstly, the belief that such control and management is possible; and secondly the belief that there are benefits to be had from adopting such an approach.
Addiction: A Systems Problem
Taken collectively, attribution theory and attributional research suggest that the current controls surrounding illicit drug use have had a determining influence on the way drug use is explained. In turn, the explanation has led to service provision of a type appropriate to the explanation itself, the explanation determining both the type of services offered and the terms on which drug users may present themselves. The last link in the chain occurs when drug users do in fact present themselves on those terms when they encounter problems, as the price of absolution. In other words, the functional attribution becomes the reality.
However, it is clear that in different circumstances, alternative forms of explanation could become functional; forms that would have different and more helpful implications for future behaviour. Given the extent to which drug use, and especially IV drug use, is now enmeshed with other critical health issues, the need for such a new reality could not be clearer. That alternative reality requires the development of a 'system' within which drug use is conceived of as an activity carried out for positive reasons, by people who make individual decisions about their substance use, and who may take drugs competently as well as incompetently. By contrast, the 'war on drugs' actually takes us in an opposite direction by repeatedly stressing that the only control possible over the use and misuse of illicit drugs is that imposed from outside.
It is clear that the problems created by the illicit use of mind-altering substances do not stand alone, but are part of a larger system. In the preceding paragraphs we have seen how the use and misuse of drugs is inextricably interwoven with other issues. Throughout this text it has also been repeatedly stressed that the explanations people offer for drug use are primarily functional in certain types of context, and consequently they change according to context. The problem of illicit drug use is thus basically a 'systems problem.' In describing addiction as a systems problem the word 'system' is used not in a general sense, but in the specific sense implied by systems theory (e.g. Ackoff and Emery 1972). Although a system may comprise most or all the elements of a set (in the sense that we all provide inputs to the addiction system), the focus is on the interrelationships between the different identifiable components of the system, rather than on what goes on at any particular level. Systems theory also seeks to understand the manner in which changes at a specific point within the system can change the properties of the system as a whole, in the extreme case modifying the way the system works so as to change its outputs radically.
In the real world, it is possible to become so enmeshed at one particular level that one loses sight of the system within which one is operating, and when this happens one becomes blinkered to the larger context of which one is a part, perhaps even failing to realise that the changes made at that level can produce greater and perhaps non-beneficial effects on the system as a whole. To solve this type of problem requires analysis of the various parts, their susceptibility to manipulation, and prediction of the consequences of change for the rest of the system. Unfortunately, such a systems analysis is lacking for drug use and misuse. Nonetheless, it is apparent that in recent times the major focus has been on a particular component, a component that lays stress on the medical perspective, takes as its premise the presumption that taking illicit drugs is essentially an illness or an inadequacy from which harm must inevitably flow, and leads to the conclusion that treatment and prevention in various guises are the two most appropriate and most fundamental responses. In fairness, it must be acknowledged that this approach has not completely ignored the non-medical aspects, but nonetheless they are not accorded equal status, being merely suborned to the medical perspective as and when they appear to complement that part of the system.
The attributions people make for drug use, and the functionality that may be discerned from the study of how these change in different contexts, is the key to a realisation that the addiction system is not operating in a coherent manner. Coherence can be restored by taking the first steps towards a more systems-based approach, within which inputs from drug users and treatment specialists play a role as a necessary and essential part, but which accords equal status to historical and geographical factors, to political and governmental agendas, to the role of newspapers and television, the law, the broader social and political climate within which drug use takes place, up to and including everyone living within that social system, and the attitudes and values they learn, and which they bring to the issue.
Understanding the addiction system, as distinct from the medical problems of drug use, now requires a concerted effort to obtain a broader perspective from all parts of the system, followed by an effort to understand how actions at any one level, and which may appear advantageous at that level, can cause the overall output of the system to change in non-advantageous ways. In the preceding pages it has been argued that the functional use of the addiction attribution is a real and identifiable output, and as such it clearly demonstrates that the system surrounding the use and misuse of illicit mind-altering substances is not working in a helpful and productive way.
Without a change in perspective, we lay the foundations for a continuation of the drug problem in the same terms. We run the risk of making the problem more and more extreme, and consequently of coming to view counter measures of a progressively more arbitrary and socially destructive type as desirable and necessary, as we add more and more energy to the system, until eventually we transform a problem involving individuals taking mind altering drugs into a problem of life-and-death on the streets. Something like this appears to be happening both here and in the U.S.A. as the economic rewards of trading in the illicit drug-economy escalate in a never-ending spiral.
Addiction: Exploding the Myth
It is essential to be clear on certain points. It is not the message behind this book that the illicit use of drugs never creates problems for people. It is abundantly clear that numbers of people encounter serious health problems due to the unwise or careless use of mind-altering substances. This is true of drugs like heroin and cocaine; and it is also true of drugs like alcohol, tobacco and benzodiazepines (minor tranquilisers). To the extent that the use of illicit drugs is a danger to individual health, there is a problem. The extent of this problem is, however, generally overestimated at the population level, in comparison with the harm caused by the use of licit substances; and also in comparison with major health problems such as accidents at home and at work, child-pedestrian fatalities, heart disease and so on.
It is also clear that the incompetent use of drugs can cause damage within the family, the work group, within broader social networks, and that in some localities these problems assume a greater seriousness than in others. Whether it be the neglected spouse, struggling to cope with a growing family on resources depleted by a partner's gambling; the businessman embezzling in order to keep himself in claret; the factory worker whose drink or drug use materially affects his/her work performance; or the talented musician whose performance moves from the sublime to the grotesque in response to increasing heroin use; all these instances demonstrate that the thing we refer to as 'addiction' can have serious repercussions at both the societal and the individual level. Again, however, we have to note that whatever the activity or the substance, such problems are far from inevitable and that controlled use in particular contexts need have no implications whatsoever beyond that context. It is becoming increasingly clear that large numbers of people use drugs in a controlled fashion, never encountering serious problems with their use, and never coming to the attention of police, health or other authorities (Cohen 1990 op cit; Ditton 1990 op cit).
Finally, although it has been suggested that the understanding of drug action at the level of the cell is peripheral to the understanding of drug-related molar behaviours, the pharmacological effects are real: the particular pharmacology of a substance gives that 'addiction' is own peculiar quality, and humans and animals are aware of and can even recognise that quality under certain conditions. Furthermore, such differences account for the fact that certain substances are intrinsically more pleasurable to use than others, and hence are employed by people for their pleasurable effects whilst other substances are not. However, it is also the case that people can and do become 'addicted' to things that involve no external pharmacology, in the sense that they pursue an activity single-mindedly to the detriment of their personal health and the disruption of their family and social relationships; and it is also true that other people seem able to use substances that are pharmacologically potent on an extended take-it-or-leave-it basis with no long-term health consequences. Consequently, an external pharmacological agent is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition to bring about that state we describe as 'addiction' amongst humans.
If substances themselves are not the crucial issue in the explanation of why people display 'addicted' behaviour, then there is clear need. for a revision of basic strategy. We have to step back from the abyss towards which we are being beckoned not by users, but by those whose preferred solution to drug problems is to eliminate drugs and their use from our midst by whatever means appear necessary, no matter how socially disruptive this may be. Unless we seriously consider ways of reducing penalties, of producing more sensible media coverage, of reducing the political appeal of drugs, in other words of examining all aspects of the addiction system, the problem will metamorphose into something far more costly in societal terms. The response to the drug problem will come to have more serious, not to say lethal, consequences for society than the drugs themselves.
At the moment, the use of mind-altering substances serves as a springboard for responses to drug use that can eventually lead to death and chaos on the streets, where no such outcome is necessary. To avoid this outcome, it is necessary merely to take a more balanced perspective on the costs and benefits of illicit drug use; and in the light of that analysis, to arrive at the only sensible conclusion. Namely, it is time to abandon a response based on an escalating and ineffective tariff of legal sanctions against drug use; and switch to an approach which focuses on reducing the potential harm of certain incompetent drug-use practices, whilst handing personal control back to those who are involved. In other words, we need to rebuild our 'addiction system'; and in the process of doing so we may well discover that it was never in fact what we thought it was. We may discover that 'addiction' is not so much a thing that happens to people, as a functional set of cognitions surrounding the activity of taking drugs; a way of thinking made necessary only by the sanctions with which we surround the act of using substances to change our state of consciousness. | https://www.druglibrary.net/special/davies/myth11.htm |
“These days, we’re taught that someone who is alone must be sad and lonely,” Korean sculptor Seo Young-Deok says. “But I believe it is important to know how to appreciate solitude. My job calls for much time alone. It is during this time that I feel my imagination open up and expand.”
As it happens, Young-Deok is backed by science. For a long time, all types of social withdrawal were considered harmful. But over the last couple of years, psychologists have started to research the positive effects of alone time. Some of these recent studies suggest there may be an important relationship between solitude and creativity.
To understand the importance of solitude, we spoke to several artists to get their insights. Below, we’ll explore the research behind solitude art, as well as individual perspectives on how to enjoy solitude and create great art alone.
Why Do Artists Need Solitude?
Traditionally, to be in solitude means to be alone or separate from society. But for artists, solitude takes on a slightly different meaning. Solitude isn’t about completely cutting yourself off from the outside world or disconnecting from others; it’s about allowing yourself to take time for introspection and reflection.
Several of the artists we interviewed told us that they appreciate occasional solitude because it gives them the opportunity to play, dabble, and explore. Sometimes that means testing out new materials, and other times it means journaling about dreams they’ve never shared with anyone.
Still, it can take hard work and discipline to learn how to enjoy solitude. It requires patience and structure. For centuries, solitude artists have persisted when other people might have given up; in the early 19th century, the French Romantic painter Eugène Delacroix wrote extensively in his journal not only about the importance of working alone but also about the level of self-control it took to do so. Then in his twenties, he encouraged himself to spend time away from the society of others to pursue “uninterrupted work, and plenty of it.”
That’s why many writers and artists schedule deliberate creative retreats and residencies. But you don’t have to head to a faraway destination in order to reap the benefits of solitude and creativity. Alone art time can take place anywhere and everywhere: inside a studio, down the street, or on the road. Fit it in where you can, and find what works well for you. Maybe it means going to a museum, heading outside for a walk in a park, or even taking advantage of a routine commute.
Reconnect With Your Creativity and Imagination
Intuitive Illustration: 4 Quick, Fun Exercises to Unlock Creativity With Amber Vittoria
The Science of Art and Solitude
Compared to the average population, artists are usually more comfortable with complex ideas and ambiguous feelings. For some creative people, alone time acts like a kind of mirror, bringing their experiences, memories, and goals into sharper focus. They are open and willing to delve into their own psyches in ways other people might not be.
In that way, taking time to create art alone can help artists uncover ideas and creativity they may not otherwise be able to access.
However, solitude can be a challenge, especially in an age when we’re constantly surrounded by media and stimuli. A 2014 study revealed that a surprising number of people (two thirds of men and one quarter of women) would rather experience a mild electric shock than spend just six to fifteen minutes alone in an empty room. It can take some practice to get comfortable with turning off the phone or silencing those notifications.
Plus, a healthy level of solitude won’t just enhance your creativity; it could also improve your focus. Multitasking can reduce our productivity by a whopping 40%, so while moving between emails, texts, and a blank canvas might seem doable and efficient, it’ll just slow you down. The human brain isn’t hardwired for it.
What Working Artists Say About Solitude
Solitude Can Mitigate Distractions and Self-Sabotage
As a self-taught artist, Barcelona-based oil painter August Vilella thrives on intuition and experimentation, and his studio is his playground and his laboratory. “When I start on a new artwork, I need to be completely alone,” he explains. “I’m very strict with myself in that sense. I want to give shape to my subconscious mind, and any distraction can cut off my inspiration and interrupt the process. I’m painting for myself first, and then for others.”
Here, Vilella makes an important point about the value of taking a break from the outside world when taking time for solitude painting. When they’re alone, artists don’t have to worry about how their work will be received by others. All those doubts and fears take a backseat, allowing those complex feelings and unconventional ideas to come to the fore. Self-consciousness, on the other hand, stops creative thinking in its tracks. It inhibits artists’ ability to take risks and think outside the box.
Solitude Can Help You Process Your Feelings
The time you spend alone gives you space to unpack your memories, perceptions, and feelings. For artists, this process of “making sense” of the world—and their place in it—is absolutely necessary. “I use my busiest times to absorb impressions and immerse myself in experiences, but I also need time to reflect, sort out, and process my ideas,” Austrian artist Anatol Knotek says.
Solitude Doesn’t Look the Same for Everyone
“I’ve found that it works best for me to make the most of the opportunities that present themselves,” illustrator and collage artist Alex Eckman-Lawn tells us. “For example, my therapist recently moved, and I now have to take a long train ride twice a month to get to their new office. I was worried about this at first, but it’s become this amazing, productive brain vacation. I actually look forward to it now.”
Solitude can be more than just a means to an end. While it’s true that alone art time can boost creativity and efficiency, it can also be a welcome refuge and respite from the demands of everyday life. Once they’ve tapped into their subconscious mind, untangled their thoughts, and put pen to paper, some artists are left with a rare and precious feeling of stillness and quietude—which can lead to extraordinary solitude artwork. | https://www.skillshare.com/blog/solitude-is-an-important-part-of-being-an-artist-heres-why/ |
Individualism: American Romanticism, Transcendentalism and Anti-Transcendentalism
Romanticism: 1. Time period: early to mid 1800s.
2. Brought about as a reaction to the Age of Reason and the strict doctrines of Puritanism (very strict religious beliefs and practices in America from 1600-late 1700s)
3. Major themes or characteristics of Romanticism: importance of the individual, values the imagination, and emotional side of human nature rather than rational (logical) side of human nature. Some writers had a fascination with the supernatural. Writers had an optimistic outlook.
4. The natural world was glorified.
5. Famous Romantic writers: Washington Irving (“Rip Van Winkle,” “The Devil and Tom Walker”) Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (“A Psalm of Life”), Poet William Cullen Bryant (“Thanatopsis”), and novelist James Fennimore Cooper (created the frontier‟s man character; Last of the Mohicans).
Washington Irving Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Transcendentalism: (An optimistic offshoot of Romanticism)
1. Time period: mid 1800s to late 1800s.
2. A belief that „transcendent forms‟ of truth exist beyond reason and experience.
3. Values intuition as a means of gaining this higher truth.
4. Communing with nature made possible an intuitive connection with the entire universe.
5. This connection with all: God, mankind, the natural world was known as the Universal Oversoul. All living things could tap into this spirituality.
6. Valued non-conformity. 7. Major writers of the time: Ralph Waldo Emerson (“Self-Reliance”), Henry David Thoreau (Walden and “Civil Disobedience”) and Walt Whitman (Leaves of Grass).
Henry David Thoreau Walt Whitman
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Anti-Transcendentalism or Gothic (A pessimistic offshoot of Romanticism)
1. Time period: mid 1800s to late 1800s.
2. Known as the Dark Side of Individualism.
3. The focus on the imagination in Romanticism led to a focus on the demonic, the fantastic and the insane for the Gothic.
4. Gothic writers took a pessimistic view of humans and saw the potential for evil in all people.
5. „Essential truths’ about life were found in extreme situations or the darker side of human nature (greed, betrayal, fear, etc.).
6. Major writers: Edgar Allan Poe (“The Raven” and “Fall of the House of Usher”) and Nathaniel Hawthorne (“The Minister‟s Black Veil”).
Edgar Allan Poe Nathaniel Hawthorne
7. Gothic lives on: Southern Gothic (William Faulkner, “A Rose for Emily” and Flannery O’Connor “A Good Man is Hard to Find”), and contemporary writers (Anne Rice, Interview With A Vampire). | https://docslib.org/doc/10713381/romanticism-transcendentalism-and-anti-transcendentalism |
Romanticism Paper When most people hear the word romanticism, the first thing that comes to mind is love and romance. The thought triggered is partially on the right track however the word “romanticism” actually stems from an actual era and movement that started in 1798 and ended in 1832. This era changed the way in which different artists and literatus expressed themselves and the way they viewed the world around them. Romanticism is evident in many forms like paintings, music, dance, literature, and poetry.
In this paper I will be describing to you the idealism of romanticism in these specific forms; literature, dance, and paintings. In this paper I will show you that romanticism is something that was set before our time and yet still very profound in this time. Romanticism concerning literature could be easily misled. The word itself could easily be correlated to novelist such as Danielle Steele and Margaret Mitchell, however, most people don’t know that even authors like Edgar Allan Poe falls under the class of romanticism in literature.
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Some of the key elements in romantic literature were that they “Mainly cared about the individual, intuition, and imagination. ” (“Characteristics Of Romantic Literature,” n. d. ) In Poe’s short story “Ligea” he encompasses all of these ideals in this short piece of work. In the story he compares the lives of both of his wives that passed away. The first one he describes beautiful beyond the unknown, and his second wife as just a typical mold. This was his way of showing how things should not be made to societies speculations, but built molded to the individual’s intuition and desires.
The narrator is also described as a drug addict that does not know certain key facts like; date, time, and location. Through this he was also able to get the reader to become lost in time, which in return triggers the imagination of the readers to come up with their own ideas on the story. Pieces of work like “Ligea” is good example of what romantic literature is about. The basic concept of encompassing individual elements also reflected in different forms of art as well, such as ballet.
Romanticism when concerning dancing gives a much better perspective of root word romantic. The way the ballerinas move is fueled and driven by mood and feeling, making the movements seem so elegant, or romantic. Romanticism in ballet came about “after the fall of the Bourbon Monarchy in 1830. ” It was during this time that opera became privately owned and operated which, gave the Filippo Taglioni to showcase his work in the ballet, La Sylphide. It was this ballet in particular that started the domino effect of romanticism’s eminence to reflect in following ballets.
Out of this ballet came the rise of Marie Taglioni, the daughter of Filippo, she was the most famed ballerina during her time. She was also one of the pioneers in the Romantic Movement as she danced with such emotion and passion that broke away from the textbook teachings of dancing. The idealism of romanticism is evident in many forms, but the one that sticks out the most would have to paintings. As with all the other forms that were impacted by romanticism, art is the one that did not just impact art itself.
The idealism in paintings was not only a reflection of one’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Art, however, also caused the artist to paint about how they felt about others and the society around them. Romantic artists actually cared about what was going on around them. Eugene Delacroix was a romantic artist that used his artwork as a tool to encourage people to support Greek’s fight for independence from the Turks. The painting The Massacre at Chios gives off a tyrannical image of the Turks murdering Greeks to be sold as slaves.
This in turn won the vote of Europeans to feel for the Greeks, which led them to support their cause. This sense of romanticism is evident in all pieces of art. Nine times out of 10 you will hear out of an artist’s mouth ” I paint what I feel” in regards to their work. Through all three of these different art forms, it goes to show that it the Romantic era was mostly described as a time that people literally came out of their shell and started doing things in conjunction with their own personal feelings. In conclusion I discussed three different forms of art in which romantic idealism is present.
I talked about romantic literature, ballet, and paintings. Through comparing the three I concluded that they all share the common element of individual feelings. This caused the artist in their own respective form to break out of the basic mold and to be more creative and out of the box. It was the romantic era that started the domino effect that is still in motion until this very day. It paved the way for people to express themselves freely, and not to be confined and restricted to typical mold but to become a mold of their own. | https://anyassignment.com/literature/romanticism-paper-assignment-45852/ |
Written Assignment 2: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice Leadership is a topic with many different types of styles. It is also a concept that overlaps with management activities. Working in the corporate world for over twenty years has afforded me the opportunity to interact with both effective and non-effective leaders and managers. The leader who possesses the most important characteristics of an effective leader is a man by the name of Otty. Otty is a leader who possesses traits consistent with many types of leadership styles. These include the following theories; Trait Approach, Skills approach, situational approach, contingency theory, leader-member exchange theory, transactional leadership and transformational leadership.
In relation to trait theory, Otty possesses several of the major leadership traits that include intelligence, sociability, and integrity. According to the findings associated with this theory intelligence is positively related to leadership. Findings have determined that leaders have a higher intelligence than nonleaders. “Sociability is a leader’s inclination to seek out pleasant social relationships” (Northouse (2013) p. 26). Otty’s sociability is an example of a leader who seeks out pleasant social relationships. It is stated is leaders who sociability are friendly, outgoing, courteous, tactful, and diplomatic. Having sensitivity to others’ needs and show concern for their well-being. Otty has an understanding of good interpersonal skills. Honesty and trustworthiness is another important trait of a leader. Integrity inspires confidence in others. When he does what he says he’s going to do creates trust and loyalty. Otty’s integrity makes him a leader who is believable and trustworthy.
Otty’s skills approach to leadership outlines his structure for consistency in the development of his skills during his career as a leader. The skills and abilities related to his leadership style are directly correlated to problem solving and social judgment skills. His competencies in this area identify the significant aptitude for formulating definitive problem solving solutions. “Problem-solving skills demand that leaders understand their own leadership capacities as they apply to possible solutions to the unique problems in their organization” (Northouse (2013) p. 48). The role that Otty plays in his leadership capacity is to ascertain the issues and problems in the department and offer immediate solutions for resolution. This skill is essential to the skills model. In addition to problem-solving skills, Otty displays social judgment in support of the organizational goals. His unique perspective on thinking about a problem as someone else permits him the ability to understand different outcomes. This is also essential in relation to skills approach.
In regards to style approach, Otty’s behaviors related to tasks and relationships are based on how goals are accomplished. There are times when the task behavior is used to direct others to complete the goal. Moreover, Otty’s team management style places strong emphasis on both tasks and interpersonal relationships. “The leaders stimulates participation, acts determined, gets issues into the open, makes priorities clear, follows through, behaves open-mindedly, and enjoys working” (Northouse (2013) p. 81).
Situational approach is defined as where the leader focuses on leadership in situations. Otty’s leadership is composed of both “directive and a supportive dimension” (p. 99). This in essence is the way leaders match their style according to their followers. In this style, Otty is able to understand and curtail his leadership style in situations that enable him to be directive and supportive according to the situation. In some instances, his style may require a higher directive and low support. This would depend on what level of support the follower needs for a task or relationship behavior. Otty has been in more of a coaching level recently with several of the subordinates due to the nature of the tasks.
In the contingency theory, leaders match their style to situations. Otty’s LPC (Least Preferred Coworker) score would most likely be high. Due to his effectiveness in leading others in a moderately favorable situation. His motivation is led by relationships. Otty is known to spend many lunches with current and past team members. The leader-member exchange theory (LMX) conceptualizes leadership as a process centered on the interactions between leaders and members (p. 161). Otty’s style is closely related to this theory where he develops relationships with his followers. As the relationship grows, the phases adapt to the leadership style. This theory can be applied in various types of organizations and defines how leaders closely relate to their subordinates. Otty builds trusting relationships with all of his subordinates. “Transactional leaders guide followers in the direction of established goals by clarifying role and task requirements” (Armandi, B., Oppedisano, J., & Sherman, H., 2003, p. 1080).
As a transformational leaders, Otty does not always pay attention to the concerns and developmental needs of followers. There are some instances that he may help them look at old problems in new ways. However, for the most part, his focus is the goal. He does encourage subordinates to question their established views including those of the leader. He always says to question the answer and then question the answer again. As a transformational leader, Otty is concerned with inspiring his followers to accomplish great things. His motivational techniques enable him to be a mentor and a role model for his followers. His encouragement creates emphasis on innovation and ideals. A transformational leader can provide followers with information about building trust and foster collaborations with others that contribute to organizational success.
Otty’s style as a transformational leader enables him to encourage others and celebrate their accomplishments. Recently, an organizational goal was achieve and Otty celebrated with a departmental barbeque on a rooftop in Center City Philadelphia. This was a true testament to his leadership by emphasizing the success of the team. Otty’s effectiveness as a leader is not shy of ineffective capabilities also. Otty is more an effective leader as opposed to non-effective leader but could benefit from some direction from a relationship perspective. There are times when Otty picks and chooses the followers that he associates with on a daily basis. His relationships are formed by performance level. Otty could benefit from having a higher level of sensitivity to subordinates receiving special attention and some subordinates who do not (p. 173). This is consistent with the LMX theory on how to build trusting relationships.
Perhaps, leadership is a topic with many different types of styles that overlap with management activities. A leader like Otty possesses traits consistent with many types of leadership styles. These include the following theories; Trait Approach, Skills approach, situational approach, contingency theory, leader-member exchange theory, transactional leadership and transformational leadership. Since one leadership style isn’t a cookie cutter theory, leaders like Otty have the ability to pick and choose items from each style and make it their own unique way of leading.
References
Armandi, B., Oppedisano, J., & Sherman, H. (2003). Leadership theory and practice: A “case” in point. Management Decision, 41(10), 1076-1088. (ProQuest). Northouse, P. (2012). Leadership: theory and practice (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks: SAGE. Print. | https://blablawriting.net/bridging-the-gap-between-theory-and-practice-essay |
Organizational Leadership Theoretical Approaches
There are three theoretical approaches to studying organizational leadership. These are leadership as a property of the leadership approach, relationship approach, and social process approach. According to traits or the great man theory, outstanding leaders have a specific set of personal qualities (Salihu, 2019). These include the level of intelligence, bright appearance, common sense, initiative, self-confidence, reliability, and activity (Harrison, 2017). The theory’s strength is that leaders can be identified from an early age (Salihu, 2019). However, personal qualities do not guarantee success, and their relative importance largely depends on other factors (Salihu, 2019). For example, the theory does not include cognitive and social skills, or the importance of values and expertise (Salihu, 2019). It also ignores the problem-solving abilities of a potential leader (Salihu, 2019). Concerning equity and diversity, it is also essential to realize the need to train leadership qualities from childhood. For instance, for gender equality, it is suggested to strengthen girls’ conviction that participation in the political and business process is their inalienable right and even a duty.
The relationship approach to leadership considers that the style of leadership determines the effectiveness of management. The behavioral theory focuses on a set of techniques used by the leader in the management process (Vasilescu, 2019). Such an approach reflects several important aspects: the degree of delegation of authority by the head to his/her subordinates, the type of power used, and methods of working with the external environment (Harrison, 2017). It also covers ways of influencing personnel and the usual behavior of the leader regarding subordinates (Harrison, 2017). The approach’s limitation is that it can neglect personal traits, leadership potential and abilities (Salihu, 2019). Promoting equality and diversity, in this case, depends on successful examples of various leadership styles. Regardless of gender, race and ethnicity, social class and sexual orientation, successful leaders should be positioned as role models to change the ideas of what a leader should look like in the mass consciousness.
The social process approach to leadership considers that the leader is influenced not only by personal qualities and leadership style but also by various situational factors. For example, these are the needs and personal qualities of subordinates, the task, the influence of the environment, and the availability of information (Vasilescu, 2019). Accordingly, the leader should be able to behave differently in different situations. However, the limitation is mainly presented by the lack of research and explaining why some leadership styles are more effective (Harrison, 2017). The strength is that such an approach is regarded as the most productive in management practice relating to equality and diversity. Situational leadership theories are of practical importance because they assert a plurality of optimal leadership styles depending on the situation (Harrison, 2017). They point to the lack of a single universal type of management and image of an effective leader and establish leadership effectiveness depending on situational factors. Therefore, it is necessary to know subordinates’ abilities, their capabilities to complete the assigned task, and the limits of their influence on the performers.
Reference List
Harrison, C. (2018) Leadership theory and research. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Salihu, M. J. (2019) ‘A Conceptual analysis of the leadership theories and proposed leadership framework in higher education’, Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 5(4), pp. 1-6.
Vasilescu, M. (2019) ‘Leadership styles and theories in an effective management activity’, Annals-Economy Series, 4, pp. 47-52. | https://essay4business.com/organizational-leadership-theoretical-approaches/ |
- This topic has 4 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 1 month ago by Marius T.
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AuthorPosts
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June 15, 2021 at 6:03 am #12711
Hi all,
In the full ironman plans, there are RAe workouts settled by time, in line with the “theoretical average runner” who can complete 10 k in 60 minutes, like David said in another post.
This is nicely in line with another recommendation from David (to do at least one workout of 30 kilometers in preparation for a full ironman) because at that pace, both RAe 18 (2 hour and 40 minutes) and RAe 20 (3 hours) will conduct at targeted distance.
But, for a slow runner, doing time based RAe 18 and RAe 20 will conduct to much lower distances and let’s face it, doing a 30 k is a confident buster for most of us.
On the other hand, doing distance based RAe 18 and RAe 20 will last much longer than 3 hours. For e.g., at my actual pace for Z1 and Z2, RAe 18 will be 4 hours and 19 minutes and RAe 20 will be 4 hours and 20 minutes.
Now, I see to approaches:
-To do the workout till completion of the distance, but I don’t think that is efficient to run for 4+ hours in one session
-To split the workouts and to do “two a day” like this: A.M. 2 hours and 30 minutes, covering as much distance as possible (let’s say 20 km) P.M. 1 hour and 30 minutes covering the last 10 km.
Any thoughts?
MariusJune 15, 2021 at 5:06 pm #12723David WardenKeymaster
M,
It’s just not necessary to complete the individual distances in IM training. Even pure marathon training never includes 26.2 miles in training. Maybe 22 miles tops. So why do we think we need to run 24+ miles in IM training?
Yes, the long sessions are important, but there are diminishing returns after 2.5 hours of running and no returns after 3 hours of running (unless you are training for an Ultra event). You just can’t recover fast enough at 3+ ours of running, and you’ll just end up digging yourself into a hole.
There is also nothing wrong with 30K being your peak long run for IM training.
However, I’d target at least one 160-kilometer ride distance and at least one 32-kilometer run. All other runs should not exceed 3 hours, and even that is risky.
Your AM PM option is possible, if you can recover sufficiently. This is what Ultra runners often do, and even our Level 3 Marathon plans split up runs AM and PM in this way. It’s a high-risk/medium reward scenario, whereas the plan as written is a medium risk/medium reward scenario. You’re possibly just introducing more risk for very little increased return.
To help you feel a bit more confident, visit https://www.8020endurance.com/testimonials/ and scroll down all the way to the bottom, then click on the First Time athletes tab. Look at all the amazing first time IM participants on 80/20 plans, and none of them went more than 3 hours of running at a time.
DavidJune 16, 2021 at 12:06 am #12732
However, I’d target at least one 160-kilometer ride distance and at least one 32-kilometer run. All other runs should not exceed 3 hours, and even that is risky.
This is exactly my concern and my question. How can a slow runner safely do a 32 K run without exceeding the 3 hours mark?
The RAe 18 and RAe 20 workouts where just examples because they are peak workouts in the Level 1 full ironman plan.
MariusJune 16, 2021 at 7:53 am #12750David WardenKeymaster
Some runners won’t be able to run 32KM under 3 hours. I’m OK with one of your runs exceeding 3 hours. It will impact recovery significantly the following week, but the net benefits of completing that distance once are worth it. There is no perfect solution here, it’s just the best-available solution, and I believe that the disadvantages of multiple 3+ hour runs are not worth it, but one 3+ hour run is acceptable.
DavidJune 17, 2021 at 7:56 am #12764
Thank you, David ! Now I understand.
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On Saturday, October 12th, Eliud Kipchoge, a professional marathoner, became the first runner to ever break the two-hour time barrier for the marathon. The Kenyan long-distance runner victoriously crossed the finish line and completed 26.2 miles with a time of 1 hour 59 minutes and 40 seconds (1:59:40). The finishing time is equivalent to Kipchoge running a 4:33 mile average for the duration of the marathon.
In order to remain on track to run sub 2 hours, multiple pacers guided and set the pace for Kipchoge to follow. A set of pacers would run a specific distance with Kipchoge, then drop out of the run to be replaced with a new set of pacers assigned to the next distance amount. Kipchoge was able to maintain the pace needed to run sub-two hours throughout the marathon.
The marathon INEOS challenge was hosted in Vienna, Austria as an effort to break the two-hour time barrier that was once believed impossible. The event attracted crowds of spectators, all hoping for a chance to witness history.
The same challenge was attempted a few years ago on May 6, 2017, through Nike’s Breaking 2 event. At the Nike event, Kipchoge fell short of breaking the two-hour time barrier with a time of 2 hours and 25 seconds (2:00:25). He had struggled to maintain the required pace and fell short of the barrier.
Now, Kipchoge redeemed himself and the hopes of the running community with his efforts. Because of the use of interchangeable pacers, the IAAF will not recognize the time as a world record because of the resources offered to Kipchoge. Even though the time is not recognized as a world record, Kipchoge proved to the world that a human can break boundaries and achieve what was once believed impossible.
Katelyn Meza (12) is an admirable person contributing towards athletics, specifically track and cross-country, to which she has participated for high school... | https://shssharkattack.com/16824/sports/the-2-hour-time-barrier-for-the-marathon-is-broken/ |
Handmade and unique glass jug.
Each textured glass jug is unique in their shape and look. Pressing the molten glass against various surfaces, the glass takes on a soft and tactile surface. It features patterns and textures created using various 2D techniques.
Textured Tumblers was a glassware project involving students working with London-based glassblower Jochen Holz to create individual glass art. Students learned about the lampworking technique and got the chance to design patterns and textures for glassware guided by product designers Stine Keinicke and Kevin Smeeing.
STORE STORE is a London-based association of artists, architects and designers composed of three core elements: an educational programme of art and architecture courses, wide-ranging public events and exhibitions, and a socially engaged design practice.
Click here to view a short film about the STORE STORE After School Club products.
Materials: clear glass.
Dimensions: Height 23cm, Diameter 9cm.
Please note that each jug is unique and patterns will vary.
This product is Click and Collect in store only, due to the delicacy of the product. | https://shop.barbican.org.uk/products/textured-glass-jug |
A Texture Atlas describes the method of packing many separate textures together into a single texture. Other common names for this are "decal sheet", "packed texture".
Atlases save texture fetches, which can help improve the frame rate.
Each of the textures can be tiled with themselves, just like a regular tiling texture.
The textures can either be cropped out of the atlas by adding more edges to the model and cutting up the texture coordinates (at the expense of increasing the vertex count), or the textures can be arranged as sub-tiles and cropped out using a shader (at the expense of increasing the shader instructions).
Atlas Methods
There are two common atlas methods: one divides a single bitmap into multiple sub-maps (this is usually what artists mean when they say "atlas"), the other method packs different grayscale maps into each color channel (this can be called a multimap or channel packing). The two methods are not exclusive, they can also be used together in the same bitmap.
= Tutorials
- 2016-10-07 Tiling within subUV or pseudo-volume textures - by Ryan Brucks
- 2015-06-26 Substance Designer: Creating a texture atlas - by Wes McDermott
- 2013-04-08 How to create UE3/UDK Texture Atlases (tileable) - by 'mAlkAv!An', using a custom HLSL node to apply separate UVs for texturing vs. mipmapping.
- 2013-04-02 UDN - Three - TerrainAdvancedTextures - Texture Packing: Implementing large texture tile sets
- 2013-04-02 UDK - how to solve 'frac' artifacts and mipmapping seams - how to implement sub-tiles in UDK, and solve seams.
- 2013-03-13 An easy way to work with separate channels in a "combined texture" - by George "gsokol" Sokol, using Photoshop's Layer Style to improve the texture editing process for channel packing.
- 2012-06-07 The Desert(What can you do with no diffuse maps?) Polycount forum thread. Vertex blending using multiple channel packed modulation textures, in UDK. See also Ditching Diffuse Maps: A foray into artistic reasoning and technical details behind "procedural" texturing, with practical examples on today's tech by Andrew 'd1ver' Maximov.
- 2012-05-28 UDK The Dunes Polycount Forum thread. Using two 256x256 textures to texture an entire scene, one as a normal map and the other channel packed to store four textures.
- 2012-05-01 Digital-Tutors: Multi-Tile Texture Workflows Tutorial ($) - by Justin Marshall / Digital Tutors, using UV organization to assign multiple textures to a single character, and how it works in various 3D apps.
- 2011-10-19 UDK - Material - Multi-UV Changes - more UDK techniques for sub-tiles.
- 2011-10-09 An exercise in modular textures - Scifi lab UDK - by Tor 'Snefer' Frick, an exercise in extreme texture channel packing, packing multiple maps into the four channels of a texture file.
- 2011-09-26 Terrain texture atlas construction - how to properly compile sub-tiles into a large texture sheet.
- 2010-12-20 UV tiling tricks within 0 to 1 space from the Polycount forum
- 2010-12-17 Modular Building Workflow - ($) a 3dmotive tutorial by Tyler Wanlass, covers planning and workflow for modular buildings using Photoshop, 3ds Max, and UDK.
- 2010-11-08 Work-flow for large texture atlases from the Polycount forum
- 2010-06-27 Working with Modular Sets - by Philip 'PhilipK' Klevestav, how to design and texture modular sci-fi wall panels.
- 2010-03-25 Visually Appealing Building Guide - by Christopher Albeluhn, an excellent breakdown of how to create visual interest with game buildings. Additional tutorials here.
- 2008-06-26 Mod Facade Challenge - by Joe 'EarthQuake' Wilson, breaking up a building into modular pieces and designing the texture sheet.
- 2006-11-08 Creating tiling textures in 3dsmax - by Chris 'cholden' Holden
- 2006-01-26 Practical Texture Atlases on Gamasutra by Ivan-Assen Ivanov
- 2005-12-20 Thirding - Utilizing your texture space for environment work - by Ben 'poopinmymouth' Mathis
Gutters
When a game model is textured using a single texture sheet, the texture will have typically have UV'd areas (UV shells) and blank areas between them (gutters).
The width of the gutter needs to be wide enough to accommodate how much EdgePadding you need. This varies depending on how large the texture is and the texture filtering type used by the game renderer.
Packing Tools
- 2015-05-17 Easy Atlas uses Photoshop and Maya. | http://wiki.polycount.com/w/index.php?title=Texture_Atlas&printable=yes |
Making Of 'Rio Grande'
This tutorial includes the most interesting and complicated steps making of this scene. Idea for doing this image came to me when I was watching small copies of the locomotives and steam locomotives at the shop. So when I came home I decided to make one of these machines. And now let's talk about making of this scene. I thought that the best way to explain all of the details is to show sequence of the images with some description for them. So there will be more images and fewer words.
Modeling
I'm sure the methods that I use are not very different than how the most modelers work. Just take a look at this wire and skylight layer pictures to understand how everything is built up.
Here are some close ups of the wheels
Head Light
Horn
Nuts
Fascade
Wires and Tiles
Loft
Bicycle
Rails
Fencing Part
Lamp
I didn't worry about polygon count because I wanted to create some static image not an animation. The model of the train isn't the cleanest model and polygon count for it is quiet large. I tried to achieve the shape that I need.
Lighting
Lighting in this scene is very simple, it consists only one direct light. Here is picture with different views of the scene with light source in it:
As you can see from the image above, direct light have quiet simple settings. The most important is that multiplier was set to 1,5 to create light like in summer shiny day. Color for this light was turned to the pale yellow to simulate the sun.But before this solution I have spent a lot of time, testing, trying and changing different types of lighting, here some of this light tests:1 direct light + photons = "midday"
1 area light = "midday with weak sun"
1 area light = "evening"
1 area light = "almost no sun"
1 direct light + photons = "midday" (direct light was reoriented to cast longer shadows)
1 direct light from the other side + photons (was playing with it's location)
1 direct light, moved again + photons (adjusting photons with textured model of train)
Train has it's own illumination (direct light with modified settings) and reflection (I used HDR image)
Texturing
Texturing was more difficult stage because of the high number of the objects in the scene, all textures for the locomotive and the walls are 4000x4000 pixels. To create them I've used Total textures vol.1, 2, 3. All the textures were modified, combined. With the help of my small tablet, I've added all the details to them.
Train Textures
Wall Textures
Rio Grande Number Texture
Window Dirt Texture
Side Windows
Front Side Windows
Front Windows
An example of one of the many 3d total textures which I used to make this scene look more natural
Here are some shots of the textured scene objects:
I've created one standard material and made 2 copies from it but with the different hue to add some variety. To add more variety to the tiles, I've drawn the dirt mask for the whole roof and assigned different map channel to it. This dirt mask serves as a mask for the MIX map in the tile material(diffuse, specular and bump).
Hierarchy of the tile mat
first variant of the depot texture
Wall Textures
Depot Lamp
Trash Bin
Foreground Rail
To texture these objects I've used just cylindrical and box mapping with unwrap modifier to texture some more complex stuff and parts. A few words about wall: simple planar mapping was added to put textures on them.
Then I have created bump and specular maps for all textures. Here you can see an example of the textured train with different color variations without dirt:
The images below are some of the close-up views of the textured locomotive:
Rendering
Render this scene was the most complex for me because of my hardware limit (Athlon XP 2400+, 1 gig of RAM). I was compelled to render my "Masterpiece" :-) by layers. So I rendered out diffuse, skylight, direct light, specular, z-depth layers, and again the same layers with the additional reflection layer for the train, to composite it and the environment in separate way. I made this image to those people who wants to render their works by layers but doesn't know how to adjust Brazil r/s to render out every separate layer:
Composite
This is my favourite part of the creating of every image that I'm working on. So, I shutdown Max and started Photoshop. I began from collecting all layers together. Here they are:
(From left to right: diffuse, skylight, direct light, specular, train reflection, train specular).
When every layer was in it's place I started to work with the Sky, which was added for the background from this photo:
Also these birds were pasted to the sky to give some more life to the scene:
The same way I did with the trees, they were taken and traced from the photo too.
Here you can see some sequence which show how my final PSD file looks:
Layers description:
1st layer is a background with sky (also used "hue/saturation" and "color balance" to adjust sky color).
2nd layer are just a pictures of the trees with masked background to put them on the sky layer.
3rd is the diffuse pass with mask which hides black background of this layer.
4th is the same(diffuse) pass with "screen" blend mode and mask to lighten up only some parts of the image.
5th layer is the skylight layer switched to multiply mode.
6th layer - direct light pass with the mask.
7th layer - the same layer modified to grayscale (I used it to add little more light for some parts of the image).
8th layer - simple specular pass.
9th layer - pass with reflections of the locomotive (masked to add reflections for the headlights only).
10th layer - the same layer (masked to add more reflections for the headlights).
11th layer - the same layer to add reflections to the whole train.
12th layer - specular pass for the train.
13th layer - specular pass for foreground fence, wall under it and stairs.
Post
When I finished with gathering all passes together, I always making some color correction and post(I used "color balance", "hue/saturation", "brightness/contrast"), adding some fog(using z-depth layer information), noise(when it's needed), glow for the most lighted parts of the image and other final touches. The most important thing in this case: NOT to overdo with all of it!
Here is the final result:
Software used: 3ds Max7, Brazil r/s 1.2.56, Photoshop CS.
Hardware: Athlon XP 2400+, 1gig of RAM. | https://3dtotal.com/tutorials/t/making-of-rio-grande-andrey-yamkovoy-scene-vehicle-train-building |
Austin-based producer Cuyo weaves together ephemeral geo-sonic experiments in organic and digital textures to create stunning atmospheres, soundscapes, and dance tracks. In his Splice pack, find a wide range of elegant and textured atmospheres, tons of various drum sounds, ambient textures, FX, and so much more. These sounds are primed for any type of electronic dance track and just waiting for you to experiment with. Special thanks to Peligrosa Studios for helping with the recordings.
home page
home page
Only registered users can see Download Links. Pleaseor login. | https://audiolove.club/21887-download-splice-sounds-cuyo-geosonics-vol1-ether-clear-edition-free.html |
Attic in Cortina d’Ampezzo by Mario Mazzer Architects
Designed by Mario Mazzer Architects, this rustic mountain apartment is located in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Description by Mario Mazzer Architects
Situated on the last of four floors of a 60’s building with a traditional distribution, the apartment gained major air space and a strong characterization thanks to the restructuring. A living continuum was created through the use of traditional materials, exalting the sensorial, chromatic, visual, tactile, taste and hearing characteristics.
All wood parts come from an old South Tyrolean farm, which was demolished a few years, and after a thorough restoration and cleaning of the surface showed the beauty of the material consumed by time.
The beams and planks were used for the replacement of the roofs, stairs, floors and walls.
The walls obtained by simple superposition of sandwich plates with internally soundproofing material, create a continuous interrupted only by functional elements in contrasting materials such as frosted glass, stainless steel, polished steel.
The soft and warm floor of the living area is in Botticino marble slabs, polished and sanded by hand.
A large cut in the roof defines a stone terrace of Cugnan, with sweeping views of the Tofane. The floor is split into slabs, the walls are obtained by the superposition of dry stone in different thicknesses, creating light and shade effects similar to the peaks.
The ceiling of the master room is characterized by an offset of steel along the perimeter, where the lights are housed and curtains, that highlights the characteristic non-coplanarity of the plaster.
The small bathroom also has a sink carved wood in old beams, the main one is covered in Botticino, with the shower enclosure carved from a block. The sliding door of the cabin and the towel rack chrome contrasts with the textured surface of the marble and wood paneling under the stairs, the latter incorporated into the bathroom and used by inserting a cabinet bright.
The bathroom of the new plan has parts of the walls and glass shower wall painted white, and the service bathroom has walls, floor and sink in the mosaic orange.
A slight sign of stainless steel allows to locate the access door to the apartment and that of the main chamber, the latter has the same wall thickness.
The staircase is defined between two high walls of wooden steps with back lighting, the inclined plane is lead waxed.
A strong architectural impact is the volume that mask the pipes from the lower floors and encloses the gas fireplace, highlighted by a frame in steel.
All furnishings are made by the designer and use old spruce for containers, steel for the kitchen, or iron rust for container partition entry-dining room. The latter uses old iron plates assembled by beating and getting a very special and evocative textures (creation Candeago Cortina).
The dining chairs come from the Burgundy and are typical of the houses of the shepherds in the eighteenth century.
The slender sculptures, purchased in Paris, are two old fence poles of the Breton countryside, carved by unknown peasants at the end of the nineteenth century.
The large painting in the living room to the nineteenth century and comes from Hungary, and uses a special technique for whites that vary according to the quantity and quality of light.
The still life, the end of the seventeenth century, behind the dining table belongs to the Flemish De Kooning.
The sofa is on a design and covered in red cloth, the ottoman near the fireplace is lined with shearling reverse stitching alive that highlight the hair. The curtains for the day using a particular pleated fabric, while those for the total darkness of the night are housed internally and sliding over the windows.
The bed container is made of wood with upholstered headboard in cloth, the bedcover is in Mohair wool and the linen in gauze curtain. All fabrics are produced by Sacho Hasslein. | https://homeadore.com/2017/03/17/attic-cortina-dampezzo-mario-mazzer-architects/ |
I want to create glass in the game engine. Is there any way to do this with materials or textures? I’ve searched for tutorials, but couldn’t find anything helpful. The glass doesn’t have to magnify or anything, just be transparent enough to see what’s behind it, while still seeing the glass. It is for use in a small energy core type of thing with a glowing substance inside. Any ideas? :spin:
You can check ‘transparency’ in the material panel and play with the alpha until you find the result satisfying.
I did and the preview window displayed the material I wanted, but it was still opaque in the game engine.
Did you used Z transparency?
What kind of shading are you using (GLSL or MultiTexture).
If its possible, could you upload the blend.
I used Z transparency with the alpha set to 1.00, I don’t know what the shader is, and my computer won’t let me upload anything for some reason.
Lower the alpha levels.
Still opaque.
Hmm…This is new.
Press “N” while in the 3d window. There you will find Display … open that up and look for shading… then you can select what you like from the drop down. Im not sure which one you need but… there it is.
Be sure that if none of your Textures has an Alpha Channel but is used as an Alpha Map, »Use Alpha« in the Image Sampling must be deactivated.
Are you in textured mode? Alt+z
Isn’t transparent in solid or textured mode. Could someone explain the alpha map and alpha channel and alpha setting and alpha whatever that I keep hearing about? I think I need to do something with UV to get the texture transparent, but I don’t really understand it.
Now the material is transparent in the textured view but not the GE.
Got it working. Thanks everyone! | https://blenderartists.org/t/game-engine-glass/533911 |
As you know, I love playing with texture in my artwork, especially the textures that can be found in nature. In this Art Lesson, you will learn a way to create some super gorgeous textures with a few new materials and techniques, and I will share with you how I use inspiration from nature to guide me. I begin with an inspiration photo of geysers I took at Yosemite National Park, and by using a variety of mediums and mixed media techniques, I create a deeply textured plate that begs to be touched.
You can check out on ClothPaperScissors how this lesson and tips from my book Artful Adventures in Mixed Media inspired Jeannine Stein to create some beautiful nature inspired tags.
True, I guess …sometimes it is hard to trust…but what else is left over?
Some texture play in my art journal. I used flexible modeling paste through my Crackle Stencil, let it dry and then applied some Glass Beads here and there.
After the glass beads dried I used Liquitex Spray Paints and sprayed over – sometimes going back in while the paint was still wet and blending some of the colors. I finsihed the spread off with some white ink splatters and the “trust” sticker as well as some writing.
Pretty big canvas I worked on – at least for me and it was a bit hard to adjust…I think a bigger me would have been better design wise – but for my first time working on such a scale I am ok with it ;) …because yes I can…hehehe.
So many things are on my plate right now- in my professional life and my private life…it is good to do something for fun and tell myself that I can do it.
Have a gorgeous day and don’t forget …YES, YOU CAN! | https://nathaliesstudio.com/tag/texture/ |
Dale Frank melts down pigmented varnish to create richly coloured and textured canvases in his newest exhibition.
Australian artist Dale Frank goes beyond the conventional and uses materials such as varnish, glass and even human hair. Showcasing 16 works that were made in 2016, Frank's new canvases demonstrates his unqiue use of pigmented varnish to create abstract images, along with his employment of rich intense colours. Together, these techniques create wonderful textures and blend of colours. | https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/art/dale-frank |
Professional artist with Asperger’s and other issues. Tutored by the highly acclaimed artist Stewart Geddes and the late Stass Paraskos/ I won the 2004 RSBA Rome Scholarship Award for Art / I’ve sold 40 paintings all over Europe.
OLD-NEW WORK ’97-2018: Landscape-based abstract paintings: Since 2003, my central passion in my paintings has been to create abstract visual feasts for the eyes which are shaped by places (mostly landscape, sometimes interior).
Every painting derives from my experience in a place and its associations, which can include its: character, colours, textures, weather, architectural/ natural forms, history, human aspect, current social affairs and my psychology within it. A painting may be more hard-edged, softer, flatter or textured, brighter or violent depending on the place and experience. I am visually exhilarated by colours, landscape structure, old weathered walls, ruins and natural landscapes which are evoked in my art. Rome, Scotland, Sussex, Tenerife, Wales and my home have all inspired my art.
My evocative and semi-improvised paintings now incorporate the geometric grid with painterly abstraction and abstracted image traces: generating a critique about painting and abstract painting. I want my paintings to look as if they have grown organically. Taking years to resolve, they are richly layered, textured, intimate and object-like in size on very thick paper, often looking like old relics. I use a range of effects in a painting, including: collage, textures, incised lines, rips, transparencies, pure colour areas, linear strokes and sanded down areas. | https://outsidein.org.uk/galleries/jonathan-peter-smith/ |
Nano-cone textures generate extremely 'robust' water-repellent surfaces
When it comes to designing extremely water-repellent surfaces, shape and size matter. That's the finding of a group of scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory, who investigated the effects of differently shaped, nanoscale textures on a material's ability to force water droplets to roll off without wetting its surface. These findings and the methods used to fabricate such materials-published online October 21, 2013, in Advanced Materials-are highly relevant for a broad range of applications where water-resistance is important, including power generation and transportation.
"The idea that microscopic textures can impart a material with water-repellent properties has its origins in nature," explained Brookhaven physicist and lead author Antonio Checco. "For example, the leaves of lotus plants and some insects' exoskeletons have tiny-scale texturing designed to repel water by trapping air. This property, called 'superhydrophobicity' (or super-water-hating), enables water droplets to easily roll off, carrying dirt particles along with them."
Mimicking this self-cleaning mechanism of nature is relevant for a wide range of applications, such as non-fouling, anti-icing, and antibacterial coatings. However, engineered superhydrophobic surfaces often fail under conditions involving high temperature, pressure, and humidity-such as automotive and aircraft windshields and steam turbine power generators-when the air trapped in the texture can be prone to escape. So scientists have been looking for schemes to improve the robustness of these surfaces by delaying or preventing air escape.
Creating nanoscale textures
"In principle, the high robustness required for several applications could be achieved with texture features as small as 10 nanometers (billionths of a meter) because the pressure needed for liquid to infiltrate the texture and force the air out increases dramatically with shrinking texture size," explained Checco. "But in practice, it is difficult to shrink the surface texture features while maintaining control over their shape."
"For this work, we have developed a fabrication approach based on self assembly of nanostructures, which lets us precisely control the surface texture geometry over as large an area as we want-in principle, even as large as square meters," Checco said.
The procedure for creating these superhydrophobic nanostructured surfaces, developed in collaboration with scientists at Brookhaven's Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN), takes advantage of the tendency of "block copolymer" materials to spontaneously self-organize through a mechanism known as microphase separation. The self-assembly process results in polymer thin films with highly uniform, tunable dimensions of 20 nanometers or smaller. The team used these nanostructured polymer films as templates for creating nanotextured surfaces by combining with thin-film processing methods more commonly used in fabricating electronic devices, for example by selectively etching away parts of the surface to create textured designs.
"This new approach leverages our thin-film processing methods, in order to precisely tailor the surface nanotexture geometry through control of processing conditions," said Brookhaven physicist and co-author Charles Black.
The effect of shape
The scientists created and tested new materials with different nanoscale textures-some decorated with tiny straight-sided cylindrical pillars and some with angle-sided cones. They were also able to control the spacing between these nanoscale features to achieve robust water repellency.
After coating their test materials with a thin film of wax-like material, the scientists measured how water droplets rolled off each surface as they were tilted from vertical to flat positions and compared the behavior with that of untextured solids.
"While we fabricated several different nanotextures that all significantly increased the water repellency, certain shapes performed differently than others," said Brookhaven physicist and co-author Atikur Rahman. The enhanced water-repellency was consistent with earlier studies, including a previous one by Checco and collaborators that showed that air bubbles trapped in the textured surfaces force the water to ball up into drops. However, in the current study, the team further showed that cone-shaped nanostructures are significantly better than cylindrical pillars at forcing water droplets to roll off the surface, thus keeping surfaces dry.
"In the case of the cylindrical pillars, as the contact line of the droplet recedes on the textured surface, it can get pinned to the nanotexture, leaving behind a microscopic liquid layer on the pillars' flat tops instead of a perfectly dry substrate," Checco said. "The cone-shaped structures have smaller, pointed tops, likely preventing this effect."
The other important finding was that the water-repelling ability of cone-shaped nanotexturing held up even when water droplets were sprayed onto the surface with a pressurizing syringe. Such pressure could potentially force water into the nanosized pockmarks between the conical or cylindrical pillars, displacing the air bubbles and destroying the water-repelling effect.
The scientists monitored the splashing droplets using a high-speed camera capable of capturing 30,000 frames per second. For the cone-textured surface, "The sprayed droplets splash and eject satellite droplets that spread radially outward while the centermost portion of the original drop flattens out, then recoils, and bounces off the surface," Checco said. "We do not observe any pinned drops at the impact point after the drop has bounced back, indicating that the surface remains water-repellent during the impact at speeds up to 10 meters per second, which is faster than the speed of a falling raindrop."
Next steps
The team is working on extending this technique to other materials, including glass and plastics, and on fabricating surfaces that are also oil-repellent by further tweaking the feature shape.
They are also studying the resistance of different nanotextures to water penetration using intense beams of x-rays available at Brookhaven's National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS). "The goal is to understand quantitatively how the forced liquid infiltration depends on the texture size and geometry. This will assist the design of even more resilient superhydrophobic coatings," Checco said.
The nanopatterning technique used in this study also enables the design of a wide variety of materials with different texturing-and therefore different water-repelling properties-on different parts of a single surface. This approach could be used, for example, to fabricate nanoscale channels with self-cleaning and low fluid friction properties for diagnostic applications such sensing the presence of DNA, proteins, or biotoxins.
"This result is an excellent example of the type of project that can be done collaboratively with the DOE's Nanoscale Science Research Centers," said Black. "Previously, we have been pursuing similar structures for an entirely different scientific purpose. We are happy to work with Antonio through the CFN User program to help him accomplish his research goals." | https://phys.org/news/2013-10-nano-cone-textures-extremely-robust-water-repellent.html |
What does degenerative joint diseases in the hands and fingers look like?
Are degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis the same thing?
Causes of sudden pain/stiffness in the base of both palms (between thumb joint and wrist) accompanied by extremely dark blue/bulging veins-no injury?
How come osteoarthritis found mainly in the joints of fingers, spine, knees and hip?
Ortho or rheumatologist. Knock knees does that produce uneven wear of joints of spine and other joints of body?
What are the causes of limb deformities in rheumatoid arthritis ?
Is numbness and/or tingling in fingers and toes a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis?
Does visible swelling in the fingers always accompany rheumatoid arthritis?
Arthritis of the spine iinherited?
What are the causes of anterior subluxation and facet joint arthritis?
What causes sclerosis of the sacroiliac joint?
Can rheumatoid arthritis always cause visible swelling in the fingers?
Where are the trapeziometacarpal / carpometacarpal joints in the fingers?
Experiencing tingling in tips of index & middle fingers of both hands. Present almost constantly. Not result of flexed/extended wrist. Carpal tunnel?
Does rheumatoid arthritis always cause visible swelling in the hands?
What are the effects of degenerative joint disease?
What does degenerative joint diseases in the fingers look like? | https://www.healthtap.com/topics/degenerative-joint-diseases-of-the-hands-fingers |
Along with swelling, there may be other symptoms, such as redness, bruising, fatigue, pain, lumps along the finger, numbness or tingling sensations from nerve compression, reduced range of motion, stiffness and swollen joints. Mild cases of finger swelling heal with time. To reduce swelling and pain faster, you can try some home remedies A jammed finger is a common injury that can cause pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the finger. A jammed finger is most commonly caused by an injury to the joint in the middle of the finger. 5. Injury. Bang your finger against a hard surface or hit it accidentally with a hammer, and you'll trigger inflammation, the body's first line of immune defense after an injury, Dr. Ramsubeik says. That can lead to swelling. Ice the injury for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, two or three times per day, Dr. DuVall recommends Physical injury or even trauma may lead to the swelling and bruises in the fingers. However, Fingertip trauma is always a common symptom of this issue. What's more, the common finger injuries involve fractures, and in another case, the crush injuries which if not treated well, such injuries may lead to the bruising under the nail bed. Acute paronychia — This usually appears as a sudden, very painful area of swelling, warmth and redness around a fingernail or toenail, usually after an injury to the area. An acute paronychia typically is caused by an infection with bacteria that invade the skin where it was injured. The injury can be caused by overaggressive manicuring (especially cutting or tearing the cuticle, which is.
Swelling—along with numbness, prickling, pain, or color changes in the skin—occurs most commonly in the fingers and toes when circulation returns (as you warm up or your stress dissipates) A jersey finger is an injury to the flexor tendon of the finger. The flexor tendon pulls the finger down into the palm as you contract the flexor muscles of the forearm. The injury occurs at the tip of the finger and typically the tendon snaps back to the base of the finger or even into the palm of the hand Tips to Reduce Swelling From an Injury. Here are some home remedies for swelling from an injury. 1. Resting the Affected Area. To ensure a quick reduction of swelling caused by an injury, you need to allow the injured area to rest as much as possible for the first 24 to 72 hours Ice your finger. Wrap an ice pack or cold compress in a paper towel and place it on the injured finger. Keep the ice on it for 10-minute intervals with 20-minute breaks for the first few hours after you smash your finger. Ice helps to minimize swelling, bleeding, and pain. Be careful not to apply to much weight or pressure with the ice
Pain in the middle knuckle of the finger is usually caused by trauma from an injury or inflammation of the joints within the hand. Rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis can cause swelling and knuckle pain. Read below for more information on causes and treatment options These signs may not be present at first or All at once. The first sign is the tenderness that occurs on the flexor or palm side of the finger. This pain is usually found over the tendons in the finger. Another sign is the uniform swelling of the infected finger. The third one is the pain that extends or straightens the infected finger It sounds like you really smashed your finger. I am worried that since your finger is still swollen and painful 2 months after the injury, that you may have injured a ligament or maybe even had a small fracture. These types of jam injures such as when you are catching a football tend to be quite painful, but are fully healed within a couple weeks
If pain or swelling limits the motion or use of the fingers, if the finger becomes numb, or if the injury includes a laceration, crushed tissue, or exposure of bone, seek medical care. Trauma is the main cause of broken fingers it occurs from playing sports, a workplace injury, punching something, falls, or in other accidents The body always responds to an injury with a predictable inflammatory response, as the first step towards healing. Redness, heat, swelling and pain are associated with this first stage. Redness and heat are caused by increased blood flow. Swelling is the result of the increased movement of fluid and white blood cells into the injured area Boutonniere deformity or 'buttonhole' deformity is an injury to a tendon in one of the fingers which causes the finger to appear deformed. This usually occurs after an impact to a bent finger. Symptoms include pain at the time of injury with tenderness on top of the middle finger bone which is likely to be swollen. More on Boutonniere deformit Medical Advice (Q&As) on Swollen Finger By Thorn Prick Mona July 10, 2018 at 11:35 pm. I got a thorn in my middle finger knuckle on the side. It bled a lot, after I took the thorn out, then the knuckle turned blue and swelled. The swelling went way down but is still swelled a bit and is back to a normal skin color. Should I be concerned
Finger pain can be associated with a variety of other conditions that can affect or damage the nervous system including: Alcoholism. Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage due to high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes). Heavy metal poisoning such as lead poisoning. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Multiple sclerosis (disease that affects the brain and spinal cord causing weakness. Ligament injuries in the hand can take months to heal, and it is not uncommon for people to notice swelling and stiffness for a long time afterward. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Several major nerves provide sensation to the hand, and when one of them is injured or compressed (such as by inflammation), it can cause a lot of pain and reduce function (3) Swelling can also be seen in the region of hyperextension injury of the finger. (2) If there has been damage to the blood vessels, then there can also be seen signs of bruising and bleeding after the hyperextension injury of the finger. Other symptoms of hyperextension injury of the finger consist of: tingling sensation, stiffness. . Bruising and swelling may develop soon after the injury. Acute injuries include: Bruises. After a wrist or hand injury, bruising may extend to the fingers from the effects of gravity. Injuries to ligaments, such as a skier's thumb injury. Injuries to tendons, such as mallet finger. Injuries to joints (sprains)
Finger pain can be caused by disease or injury affecting any of the structures in the finger.Learn about medications used in the treatment of sore fingers. Associated symptoms and signs may include swelling, redness, and joint warmth. Pinpoint your symptoms and signs with MedicineNet's Symptom Checker Colour: look for cyanosis, pallor, bruising, blistering. If part or all of a finger is a different colour, pale or very red, this may suggest a digital nerve injury. Swelling of the hand. Step 3. Vascular examination of the hand . Check the vascular status of the hand by feeling for the radial and ulnar pulses and assessing capillary refill Do this in every alternate hour for the alleviation of swelling and pain in the hands and fingers; Benefits of ice pack treatment. Applying an ice pack to the affected area reduces the swelling and pain. Ice pack helps in the alleviation of fluid retention, swelling, pain, and inflammation of the hands
A jammed finger is typically a sprain to the joint or knuckle, of the finger. There may also be a small fracture or dislocation of the joint. The injury can be extremely painful, and the joint usually becomes swollen. A jammed finger is a common sports injury Keep your finger straight at all times. Using an ice pack can help with pain. Apply the ice pack for 20 minutes, every hour you are awake for the first 2 days, then for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 times daily as needed to reduce pain and swelling. For pain, you can use ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Finger dislocations usually occur when the finger is bent too far backward. Although a common injury, finger dislocations that are not treated properly can result in chronic pain, stiffness, poor function, and deformity. A dislocated finger is usually painful, swollen, red, visibly crooked, may be numb or tingling, and may be difficult to move.. take a painkiller, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to relieve pain. keep your hand up to reduce swelling - rest it on a cushion or a pillow. gently hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a tea towel on the finger or thumb for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
R. hand is swollen and thumb is in pain most of the time, at times, extreme. Only a little finger activity, no fist. Dr. says he has never had this happen but will most likely heel in time. Possibly a year? Last 3 days have been worse than the last 3 weeks. Shoulder seems to be doing very well and has had vary little pain the entire 9 weeks Check for swelling. Your finger will likely swell no matter how hard you hit it. This is the most common response to such trauma. If the hit wasn't too forceful, your finger may just swell for a couple of days. If the only symptom you see is swelling, place an ice pack on your finger to help relieve the swelling and pain
Finger arthritis afflicts millions of Americans, but there are ways to treat the pain and swelling The pain in pinky finger is characterized by swelling, severe pain and tingling sensation. Possible factors that can cause such medical condition include rheumatoid arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon and injury. Help fight off this painful condition by learning its symptoms, causes and treatments Finger injury. Symptoms of finger injuries vary but can include pain, numbness, swelling, and deformity. Gout. Gout is a buildup of uric acid in the joints, causing joint pain, fever, and hot, red, swollen joints. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or JRA is a long-term disease that causes pain and swelling in children.
Hand pain accompanied by tingling and/or numbness is typically experienced in only part of the hand, such as the thumb or a few fingers, but it can be felt in the entire hand. Save Three common causes of chronic hand pain and numbness include cervical radiculopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis Optimal hand function is essential for good quality of life. Unfortunately, hand injuries are very common and finger and hand injuries are the most common type of work related injury in Australia. 1 Although severe hand injuries are generally managed in the hospital emergency department setting, many injuries of the hands and fingers are initially assessed in the general practice setting Injuries that can cause finger pain include: Smashed fingers , such as from a hammer blow or a car door that crushes the finger. Compartment syndrome , which is severe swelling and pressure in an area of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels Signs of infection include swelling, redness and pus at the site of the bite; red streaks extending from the wound; decreased mobility and pain of the finger; and loss of circulation due to the swelling, which can make the finger appear pale or blue. Fevers, night sweats, chills and loss of sensation to the fingers indicate a serious infection
If a thorn happens to inject Sporothrix into the knuckle of your finger or your elbow, it can cause an arthritic infection that is very painful. It can also infect the eye and surrounding delicate tissues. Most rarely from rose-thorn pricks, sporotrichosis can become a systemic, or body-wide, infection, including the central nervous system If you have injured your finger, do the following as you are preparing to see your doctor: Clean the injury, if possible, and cover it with a lightly compressive sterile dressing to minimize bleeding and protect the injured finger. Elevate the injured hand to minimize swelling. Immobilize the affected hand and wrist with a short splint More:Pain relief medications Tylenol and Advil are 'perfectly fine' for COVID-19 vaccine aftereffects, experts say Cool it down: Ice is a great treatment for swelling - plus for pain, and it's. Immediately after a finger stubbing injury, ice is often applied to decrease swelling and reduce pain. Ice is typically used for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, every 3 to 4 hours for the first few days after the injury. Elevating the hand above the level of the heart also helps reduce swelling
Copper Arthritis Gloves for Women and Men Compression Gloves with Strap, Upgrade Breathable Non-Slip Copper Gloves for Hand Pain Relief, Swelling and Carpal Tunnel, Fingerless for Typing. 5.0 out of 5 stars 2. $12.99 $ 12. 99 ($12.99/Count) FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon Search for rheumatoid arthritis finger pains treatments. Search RA Finger Swollen: Signs, Causes, Treatments.Find More Symptoms & Diagnosis Finger injury. Symptoms of finger injuries vary but can include pain, numbness, swelling, and deformity. Paronychia. Paronychia is a skin infection that causes pain and swelling around the fingernail or toenail. Tendinitis. Tendinitis symptoms include muscle and tendon pain or stiffness close to a joint, and pain with movement. Celluliti Pain, swelling, and trouble extending the finger are all symptoms of this injury to the tendon. Boutonniere Deformity: An injury to the tendons that straighten the middle joint of your finger can make you finger bend—and make it impossible to straighten. This is usually the result of a blow to the hand or an accident
Though your fingers are quite resilient and can take a good beating if need be, sometimes a severe injury that causes tissue damage may result in swollen fingers. 8 Some of these injuries could be fractures in finger bones due to physical impact, stress fractures caused by repetitive movement, or hematomas, which occurs when there is an. Finger injury. Symptoms of finger injuries vary but can include pain, numbness, swelling, and deformity. Wernicke syndrome. Wernicke's encephalopathy can cause confusion, lack of muscle coordination, and vision problems. Insect bites. Redness, swelling, pain, itching, bumps are common symptoms of insect bites. Insect stin Injury to fingers or hands. The most common reason for just one finger swelling or a few fingers swelling is an injury to your finger or hand. The journal Sports Health reports that the finger joints are very susceptible to sprain injuries.This can happen by jamming the tip of the finger against a hard object What are the symptoms of Finger Joint Injuries? The exact symptoms experienced will depend on the injury sustained. Any combination of pain, stiffness, swelling, tingling, numbness, and/or erythema (redness) to the affected digit are likely
This phenomenon, known as peripheral neuropathy, can also sometimes cause hand pain. DeQuervain's disease is a swelling and inflammation of the tendon around the thumb, causing pain in the thumb and lower arm. Trauma or injury to any of the structures in the hand is another common cause of hand pain Joint pain or tenderness. Stiffening of fingers or thumb. Weakness, pain, swelling, and limited movement of the affected part. How is upper extremity tenosynovitis diagnosed? You may need any of the following: Physical exam: Your caregiver may have to move your shoulder, arm, hand, wrist, fingers, or thumb in certain directions. He will check. Blunt force trauma, of any kind, to the hand may also produce pain and swelling. Certain types of medical conditions can cause knuckle swelling. Fluid retention caused by various medications may appear as joint or knuckle swelling, and individuals having an adverse reaction to antibiotics may also develop aching joints or swollen knuckles
Inflammation or irritation causes pain, swelling, weakness, and overtime, there will be a loss of the normal shape and alignment of the joints. The joints between the hand and fingers swell and move upward (dorsal subluxation). Tendons over the joints slip and cause the fingers to bend towards the little finger (ulnar drift) Tendonitis of the hand causes severe pain with movement of the hand. Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendon. Tendons of the hand are thin, flat and white in color. Inflammation of the tendon sheath results in trigger finger. Tendon may be normal or inflamed in Trigger finger disease. Tendon becomes swollen and rigid when tendon is inflamed Injuries with even a little swelling may have a fracture. Your physician will also look for any cuts to the finger, bleeding, or detachment of the nail. Nonsurgical Treatment. Most mallet finger injuries (in both adults and children) can be treated without surgery. They can initially be treated with splinting Injuries to the finger joints are common and usually heal without significant problems. Some injuries are more serious and may develop problems if not treated carefully. One such injury is a sprain of the proximal interphalangeal joint , or PIP joint, of the finger
If rest, immobilization, and other home remedies aren't effective for reducing the pain, swelling, or stiffness in your injured finger after a week, then make an appointment with your doctor. Instead of a jammed finger, you might have a small hairline or stress fracture in the long bones of your finger, or an avulsion fracture closer to the joint . You have a crush injury of your hand. This causes local pain, swelling, and sometimes bruising. You don't have any broken bones. This injury may take from a few days to a few weeks to heal. If a fingernail has been severely injured, it may fall off in 1 to 2 weeks When you examine Tori's hand there is an isolated injury to Tori's right middle finger as evidenced by swelling, bruising and tenderness to the PIPJ. Although active ROM is painful, Tori is able to fully extend and flex the finger Pain and swelling in the metacarpophalangeal joint or the finger joints is known as knuckle pain and swelling. This could occur as a result of different causes. Pain and swelling in the knuckles can develop due to different conditions, which affect the structures in the knuckles, including nerves, skin, muscles, tendons, joints, bones, blood. Though it's considered a wrist injury, the hamate bone actually originates at the base of the little finger and ring finger, both of which can become quite painful if the condition goes untreated. If you have swelling or tenderness in the wrist and a pain or a loss of feeling in the little finger, you may have golfer's wrist
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Complex regional pain syndrome, or CRPS, is a chronic pain disorder that typically affects the limbs. CRPS is characterized by intense burning or aching pain and swelling in the arm or hand, joint stiffness, muscle spasms and weakness Apply ice and elevate hand to reduce swelling. If a finger or part of a finger has been cut off, collect all parts and tissue and place in a plastic bag on ice for transport to the hospital with. Lung cancer is the commonest cause of acrometastatic disease to the fingers. Here we describe a case of occult lung cancer presenting as unrelenting finger pain and swelling from a metastatic phalangeal fracture. The patient's management was largely palliative and he died soon after discovery of the primary tumor. Digital acrometastatic disease rarely becomes symptomatic before the primary. Painful, swollen fingertip History of a crush injury May have associated soft tissue damage to the finger pulp or nail bed laceration Radiographs (AP, lateral, oblique) Three fracture patterns. Injury to the corner of the palm on the pinkie side of the hand can affect the ulnar nerve. This nerve travels through Guyon canal, a tunnel formed by small bones in the wrist. Swelling or direct trauma to this part of the hand can increase pressure on the ulnar nerve. Pain, tingling and numbness occur in half of the ring finger and the pinkie.
A soft tissue injury to the wrist or hand may result in the following: Pain. Heat, redness or bruising. Swelling. Stiffness and loss of function. What if I need pain relief? To manage your pain it is advised that you regularly take simple pain relief which can be bought over the counter Finger swelling injury. Common Questions and Answers about Finger swelling injury. finger. I fell down and perhaps the whole body weight rested on my finger, as a result of which the finger got swelling and little bent after a day followed by severe pain. The finger does not get straightened. I was advised by pharmacist to take Brufen tablets.
Pain, tenderness, and swelling at the outermost joint immediately after the injury Swelling and redness soon after the injury Inability to completely extend the finger while still being able to. . Acute injuries include: BRUISES. The effects of gravity can cause bruising and discolored skin in the fingers after a wrist or hand injury, even though that was not the area that suffered the blow or impact Apply an ice pack to your dislocated finger for 20-30 minutes every 3-4 hours for the first 2-3 days or until the pain and swelling have subsided. This should lessen the pain and swelling that.
The injury occurs when there is a forceful blow—like a fast-flying football, a hard chest pass during a basketball game, or a slide into first base—to the tip of your finger while it's straight Psoriatic arthritis most often causes swelling and joint pain in the fingers and toes. Finger injury. Symptoms of finger injuries vary but can include pain, numbness, swelling, and deformity. Burn (heat or fire) Burns caused by heat are called thermal burns and can cause pain swelling, skin changes, blisters and more . The pain is usually worse when the hand and thumb are in use. This is especially true when forcefully grasping objects or twisting the wrist. Swelling may be seen over the thumb side of the wrist. This swelling may accompany a fluid-filled cyst in this region
sudden onset of swelling in fingers on left hand, no injury, bug bites or known allergies, symptoms have persisted for 48 hours. Symptoms began with some arthritis like stiffness, minor pain in ring finger and then over 2 or 3 hours swelling began. Ring finger is most swollen can't get wedding ring off . Apply soap, if needed, to help rings slip off your fingers. If you cannot remove a ring because your finger is swollen, call your health care provider. Gently wash any minor cuts or scrapes. Apply a bandage if needed
Can be: Some swelling after an injury or surgery is common. It is however important to control the swelling which will help with movement of the fingers. Elevation icing and the motion can be used. If this does not help therapists can sometimes be needed to help with the swelling My symptoms were stiff and slightly swollen hand, woke up every night with pain in shoulder and hand and arm, and finally the night after cortisone shut to the neck I had a decent sleep and no swollen or stiff hand anymore. I thought I owed it to this board to post my findings and perhaps end the agony of the pain and not knowing what the. Ice your finger immediately after the injury to decrease swelling and reduce pain. If you're having continued pain and difficulty with motion, a visit to a hand doctor is a good idea to prevent long-lasting deficits and get you back to full mobility
One of the known causes of aching fingers joint pain is finger dislocation. This happens when misalignment occurs to the finger bones. Dislocation occurs when the person undergoes a serious injury that involves the hurting of one's fingers (forceful bending or twisting, or jamming the end of a finger) Often the pain kept him awake at night. There was no anaesthesia or paraesthesia, but he had noticed increasing weakness of the lateral three fingers. Over the past 4 weeks, he had also noticed a swelling of the affected wrist, which felt 'hot' at times. The pain started when he twisted his wrist while carrying hand luggage 3 months ago Common Extensor Tendon Injuries. Mallet Finger refers to a drooping end-joint of a finger. This happens when an extensor tendon has been cut or torn from the bone (Figure 2). It is common when a ball or other object strikes the tip of the finger or thumb and forcibly bends it
Swelling can occur as the result of an injury, pregnancy, and other medical conditions. Left untreated, swelling can become frustrating and even painful. Elevating the swollen area, drinking plenty of fluids, and applying something cool to.. Understanding the anatomy of the hand is necessary to identify the source of pain and limit the differential diagnosis. The bones of the hand include five metacarpals, two phalanges in the thumb, and three phalanges in each of the other fingers . The joints of each finger include the metacarpophalangeal (MCP), the proximal interphalangeal (PIP. Some injuries can be treated with a splint and/or buddy strapping to the neighboring normal finger (Figure 2). These treatments are often performed along with the care of a hand therapist. Some severe injuries require surgery. In any case, even with simple sprains, the finger may be swollen for up to a full year
Such swelling prevents the tendons from gliding smoothly, which causes hand pain, popping, or a catching feeling. Whenever possible, nonsurgical treatment are attempted first. Splints, oral anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections, and adjustments in daily activities may be successful in reducing the swelling around the tendon Common symptoms are intense pain, swelling and a loss of function in the finger. In severe cases symptoms may include tingling or numbness, or a break in the skin where the dislocation has occurred. In these cases the injured person should visit an emergency department as soon as possible What are the symptoms of a ligament injury in the fingers? When a ligament supporting a finger joint is injured pain is felt in the finger. It is often made more painful if the joint is moved or if the finger is touched where the ligament is injured. Shortly after the injury the finger will become swollen and then bruised. Other symptoms may. Apply ice on your finger for 15 to 20 minutes every hour or as directed. Use an ice pack, or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. Cover it with a towel before you apply it to your skin. Ice helps prevent tissue damage and decreases swelling and pain. Elevate your hand above the level of your heart as often as you can. This will help decrease. | https://potraiverlaat.com/conditions/a-z/finger-injury/ruj113b92yv |
If you suffer from psoriasis, you are at risk for developing psoriatic arthritis. This disease is a chronic autoimmune disease that can range from mild symptomatic flare-ups to constant pain and joint inflammation, which may lead to damaged joints if not treated early. Joint inflammation in conjunction with psoriasis can occur even prior to the appearance of psoriatic rashes, the distinctive red and silvery patches that develop on the skin.
Psoriatic arthritis can develop in people who don’t have psoriasis, particularly in those who do have family members with psoriasis. This arthritic disease tends to affect the large joints of the feet, distal joints of fingers and toes, and the lower back and pelvic areas, though any part of the body can be involved.
Psoriatic Arthritis Symptom Awareness
The signs of arthritis associated with psoriasis are typically observed and felt in the fingers, toes, feet, or spine. Watch for the following symptoms, especially if you already have been diagnosed with psoriasis:
- Swelling, stiffness, and pain one or several joints
- Red, tender, or warm joints
- Stiffened joints
- Fingers or toes that swell to the size of a sausage
- Pain around the ankles, back of the heel, and in the feet
- Pitting of fingernails or toenails
- Pain in the lower back, caused by a secondary disease, spondylitis, a form of joint inflammation between the vertebrae and/or the pelvis and spine
These symptoms can occur months or even years after developing psoriasis, and up to 25% of those with psoriasis are at risk for this type of inflammatory arthritis.
What To Do If These Symptoms Occur
It’s important that you consult a physician if you note any of the above arthritic signs and symptoms, particularly if you already have psoriasis. If psoriatic inflammatory arthritis is diagnosed, it is important that treatment begin immediately in order to keep pain and disability at bay.
Diagnostic tools include observation of your joints, X-ray or MRI imaging tests, and lab testing to properly identify this chronic disease that can be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis at times.
Which Types of Treatments Are Available?
Although this condition is a chronic one for which there is no cure, there are treatments available to alleviate pain and inflammation and lessen the possibility for disability in the future. Medication treatments can consist of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), immunosuppressants, and/or TNF-alpha inhibitors. These medications can help control painful symptoms by lessening inflammation. DMARDs can aid in slowing the disease’s progression. A person’s immune system can often go haywire when symptoms flare up, so an immunosuppressant can help calm it. Pain, stiffness, and joint swelling are all helped with prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and steroid injections may also be an option.
How Regenerative Therapies Can Help
Treatments using stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, and other materials have been shown to effectively help with pain relief in psoriatic arthritis patients. Regenerative therapies, such as stem cell therapies, use cells taken from your own body to heal damaged tissue and promote further healing without the need for invasive surgical techniques.
An injection containing your stem cell materials is placed into the area of the body that is affected. In about 30 minutes, the procedure is completed, and over a period of time, tissues begin the repair and renewal process. Patients can find relief with the use of these regenerative therapies for chronic conditions such as spondylitis, a form of arthritis associated with psoriasis that affects the spine.
If treatment is performed in the early stages, the pain and inflammation from psoriatic arthritis can be alleviated. If you feel that you are a candidate for regenerative medicine or other treatments for arthritic pain, contact us at the Spine Institute Northwest at (888) 712-0318 for a consultation. | https://www.fixmypain.ca/symptoms-psoriatic-arthritis-treatment-options/ |
Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Options
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the joints of the fingers and toes, which usually presents as a sausage-like swelling of one or more digits. It occurs in people with psoriasis, a disease of the skin.
Updated on
Written by Elliot Stein, MD|Reviewed by Jeffrey M. Rothschild, MD, MPH and the Buoy Medical Review Team
Psoriatic Arthritis Symptom Checker
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Contents
What Is Psoriatic Arthritis?
Summary
Psoriatic arthritis is a condition which causes inflammation of the joints. In most circumstances, psoriatic arthritis presents between the ages of 30 and 50 years and occurs after the manifestation of the symptoms of psoriasis, which is a disease of the skin [1-3]. Psoriatic arthritis typically causes redness, swelling, pain, and stiffness of certain joints. Most commonly, the fingers and toes are affected and may appear “sausage-like.” Psoriatic arthritis is predominantly a genetic disease but it can be activated by certain environmental triggers . Avoidance of these triggers could delay or prevent disease onset. Treatment includes symptom management with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids. In more severe cases, other drugs to halt the disease progression such as methotrexate are used.
Recommended care
You should visit your primary care physician to manage this disease as there are many treatment options. A treatment plan will often consist of therapy (physical, occupational, massage), patient education, exercise and rest, devices to protect joints, medicine and/or surgery.
Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms
Main symptoms
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic (long-lasting) disease, but it does have flares (worsenings) of symptoms.
- Dactylitis: Fingers and/or toes may become “sausage-shaped,” which refers to their symmetrical swelling throughout the digit.
- Nail degeneration: The integrity of the nail and nail bed become compromised causing degeneration of the nail.
- Back pain: This typically occurs right above the tailbone in the lower back. It can affect up to 40 percent of people .
- Arthritis deformans: Up to 50 percent of people can experience the destruction of joint cartilage and bone, which leads to joint deformation.
Other symptoms
Other common symptoms that are nonspecific to psoriatic arthritis:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Pain
- Stiffness: Most commonly stiffness is worst in the mornings.
Subtypes of psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis often has symptoms that fall into the following subcategories arranged in order of commonality :
- Asymmetric oligoarthritis: Only a few fingers or toes are affected, and the affected digits may not be the same on both sides of your body.
- Symmetric polyarthritis: The same fingers and/or toes one side of the body are affected on the other side of the body.
- Distal interphalangeal: Symptoms are isolated to the end of the fingers and toes instead of the entire finger or toe.
- Spondylitis: Symptoms will be mostly present in the lower back as this version of the disease affects the vertebral joints.
- Arthritis mutilans: This is a rare, severe version of the disease where joints of the fingers, toes, hands, feet, neck, and back are affected. In addition, there can be a loss of bone mass, leading to deformities.
Psoriatic Arthritis Causes
The exact mechanism of disease progression of psoriatic arthritis is not known.
Genetic components and other risk factors
Females are slightly more likely to be affected than males. The disease is not contagious. Five to 10 percent of people with psoriasis go on to develop psoriatic arthritis after many years . Both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are known to have a strong genetic component; in fact, approximately 40 percent of people with psoriatic arthritis have a relative with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis . This means that risk for developing psoriatic arthritis may be inherited from parents. As with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis may sometimes develop after an environmental trigger, which can include bacterial or HIV infection, for example.
Relation to psoriasis
Since psoriatic arthritis almost exclusively occurs in individuals with manifestations of a related condition, psoriasis, the diseases are highly related. In essence, there is unnecessary inflammation of certain joints. This is similar to other autoimmune joint diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. The body’s own immune system begins to increase activity in the joints. This increased activity and traffic of immune cells is what causes swelling, redness, stiffness, and pain, and is known as “inflammation.”
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis is typically made clinically, meaning that the general picture of psoriatic arthritis without evidence of another disease lead to its diagnosis. In some circumstances, an X-ray of affected joints may prove helpful. Psoriatic arthritis must be distinguished from rheumatoid arthritis and other causes of arthritis, which may be accomplished using blood testing.
Psoriatic Arthritis Symptom Checker
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Treatment Options and Prevention for Psoriatic Arthritis
Treatment
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic condition, which means that it is a disease that people live with indefinitely. However, there are a variety of treatments available to slow or halt the progression of the disease and alleviate symptoms.
Treatment of psoriatic arthritis should begin as soon as possible. This is because treatment of the disease can decrease the amount of structural destruction of the joints. Medicines that inhibit joint damage are called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Treatment of psoriatic arthritis is similar to the treatment of other autoimmune conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
DMARDs that can decrease joint deformation include:
- Methotrexate
- Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
- Leflunomide (Arava)
- Etanercept (Enbrel)
- Adalimumab (Humira)
- Infliximab (Remicade)
Medicines that treat the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis but do not alter the progression of the disease include:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These drugs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), diclofenac, and naproxen (Aleve). These drugs are effective for symptoms but include a risk of irritating the stomach lining and causing kidney damage.
- Steroids: Some examples include prednisone and prednisolone. Steroids are also effective at decreasing symptoms but they come with a long list of side effects.
In mild cases of psoriatic arthritis, it may not be necessary to use a DMARD. Symptoms can be managed using NSAIDs or steroids.
Prevention
Since psoriatic arthritis typically develops after psoriasis presents, and because both are strongly genetic diseases, there is no well-known preventative strategy. As previously indicated, however, there are environmental “triggers” that can activate the disease. These include:
- HIV infection
- Infection (usually by staphylococcal bacteria)
- Trauma to the joints
- Stressful physical event: Such as heart attack, abortion, blood clotting, or exposure to chemicals.
Therefore, these environmental triggers should be avoided, when possible.
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When to Seek Further Consultation for Psoriatic Arthritis
If you have psoriasis, you should maintain regular care with a dermatologist. However, if you also develop pain in your joints, you may need to also see a rheumatologist. A rheumatologist is a doctor who treats inflammatory conditions. Typically, the dermatologist and the rheumatologist will both manage the DMARD medicine, if needed, since some DMARDs can exacerbate the skin conditions of psoriasis . During a psoriatic arthritis flare, it may be necessary to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist or rheumatologist to receive NSAIDs or steroids until the flare is over.
Questions Your Doctor May Ask to Determine Psoriatic Arthritis
To diagnose this condition, your doctor would likely ask about the following symptoms and risk factors.
- Any fever today or during the last week?
- How severe is your shoulder pain?
- How long has your shoulder pain been going on?
- Is your shoulder pain constant or come-and-go?
- Is your shoulder pain getting better or worse?
If you've answered yes to one or more of these questions
Take a quiz to find out if you have Psoriatic ArthritisTake quiz
References
- Gladman DD, Antoni C, Mease P, Clegg DO, Nash P. Psoriatic arthritis: Epidemiology, clinical features, course, and outcome. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005;64(Suppl II):ii14-7. ARD Link
- Moll JMH, Wright W. Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism. ScienceDirect. 1973;3(1):55-78. ScienceDirect Link
- Psoriatic arthritis. Genetics Home Reference. Published December 11, 2018. GHR Link
- Scarpa R, Del Puente A, di Girolamo C, della Valle G, Lubrano E, Oriente P. Interplay between environmental factors, articular involvement, and HLA-B27 in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 1992;51:78-9. NCBI Link
- Downward E. How is the Back Affected by Psoriatic Arthritis? Psoriatic-Arthritis.com. Reviewed October 2016. Psoriatic Arthritis Link
- Amherd-Hoekstra A, Naher H, Lorenz HM, Enk AH. Psoriatic arthritis: A review. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2010;8(5):332-9. PubMed Link
No ads, doctor reviewed. Let's crack your symptom code together - like us on Facebook to follow along. | https://www.buoyhealth.com/diagnoses-a-z/psoriatic-arthritis/ |
Covers causes and symptoms of spondyloarthropathies, a family of long-term (chronic) diseases of joints. Looks at specific symptoms of each type. Discusses treatment with mild exercise, over-the-counter medicines, and other options.
In this article
Current as of: April 1, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Richa Dhawan MD - Rheumatology
Spondyloarthropathies
Topic Overview
What are spondyloarthropathies?
Spondyloarthropathies are a family of long-term (chronic) diseases of joints. These diseases occur in children (juvenile spondyloarthropathies) and adults. They include ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and joint problems linked to inflammatory bowel disease (enteropathic arthritis). Spondyloarthropathies are sometimes called spondyloarthritis.
Although all spondyloarthropathies have different symptoms and outcomes, they are similar in that all of them:
- Usually involve the attachments between your low back and the pelvis (sacroiliac joint).
- Affect areas around the joint where your ligaments and tendons attach to bone (enthesitis), such as at the knee, foot, or hip.
It is important to recognize that the spondyloarthropathies are different from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in children.
What causes spondyloarthropathies?
Experts don't know what causes spondyloarthropathies. The presence of a particular gene, HLA-B27, is often associated with ankylosing spondylitis. Spondyloarthropathies, especially ankylosing spondylitis, are more likely to run in families than other forms of rheumatic disease, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
What are the symptoms?
Spondyloarthropathies often cause:
- Low back pain that may spread into the buttock.
- Morning stiffness, especially in the back or neck, that gets better during the day and after exercise.
- Fatigue.
Although spondyloarthropathies all result in joint pain, each type also has specific symptoms.
- Ankylosing spondylitis causes stiffness and low back pain. Over time, the pain usually moves from the lower back into the upper back. In severe cases, the affected joints in the spinefuse together, causing severe back stiffness. Other areas (such as the hips, chest wall, and heels) may also be affected. In children, symptoms usually begin in the hips, knees, heels, or big toes and later progress to the spine.
- Reactive arthritis causes pain, swelling, and inflammation of the joints, especially in the sacroiliac joint, the attachment between the lower back and pelvis, and in the fingers, toes, and feet. The fingers and toes may swell, causing a "sausage digit." Reactive arthritis can also cause fever, weight loss, skin rash, and inflammation. In children, the joints of the lower legs are most commonly affected.
- Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis associated with a skin condition called psoriasis. The psoriasis symptoms (scaly red patches on the skin) often precede the arthritis symptoms, sometimes by many years. The severity of the rash does not mirror the severity of the arthritis. The fingernails and toenails may show pitting or thickening and yellowing. The joint problems involve large joints, such as the hips and sacroiliac joints. Swelling of entire toes or fingers, resulting in sausage digits, also occurs.
- Enteropathic arthritis is spinal arthritis that also involves inflammation of the intestinal wall. Symptoms can come and go. And when the abdominal pain is flaring, this arthritis may also flare. The arthritis typically affects large joints, such as the knees, hips, ankles, and elbows. In children, the arthritis may begin before the intestinal inflammation.
A general difference between spondyloarthropathies and juvenile spondyloarthropathies is that in adults, the spine generally is affected, while in children the arms and legs are more frequently affected. Children may have 4 or fewer joints that are painful or swollen (typically the knees or ankles), inflammation of a part of the eye (iritis), and neck pain and stiffness.
Spondyloarthropathies may cause inflammatory eye disease, particularly uveitis. In some cases, spondyloarthropathies can cause disabilities, particularly if bones in the spine fuse together. People who have spondyloarthropathies for a long time may develop complications in organs, such as the heart and lungs.
How are spondyloarthropathies diagnosed?
Spondyloarthropathies are diagnosed through a medical history, lab tests, imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI, and by symptoms of joint and tissue inflammation, morning stiffness, and other symptoms unique to a specific spondyloarthropathy (such as scaly skin in psoriatic arthritis). Different types of tests may be done for the different spondyloarthropathies.
How are they treated?
In most cases, spondyloarthropathies are mild and may be undiagnosed for many years. Most people do not have trouble with daily activities. Treatment is focused on relieving pain and stiffness and on good posture and stretching of the affected areas to prevent stiffening and deformity. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to treat pain and inflammation linked to spondyloarthropathies. Other treatment options depend on the type of spondyloarthropathy you have. For example, medicines are used to treat intestinal inflammation in enteropathic arthritis.
Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
Related Information
References
Other Works Consulted
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Academy of Pediatrics (2010). Seronegative spondyloarthropathies. In JF Sarwark, ed., Essentials of Musculoskeletal Care, 4th ed., pp. 1174–1176. Rosemont, IL: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Current as of: April 1, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Richa Dhawan MD - Rheumatology
Topic Contents | https://www.medicalrecords.com/health-a-to-z/spondyloarthropathies-special |
Arthritis symptoms can be both debilitating and detrimental to everyday activity. Singer Paul Young discusses his battle with lifelong arthritis in his fingers, treating his condition with acupuncture and osteopathy. Arthritis can affect small joints throughout the body, including the feet and toes as well as the hands and fingers. According to orthopaedic surgeon Shyam Gunaratnam, two types of subgroups of arthritis exist, primary and secondary arthritis. Primary can be caused by aging and genes, while secondary is caused by physical injuries or trauma. Symptoms include swelling, inflammation, pain and discomfort, and the condition can be treated by methods such as cortisone injections or surgery.
The feet are one of the most common sites for arthritis to occur in the body. If you are struggling with arthritis in your feet or ankles, consult with Dr. Jeffrey Conforti of New Jersey. Dr. Conforti will answer any of your foot- and ankle-related questions.
Arthritic Foot Care
Arthritis is a joint disorder that involves inflammation of different joints in your body, including your feet. Arthritis is often caused by a degenerative joint disease and causes mild to severe pain in all affected areas. On top of this, swelling and stiffness in the affected joints can also be a common symptom of arthritis.
In many cases, wearing ill-fitting shoes can worsen the effects and pain of arthritis. Wearing shoes that have a lower heel and extra room can help your feet feel more comfortable. In certain forms, such as rheumatoid arthritis, the arch in your foot may become problematic. Buying shoes with proper arch support that contour to your feet can help immensely.
Alleviating Arthritic Pain
It is best to see your doctor for the treatment that is right for your needs and symptoms. Conditions vary, and a podiatrist can help you determine the right method of care for your feet.
If you have any questions, please contact one of our offices located in Paramus and Clifton, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs. | http://www.drjeffreyconforti.com/blog/tag/Acupuncture.html |
Causes, Incidence and Risk factors of Scleroderma
The cause of Scleroderma is unknown. The disease may produce local or systemic symptoms. The course and severity of the disease varies widely in those affected. Excess collagen deposits in the skin and other organs produce the symptoms. Damage to small blood vessels within the skin and affected organs is also thought to occur. In the skin, ulceration, calcification, and changes in pigmentation may occur. Systemic features may include fibrosis and atrophy of the heart, lungs, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. The disease usually affects people of 30 to 50 years old. Women are affected more often than men. Risk factors are occupational exposure to silica dust and polyvinyl chloride. The incidence is 2 out of 10,000 people.
Prevention of Scleroderma
There is no known prevention. Minimize exposure to silica dust and polyvinyl chloride.
Symptoms of Scleroderma
Blanching, blueness, or redness of fingers and toes in response to heat and cold (Raynaud’s phenomenon), pain, stiffness, and swelling of fingers and joints, skin thickening and shiny hands and forearm skin is hard tight and mask–like facial skin ulcerations on fingertips or toes, esophageal reflux or heartburn, difficulty swallowing, bloating after meals, weight loss, diarrhea, constipation, shortness of breath, wrist pain, wheezing, skin, abnormally dark or light joint pain, hair loss, eye burning, itching & discharge.
Signs and Tests of Scleroderma
- Examination of the skin may show tightness, thickening and hardening.
- The ESR is elevated.
- The rheumatoid factor is elevated.
- An antinuclear antibody test is positive.
- Urinalysis shows protein and microscopic blood.
- A chest X–ray may show fibrosis.
- Pulmonary function studies often show restrictive lung disease.
- A skin biopsy may also be performed.
- Cardiac failure.
- Renal failure.
- Pulmonary fibrosis.
- Malabsorption (inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract). | https://www.aarogya.com/specialties/dermatology/scleroderma.html |
Doctor insights on:
Bloated Foot Stiff Toes
Toes (Definition)
Toes are the digits at the ends of the feet, most people have 10 and they normally ...Read more
2
I had a toe amputation a year ago. What can I do to get rid of the stiffness in my foot?
Therapy: Physical therapy to mobilze and strengthen the intrinsic muscles of the foot as well as extrinsic (in the calf) muscles. Often requires stretching of the achilles muscles as well. Wear flexible shoes and walk in the sand. ...Read moreSee 2 more doctor answers
3
Ive been having slight numbness stiffness & cramping in my middle toes & severe pain in balls of feet especially when walking after sleep?
Pain and cramping: There can be several causes to this, and some may involve subtle changes in your electrolytes for example. Get an evaluation with some routine testing of your Electrolytes (potassium levels, etc) . Other s causes can be evaluated and tested for too. Best wishes. ...Read more
4
Chronic pain, stiffness, both feet, big & mid toes. Also chronic knee pain w intermittent grinding. Intermittent grinding right shoulder. Ra?Other?
RA, Osteoarthritis: When you have symptoms on both sides, it can open up the possibility of ra. Joints in RA or any other inflammatory arthritis, usually present with swelling , pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis is a result of wear on the cartilage in joints. The only way to find out what type is through blood tests and screening techniques to test for rheumatoid factor. ...Read more
5
Athletic trainer diagnosed swelling around the sesamoid bones in my foot. Now feeling pain/stiffness near top of the big toe also. Different injury?
Get examined by md: Sesamoid injuries to the big toe are relatively uncommon. Fractures to the sesamoid bones are most commonly seen in ( American) football. More likely your symptoms in your age etc. could be related to sprains of the 1st toe metatarsalphalangeal joint(turf toe). See an experienced ORS for examination and treatment options. Best of Luck! ...Read more
6
Severe joint pain in hips feet toes hands fingers knees elbows morning stiffness daily 20 mg prednisone no help MRI no inflam ANA 1:320 help?
Try DMSO: DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide)--aka horse liniment--is available at a health food store or feed/veterinary supply. For systemic inflammatory conditions as you apparently have, I suggest one tsp per day orally. It tastes terrible. Mix with a small amount of water, and chase it with something else to kill the taste. Major adverse effect is that you will "off-gas" the DMSO in your breath and sweat. ...Read more
7
Spasms in foot and toes stiff up, what's wrong?
Several things: Could be dehydration could be overuse, could be vitamin inbalance. ...Read more
8
I stepped on a sewing needle about 5 days ago & had a tentinus shot recently but my foot is stiff and my last 3 toes will barely move. Is this normal?
Foreign body: Did a doctor remove the needle that you stepped on? There could be a part of the needle still in your foot. Make sure you are seen ASAP to remove any part of it that's still in your foot. Also you should be on a broad spectrum antibiotic. If you don't have a doctor, go to an ER. ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
9
Toes suddenly contract with severe cramps. 85 year old grandma, can't move toes/ feet back until the cramp is over. They're totally stiff. ?
Cramps: I'm sorry your Grandmother is having these painful cramps. I would wonder if she is having a deficiency or overabundance of an electrolyte. She needs to be seen by her doctor and have some blood tests. ...Read more
10
My feet & ankles are swollen and hurt so bad what causes that also my pinky toe & the toe next to it hurt the worse and are stiff & hard to move. | https://www.healthtap.com/topics/bloated-foot-stiff-toes |
In this section, you or a loved one can find out more about psoriatic arthritis. Read on to find answers to some of your questions, as well as links to other information. Being informed is an important first step towards becoming an active decision-maker in your care plan.
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a form of arthritis that may develop in people who have psoriasis. Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition characterised by the rapid overproduction of skin cells. In psoriasis, as underlying cells reach the skin's surface and die they result in lesions called plaques that are red and often covered with loose, silver-coloured scales. These lesions may be itchy and painful and they sometimes crack and bleed. PsA is characterised by psoriasis and inflammation of joints, which results in pain, swelling and stiffness. Inflammation leading to pain and swelling of the areas where tendons and ligaments insert into bone (called entheses) can also occur. PsA-related inflammation can affect various parts of your body, including your fingers, toes and back and can range from relatively mild to severe. PsA symptoms may come and go and you may experience flares when your symptoms are worse than usual.
There is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, so treatment focuses on controlling symptoms and slowing joint damage. Without treatment, the chronic inflammation of psoriatic arthritis can cause progressive damage to joints, leading to disability. | https://www.clinicaltrialsandme.com.au/health-conditions/psoriatic-arthritis.html |
Abstract: Dynamic Geometry Systems (DGS) are powerful presentation and visualisation tools; however, they are not so useful in helping students to prove facts and to understand how theorems and proofs originate in one|s mind. To facilitate the learning of proving geometry facts a software program has been developed by the author. The considered geometric configuration is first constructed on a DGS. The programme reads the drawing and lists several |observable| properties of the configuration. The student then sets the problem space by selecting the facts s/he finds relevant to the proof. Finally, the student builds a proof by connecting the facts in problem space with logical argumentations in an iconic and/or symbolic view. The software can be used as well for exploring configurations and finding out novel properties (theorems). The effect of using the software has been investigated on a small scale experiment.
Keywords: computer aided learning; CAL; computer aided proving; dynamic geometry; geometry theorems; plane geometry; problem solving; problem space; proofs; theorem proving; visualisation; mathematics teaching; learning maths; mathematics education. | https://www.inderscience.com/info/inarticle.php?artid=22169 |
- We study some geometrical properties of the critical set of the solutions to an exterior boundary problem in Rn/Omega, where Omega is a bounded domain with C2 connected boundary. We prove that this set can be nonempty (in fact, of codimension 3) even when Omega is contractible, thereby settling a question posed by Kawohl. We also obtain new suffcient geometric criteria for the absence of critical points in this problem and analyze the properties of the critical set for generic domains. The proofs rely on a combination of classical potential theory, transversality techniques and the geometry of real analytic sets. | https://researchportal.uc3m.es/display/act344059 |
This paper describes some of the work done in our formal investigation of concepts and properties that arise when infinitely small and infinite notions are introduced in a geometry theory. An algebraic geometry theory is developed in the theorem prover Isabelle using real and hyperreal vectors. We use this to investigate some new geometric relations as well as ways of rigorously mechanizing geometric proofs that involve infinitesimal and infinite arguments. We follow a strictly definitional approach and build our theory of vectors within the nonstandard analysis framework developed in Isabelle. | https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/theorem-proving-in-infinitesimal-geometry |
Liz Will is a Research Assistant Professor in the Neurodevelopmental Disorders Lab. Dr. Will completed her PhD in Applied Developmental Science at Colorado State University. Her graduate research focused on identifying early patterns of developmental vulnerabilities related to cognitive and adaptive outcomes within children with neurogenetic disorders. Dr. Will’s postdoctoral research is focused on delineating syndrome-specific vulnerabilities and underlying psychophysiological mechanisms contributing to differential outcomes for individuals with fragile X syndrome.
For more detailed information regarding Dr. Will's research, you can review her curriculum vitae and ResearchGate profile.
Erin Hunt
Graduate Student
Erin Hunt completed a B.S. in Cognitive Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry from Fordham University in 2017. Throughout her undergraduate career, Erin worked in the Fordham Memory and Aging Lab as a research assistant and completed a senior thesis examining the effects of menstrual cycle phase on cognition and autobiographical memory. After graduation, Erin completed a two-year research assistantship at the Child Mind Institute's Healthy Brain Network, a community-based research program aiming to identify biomarkers underlying mental health and learning disorders in children and adolescents. Her current research interests include exploring developmental trajectories of neurocognitive abilities, such as inhibitory control, in relation to maladaptive outcomes in both typically developing children and children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Chandler Knott
Graduate Student
Chandler Knott is currently a doctoral student in the School Psychology program at UofSC. She received her B.S. in Experimental Psychology from UofSC in 2017. After receiving her undergraduate degree, Chandler completed a two-year research assistantship here in the NDD lab where she gained extensive experience working with families of young children with FXS, DS, and ASD. Her interest in neurodevelopmental disorders originated from her previous experiences working with children with ASD in educational and therapeutic settings as a former Registered Behavior Technician. Her current research and clinical interests include early detection and intervention of ASD in high-risk populations, atypical sensory processing in young children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and differential diagnosis.
For more detailed information regarding Chandler’s research and clinical experience, view her curriculum vitae.
Rachel Hantman
Doctoral Student
Rachel Hantman is a doctoral student in the Clinical-Community Psychology program here at the UofSC and a trainee in the Behavioral-Biomedical Interface Program. She completed her B.S. in Neurobiology at the University of Washington in 2016 and her M.Ed. in Mind, Brain, and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) in 2017. During her B.S., Rachel worked under Dr. Wendy Stone in the Research in Early Autism Detection and Intervention Lab where she studied parental verbal responsiveness to child communicative acts in relation to ASD-risk. Upon graduating with her M.Ed., she worked at HGSE as a Lab Manager under Dr. Gigi Luk, assisting in a study examining learning outcomes of bilingual, dyslexic, and typically developing adolescences through fMRI and eye tracking. She then worked with Dr. Helen Tager-Flusberg at Boston University where she designed and implemented a qualitative study examining how parents of young adults with ASD believe that their children’s sensory sensitivities impact their transition to adulthood. Currently, Rachel is interested in using biopsychosocial ecological approaches to study neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically regarding how factors that surround children (e.g., parental stress, intervention history) impact and interact with their symptomology, behaviors, and neurobiology in relation to their daily functioning (e.g., anxiety, adaptive functioning). | http://uscnddlab.com/our-team/assessment-team/ |
Referral Criteria – Rehabilitation Officers for Visually Impaired Children (ROVIC)
We are the Rehabilitation Officers for Visually Impaired Children (ROVIC). A ROVIC is qualified and proficient in their practice to assess, advise, create and deliver training programmes for babies, children and young people (0-18 years), who have significant visual difficulties impacting on how they reach and develop skills.
About the ROVIC Service
ROVIC provides habilitation (initial acquisition of skills) and rehabilitation (re-establishing skills), as well as support and liaison eye services within the ophthalmic paediatric eye clinics in hospitals across Devon. This includes providing advice, information, assessment, guidance and skills training on approaches and practice to encourage, motivate and support an individual’s development in the presence of visual impairment / deafblindness / multi sensory impairment (MSI) and or coexisting needs.
Alongside habilitation and rehabilitation provision, we provide specialist and holistic assessments for children and young people (0-18 years) who have a combination of sensory impairments causing a multi-sensory impairment, in accordance with deafblind guidance legislation.
The ROVIC service assessment aims to ensure that appropriate services are recommended and provided to children and young people agreed as having a deafblind or other multi sensory impairment, and who are not necessarily able to benefit from mainstream services, or services aimed primarily at blind people or deaf people who are able to rely on their other senses.
Conditions in scope
Requests for service will be accepted for children and young people with sight loss that results in clinical/functional vision impairment that meets one or more, of the following criteria:
- Certification of sight impairment/severe sight impairment
- An identifiable ophthalmic condition which has the potential to interfere with the acquisition and development of skills necessary for communication, orientation, mobility, independence and safety
- A visual acuity of 6/18 or worse
- A restricted/incomplete visual field
- A near visual acuity of N14 or worse
or when there is evidence of:
- Cortical/cerebral visual impairment resulting in visual processing deficits impacting on visual ability to interpret or functionally use vision in development of orientation, mobility, independence and safety skills.
- Neurological conditions resulting in additional needs such as social, emotional or behaviour difficulties which may be the outcome of an underlying visual condition.
We will undertake assessments in line with deafblind guidance where there is a clinical condition or diagnosis of visual/hearing and/or additional sensory impairment resulting in a dual or multi-sensory impairment.
Exclusion criteria
If any of the above criteria are not met, the ROVIC service is happy to be contacted to offer advice, information and possible signposting to parents, carers, colleagues and partner agencies to help identify alternative resources.
Supporting documentation
Please review the list below and ensure that you have the appropriate documentation available to submit with your request (items in bold are required):
- Completed Request for Services form (to be completed by requester)
- Completed Devon ICS Information Sharing Consent Form (to be completed by parent/carer/young person)
- Certificate of Visual Impairment
- Medical correspondences from Ophthalmology / Audiology / Paediatric Departments
- EHC plan / Early Help Assessment / Report recommendations from colleagues specialising in sensory impairment
Guidance and helpful information
To ensure that your request is processed quickly, and the child/ young person is accepted into the service as soon as possible please provide as much detail as you can in the Request for Services form. It is important that the form includes information about:
- The aspects of difficulty the child/young person is experiencing, and how often this occurs
- What the impact of the difficulty is on the child at home and at school
- What has already been tried to help the child/young person, with the supporting evidence as indicated above
- What goals you have discussed with the child/their parents
Locations
Our service operates across the whole of Devon and ROVICs conduct assessments at home and schools across the whole county.
ROVICs additionally support paediatric ophthalmic eye clinics at hospitals across:
- Exeter
- Torbay
- Newton Abbot
- Barnstaple
We also provide support to eye clinics based at local Special Schools.
Forms that do not have sufficient information in them to allow us to undertake effective clinical screening will be returned to the requester indicating the additional information required. | https://childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk/rehabilitation-officers-for-visually-impaired-children-rovic/referrer/support/request-criteria/ |
Webinars are video presentations and include the recorded PowerPoint and lecture and a .pdf copy of the PowerPoint notes.
Description: Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder frequently demonstrate maladaptive, disruptive, sensory seeking or self-injurious behaviors. Understanding the relationship of potential underlying problem to the expression of these behaviors is key to being able to effective treat the problem. This webinar will examine how to assess problematic behaviors and identify the underlying sensory, praxis, and emotional factors which may cause them.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this webinar viewers will be able to:
- Describe 5 common maladaptive behaviors that are indicative of an underlying sensory processing problem.
- List 4 potential underlying causes for maladaptive behaviors.
- Describe the relationship between sensory processing and praxis and maladaptive behaviors.
Course Level: Intermediate. There are no prerequisites for this course.
Suitable For: Occupational therapists, OT assistants, physical therapists, PT assistants and students, speech and language therapists.
AOTA
Domain: Performance Skills
Process: Assessment
Contact Hours: This course is worth 1.5 contact hours or .15 AOTA CEUs.
Completion Requirements: To receive contact hours for this course you must listen to the recorded webinar in its entirety and complete the accompanying assessment.
About the Speaker: Teresa A. May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA is the Executive Director of the Spiral Foundation as well as a practicing occupational therapist at OTA The Koomar Center. She is active in conducting research related to sensory integration through the Spiral Foundation’s Sensory Processing Research Center and Laboratory. She is a well-known lecturer and researcher on sensory integration theory and intervention, has authored book chapters and articles on praxis and sensory integration, and completed her doctoral dissertation on ideational praxis. Dr. May-Benson received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and her master’s degree from Boston University with a concentration in sensory integration and school system therapy. She was a Maternal and Child Health Fellow in the Doctoral Program in Therapeutic Studies at Boston University. She has received the Virginia Scardinia Award of Excellence from AOTA for her work in ideational praxis.
ADA/Section 504: If you require special accommodations, please contact the Spiral Foundation at [email protected] or (617) 969 – 4410 ext. 231.
Continuing Education:
Occupational Therapy Practitioners/ Occupational Therapy Assistants: The Spiral Foundation is an Approved Provider of Continuing Education for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants by the American Occupational Therapy Association. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA. | https://thespiralfoundation.org/courses/assessment-of-behaviors-in-individuals-with-autism-spectrum-disorder/ |
The environment in which an individual finds him or herself has the potential to have a distinct effect on their concentration, comfort and overall ability to access and participate. This is particularly noteworthy when discussing the often-difficult transitionary period individuals with autism can go through when entering an educational or work environment.
The Assessment
Sharon offers environmental assessments for schools and other centres in which autistic individuals are supported. During these assessments, Sharon will visit a school building or area and she will examine the environment’s suitability for autistic individuals or those with sensory processing difficulties (SPD). She will use information gleamed to flag any aspects of the environment that have the potential to negatively impact upon an autistic individual’s participation.
Whats next?
Once these areas are identified, Sharon will work with staff to ensure that the environment is designed in an autism-friendly and competent way, and that these staff are best equipped to deal with the needs of their charges. These observations and changes may include the introduction of sensory supports into centres or classrooms, the implementation of visual schedules and a number of other practical strategies that can easily be integrated to ensure the needs of all autistic individuals attending, are met. As well as these more general strategies, Sharon can also unobtrusively observe a single child or adult in their educational environment, be it playschool, primary school, secondary school or university, and create an individualised support plan that caters specifically for the observed individual’s needs. | https://www.autismjourneys.ie/environmental-assessment-and-modification/ |
Listen to pronunciation. (kuh-KEK-see-uh) Loss of body weight and muscle mass, and weakness that may occur in patients with cancer, AIDS, or other chronic diseases.
In defining these terms further, anorexia describes loss of appetite and/or an aversion to food. The term “cachexia” refers to a loss of body mass, including lean body mass and fat, in the setting of a disease state, in this case cancer.
People with cachexia lose weight and muscle mass. Some people look malnourished. Others appear to be at a normal weight. To be diagnosed with cachexia, you must have lost at least 5 percent of your body weight within the last 12 months or less, and have a known illness or disease.
Weight loss is the hallmark of any progressive acute or chronic disease state. In its extreme form of significant lean body mass (including skeletal muscle) and fat loss, it is referred to as cachexia. It has been known for millennia that muscle and fat wasting leads to poor outcomes including death.
Because ‘fla’ or ‘flah’ is an evolution from the colonial British ‘FLA-uh’, which would be the common pronunciation of many of the British colonials living in British Malaya. I still pronounce ‘flour’ as ‘FLA-uh’, ‘power’ as ‘PAH-uh’ and ‘prayer’ as ‘PRAE-uh’, with a quick gloss over the diphthong.
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis Pronunciation
It is pronounced pneu·mo·no·ul·tra·mi·cro·scop·ic·sil·i·co·vol·ca·no·co·ni·o·sis.
The survival rate of cachexia can vary depending on the cause. Progressive cachexia is often a sign of poor prognosis and a relatively shorter survival time. The amount and rate of weight loss and survival time are directly related to the survival time of the underlying condition in people with HIV, cancer, and more.
Megestrol acetate (MA) is currently used to improve appetite and to increase weight in cancer‐associated anorexia. In 1993, MA was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of anorexia, cachexia or unexplained weight loss in patients with AIDS.
Cachexia occurs in many cancers, usually at the advanced stages of disease. It is most commonly seen in a subset of cancers, led by pancreatic and gastric cancer, but also lung, esophageal, colorectal, and head and neck cancer.
Cachexia, defined by specific weight loss criteria, has a devastating physical and psychological effect on patients and caregivers. It results in a loss of muscle mass, altered body image, and associated decrease in physical functional level; it also often indicates the end of life.
Summary: Have you ever noticed that people have thinner arms and legs as they get older? As we age it becomes harder to keep our muscles healthy. They get smaller, which decreases strength and increases the likelihood of falls and fractures.
Cachexia is a condition that causes extreme weight loss and muscle wasting. It is a symptom of many chronic conditions such as cancer, chronic renal failure, HIV, and multiple sclerosis. Cachexia predominantly affects people in the late stages of serious diseases like cancer, HIV or AIDS, and congestive heart failure.
Cachexia is defined as ongoing weight loss, often with muscle wasting, associated with a long-standing disease. In cachexia, refeeding often does not induce weight gain.
Progestagens, that is, Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (MPA) and Megestrol Acetate (MA) are currently considered the best available treatment option for CACS, and they are approved in Europe for treatment of cancer- and AIDS-related cachexia.
Cancer cachexia is divided into three consecutive clinical stages:10 pre-cachexia, cachexia, and refractory cachexia, though patients may not experience all three stages.
Cancer-cachexia (CC) is a wasting syndrome that occurs in up to 80% of cancer patients. CC is the primary cause of death for 22%–30% of cancer patients,3,4 with incidence predicted to grow in years to come. Despite CC’s widespread implications, it is often poorly diagnosed and often missed completely.
The term muscle atrophy refers to the loss of muscle tissue. Atrophied muscles appear smaller than normal. Lack of physical activity due to an injury or illness, poor nutrition, genetics, and certain medical conditions can all contribute to muscle atrophy. Muscle atrophy can occur after long periods of inactivity.
Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited diseases characterized by weakness and wasting away of muscle tissue, with or without the breakdown of nerve tissue.
In English, the correct pronunciation of salmon is sam-un. The “l” in salmon is silent. However, in certain dialects and varieties of English salmon is occasionally pronounced with an “l”. | https://publicaffairsworld.com/how-do-you-pronounce-cachexia/ |
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://scidar.kg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/11304
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|DC Field||Value||Language|
|dc.contributor.author||Susa R.||-|
|dc.contributor.author||Lazic Z.||-|
|dc.contributor.author||Cekerevac, Ivan||-|
|dc.date.accessioned||2021-04-20T18:00:52Z||-|
|dc.date.available||2021-04-20T18:00:52Z||-|
|dc.date.issued||2018-01-01||-|
|dc.identifier.issn||03501221||-|
|dc.identifier.uri||https://scidar.kg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/11304||-|
|dc.description.abstract||© 2018, Serbian Medical Society. All right reserved. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is known to be characterized by inflammation both in the stable phase of the disease and during exacerbation. It has been shown that certain inflammatory mediators have a high level in systemic circulation, indicating systemic inflammation in COPD. The first recognized systemic effect of COPD is a disorder of the state of nourishment. Certain diseases, including COPD, can lead to cachexia where patients lose muscle mass despite adequate caloric intake. Inflammation in COPD also has an effect on increased protein catabolism, which leads to a decrease in body weight. Increased activity of enzymes matrix metalloproteinases family (MMP) in patients with COPD can lead to lung tissue destruction and the development of osteoporosis. It is considered that the most important role in the association between COPD and CVD disease is systemic inflammation. Low level of inflammation in small airways in COPD and Atherosclerotic plaques, may be a potential factor in the development of both pathological processes. Systemic manifestations of COPD include numerous endocrine disorders of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, gonads, adrenal glands and pancreas. The mechanisms by which HOBP affects the endocrine function are not entirely clear, but are likely to include hypoxemia, hypercapnia, systemic inflammation, and the use of systemic glucocorticoids. Explanation for significant depressive disorder in more advanced stages in COPD can be expressive dyspnoea, decreased physical activity, worse exercise tolerance, frequent exacerbations and systemic inflammation which can lead to further physical activity decrease, social isolation, fear, and depression.||-|
|dc.relation.ispartof||Medicinski Casopis||-|
|dc.title||Systemic inflammation, systemic effects and comorbidities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease||-|
|dc.type||Review||-|
|dc.identifier.doi||10.5937/mckg52-18735||-|
|dc.identifier.scopus||85060115741||-|
|Appears in Collections:||Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kragujevac|
|[ Google Scholar ]|
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The older adults are at the risk of diminished health. According to the United Nations (UN), the number of adults above the age of 60 years increased by 2% in the years 1950-2000. This increase saw the older people increase from 8% to 10% of the population. By the year 2050, it is estimated that the number of old adults will rise to 22% of the total population due to the increase in life expectancy. While life expectancy for women and men was 77 and 69 years respectively in the 1980s, it is expected to increase to 83 and 75 respectively by the year 2040 (Milanović et al., 2013). Due to this, there is need for effective methods of engaging the older people to ensure they are physically strong to have an independent physical fitness.
A major factor affecting the independence of the older adults is lack of physical exercises. Lack of physical exercises lowers the functional capability thus affecting the quality of life. If an older person does not have the functional capacity required to undertake the daily activities, then, that person is not independent since some form of intervention is required. The ageing process normally tends to reduce physical fitness and makes it difficult to undertake day-to-day activities (Milanović et al., 2013). The level of activities undertaken by the older adults decrease with age depending on muscle mass and strength. Between the ages of 30-80 years, muscle strength and muscle mass decrease by 50%. However, this can be prevented by undergoing resistance training (Patil et al., 2014). If physical activity is not maintained, other chronic medical problems arises. Physical activity is the key to making the older adults active and healthy. A study conducted in Ireland revealed that the rank of physical activity decreases with age and is associated with a decline in physical fitness (Naughton et al., 2011). This reveals that increased physical activity increases fitness and that any kind of physical activity is better than being inactive. The study also found the decline in muscle strength to be 1% for the physically active adults as compared to 50% for the inactive adults (Rasheed & Woods, 2013).
Lola attends Yoga classes when she has a chance and maintains garden at home. The garden maintenance is not hard but she also walks from the bus stop carrying groceries every day. It is clear that even though Lora is undertaking some physical, activities, they are not enough to maintain her muscle strength (Villareal et al., 2011). At this rate, she may not be independent in undertaking her daily activities in future. The best intervention would be to encourage her to take the yoga classes seriously and attend every day. She should also exercise regularly by jogging to maintain her strength.
Another factor that affects the independence of the older adults is malnutrition. In older people, malnutrition is common but frequently overlooked. With the older population projected to increase in future, the number of adults at risk of malnutrition is set to increase. The malnutrition prevalence increases with decreasing physical independence and frailty. With malnutrition, the older people experience loss in body weight and a decline in muscle strength and mass (Visvanathan, Newbury & Chapman, 2014). In the aging process, this is both an outcome and a process. Older people experience appetite losses, which may result to undesirable weight loss.
Malnutrition in older people can be because of different reasons. Physical factors such as lack of appetite and failure to feed oneself can lead to malnutrition (Rasheed & Woods, 2013). However, there are other non-physical factors such as economic and social economic factors. Most of the bolder people are retired and have no income flow. They may not have enough money to maintain a good diet. In addition, being alone can be depressing and lonely. Such factors are seen to reduce the appetite levels on the older people. For people like Lola who have no one to cook for anymore, cooking becomes a burden and an irritation. For the older people, taking light and prepared food can lead to more chronic problems like diabetes. In addition, for some adults, losing a loved one raises the stress level thus inducing a high appetite, which in turn lead to diabetes and other problems such as asthma (Volkert, 2013). As one gets old, the muscle energy and mass reduces which may in turn cause chewing and swallowing problems. This combined with other chronic problems associated with old age will ultimately lead to malnutrition. Rist, Miles & Karimi (2012) reported that 34.5 of the older people residing at home are at risk of undernourishment. The situation is worse with the economic conditions existing today.
Lola no longer cooks though she is not ill. She just does not feel like cooking since she has no one else to cook for any more. She depends on easy dinners like toast and crumpets for dinner. In addition, she is sometimes too tired and does not eat three times a day. She does not eat fruits, vegetables, and daily products on most days. In addition, she does not take enough fluids on daily basis. Lola has enough money to buy food but does not eat properly. For her age, malnutrition can easily kick in and affect her muscle mass and strength, which will ultimately limit her physical activities like walking to the bus stop. A good intervention would be to monitor her diet and make sure she eats properly.
The old people are at the risk of mistreatment by caregivers or other strangers. The World Health Organization has recognized older people abuse as a global problem. Older people abuse violates on their rights and affects their quality of life. Abuse refers to any action that causes harm or develops a risk of harm (De Donder et al., 2011). Older people with impairments are more possible to be abused. Specifically, older people with dementia are at a high risk of abuse. Dementia is a disorder of the mental processes and can be caused by brain disease, personality cages or impaired reasoning. The ageing process is associated with impaired reasoning and personality changes, which can cause dementia. As reported by Yan & Kwok (2011) after conducting a study in China, physical and verbal abuse is common for older Chinese living in Hong Kong. The percentage of caregivers who admitted to have displayed violence towards an older recipient of care was 62%. The high rate is contributed by shared living environment. The fact that shared living environment increases risk of abuse complicates the case given that the risk of abuse by strangers while living alone is high for older adults. In addition, living alone can lead to other complications such as failure to eat due to physical inactivity.
Physical abuse can lead to physical injuries, which deteriorates the health of an old person. However, verbal abuse is worse since it is not evident in most of the cases. For adults with Dementia for example, complains of verbal abuse can be viewed as the effects of the Dementia and not taken seriously (Friedman et al., 2011). This can elevate the Dementia problem or cause other problems such as depression. For Lola she lives alone in a safe neighborhood with supportive neighbors. However, she is exposed to foul language at the bus stop, which is disappointing to her. As her ageing process progresses, she may be forced to employ a caregiver. In such a case, she would be at risk of abuse either verbally and physically. Having no family to depend on, any cases of abuse may never be discovered. Lola should reside in a care giving home at her older age to prevent such occurrences. In addition, social changes can change the security situation in her neighborhood.
With the ageing process, several factors aggravate the risk of depression. These include sadness, weight loss, and aggravated pains, and aches, lack of motivation or feeling of helplessness (Bouchonville et al., 2014). These are common factors among the old people. Research has shown that 15% of the older adults are at a risk of depression. According to estimated from the WHO, adults above 65 years commit suicide more often than any other age group (Harvath & McKenzie, 2012). With the ageing population, increasing worldwide, identification and prevention of depression is paramount in controlling the increasing costs of health care. Increased depression rates are observed in brain disorders including dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease.
In late life, many life changes occur such as retirement. Ones daily routine is disrupted and this can cause sadness, which can aggravate to depression. The level of satisfaction with life determines how one feels about one’s existence (Cahoon, 2012). In addition, depression leads to other medical problems such as dementia in which case one is at risk of other risks such as abuse. Depression can also lead to stroke which cause physical inactivity. Inactivity at old age as discussed earlier is dangerous since it reduces muscle mass and energy. In addition, the death of family members in the ageing process can cause loneliness and later depression. Combined with other issues such as appetite loss and lack of motivation, an older person can feel helpless (Fakhouri et al., 2012). All these factors are common with the older generation and depression.
Lola is satisfied with her life. She feels wonderful to be alive and energetic. However, she feels hopeless. Such a feeling is not good at her age. As she grows older, the feeling of hopelessness will graduate to sadness and then later to depression. Without proper social support, she is at risk of acquiring mental problems later in her life. The yoga class used to help her full energetic but since she does not attend daily, she sometimes feel weak. In addition, walking from the bus stop carrying groceries causes tiredness, which can aggravate to pain. Such factors can easily lead to depression. The best intervention in this case is increased social support (Rodda, Walker & Carter, 2011). Lola should attend yoga classes, interact with others, and make new friends. In addition, the yoga classes will help with her muscles thus reducing pain and aches. | https://essaynexus.com/health-care-for-older-adults/ |
Obesity and cardiometabolic risk
The association between abdominal obesity and cardiometabolic risk is gathering evidence daily. In the elderly, the changes that occur naturally in the process of ageing, combined with obesity, means the physician has a crucial role to play in assessing these cardiometabolic risk factors and managing the overall health of patients in the mid-life and beyond age group. Dr Azhar Farooqi reviews the evidence and outlines a best management plan.
First published December 2006, updated September 2021
Key points:
- The prevalence of obesity is rising rapidly in the UK.
- Obesity, particularly abdominal obesity, is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk.
- Measurement of waist circumference is a relatively quick and easy measure of increased abdominal obesity, and hence a marker of increased cardiometabolic risk.
- Lifestyle change remains the key intervention to reduce obesity.
- Pharmaceutical interventions may be necessary in addition to lifestyle changes for some patients.
In recent years, obesity has become a global epidemic that places an enormous burden on healthcare resources. Obese individuals, more specifically those with abdominal obesity, often exhibit risk factors that lead to cardiovascular or metabolic diseases. Such cardiometabolic risk factors are of great concern in the elderly given the changes that occur with ageing (notably sarcopenia), decreased metabolic rate and decreased physical activity, all of which contribute to increased weight gain.
Double trend: obesity / ageing
In the UK, the proportion of men and women categorised as obese (body mass index [BMI] over 30 kg/m2) increased from 13.2 per cent in 1993 to 23.6 per cent in 2004, and from 16.4 per cent in 1993 to 23.8 per cent in 2004, respectively1. A quarter of the adult population is projected to become obese by 20102. Parallel to this increase in obesity, the longevity of individuals and the average age of the overall population are increasing – the geriatric population is now one of the fastest growing segments of the population in Europe and the US. In the UK, it is estimated that a fifth of the population is over 60 years of age, and by 2025 the number of people over the age of 80 years is set to increase by almost 50 per cent, with the number of people over the age of 90 years doubling3. These two increasing trends – ageing population and obesity – therefore, have major public health implications. Furthermore, it must be noted that up to the age of 74 years, there is a positive association between age and weight gain; after this age a slight decline is observed4.
Changes in body composition
Ageing is associated with considerable changes in body composition; notably, fat mass increases while lean mass decreases5. However, it is not just the increase in fat mass that is of concern, but importantly, it is the location where the excess fat is deposited. With ageing, the accumulation of abdominal, or visceral fat, is quantitatively and proportionally greater than peripheral fat mass5. The reason why visceral fat is specifically affected is not clearly understood; however, it has been suggested that hormonal changes may be a contributing factor. In women, a decline in oestrogens with menopause has been identified as an independent factor associated with the accumulation of visceral fat. Correspondingly, a decline in testosterone in men is associated with abdominal obesity5 .
The other major change in body composition with ageing is sarcopenia. Sarcopenia refers to the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength that starts as early as the fourth decade of life in humans6. It is one of the major causes of morbidity in the elderly and contributes signifi cantly to the decrease in their quality of life6. In addition to contributing to the functional limitations of old age, sarcopenia has a number of signifi cant metabolic consequences. Notably, there is an increase in the lipid content of skeletal muscle, both inside and outside the skeletal muscle fi bres7. This increase in lipid deposition has been linked to the development of insulin resistance7. Furthermore, as muscle mass takes up approximately 30 per cent of resting energy expenditure, reduction in muscle mass and decreased physical activity in the elderly leads to a decrease in total energy expenditure6. This decline leads to other co-morbidities, including obesity and visceral fat accumulation6.
Abdominal obesity: a significant risk factor
Cardiometabolic risk factors are those that lead to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and include abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Of these cardiometabolic risk factors, abdominal obesity – or more specifically excessive visceral fat – plays a significant aetiological role in the development of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and contributes to the development and exacerbation of other cardiometabolic risk factors8; consequently, it is critical to differentiate between obesity and abdominal obesity. BMI is a commonly used measure of obesity; however, it has inherent limitations, as it does not differentiate between lean and fat tissue.
Waist circumference (WC) is a measure of abdominal fat, and consequently a better screening measure for cardiometabolic risk than other anthropometric indicators9-11. Indeed, a new defi nition of metabolic syndrome proposed by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) includes central obesity as an essential criterion, given the strong evidence linking WC with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases12. Furthermore, the IDF provides different WC cutoffs for people from different ethnic gro ups (see Table 1)12. WC should be measured with a tape measure from halfway between the lowest point of the ribs and the diac crest. As acknowledged by the IDF, a growing body of evidence indicates individuals with abdominal obesity are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes11, cardiovascular disease – including coronary heart disease13, hypertension14 and myocardial infarction15 – and overall mortality16. Ideally, therefore, WC must be used in conjunction with BMI in primary care.
Cardiometabolic risk
Results of the Health Survey of England 2003 revealed that increased waist/hip ratio (WHR) and WC showed a more pronounced relation with age than obesity, both peaking at a later age than obesity4. Therefore, the groups identified as being at risk by having increased WHR or WC contain a substantially greater proportion of older people than the group defined as obese4.
In a large prospective study, elderly individuals (age range 70–79 years) with high risk WC were almost twice as likely as those with a low risk WC to develop chronic heart failure17. This increased risk was independent of obesity, inflammation, hypertension and diabetes, indicating that excess visceral fat per se is likely to be responsible for the heart failure17. Given that age increases cardiometabolic risk, the presence of abdominal obesity and sarcopenia exacerbate the problem significantly. Furthermore, achieving the targets set for cardiometabolic risk factors according to current guidelines can be extremely difficult in the elderly and, in most instances, polytherapy is necessary. For example, cardiometabolic risk factors with difficult-to-achieve targets include hypertension, dyslipidaemia and elevated HbA1c. Consequently, targeting visceral fat, which can cause or exacerbate these risk factors, can be viewed as pivotal to reducing the cardiometabolic risk profile of elderly patients.
Cardiometabolic risk management
Primary care physicians can potentially play a significant role in implementing an integrated screening and intervention approach to address key risk factors in the general population. According to guidelines recently published by the Joint British Societies, all patients above the age of 40 years should be considered for an opportunistic comprehensive cardiovascular disease risk assessment18. Those with a 10-year cardiovascular risk of greater than 20 per cent should be targeted for aggressive risk factor management18.
Lifestyle intervention is an integral aspect of managing and reducing cardiometabolic risk in any age group. Moderate weight loss and increased physical activity can improve physical function and quality of life in obese elderly individuals. Therefore, prescribing a diet with calorie reduction and lower consumption of saturated fat could be valuable. However, it is important to note that if a diet is prescribed, it should be ensured that adequate protein intake is included to counteract reduced muscle mass as low protein intake is not uncommon, particularly in the elderly. In addition, recommended light exercise should focus on building lean body mass with resistance training.
Implementation of cardiometabolic risk reduction will necessitate an increase in the prescribing of agents such as statins and anti-hypertensives to address the relevant, individual risk factors. In the elderly, who may already be receiving polytherapy, further increasing the number of tablets they need to take can be challenging for them. Consequently, a single agent that targets the overall cardiometabolic risk, rather than the individual components, can be of enormous benefit.
Pharmacological intervention to decrease abdominal obesity is indeed an option to be considered for the management of cardiometabolic risk. A number of agents are currently available for the treatment of obesity, notably orlistat and sibutramine. Orlistat prevents the absorption of fat molecules from the gastrointestinal tract, while sibutramine promotes a feeling of satiety19,20. According to guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), these drugs should be used in individuals with a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2, or those with a BMI ≥28 kg/m2 (≥27 kg/m2 for sibutramine) and other risk factors that persist despite standard treatment (for example, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and/or high total cholesterol level)19, 20. However, both have limitations in that sibutramine cannot be prescribed to patients over the age of 65 years and orlistat to those over 75 years19,20. Therefore, there is a need for long-term management of cardiometabolic risk in the elderly.
Rimonabant is a novel agent recently licensed in the UK for the management of cardiometabolic risk factors. It is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise for the treatment of obese patients (BMI ≥30 kg/m2), or overweight patients with a BMI >27 kg/m2 with associated risk factors such as type 2 diabetes and dyslipidaemia. In clinical trials, rimonabant has been shown not only to reduce weight and WC, but also improve other cardiometabolic risk factors. Notably, it significantly improves glycaemic control in people with diabetes, and improves lipid profile by significantly increasing high density lipoprotein cholesterol and decreasing triglyceride levels in people with treated or untreated dyslipidaemia21,24. The improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors are, to a certain extent, independent of the effect of rimonabant on weight loss.
Conclusion
Obesity is an increasingly important problem in the elderly and should not be merely considered as ‘middle-age spread’. The changes in body composition that occur have significant clinical implications – visceral fat accumulates and muscle mass (protein) decreases, while concomitantly, the lipid content of skeletal muscle increases. These metabolic changes, in conjunction with decreased physical activity, lead to a significantly increased cardiometabolic risk profile in the elderly.
Overall, there is a need for greater physician involvement in the management of cardiometabolic risk factors that frequently manifest in abdominally obese patients in primary care. Achieving the targets set for cardiometabolic risk factors according to current guidelines can necessitate polytherapy in many elderly individuals. Therefore, in this population, the use of a single agent, such as rimonabant, that targets the common underlying pathophysiological cause rather than using multiple therapies to treat individual cardiometabolic risk factors can be of benefit.
Conflict of interest: Dr Farooqi has been a member of the professional advisory boards of several pharmaceutical companies in relation to therapies for diabetes. | https://www.gmjournal.co.uk/obesity-and-cardiometabolic-risk |
In Queensland, about two-thirds of adults and one-quarter of children are above a healthy weight.
On this page you will find information on:
Cancer and weight
Being above a healthy weight increases the risk of 13 types of cancer – cancer of the oesophagus, breast, liver, gallbladder, kidney, bowel, multiple myeloma, meningies, thyroid, gastric cardia, pancreas, ovaries and uterus.
How can being above a healthy weight increase the risk of cancer?
The link between being overweight or obese and cancer is complex. Excess body fat can increase the level of hormones and growth factors in the blood and cause inflammation. This may change how the cells in your body divide and increase the chance of mutated cells being produced. These mutated cells may develop into early stages of cancer.
Causes of unhealthy weight gain
Your weight is usually determined by the balance between energy intake (kilojoules from food and drinks) and energy expenditure (energy used to carry out bodily functions as well as physical activity). If your energy intake is more than your body needs to function or uses being active, you are at risk of gaining weight. You can use the Eat for health daily energy requirements calculator to estimate your daily energy intake.
Good nutrition and regular physical activity can help to maintain a healthy weight. Being above a healthy weight, having a poor diet and not doing enough physical activity are modifiable risk factors for preventing cancer, second only to tobacco use. Find out more about how to eat healthily and drink less alcohol and take time to be active.
It is important to note that other factors can lead to weight gain, such as:
- Genetics
- Getting older
- Different life stages (e.g. pregnancy and menopause)
- Surrounding environment that can encourage unhealthy food choices
- Psychological factors such as stress
- Some diseases
- Metabolism (the body’s process that converts food into energy)
BMI calculator and waist circumference
Use both the Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference to check if you are a healthy weight.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
The Body Mass Index compares your weight to your height. It is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared. Enter your height and weight below to calculate your BMI.
Classification of adults according to BMI
|Classification||BMI|
|Underweight||Below 18.5|
|Healthy Weight Range||18.5-24.9|
|Overweight||25.0-29.9|
|Obese I||30.0-34.9|
|Obese II||35.0-39.9|
|Obese III||40 or more|
Note: The BMI is a useful measurement for most people over 18 years old. However, it is only an estimate and does not take into account age, gender, ethnicity and body composition, and therefore may not be accurate for people with greater muscle mass, older people and people who have reduced muscle mass.
Waist Circumference
Waist circumference is an indication of how much fat is around your abdomen. Having extra weight around your middle is a risk factor for many chronic diseases, including some cancers, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
For professional advice on managing your weight, consult your doctor or an Accredited Practising Dietitian.
To find out what your workplace, school, early childhood centre or sporting club can do to help individuals maintain a healthy weight, register for Cancer Council Queensland’s free online healthy lifestyle program QUEST.
Some of these health messages may not be appropriate for those experiencing cancer. If you are concerned about your weight, talk to your healthcare professional.
More Information
For more information about maintaining a healthy weight speak to your doctor or call Cancer Council 13 11 20.
Whether you have been diagnosed with cancer, or have a family member or friend who is affected by cancer, there are times when you may need support. Our professional services and support programs are here to help you.
The information available on this page should not be used as a substitute for advice from a properly qualified health professional who can advise about your own individual medical needs. It is not intended to constitute medical advice and is provided for general information purposes only. See our disclaimer. | https://cancerqld.org.au/cancer-prevention/maintain-a-healthy-weight/ |
Open Access | Review
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Sarcopenia and falls in older adults
* Corresponding author: Chieh Chen
Mailing address: 41152 No. 36, Lane 100, Section 2, Zhongshan Road, Taiping District, Taichung City, Taiwan.
Email: [email protected]
Received: 08 August 2022 / Revised: 26 August 2022 / Accepted:01 September 2022 / Published:30 September 2022
DOI: 10.31491/APT.2022.09.092
Abstract
The biggest social impact of Taiwan’s aging population is an increase in the need for geriatric medical care as well as an increase in the burden on social and economic wellbeing. It will have an impact on domestic consumption, domestic demand, and labor supply, as well as changes in the demographic structure. As the workforce decreases and productivity declines, there will be a succession of shifts in consumer demand and infrastructure. Sarcopenia has more detrimental effects in obese or osteoporotic populations than in the general healthy population, and it is additive to the effects of obesity and osteoporosis on metabolism and physical activity. Increased adipose tissue in the aged can also cause an increase in chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, decreased muscle synthesis, and increased muscle breakdown, increasing the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in the elderly. According to studies, sarcopenia increases the risk of falls in the elderly and causes obese older persons to lose muscle readily on a calorie-restricted diet. As shown above, nutritional supplementation as well as moderate aerobic and resistance exercise can reduce the risk of sarcopenia and falls in the obese elderly. Falls and their associated injuries are a major health care issue among the elderly. Falls are a typical occurrence in the elderly and are related to increased morbidity and disability. It is predicted that in such a community, two-thirds of unintentional injury deaths are caused by a fall. And increase geriatric mobility, so pay attention to sarcopenia and frailty problems in the elderly, and early and active intervention can avoid subsequent disability and the disadvantages of sarcopenia and frailty.
Keywords
Sarcopenia, malnutrition, falls, frailty, geriatric syndrome, osteosarcopenia
Introduction
As aging continues to grow in our society, sarcopenia and associated fall risk are considered a public health problem since falling is the third cause of chronic disability. The numbers predicted by the United Nations indicate that the number of old adults will reach 2 billion by 2050, global aging is bringing new realities to economic, social, and health systems in most countries [1, 2]. Falls in the elderly is an important issue, especially in patients with sarcopenia and osteoporosis, and falls are a major cause of disability and bedridden. Sarcopenia is an age-related chronic inflammation, changes in body composition, and hormonal imbalances. Taiwan has entered an aging society. Due to the aging process, motor nerve degeneration, reduced protein synthesis, insufficient nutrient supply, sedentary inactivity or chronic disease bed rest, and inflammatory reactions are all causes of sarcopenia . Frailty is characterized by a diminished response to stress, which triggers a decline in the physiological function of various systems. The cost of treatment of secondary injuries related to falls is high. The frailty typical of older adults is often associated with reduced quality of life and mobility . Falls are often associated with reduced mobility and the ability to perform common functions of daily living, as well as increased hospitalization days. When an elderly person has both obesity and muscle deficiency, it is called sarcopenia obese . In addition, muscle mass loss associated with altered muscle composition increased visceral fat, and altered infiltration and innervation of muscle cells by fat, as well as increased fat mass, have a multiplicative effect on increased cardiovascular risk . The risk of falls in elderly women is about 1.5-2 times that of elderly men. The elderly over the age of 65 will fall about 28-35% every year, and it will increase to 32-42% over the age of 70. The incidence of falls is 30-40%, and the incidence of falls can be as high as 50% for the elderly over 80 years old, and the incidence of falls in the elderly in long-term care institutions is even higher, even as high as 50% per year. There is much foreign literature related to the pathophysiology of sarcopenia and frailty and its sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and falls in the elderly. Muscle mass, muscle strength, bone density, and cartilage function may play significant roles in daily activities, resistance training may positively and significantly affect the elderly. Exercise programs focusing on strength may significantly influence muscle mass and muscle strength, minimizing functional decline and the risk of falling.
Frailty and sarcopenia
Sarcopenia is defined as a decrease in muscle mass and strength, a phenomenon that occurs naturally with age . In 1997, American scholar Rosenberg first used the Greek word “Sarcopenia” to name this phenomenon and called it sarcopenia . Sarcopenia is mainly manifested as a decline in muscle strength, which reduces the mobility of the elderly, making it difficult for the elderly to complete daily activities such as walking, sitting, and lifting heavy objects, and even leads to balance disorders and easy falls. In 2001, the scholar Fried proposed five main clinical indicators of frailty (Fried frailty phenotype), and based on this to define frailty; these clinical indicators include unintentional weight loss, self-reported fatigue, decreased muscle strength, walking Slower speed, and lower physical activity [9, 10]. The National Nutrition and Health Status Change Survey from 2014 to 2015 found that the prevalence of frailty among Taiwanese aged 65 and over was 7.8%, and the prevalence of pre-frailty was 50.8%. Compared with normal people, patients with sarcopenia have significantly lower body weight and lean body mass, significantly lower grip strength, and significantly weakened lower extremity flexors, so the elderly fall frequently . Sarcopenia is associated with poor physical fitness, lack of exercise, slowed gait speed, and decreased mobility; these manifestations also represent common features of frailty and together lead to an increased risk of falls. Sarcopenia, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity are associated with many negative health outcomes such as a high risk of falls and low health-related quality of life in older adults . AWGS 2019 retains the previous definition of sarcopenia but revises the diagnostic algorithm, protocols, and some criteria: low muscle strength is defined as handgrip strength ＜ 28 kg for men and ＜ 18 kg for women; criteria for low physical performance are 6-m walk ＜ 1.0 m/s, Short Physical Performance Battery score ≤ 9, or 5-time chair stand test ≥ 12 seconds. AWGS 2019 retains the original cutoffs for height-adjusted muscle mass: dualenergy X-ray absorptiometry, ＜ 7.0 kg/m2 in men and ＜ 5.4 kg/m2 in women; and bioimpedance, ＜ 7.0 kg/m2 in men and ＜ 5.7 kg/m2 in women. In addition, the AWGS 2019 update proposes separate algorithms for community vs. hospital settings, which both begin by screening either calf circumference (＜ 34 cm in men, ＜ 33 cm in women), SARC-F (≥ 4), or SARC-CalF (≥ 11), to facilitate earlier identification of people at risk for sarcopenia. Although skeletal muscle strength and mass are both still considered fundamental to a definitive clinical diagnosis, AWGS 2019 also introduces “possible sarcopenia,” defined by either low muscle strength or low physical performance only, specifically for use in primary health care or community-based health promotion, to enable earlier lifestyle interventions. Although defining sarcopenia by body mass index-adjusted muscle mass instead of height-adjusted muscle mass may predict adverse outcomes better, more evidence is needed before changing current recommendations. Low skeletal muscle mass and low physical performance in older persons are both predisposing conditions for disability. These conditions are coming into focus with numerous ongoing clinical trials, such as the SPRINTT study (Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty IN older people: multi-componenT Treatment strategies) [1, 2, 14].
Falls are highly associated with sarcopenia
Sarcopenia has gradually gained acceptance among the general public, health sports centers, nutrition associations, and geriatric medicine experts in recent years; it has been defined internationally: in 2010, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia (EWGSOP) proposed a “progressive” definition of sarcopenia. Reduced muscle mass and function (muscle strength and physiological activity) may lead to a syndrome of increased disease incidence, decreased quality of life, and even death. . Criteria for Diagnosis and Grading: There are three components to this condition: low muscle mass, low muscle strength, and low physical performance. Many kinds of literature discuss falls in the elderly, however, sarcopenia-related falls are rarely discussed. There are numerous individual reasons for sarcopenia and falls, making it difficult to prove a causal relationship, especially since most research is cross-sectional. A cross-sectional study cannot determine whether sarcopenia is a risk factor for falls, and future prospective studies are required to determine whether sarcopenia causes falls in older adults; in short, sarcopenia is a risk factor for falls. It is connected with falls in older adults and is defined by muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance [13, 16]. Interventions to prevent sarcopenia may be useful in preventing falls in the elderly. Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by decreasing muscle mass, strength, and physical function. Sarcopenia may be a significant risk factor for falls. Sarcopenia and frailty are common geriatric syndromes around us. As we get older, muscle and bone mass will gradually lose, and the risk of sarcopenia will gradually increase. After the age of 30, muscle mass decreases by 8% every ten years. After muscle mass declines, weakness, weakness, fatigue, falls, and Symptoms such as weight loss . Whereas medical care in the past focused on prevention, early diagnosis, and long-term care, current trends tend to view age as a background cause of frailty interacting with multiple factors including age-related physiological changes, environment, various diseases, and medications . This leads to debilitating symptoms in the elderly, and many factors can be summarized as endocrine system diseases and systemic inflammation. Body composition changes in the skeletal musculature may be nutrient deficiencies, of which sarcopenic obesity has drawn more attention. Many physiological mechanisms are considered to be related to frailty, among which sarcopenia is considered to be highly correlated with frailty, and it can almost be said that sarcopenia and frailty are two sides of the same coin . If obesity is combined at the same time, it will also lead to metabolic deterioration problems such as blood sugar and blood pressure, because muscle is closely related to the storage of human protein and the regulation of blood sugar and another metabolism. If the elderly have both muscle deficiency and obesity, it is called sarcopenic obesity, and sarcopenic obesity may be more likely to cause cardiovascular disease or falls than obesity or sarcopenia alone, and even increase mortality. According to recent research, approximately 6% of all medical expenditures for older Americans are related to falls, and 5% of older adults who fall require hospitalization .
Sarcopenic osteoporosis
Sarcopenia and osteoporosis are major contributors to disability and frailty. Age-related chronic inflammation, often indicated as inflammaging, leads to a decrease in both muscle mass and strength and bone loss, such as sex and growth hormone decline. Sarcopenic osteoporosis is also known as osteosarcopenia, which is osteopenia or osteoporosis combined with sarcopenia ; sarcopenia and osteoporosis are generally related Since 2001, some people have studied the relationship between muscle and bone in the elderly; recent studies have found that muscle mass can predict bone density for both elderly men and women, and the evidence for postmenopausal women is that stronger than in men . Therefore, the synergistic relationship between sarcopenia and osteoporosis may be better viewed as an interaction of five indicators of muscle mass, muscle strength, bone mineral density, fractures, and quality of life . After the age of 50, the muscle mass decreases by about 1-2% per year, and the muscle strength decreases by 1.5-3% per year. Some literature believes that it is caused by the decline of estrogen after menopause . In addition to the effects of sex hormones, insulin-like growth factors and growth hormones also affect bones and muscles. Because muscles and bones are mutually reinforcing , sarcopenia and osteoporosis are also often Combination occurs, resulting in osteopenia syndrome. EWGSOP defines sarcopenia as not only a decrease in muscle mass, but also an impact on muscle strength and physical performance ; recent studies have found that people with osteoporosis are often also people with sarcopenia, so sarcopenia is associated with Osteoporosis is co-existing and closely related.
Physiological factors affecting balance
Falls have many different causes, some risk factors that predispose older adults to falls are classified as intrinsic or extrinsic . Intrinsic factors include those related to function and health conditions such as physiological dysfunction and balance disorders. Extrinsic factors include adverse drug reactions, use of restraints, and environmental factors such as poor lighting or lack of safety equipment in bathrooms. Physiological functions include: 1. Degeneration of the nervous system: the nerve conduction speed in the elderly becomes slower, the sensation is slower, and the reaction time is prolonged; the degeneration of the optic nerve affects vision, and lesions of the vestibular nerve, cerebellum, brain stem, and basal ganglia (stroke, Parkinson’s disease) Symptoms and so on will affect the balance of the elderly. 2. Degeneration of skeletal joints and muscular systems, such as joint pain, deformation, contracture, etc., caused by lower limb or spondyloarthritis, affects the stability and symmetry of the patient’s gait and makes the patient prone to falls. Compared with young people, the total muscle mass and number of muscle fibers of the elderly show a significant decrease, and aging causes muscle atrophy; from the age of 60 to 90, the average muscle strength decreases by 20- 30%. All of the above reasons make the elderly unable to cope with the occurrence of falls. 3. Concomitant medical diseases such as arrhythmia, postural hypotension, inappropriate hypoglycemic and hypertensive drugs, antihistamines and sedatives, etc., may affect the sense of balance and make the elderly more prone to falls .
Improve diet and regular exercise to prevent falls in older adults
During the process of muscle loss, adipose tissue also slowly accumulates. This phenomenon is a state of excessive fat accumulation and reduced muscle mass, also known as musculoskeletal atrophic obesity. If the elderly population is combined with muscle atrophy and obesity, it will have a multiplicative negative impact on health, and accelerate the physical disability, morbidity, and mortality of the elderly . Sarcopenia, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity are associated with many negative health outcomes such as a higher risk of falls and lower healthrelated quality of life in older adults. Vitamin D supplementation appears to reduce the risk of falls by more than 20 percent in stable ambulatory or hospitalized older adults . Studies have found that 400 IU of vitamin D did not significantly reduce fracture risk, while trials using 700-800 IU/day of vitamin D did find a significant reduction in observed fractures, and further studies should be considered to examine the effects of alternative types of vitamin D and their dose, calcium The role of supplements and effects in men . Musculoskeletal aging is a major public health problem and stress in Taiwan due to significant demographic changes with aging, and frailty, sarcopenia, a high risk of falls, and loss of autonomy in the elderly are associated with institutionalized health outcomes , This pathological state is therefore also associated with high morbidity rates and health care expenditures. Bone mass, muscle mass, and strength increase in late adolescence and early adulthood, but decrease significantly from age 50 and are closely related. It is increasingly accepted that bone and muscle tissue are endocrine organs that interact through paracrine and endocrine signaling . The mineral content of bone is closely related to muscle mass during growth, there is some evidence that osteoporosis and sarcopenia share common pathophysiological factors, and that low bone mineral density (BMD) in both men and women is associated with A correlation exists between sarcopenia . Typical elderly sarcopenia and osteoporosis are often closely related and are also highly related to frailty. These syndromes lead to an increased risk of falls in the elderly; according to research, falls in long-term care institutions are an important factor in disability and death for the elderly, Studies have investigated that “environmental factors’’ account for the largest proportion of falls in the elderly, as high as 50% . And older people living in the community, due to various internal (age, gender, ethnicity, physical health problems, medical, cognitive impairment, and physical inactivity), and external (vision, polypharmacy, inappropriate shoes, inappropriate accessories furniture and bathrooms, lack of grab bars, poor lighting, uneven stairs or slippery surfaces) risk factors, more than one-third of seniors fall at least once a year, and among seniors living in the community, 30-50% of falls are due to environmental factors caused .
Prescriptions for balance-promoting exercise for the elderly
Due to lack of exercise, the walking speed of some elderly people is slower, the pace is smaller, the walking
pause time is longer, the swinging time of the hands during walking is shortened, the foot lift is not high, and the
range of motion of each joint of the leg is small during
walking. Lack of sufficient exercise can cause muscle atrophy and joint stiffness and contracture. Muscle atrophy
refers to the reduction of muscle size, tension, and muscle
strength. Usually, symptoms of muscle weakness will appear after 1-2 days of bed rest. The more frail, the lower
the activity tolerance, the less the amount of exercise, and
the more reluctance to move because of the weakness. In
this vicious cycle, the muscles begin to atrophy . The
gait and balance problems of the elderly are related to the
stability of the elderly when walking and standing, and the
walking posture is different due to common elderly diseases, which are all factors that cause the elderly to fall. The
body needs to be coordinated by 3 systems to maintain
balance: 1. Vestibular system: sensory organs that regulate
balance force (balance force perception), directional information related to head position (internal gravity, linear
and angular acceleration). 2. Somatosensory system: joint
proprioception and kinematic sensation, information from
skin and joints (pressure and vibration sensations); spatial
position and motion relative to supporting surfaces; motion and position of different body parts relative to each
other. 3. Vision system: refer to the verticality of body
and head movements, relative to the spatial position of the
object . Once the elderly fall, they will be more afraid
of walking, staying in bed, or sitting in a wheelchair all
day, and the muscles and joints will gradually degenerate, forming a vicious circle . When practicing Tai
Chi, you need to focus on muscle control, which can help
enhance the strength of the upper and lower limbs and
the overall balance and stability, so that the elderly can
reduce the risk of falling. Some studies have pointed out
that practicing Tai Chi can reduce the risk of falling by as
much as 50% within 12 months. Older adults with physical frailty and sarcopenia represent a subset of the older
population at risk of adverse health-related events and
whose medical needs are currently unmet. A multicomponent intervention with physical activity with technological
support and nutritional counseling is associated with a
reduction in the incidence of mobility disability of followup in older adults with physical frailty and sarcopenia and
SPPB scores.
Therefore, such an intervention may be proposed as a strategy to preserve mobility in older adults at risk of disability [40, 41].
Conclusion
Aging is associated with the gradual decline of the body’s physiological functions. An important body part affected by aging is muscle tissue . Gait speed also represents a marker of sarcopenia. In the revised recommendation by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older Persons (EWGSOP2), a cutoff score of even 0.8 m/sec is defined as an indicator of severe sarcopenia . The world’s population is aging, and increases in life expectancy are often unhealthy. In particular, musculoskeletal aging, which leads to sarcopenia and osteoporosis, has a variety of causes; such as changes in body composition, inflammation, and hormonal imbalances. Sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and sarcopenic obesity are often closely associated with frailty, often leading to the development of geriatric syndromes . Frailty increases the risk of immobility or falls during daily activities, and increases cardiovascular disease, cancer, and death . As the geriatric population continues to increase, it is most important to identify the elderly at risk of frailty early and treat or prevent their poor prognostic factors , and develop interventions that can promote successful aging. The complexity and heterogeneity of sarcopenia and frailty require a comprehensive geriatric assessment, such as nutritional interventions, regular physical activity, and psychosocial well-being, and regular review of medication intake, which appears to prevent and affect life expectancy and quality of life, thereby reducing mortality [47, 48]. Falls and sarcopenia are interrelated. If there is no effective prevention and interventional treatment, the disability of the elderly may come early, which will bring more burdens to patients and caregivers. Of course, more foundations are required. And clinical research to understand the complex physiology of sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and frailty leading to falls in the elderly, and to take effective clinical interventions at a young age to prevent and treat sarcopenia [25, 36].
Declarations
Authors’ contributions
Both authors contributed equally.
Availability of data and materials
Not applicable.
Financial support and sponsorship
None.
Conflicts of interest
All authors declared that there are no conflicts of interest.
Ethical approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
References
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Risk factors for osteoporotic fracture can be split between non-modifiable and (potentially) modifiable. In addition, there are specific diseases and disorders in which osteoporosis is a recognized complication. Medication use is theoretically modifiable, although in many cases the use of medication that increases osteoporosis risk is unavoidable.
Nonmodifiable
The most important risk factors for osteoporosis are advanced age (in both men and women) and female sex; estrogen deficiency following menopause is correlated with a rapid reduction in bone mineral density, while in men a decrease in testosterone levels has a comparable (but less pronounced) effect. While osteoporosis occurs in people from all ethnic groups, European or Asian ancestry predisposes for osteoporosis.Those with a family history of fracture or osteoporosis are at an increased risk; the heritability of the fracture as well as low bone mineral density are relatively high, ranging from 25 to 80 percent. There are at least 30 genes associated with the development of osteoporosis.Those who have already had a fracture are at least twice as likely to have another fracture compared to someone of the same age and sex.
Potentially modifiable
- Excess alcohol – small amounts of alcohol do not increase osteoporosis risk and may even be beneficial, but chronic heavy drinking (alcohol intake greater than 2 units/day), especially at a younger age, increases risk significantly.
- Vitamin D deficiency – low circulating Vitamin D is common among the elderly worldwide. Mild vitamin D insufficiency is associated with increased Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) production. PTH increases bone resorption, leading to bone loss. A positive association exists between serum 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol levels and bone mineral density, while PTH is negatively associated with bone mineral density.
- Tobacco smoking – tobacco smoking inhibits the activity of osteoblasts, and is an independent risk factor for osteoporosis. Smoking also results in increased breakdown of exogenous estrogen, lower body weight and earlier menopause, all of which contribute to lower bone mineral density.
- Low body mass index – being overweight protects against osteoporosis, either by increasing load or through the hormone leptin.
- Malnutrition – low dietary calcium intake, low dietary intake of vitamins K and C Also low protein intake is associated with lower peak bone mass during adolescence and lower bone mineral density in elderly populations.
- Physical inactivity – bone remodeling occurs in response to physical stress. Weight bearing exercise can increase peak bone mass achieved in adolescence. In adults, physical activity helps maintain bone mass, and can increase it by 1 or 2%. Conversely, physical inactivity can lead to significant bone loss.
- Excess physical activity – excessive exercise can lead to constant damages to the bones which can cause exhaustion of the structures as described above. There are numerous examples of marathon runners who developed severe osteoporosis later in life. In women, heavy exercise can lead to decreased estrogen levels, which predisposes to osteoporosis. In addition, intensive training without proper compensatory increased nutrition increases the risk.
- Heavy metals – a strong association between cadmium, lead and bone disease has been established. Low level exposure to cadmium is associated with an increased loss of bone mineral density readily in both genders, leading to pain and increased risk of fractures, especially in the elderly and in females. Higher cadmium exposure results in osteomalacia (softening of the bone).
- Soft drinks – some studies indicate that soft drinks (many of which contain phosphoric acid) may increase risk of osteoporosis; Others suggest soft drinks may displace calcium-containing drinks from the diet rather than directly causing osteoporosis.
- Caffeine – contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence linking caffeine to osteoporosis.
Diseases and disorders
Many diseases and disorders have been associated with osteoporosis. For some, the underlying mechanism influencing the bone metabolism is straight-forward, whereas for others the causes are multiple or unknown.
- In general, immobilization causes bone loss (following the ‘use it or lose it’ rule). For example, localized osteoporosis can occur after prolonged immobilization of a fractured limb in a cast. This is also more common in active patients with a high bone turn-over (for example, athletes). Other examples include bone loss during space flight or in people who are bedridden or wheelchair-bound for various reasons.
- Hypogonadal states can cause secondary osteoporosis. These include Turner syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, Kallmann syndrome, anorexia nervosa, andropause, hypothalamic amenorrhea or hyperprolactinemia. In females, the effect of hypogonadism is mediated by estrogen deficiency. It can appear as early menopause (<45 years) or from prolonged premenopausal amenorrhea (>1 year). A bilateral oophorectomy (surgical removal of the ovaries) or a premature ovarian failure cause deficient estrogen production. In males, testosterone deficiency is the cause (for example, andropause or after surgical removal of the testes).
- Endocrine disorders that can induce bone loss include Cushing’s syndrome, hyperparathyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2, acromegaly and adrenal insufficiency. In pregnancy and lactation, there can be a reversible bone loss.
- Malnutrition, parenteral nutrition and malabsorption can lead to osteoporosis. Nutritional and gastrointestinal disorders that can predispose to osteoporosis include coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease, lactose intolerance, surgery (after gastrectomy, intestinal bypass surgery or bowel resection) and severe liver disease (especially primary biliary cirrhosis). Patients with bulimia can also develop osteoporosis. Those with an otherwise adequate calcium intake can develop osteoporosis due to the inability to absorb calcium and/or vitamin D. Other micro-nutrients such as vitamin K or vitamin B12 deficiency may also contribute.
- Patients with rheumatologic disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis are at increased risk of osteoporosis, either as part of their disease or because of other risk factors (notably corticosteroid therapy). Systemic diseases such as amyloidosis and sarcoidosis can also lead to osteoporosis.
- Renal insufficiency can lead to osteodystrophy.
- Hematologic disorders linked to osteoporosis are multiple myeloma and other monoclonal gammopathies, lymphoma and leukemia, mastocytosis, hemophilia, sickle-cell disease and thalassemia.
- Several inherited disorders have been linked to osteoporosis. These include osteogenesis imperfecta , Marfan syndrome, hemochromatosis, hypophosphatasia, glycogen storage diseases, homocystinuria, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, porphyria, Menkes’ syndrome, epidermolysis bullosa and Gaucher’s disease.
- People with scoliosis of unknown cause also have a higher risk of osteoporosis. Bone loss can be a feature of complex regional pain syndrome. It is also more frequent in people with Parkinson’s disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Medication
Certain medications have been associated with an increase in osteoporosis risk; only steroids and anticonvulsants are classically associated, but evidence is emerging with regard to other drugs.
- Steroid-induced osteoporosis (SIOP) arises due to use of glucocorticoids – analogous to Cushing’s syndrome and involving mainly the axial skeleton. The synthetic glucocorticoid prescription drug prednisone is a main candidate after prolonged intake. Some professional guidelines recommend prophylaxis in patients who take the equivalent of more than 30 mg hydrocortisone (7.5 mg of prednisolone), especially when this is in excess of three months. Alternate day use may not prevent this complication.
- Barbiturates, phenytoin and some other enzyme-inducing antiepileptics – these probably accelerate the metabolism of vitamin D.
- L-Thyroxine over-replacement may contribute to osteoporosis, in a similar fashion as thyrotoxicosis does. This can be relevant in subclinical hypothyroidism.
- Several drugs induce hypogonadism, for example aromatase inhibitors used in breast cancer, methotrexate and other anti-metabolite drugs, depot progesterone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists.
- Anticoagulants – long-term use of heparin is associated with a decrease in bone density, and warfarin (and related coumarins) have been linked with an increased risk in osteoporotic fracture in long-term use.
- Proton pump inhibitors – these drugs inhibit the production of stomach acid; it is thought that this interferes with calcium absorption. Chronic phosphate binding may also occur with aluminium-containing antacids.
- Thiazolidinediones (used for diabetes) – rosiglitazone and possibly pioglitazone, inhibitors of PPARγ, have been linked with an increased risk of osteoporosis and fracture.
- Chronic lithium therapy has been associated with osteoporosis.
Comments are closed. | https://www.ost.org.uk/risk-factors/ |
Tana Lala-Pritchard. (31/3/2015). Dryland Systems Branding Guidelines.
Abstract
The overall objective of this document is to articulate and establish a unique visual identity and style guidelines for the CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems that will be applied to all printed and digital communications. The consistent usage of messaging, vocabulary, and visuals across all Dryland Systems communication activities – campaigns and products (print, online, and multimedia) will help build a strong brand for Dryland Systems with a positive image and buy-in from its stakeholders. The program’s perception is critical to its overall success – in terms of on-ground implementation and in mobilizing resources as the program progresses. To this end (solidifying recognition of the Dryland Systems brand), the new visual design will provide a clear, comprehensive, and unifi ed visual language for the organization when communicating externally. | https://repo.mel.cgiar.org/handle/20.500.11766/3235 |
Visionbuz is a boutique brand, marketing, communication, and citizenship consultancy with a fully integrated service approach. The visual identity of Visionbuz was firstly developed through a logotype that is bold and emphatic, paired with functional marks emphasizing on the concept of a “buzz” created through different channels. The brand design reflects a corporate yet playful language, using simple shapes, lines, and block colors to tell a story with a remaining consistency throughout the brand’s deliverables. This included corporate stationeries,
business cards
, website, and illustration graphics.
Client:
Visionbuz |
Year:
2020 |
Services: | http://cherinekhalifeh.com/visionbuz |
Color management is a key part of Caskey Group’s commitment to helping our customers achieve attractive and accurately printed products, which is why Caskey is a G7 Certifed printer.
Caskey’s G7 certification helps us assure our clients of color consistency and quality throughout our proofing, brand color management and print processes.
G7 is an industry-leading set of best practices for achieving gray balance and is the driving force for achieving visual similarity across all print processes. The application of this method enables printers to reproduce a similar visual appearance across all printing types and substrates. Only a select group of print service providers have successfully completed the training, examination and qualifications process required to earn this designation. | https://www.caskeygroup.com/g7-certification/ |
Stockholm, September 27, 2018 - Transcom, with operations in 21 countries around the world, today unveiled a new brand identity, reflecting the changes the company has undergone in current years.
The new visual identity is a reflection of the new company mission; We are the voice of our clients – a global service partner who combines passionate human talent with intelligent technology to create smarter people experiences. A smart visual language combined with an updated color palette creates a strong brand presence and experience. The well-known logotype has been slightly updated and optimized for digital usage. The new visual identity was developed in cooperation with Scandinavian design agency Bold.
An updated corporate website was introduced at www.transcom.com. | https://transcom.com/en/news/transcom-unveils-new-brand-identity |
One of the most important jobs for an organization is to think about the entire ecosystem of their brand and what the user experience is across each channel. Whether it is through accessing information on your site through various devices, calling a help line, engaging through social media, and/or having a face-to-face conversation, there may be any number of combinations for how people interact with your organization. And the expectation is that the tone, interactions, functions, and visual design will all be cohesive.
In their report, The New Multi-screen World: Understanding Cross-platform Consumer Behavior. Google emphasizes context’s role in channel choice. Although their primary focus was related to device use, they found that the way in which people choose to interact often is driven by the amount of time they have, the goal they want to accomplish, location, and their attitude and state of mind. Using data to create personas and then thinking of those in the relation to your brand’s larger ecosystem will help you improve the design of the experience that you’re creating.
This raises the question: what does the behavior look like? Google found that people move back and forth between devices throughout the day to accomplish their tasks. They broke the engagement into two categories: sequential usage and simultaneous usage of their devices. Sequential usage means someone moves from one device to another at different times to accomplish a task or activity. Simultaneous usage refers to using more than one device at the same time for either a related (complementary usage) or an unrelated activity (multi-tasking).
This demonstrates why taking a cross-channel approach makes more sense than simply a multi-channel approach. In a multi-channel approach, there are various channels for people to choose from to start a accomplish their task from start to finish. On the other hand, designing a cross-channel strategy takes into account the transitions that are needed for people to jump between channels to accomplish their tasks. Although it doesn’t speak to the physical interactions, responsive design is one example of working toward this end digitally.
Consistency People should be able to move from channel to channel without having to relearn how to complete activities. Consistency across elements from visual design to interactions to content helps users move between channels easily.
Seamlessness It should be possible to complete tasks across multiple channels, if desired.
Availability Users should be able to complete desired activities regardless of the channel.
Context Specificity The experience should be optimized for the channel.
So how do your efforts match up to this criteria? Do you think holistically about the ecosystem of your brand? Leave us a comment below to let us know.
This post was originally published on the usability.gov blog by Katie Messner, Web Manager of the Usability.gov program. | https://digital.gov/2013/11/18/creating-cross-channel-experiences/ |
The Northern Kentucky Health Department (NKY Health) plays a critical role in assessing and surveilling the health of Northern Kentuckians, developing public health policy and implementing vital essential public health services for the residents of Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton counties. The Health Department partnered with Vehr in 2016 to assess its brand, review communications platforms and initiatives and develop a strategy to better engage the community.
Vehr conducted a comprehensive communications audit to assess existing initiatives, communications platforms and stakeholder perceptions. Research indicated that the Health Department’s logomark was ambiguous and diluted as a symbol representative of the organization, and there was little equity in existing brand assets. A key output of the strategic plan was a brand identity redesign.
Vehr developed a new logo and brand guidelines to re-energize the Health Department’s visual identity and link the organization’s purpose and ideology to its wordmark. As the organization is primarily known simply as NKY Health, the new logotype creates consistency in its branding. The three-pointed shield and stylized plus symbol (the universal symbol for public health) illustrate the three core functions of public health — prevention, promotion and protection. The symbols overlaid on the shield represent a connected community, with four people representing the four counties served by NKY Health, and the color variation implies diversity.
The WIN
NKY Health’s new brand identity has been updated on NKYHealth.org (recently designed by Vehr), integrated into all collateral materials and rolled out to its district office and health centers throughout Northern Kentucky. | https://vehrcommunications.com/portfolio-items/nky-health-new-brand-identity/ |
The colors of light blue and dark blue - represent diversity throughout the department, as diversity is one of the main core values of our department. It symbolizes that DIR department is built on the foundation of diverse people.
The white swish - was developed to unite the DIR department with workers and public. It also unites the department internally. It represents our support, work and effort to help protecting workers. The white color symbolizes purity, innocence, wholeness and completion.
The yellow line - is the symbol of stability, positivity and unity between DIR department and the divisions, it is the line that brings us together as a connecting point, to stand firm together for what we value and our mission through the entire department.
Client Name: Department of Industrial Relations
Project: Brand Guide, Marketing Material
Role: Lead Graphic Designer
Duration: Eight Months
Brand Guide
I created the departmental brand guide, as guideline that contains details of departments visual identity, logo usage, font type, colors, imagery, email signature template, and department templates, and department brand’s mission statement and values.
Below are few sample pages: | https://design.monaparvin.com/copy-of-brand-identity-1 |
We were tasked with establishing a long-term brand identity emphasizing simplicity, while still conveying the joyful ambiance of the conference. Working alongside Flame of Fire team and diving deep into user research, we created an experience that fully represented the event.
By limiting the number of design elements, we designed a visual language that prioritizes the user’s experience. This approach allowed easy navigation, flexible changes of content, and effective communication via social media.
We used the same brand identity approach for website design and focused on creating a content-oriented experience with bold text and a clean layout. The client provided a large amount of content, so we had to make sure the user did not feel overwhelmed and could easily navigate through the information.
The event was very colorful and the photographers used various color presets to capture different parts of the conference. This approach meant we had to keep the social media graphic elements minimal and allow content to communicate by itself. The social media team was able to easily replicate the brand identity guidelines and create a consistent brand experience throughout all the platforms. | https://www.hitrefresh.co/case-study/kingdom-domain-2021-2022 |
National Westminster Bank, USA
Although National Westminster Bank USA had over 350 branches in the northeast, it was perceived to be a much smaller organization with limited services. Lister Butler’s research and analysis concluded that the low visibility of the bank’s identity, with its long name and black and white color scheme, was a major factor contributing to the lack of recognition and misconceptions.
Our recommended identity strategy focused on raising the visibility of the bank’s name and visual identity in all communications. We recommended adopting the short name NatWest Bank (a name used by many of its key audiences) as the communicative name, using the full, long name only when legally required.
Without changing the bank’s symbol and logotype, which are used globally, we developed a new, highly visible brand identity system. A red background for the visual identifier on all applications, including collateral materials, credit cards, and signage, significantly improved visibility, recognition and consistency.
Lister Butler worked with NatWest Bank to develop an efficient implementation plan and to develop prototypes for signage and a full range of communications material, ensuring an effective introduction of the identity system.
We also developed comprehensive brand identity standards for all uses of the new nomenclature and management of the identity system. | http://listerbutler.com/case_studies/natwest |
At deBroome, we believe companies should have the power to drive the narrative of their brand. Whether it’s for visual identity, strategy or brand training, our platform helps companies achieve brand consistency – centralizing brand information. One location for all brand guidelines, digital assets and campaigns.
We are an ambitious team of ten people – developers, designers and project managers – working in an international and creative environment at a coworking space conveniently located at Tomtebogatan 5, St Eriksplan, Stockholm.
Let’s recruit together and find your next colleague. | https://jobs.debroome.com/ |
Straughan is proud to be this year’s recipient of the SMPS Maryland Key Award for Brand Identity.
Straughan staff are at the heart of our work. Our commitment to advancing sustainable and resilient communities through our projects is the key to our success. We implement a wide variety of innovative technologies, creative thinking, and progressive ideas to solve environmental challenges and it was time to update our brand identity to embody these efforts. Not only did we achieve our goal to establish consistency in our look and message, but we created a modernized logo that still paid homage to it origins.
Straughan is excited to continue in this new decade with a refreshed visual identity that represents who we are and who we will continue to be – a leading engineering and environmental firm advancing sustainable and resilient communities. | https://www.straughanenvironmental.com/news-insights/straughan-wins-smps-maryland-2020-key-award-for-brand-identity/ |
KWS BioTest are a company established in Bristol, UK, with a global reach in the field of scientific research for clinical research programmes. A world leading team of experts help generate high quality data for the development of solutions for immunology, inflammation and infection programmes.
The challenge was to establish a new website which delivered the pioneering expertise of KWS BioTest in an increasingly competitive market, and showcase complex information in a more engaging way.
The development of the new website acted as a catalyst to develop a new brand platform, with a new visual identity running through all communications.
Deliverables
- brand identity|
- website creation|
- print communications|
- exhibition design|
- video/digital presentations|
- brand image creation
Brand mark development
Brand identity creation
Printed communications
Sector brochures and stationery using bespoke brand imagery. | https://so-design.co.uk/work/kws-biotest?category=print |
With its almost 2 m² of extension and 5 kg of weight, the skin is the largest organ of the body.
It is divided into two main layers (epidermis and dermis) and fulfills many functions, such as keeping the body’s structures intact, acting as a protective barrier, and functioning as a communication system with the environment. As with other organs, the way to care for it is often surrounded by many erroneous beliefs. Here we review and give answers to the most popular myths.
Myth 1: All skins are the same
TRUE: There are many types of skin, which in turn are influenced by different factors: food, regional and genetic. Experts usually divide skin types into four broad categories:
- normal skin: “Normal” is a term that is widely used to refer to well-balanced skin.
- Oily skin: It is characterized by its thickness, dull appearance and dilated pores, which is generally due to an excess of an oily substance called sebum.
- Dry Skin: called xerosis, it is defined by the sensation of those who suffer from it. In these cases the skin is usually tense, pale and cracked. The reasons range from poor hydration, a dry environment, not washing your hands frequently or suffering alterations in the hydrolipidic layer that protects the skin (made up of water and sebum).
- Mixed skin: This case arises from alterations in the susceptibility of the skin depending on the areas of the face. The areas with the greatest presence of fat are usually the forehead, nose and chin, which is known as the T zone. The rest of the skin can vary between a normal or dry state.
Myth 2: What we eat has no effect on skin health
TRUE: This is not true, since food is essential to obtain energy and develop, so it directly impacts skin health. The strength, shine, elasticity, presence of wrinkles or blemishes, and speed of recovery of the skin, will depend on the and the amount of nutrients that are part of our diet.
- What product should you use according to your skin type?
Health professionals recommend diets rich in vitamins C, D, E, and K, healthy fats, and fluids, while reducing fatty, salty, and sugary foods, as well as excess caffeine and alcohol.
Myth 3: Smoking does not affect the skin
TRUE: This is another common myth, largely because the damaging effects of tobacco are often concentrated in the lungs or heart. However, nicotine can cause a narrowing of the blood vessels in the layers of the skin (especially the outermost: epidermis). This hinders blood flow to the skin, so it doesn’t get enough oxygen and important nutrients to stay healthy, like vitamin A.
In addition to affecting blood vessels, tobacco (along with the more than 4,000 chemicals that can be found in its smoke) damages collagen and elastin, substances that guarantee strength and elasticity to the skin.
Myth 4: Exposure to the sun is always bad for the skin
TRUE: All sun exposure can cause some degree of damage to the skin, however, this does not mean that it is always bad for skin health. On the contrary, specialists usually recommend moderate exposure to sunlight as this is essential to boost the synthesis of vitamin D.
Vitamin D is key to strengthening defenses, helping to absorb calcium, the most abundant mineral in the body, improving the functioning of the muscular and nervous systems, preventing bone diseases and protecting mental health. In addition, exposure to UV rays from the sun has anti-inflammatory properties that can be beneficial against some skin conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema and itching.
To safely reap these benefits, be sure to wear high-factor sunscreen, dress appropriately, and stay in the shade between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Myth 5: Wounds need air to heal
TRUE: This is another widespread myth, since, on the contrary, skin wounds heal better in a clean and moist environment. This is because cells migrate better to initiate and continue recovery in a moist environment in the early stages of healing.
Keeping a wound covered with an ointment and bandages, as long as there is no infection, is ideal. However, towards the end of the healing process (once new connective tissue has formed) air can be helpful in finalizing the recovery.
Myth 6: Having a dirty face causes acne
TRUE: Acne is caused by a complex interaction of hormones and skin, not dirt. So no, having a dirty face doesn’t necessarily cause acne, unless that dirt is from oily substances like hair pomade or oily makeup.
Myth 7: Daily exfoliation is mandatory for healthy skin
TRUE: Exfoliation is a process of cell renewal, which consists of removing dead cells, dirt and impurities that accumulate on the surface of the skin. For this, different products or compounds can be used, such as exfoliating brushes, sponges or gloves, alpha-hydroxy acids or beta-hydroxy acids.
Despite its popularity, it is not an essential treatment to maintain healthy skin. On the contrary, if this process is carried out repeatedly, there is a risk that it will damage the natural barrier of the skin, putting it in danger of many damages and conditions.
Myth 8: Using antibacterial soap is best for the skin
TRUE: The skin’s natural microbiome is vital to maintaining healthy skin. Constant use of antibacterial soaps can upset that balance and increase your risk of many conditions. Therefore, except in special situations, such as working in medical care or handling food, this product should not be used to protect the skin.
Sources consulted: US National Library of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institute of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. | https://info1.net/all-about-the-skin-myths-and-truths-about-skin-health-202223968/ |
Eczema: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
The skin is the second largest organ in the body and serves various purposes, besides acting as a protective covering for tissues and bones. Among its myriad functions are temperature regulation and the production of vitamin D. The skin is a highly sensitive organ and reacts to harmful stimuli by causing itching, rashes, and changes in color and texture. One condition characterized by all of these symptoms is eczema.
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, persists for months or years despite treatment and might have significant psychological effects on a patient.
What are the symptoms of eczema?
Eczema typically comes as the itch that rashes. This means the itching comes first, followed by the rash. Over a period, the skin becomes dry and scaly leading to more itching and rashes. The symptoms of eczema vary among people. These include:
- Dry skin
- Itching, which may worsen at night
- Red to brownish-gray patches on the skin, particularly of the hands, wrists, feet, ankles, neck, upper chest, eyelids, inside the elbows and knee bends in case of adults, and in infants, the face and scalp may be affected
- Small bumps may arise, which may leak fluid, and when scratched, they may crust over
- Thick, cracked, and scaly skin
- Skin may become swollen and sensitive due to scratching
The signs of eczema usually start from infancy. Over the years, they tend to flare up on and off, and persist for weeks to months. Most people outgrow the symptoms in adulthood. However, many continue to have the symptoms of eczema throughout their life.
What are the causes of eczema?
The real reason for eczema is not known. However, few probable causes are:
1. Genetics
Eczema may run in families and is seen commonly in children aged below five.
2. Food allergies
A few people with eczema have a condition called histamine intolerance, which makes their skin react to a chemical called histamine. This chemical is found in foods like tomatoes, spinach, and eggplants (brinjal).
3. Immune reaction
Many people with asthma and hay fever also have eczema, making an imbalanced immune system a possible cause for this skin condition.
4. External stimuli and chemicals
These may lead to the flare-up of an existing eczema, which was otherwise lying dormant for months. A few examples of external stimuli and chemicals include perfumes, dyes, skin lotions, cold and dry air, common cold, emotional stress, and allergies to dust and pollen.
How is eczema diagnosed?
Your physician may be able to diagnose eczema based on the history of your illness and a clinical examination. In most instances, you need not undergo any special tests. However, in case of confusion with other skin conditions like psoriasis, the doctor may order a few specific tests.
Complications of eczema
Persistent itching may cause ulceration of the skin and subsequent infections. Since the itching occurs mostly at night, it may interfere with sleep and cause daytime lethargy. The skin’s affected area may become hard, leathery, and discolored due to chronic itching and scratching. This may result in disfigurement and psychosocial effects.
How is eczema treated?
There is no definitive cure for this condition. The treatment is based on the management of symptoms during flare-ups. These include:
1. Applying moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated, and local creams containing steroids and medicines to control the immune reaction that causes the symptoms. Antibiotic ointments may be needed in case the skin has developed an infection due to ulceration.
2. Consuming oral drugs like antihistamines in severe cases. Oral steroids are also prescribed in some flare-ups, but their use is restricted to short-term treatment because of potentially serious side-effects.
3. Considering newer therapies with injectable antibodies that the Food and Drug Administration has approved. However, these methods are costly and reserved only for extreme cases where the patient does not respond to any other treatment.
4. Undergoing psychological counseling in case of mental distress due to the chronic and cosmetic nature of the disease. Therapy and meditation help in relieving stress and anxiety leading to a better quality of life. So, these measures should be encouraged as a part of the treatment procedure.
Preventing eczema
Complete prevention of eczema may not be possible due to multiple factors implicated in its occurrence. However, you may take a few steps to reduce flare-ups and prevent worsening of symptoms. These include:
- Moisturizing the skin regularly, ideally while it is still damp after a bath
- Avoiding the use of strong soaps, lotions, deodorants, and cosmetics
- Identifying and avoiding food that may cause flare-ups
- Exposing the skin to ultraviolet rays present in natural sunlight can reduce symptoms during flare-ups. It also helps in the production of vitamin D in the body, which has an important role in regulating immune reactions. However, safe sun exposure is important. It is recommended to get morning sun exposure, preferably before 11 am.
- Meditating and maintaining healthy social interactions to help reduce stress and intense emotions, which are triggers for eczema
- Consuming probiotics found in curd, yogurt, and many other fermented foods to improve the function of the immune system
- Seeking medical and psychological help whenever required
Eczema is a chronic condition, which causes significant physical and mental discomfort. It has no cure. However, you can manage the symptoms and prevent flare-ups with appropriate therapy and by observing certain precautions, which can go a long way in improving your quality of life.
References
1. Eczema |National Health Portal Of India. nhp.gov.in (accessed Mar 2, 2021).
2. Atopic dermatitis (Eczema). MayoClinic. 2021; published online Jun 12. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atopic-dermatitis-eczema/diagnosis-treatment (accessed Mar 2, 2021).
3. Tintle S, Shemer A, Suárez-Fariñas M, et al. Reversal of atopic dermatitis with narrow-band UVB phototherapy and biomarkers for therapeutic response. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2011; 128: 583–93.e1–4.
4. Williams HC. The epidemiology of atopic dermatitis.Clin Exp Dermatol. 2000; 25: 522–9.
5. Thomsen SF. Atopic dermatitis: natural history, diagnosis, and treatment. ISRN Allergy 2014; 2014: 354250. | https://fitpage.in/eczema-symptoms-causes-treatment-and-prevention/?type=article |
SHaNa Vet™ is a blend of extracts, amino acids, and vitamins that are normally found in healthy skin. In addition to maintaining healthy skin, SHaNa Vet™ promotes healthy skin and enhances the immune response, and also promotes the body’s innate response to pathogens.
SHaNa Vet™ is formulated with natural ingredients that help to maintain healthy skin, to support hydration, and to promote immunity. These active ingredients include:
Vitamin A, provided as beta-carotene in this supplement, is a fat-soluble carotenoid that is normally found in green leafy and orange vegetables, some fruit and nuts. Beta-carotene serves a wide variety of biological functions, including antioxidant and immune support and, specifically relevant to the purpose of SHaNa Vet, promote skin health, normal cell turnover, and elasticity.
Vitamin D3, provided in the form of cholecalciferol, is fat-soluble, found in fish and eggs, and is metabolized in the body to the active metabolite calcitriol. Vitamin D3 plays a vital role in promoting normal calcium metabolism, maintaining bone and muscle strength, and supporting healthy immunity.
1 Katz DH, Marcelletti JF, Khalil MH, Pope LE, Katz LR. (1991). Antiviral activity of 1-docosanol, an inhibitor of lipid-enveloped viruses including herpes simplex. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 88(23): 10825-10829. | https://animalnecessity.com/all-natural-pet-care-supplement-products/skin-coat-care/shana-vet-capsules-45.html |
Table of contents:
- What is the reason for the rash on the skin with worms, how to eliminate it?
- Rash with parasites
- Types of skin rashes with worms
- Types of rashes when the body is affected by various helminths
- Rash with worms in childhood
- Treating the problem
Video: Rash With Worms - Types, Causes, Treatment And Prevention
What is the reason for the rash on the skin with worms, how to eliminate it?
Content
- 1 Rash with parasites
- 2 Types of skin rashes with worms
- 3 Types of rashes when the body is affected by various helminths
- 4 Rash with worms in childhood
- 5 Treatment of the problem
When parasites appear in the body, the response can be very diverse. Basically, parasites are accompanied by the appearance of a number of nonspecific symptoms, for example, constant itching, rashes and redness on the skin.
A rash with worms on the skin can be caused by the penetration of the following parasites into the body:
-
Trichinella;
- Lambium;
- Toksokar;
- Ankylostom;
- And other pests.
Rash with parasites
Rashes on the body with worms are often allergic in nature and are associated with the vital activity of parasites. Worms, localized in the alimentary canal, in the process of life, as well as after death, produce toxic substances that affect the intestines.
As a result, the organs of the gastrointestinal tract cease to perform their main functions, inflamed areas form in the intestines, which interfere with the normal process of digestion.
Undigested food pieces can cause an increase in eosinophils, which in turn negatively affects the condition of the infected person's skin. Human immunity also plays a significant role in the occurrence of allergic processes - immunoglobulins and antibodies are actively being produced, which enhance allergies.
A rash with worms is often triggered by human roundworm. Numerous studies have shown that the parasite produces a strong allergen that is irritating to the body.
When the body is damaged by worms, the carrier becomes more sensitive to various external allergens. People with bronchial asthma are especially sensitive.
Worm infestations often provoke complications in various dermatitis, while the traditional antiallergenic treatment being carried out becomes ineffective. Treatment should be aimed at killing parasites and removing dead individuals from the body.
Recent medical research has led to the conclusion that most intractable diseases with severe allergic symptoms are associated precisely with the vital activity of helminths in the body. Sometimes allergies appear after a cure.
In addition to skin rashes, parasitic worms can cause irreparable harm to the patient's immune system, as a result of which trophic damage will appear on the mucous membranes
Types of skin rashes with worms
A rash on the body of a person infected with parasites can look different. Basically, the rash has the following appearance:
- Urticaria is a red allergic rash all over the body, which is caused by intoxication of the host's body with the waste products of the parasite;
- Atopic dermatitis;
- Eczema with eruptions like blisters filled with fluid. The blisters are constantly itchy;
- Papillomas. Neoplasms on the skin appear due to damage to the body by the human papillomavirus. Worms significantly weaken the functions of the immune defense, as a result of which the body becomes an easy target for concomitant viral and bacterial diseases;
- Acne develops against a background of abnormal liver function. There are too many toxins in the affected body and the liver simply cannot cope with their elimination. Poisonous substances come out, dark acne appears on the skin, which rapidly spreads throughout the body, especially if there is no proper treatment;
-
Furuncles. Mostly they appear due to a weakened body and its inability to fight infections.
A rash on the body can be caused by the vital activity of long worms. They disrupt the normal functioning of the intestines, cause obstruction of stool and frequent constipation.
It is the improper functioning of the digestive system that provokes the appearance of problem areas, makes the skin flabby and lifeless, and causes the appearance of rashes and spots of a different nature.
Types of rashes when the body is affected by various helminths
If any rashes appear on the body, it is necessary to seek help from a medical specialist as soon as possible. The doctor will conduct a preliminary examination of the problem areas and prescribe additional studies that will help identify the nature of the rash. It is the doctor who will be able to distinguish adolescent acne on the body with a rash with helminthic damage to the body and prescribe adequate treatment.
You should not take antiparasitic drugs yourself. Such funds contain components that, if the dosage is incorrect, can worsen the patient's health.
It is possible to return the skin to its normal appearance only after the body is completely rid of parasites.
Different types of parasites can manifest themselves in different skin rashes:
-
Ascaris. When the body is damaged by human roundworms, a small-spotted rash forms on the body, both the skin and mucous membranes can suffer.
- Pulmonary fluke. Nodules appear on the body, where parasites live and lay eggs, they itch a lot. Most often, the nodules are localized in the neck or chest. You can catch the parasite by eating crab and shrimp meat that has not undergone sufficient heat treatment. It is important to see a doctor when the first unpleasant symptoms appear, if the parasite gets to the brain - it is very difficult to give a favorable prognosis.
- Giardiasis. Acne, blackheads and fluid bubbles appear on the body. A distinctive feature of parasite damage is the pallor of the skin.
- Enterobiasis. They are characterized by the appearance of redness and swelling on the skin, which itches constantly.
-
Dirofilariasis. Worms with this disease are localized in the upper layers of the skin, they can be seen during a normal examination without a magnifying glass.
Rash with worms in childhood
Worms most often appear in the body precisely in childhood. Despite the desire of parents to protect the child's body from pests, it is very difficult to avoid infection, especially if the child is attending kindergarten or school.
Parents are advised to constantly examine the child's feces for the presence of worms and parasite eggs; it is worth being attentive to the condition of the skin. Even if minor rashes appear on the baby's skin, it is necessary to immediately seek medical help and pass the tests prescribed by the doctor.
The connection between rashes on the body and worm damage must be taken into account when prescribing treatment. If a child under the age of two is diagnosed with dermatitis and helminthic infestations, anthelmintic drugs are chosen as treatment; after the completion of treatment, in most cases, the skin is completely cleansed.
If the problem is diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 12 years, the results of anthelmintic treatment are noticeable, but the skin of the lesions is not completely cleared.
Treating the problem
If the rash on the body does not go away within two weeks after the onset, the patient is referred for additional medical examination. Antiparasitic drugs are prescribed after it has been established to which species the parasite that lives in the body belongs.
To identify the type of helminth, the following studies are used:
- General blood analysis;
- Examination of feces for the presence of fragments of worm and eggs;
-
Immunofluorescence.
If the patient is diagnosed with a severe case of parasite infestation, the attending physician may prescribe additional studies in the form of MRI, computed tomography, muscle tissue biopsy, bile studies, etc. Based on the results obtained, treatment is prescribed.
Most often, the following medicines are used in the treatment of helminths:
-
Dekaris;
- Vermox;
- Pirantel;
- Nemozole;
- Etc.
Sometimes, more than one medicine is used as a remedy, but several drugs. So, for example, Decaris is used for several days to weaken the parasites, then Vermox is used for three days, which finally destroys the parasites and promotes their elimination from the body.
You can use not only medicines, but also numerous folk remedies. So, ordinary pumpkin seeds are especially effective against parasites. You can eat seeds both as a prophylaxis and after infection of the body.
For the introduction of parasites, it is necessary to grind a glass of pumpkin seeds in a meat grinder. The resulting mixture is poured into a glass of warm boiled water and infused for some time. A tablespoon of honey is added to the resulting product.
You need to use a folk remedy at one time in the morning before meals. After that, the patient needs to lie on his side and apply a warm heating pad to his stomach. The worms will die, to accelerate the elimination of dead individuals from the body, you must take any diuretic.
Beet juice is no less effective. It must be consumed freshly squeezed, otherwise, after 2-3 hours, it will lose its beneficial properties.
Before taking folk remedies, you should consult with your doctor.
Remember that no matter how toxic the drugs against worms in the body are, the problem cannot be left without treatment. Being in the human body, helminths do much more harm. If the dosage of the drug is selected correctly depending on the age of the patient, the harm will be minimal.
It is almost impossible to get rid of parasites and their consequences on their own, including skin rashes. An integrated approach to solving the problem is required under the maximum supervision of the attending physician. | https://parazitiintestinali.com/6579974-rash-with-worms-types-causes-treatment-and-prevention |
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
There are many different types of spinal cord injury, each with distinct characteristics. Doctors determine the type of spinal cord injury through a combination of X-rays, CT Scans, MRI, and Myelography (X-ray after injection dye is used).
Depending on the injury, some patients can recover function, so SCI classifications are not necessarily permanent. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), in conjunction with leading medical experts, has refined the classification system which is used by most medical organizations. Below is a breakdown of the specific criteria used by ASIA and doctors.
Generally speaking, spinal cord injuries are divided into two categories: complete and incomplete.
- Complete Spinal Cord Injuries: While any spinal cord injury can have catastrophic results, complete spinal cord injuries are particularly devastating. These occur when the spinal cord is damaged in a way that prevents the nerves below the injury point from communicating with the brain whatsoever, and will often result in either paraplegia or quadriplegia/tetraplegia, depending on where the injury occurred. With time, some complete spinal cord injury victims may recover some motor functions.
- Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries: Incomplete spinal cord injuries, on the other hand, typically result in partial loss of movement and function. While victims’ lives will certainly be altered by incomplete spinal cord injuries, they may still be able to retain certain functioning and, with proper treatment and rehabilitation, may make a full recovery. In these cases, doctors tend to examine whether patients have enough mobility to provide force against objects, or if patients can only lift their limbs against gravity.
Examples of incomplete spinal cord injuries include:
- Anterior Cord Syndrome: Damage is towards the front of the spinal cord, which is commonly associated with loss of temperature and pain sensation below the location of the injury.
- Brown-Sequard Syndrome: Damage is limited to one side of the spine, which causes loss of function on one side of the body and weakness and loss of function on the other side.
- Central Cord Syndrome: Damage is located in the center of the spine, often resulting in loss of function in the upper body, and weakness in the lower regions.
- Posterior Cord Syndrome: This rare type of SCI is characterized by difficulty in movement coordination, but general function is retained.
Impairment Scale
The American Spinal Cord Injury Association further classifies SCI under the letters A-E.
- A – Complete. No motor or sensory function.
- B – Incomplete. Sensory but no motor function is available.
- C – Incomplete. Motor function is preserved and more than half of key muscles have severely limited use.
- D – Incomplete. Motor function is preserved and more than half of key muscles have basis functionality.
- E – Normal. Sensory and motor functions are functioning normally.
Motor and Sensory Levels
Your spine consists of vertebrae intertwined with nerves that control different bodily functions. An alpha numerical system classifies the specific vertebrae and muscle function affected by the injury.
These are as follows:
- C-1 to C-7 – Cervical Region
- T-1 to T-12 – Thoracic Region
- L-1 to L-5 – Lumbar Region
- S-1 – Sacral Region
Keep in mind that an injury to one area of the spinal cord tends to affect the entire body from that point below. So injuries to the neck-level cervical vertebrae (C-1 to C-7) can be the most dangerous of all. Injuries to the C-4 may result in quadriplegia, or a loss of motor function in the legs and arms. Injuries to the higher up C-1 or C-2 could result in breathing difficulties.
Other Symptoms of Spinal Cord Damage
Paralysis is one of the most prominent and well-known effects of a spinal cord injury. However, spinal cord injury goes beyond loss of motor function. It can cause several other complications and problems in the human body.
Autonomic Dysreflexia (“Hyperreflexia”)
The spinal cord is the main conduit in which nerves use to pass information from the brain to various parts of the body. When a part of the body below the level of injury experiences pain, it is unable to communicate this to the brain. The blood vessels tighten reflexively, causing the blood pressure to rise. Left uncontrolled, Autonomic Dysreflexia can lead to stroke, seizure, or death.
Bowel & Bladder Complications
The nerves located sacral portion of the spine helps regulate bowel and bladder function. These nerves are located at the very base of the spine and affect most spinal cord injuries. Unless carefully regulated, this can result in flaccid bladder, where the bladder functions sluggishly, or spastic bladder, where the bladder constantly empties itself.
Hemorrhoids, constipation, rectal bleeding, and impaction can also affect a person with paralysis. Medication, a well balanced diet, and regular bowel routines are vital to maintaining a healthy system. In the most extreme cases, surgery may be required to regulate bowel and bladder problems.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
This condition refers to blood clots in critical veins and arteries. Patients with paralysis in the arms or legs are especially at risk for deep vein thrombosis. This blood clot is caused by immobility, low blood pressure, and trauma to skin tissue.
Warning signs of deep thrombosis include swollen limbs and veins, skin problems, and extreme discomfort. Treatment includes medication, special compression stockings, and surgery (in the most serious cases). Left unchecked, deep vein thrombosis greatly increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and pulmonary embolism (blockage of the lung’s main artery).
Osteoporosis
Through inactivity and lack of regular exercise, the body’s bones grow weak. The bones lose vital calcium and phosphorus over time, making them unable to bear weight. Most people with paralysis from spinal cord injuries lose bone density and develop osteoporosis. While there is no way to reverse osteoporosis, medication and specially designed physical therapy can help stimulate bone movement, helping the patient maintain healthy bones.
Pressure Sores
These sores are the result of excessive pressure on the back and lower body. Patients with especially limiting forms of paralysis are unable to move. After a spinal cord injury, the pattern of blood supply also shifts. Without proper care, the skin loses its elasticity and muscle tone. The body grows unable to withstand pressure of sitting or lying.
Because the spinal cord injury disrupts the body sending a message to the brain to move, the condition may worsen. Skin may deaden, grow infected, and rupture, resulting in a pressure sore. This condition is combated by special pressure-reducing seats, medication, and physical therapy.
Respiratory Problems
Spinal cord injuries that are located in the cervical vertebrae (C-4 or higher) often result in respiratory complications. The nerve pairs located in these segments have additional control of respiratory function. They help regulate the neck muscles, abdominal muscles, diaphragm muscles, and the intercostals muscles. In severe cases, a ventilator may be required to help assist breathing. Additional complications include pneumonia, atelectasis (lung collapse), pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs), diseases of pulmonary circulation, and sleep apnea.
Spasticity
This condition is common after a paralyzing spinal cord injury. The spinal cord is responsible for regulating automatic body functions, such as reflexes. After an SCI, the signal that results in a muscle reflex is blocked. The body, however, still is stimulated to contract. Without regulation from the brain, this contraction is often an exaggerated motion, called a spasm.
These spasms can occur without warning and are exacerbated by skin conditions and other bodily infections. Regular muscle stimulation through physical therapy, along with medications, can help lessen these spasms.
Sexual Function
A spinal cord injury can affect the sexual function for both men and, in smaller cases, women. While women generally have no fertility issues, they are equally susceptible towards anxiety and depression. There are many support groups, medical specialists, and even prescription drugs that help counter the mental and physical roadblocks towards sex.
On a biological level, the brain sends a signal to the sexual organs indicating arousal. This signal is sent through the spinal cord. If damaged, this signal will not reach the lower extremities. In men, this may lead to erectile dysfunction. Men who want to father children often have no choice but to pursue fertility treatments.
Your initial consultation with The Ammons Law Firm is free. Call us at (281) 801-5617 to get started. | https://www.ammonslaw.com/serious-injuries/spinal-cord-injuries/ |
A proper skin care regimen is crucial to the management and prevention of dry skin.
A proper skin care regimen is crucial to the management and prevention of dry skin.
Establishing a routine skin care regimen is essential to maintaining healthy and hydrated skin. Unfortunately, many people underestimate the importance of keeping their skin healthy and, as a result, experience dermatologic issues such as xerosis (dry skin).
Xerosis has a variety of causes, including environmental factors, improper skin care regimens, aging, and other medical conditions.1,2 The increasing prevalence of xerosis with advanced age is believed to be the result of alterations in the keratinization process and in the lipid content of the stratum corneum (the outer layer of the skin) as well as the cumulative effect of environmental factors and physical damage to the stratum corneum.1,2 Certain medications and many medical conditions (eg, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and Sjögren’s syndrome) can also help cause or exacerbate xerosis.2,3 In addition, many inflammatory dermatologic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, and psoriasis, can cause localized areas of xerosis.4 Hormonal imbalances that occur during perimenopause and menopause, such as declining levels of hormones that normally stimulate oil glands, can also cause dry skin.2,3 Deficiencies in essential fatty acids as well as thyroid imbalances may also contribute to dry skin.3 Other causes of dry skin include excessive ultra-violet (UV) radiation exposure, taking frequent hot baths and showers, use of harsh soaps and detergents, and dehydration.1,3 Xerosis typically gets worse during winter months when the air is generally colder and drier.1,2
Patients with xerosis may present with skin that is dull, flaky, or rough. Many xerosis patients also experience pruritus, especially if dry skin appears on the forearms, hands, elbows, or lower extremities.3,5 Pharmacists are in a pivotal position to counsel patients on the nonprescription products currently available for managing and preventing dry skin as well as to encourage those with severe cases of dry skin to seek further medical care in order to prevent complications.
Treating, Managing, and Preventing Dry Skin
If left untreated, dry skin can lead to complications. For example, if dry skin prompts itching, inflammation and breaks or cracks in the skin that can lead to a secondary bacterial infection may result.1 The general goals of treating dry skin involve identifying its underlying causes, improving the skin’ s appearance by restoring hydration, rehabilitating the skin’ s barrier function, and ensuring that the patient understands how to prevent dry skin from recurring.1
There are a range of products on the market formulated to prevent and treat dry skin by restoring and maintaining skin hydration. Examples of these products include bath products, emollients, hydrating agents, and keratin-softening agents.1 Moisturizers are available in cream, lotion, gel, and ointment form. Antipruritic products, skin protectants, and topical hydrocortisone are also available to protect areas of dry skin and to relieve inflammation, erythema, and itching.1 A new product on the market formulated specifically for diabetics with dry skin is Gold Bond Diabetics’ Dry Skin Relief Rehydrating Lotion (Chattem Inc).
Moisturizers should generally be applied 3 to 4 times per day for optimal results, although frequency of application can be adjusted depending upon the severity of the dry skin.1 Patients with dry hands should be advised to apply moisturizers after washing their hands and throughout the day when needed.1 For those who experience dry skin in the facial area only, there is a wide range of facial moisturizers formulated for various skin types.
The Importance of Moisturization
The skin’s stratum corneum has a water content of 10% to 30% under normal conditions, and the signs and symptoms of dry skin become apparent in many people when its water content falls below 10%.8,9 Moisturization is essential to maintaining healthy skin since, when skin becomes dry, it can no longer function optimally.8,9 Studies have demonstrated many benefits to moisturization, including improving the appearance of skin, repairing and/ or maintaining the skin barrier, increasing and retaining skin water content, decreasing transepidermal water loss, restoring lipid barriers, and preserving the integrity and appearance of the skin.8,9 In general, moisturizers should be hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic, especially for those with sensitive skin.9 Moisturizers typically contain a combination of emollients, occlusives, and humectants to hydrate skin.9 Some moisturizers also contain photoprotective agents to protect against UV radiation exposure. An effective moisturizer should hydrate the stratum corneum, be readily absorbed in the skin, and immediately hydrate the skin as well as aid in restoring the lipid barrier by duplicating and enhancing the skin’ s natural moisture-retention mechanisms.9
Conclusion
While most cases of dry skin respond to treatment, if skin dryness is particularly severe or appears to worsen or fails to improve after at least 7 days of self-treatment, patients should be advised to seek medical care from their primary health care provider. Patients should also be advised to seek medical care if their skin shows any signs of infection or if a large area of the skin is peeling and inflamed
It is imperative that diabetics understand the importance of daily skin care regimens and routine skin inspections and that they should immediately report any signs of inflammation or infection to their primary health care provider. Some pharmacologic agents, including diuretics, anti-androgens, chemotherapy agents, some cholesterol-lowering supplements, and topical retinoids, may contribute to dry skin, so pharmacists are in a key position to identify those patients at greater risk of developing dry skin and to counsel them accordingly.7,8,10 Pharmacists can also provide patients with key tips on how to decrease or prevent dry skin and how to maintain healthy, hydrated skin.
Table 3: American Academy of Dermatology’s Recommendations for Relieving and Preventing Dry Skin1,11
Ms. Terrie is a clinical pharmacy writer based in Haymarket, Virginia.
References:
1. Scott S. Atopic dermatitis and dry skin. In: Krinsky D. Berardi R, Ferreri S, et al, eds. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 17th ed. Washington, DC: American Pharmacists Association; 2012.
2. Weber TM, Kausch M, Rippke F, Schoelermann AM, Filbry AW. Treatment of xerosis with a topical formulation containing glyceryl glucoside, natural moisturizing factors, and ceramide. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012;5(8):29-39.
3. Dry skin. Women to Women website. www.womentowomen.com/understandyourbody/symptoms/skin.aspx.
4. Fowler J. Understanding the role of natural moisturizing factor in skin hydration. Practical Dermatology. July 2012. http://bmctoday.net/practicaldermatology/2012/07/article.asp?f=understanding-the-role-of-natural-moisturizing-factor-in-skin-hydration.
5. Dry skin. Merck Manual of Health and Aging Online Edition. Merck website. http://eglobalmed.com/core/MerckMultimedia/www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_ha/sec3/ch35/ch35b.html.
6. Dry skin. MedicineNet.com website. www.medicinenet.com/dry_skin/page5.htm.
7. Dry skin. American Skin Association website. www.americanskin.org/resource/dryskin.php.
8. Dry skin. PDR Health website. www.pdrhealth.com/diseases/dry-skin.
9. Kraft JN, Lynde CW. Moisturizers: what they are and a practical approach to product selection. Medscape website. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/505759. Skin Therapy Lett. 2005;10(5):1-8.
10. White-Chu EF, Reddy M. Dry skin in the elderly: complexities of a common problem. Clin Dermatol. 2011;29:37-42.
11. Dermatologists’ top 10 tips for relieving dry skin. American Academy of Dermatology Aging SkinNet website. www.skincarephysicians.com/agingskinnet/winter_skin.html. | https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/itchy-scratchy-skin-preventing-and-managing-xerosis |
When body tissues are harmed after being exposed to freezing conditions, it can result in frostbite, a possibly irreversible condition. Frostbite is more likely to occur in the winter, in windy conditions, and at high elevations.
Skin exposed to cold temperatures or water can freeze, causing the common but frequently ignored condition of frostbite. Numbness, swelling, blisters, and blackened skin are some of the signs of frostbite. Wintertime can be enjoyable, but it can prove to be extremely dangerous if the proper precautions are not taken.
Frostbite symptoms
This severe condition also damages the skin from the inside, not on the surface only. People may not be aware they have frostbite since their skin doesn’t feel chilly because the symptoms can vary. Here is a list of symptoms to look for:
- Abnormal or loss of sensation in the affected area
- Change in skin color
- Rough skin
- Protruding parts of the body and limbs are statistically most vulnerable areas
- Swelling
- Blisters and red skin
Amputation may be necessary for severe circumstances, which is why receiving quick medical care is crucial.
What do you do if you have frostbite?
- Keep yourself warm.
- Change clothes and get into something warmer.
- See a podiatrist or a healthcare professional immediately.
- Do not try to stand or walk on potentially damaged feet or toes.
- Refrain from applying pressure on the affected area.
While extended exposure to low temperatures usually results in frostbite, it can also happen quickly in extremely cold conditions. If your blood circulation is poor or you are not suited for cold weather, you are most at danger. Consult your podiatrist on what steps you can take to stay safe
Frostbite: Protection
- Wear thick protective fabric to keep warm.
- For icy cold winds, wear windbreakers.
- Protect your feet at all times.
- Use thick material socks to keep warm.
- Synthetic fabric layering to keep the feet dry.
- Wear waterproof protective footwear.
- Protect your ears and nose and fingers.
- Stay hydrated.
First-aid care can be used to treat mild frostbite at home. Depending on the degree of the injury, medical treatment for all other forms of frostbite may include various therapies after providing the necessary first aid and hypothermia assessment.
If you suspect you have frostbite, seek help from a podiatrist for any foot concern. A prompt and proper diagnosis can save your feet from any serious complication. At Clark Podiatry Center, Dr. Brandon A. Macy, a board-certified podiatrist, treats various conditions such as heel pain, diabetic wounds, bunions, nerve pain, and more. The New Jersey Children’s Foot Health Institute is also part of Clark Podiatry Center. We provide exceptional service for patients in Union County. Contact our office at (732) 382-3470 or schedule an appointment online. Our office is at 1114 Raritan Road, Clark, NJ 07066. | https://www.clarkpodiatry.com/protect-your-feet-from-frostbite/ |
One nutrient deficiency can have a drastic effect on your health. We will illustrate by using zinc, but every nutrient is similar in that it is necessary for multiple body activities. What applies to zinc applies to all nutrients.
What is Zinc?
Zinc is a mineral that is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism, being essential for activation of almost 200 enzymes that have vital roles in the body. When enzymes do not get activated, they cannot perform their necessary functions which, in turn, damages health. Zinc promotes healthy skin, hair, immunity, fertility, and growth.
What Does Zinc Do In The Body?
- Role in cell regulation;
- Required in immune function to fight off invading bacteria and viruses;
- Role in maintaining proper acid/base balance;
- Role in production of DNA and RNA (genetic material in all cells);
- Role in production of proteins;
- Required for lipid metabolism;
- Required for production of eicosanoids (signaling chemical);
- Essential for male and female fertility;
- Required in vitamin A metabolism (getting out of liver storage and transporting);
- Supports normal development during gestation, childhood and adolescence;
- Required for normal pregnancy and labor;
- Component of insulin (energy metabolism);
- Component of thymic hormones (immune function); and
- Component of gustin for sense of smell and taste (taste acuity).
What Can Go Wrong When Zinc is Deficient? | https://glutenfreeworks.com/blog/category/gluten-free-vitamins/zinc/ |
- I reflect that a patient’s personal hygiene need is the main principle of maintaining the preservation of health and well-being, such as cleanliness in order to perform the high quality of patient’s comfort, treatment, and dignity. In this case, a nurse plays a key role in the accomplishment of the effective patient’s recovery by adopting the professional skills of the maintenance of a patient’s personal hygiene.
- To my mind, if a patient does not want to undertake personal hygiene, a nurse should not impose his/ her own principles, influence, or manipulate the patient. In this situation, it is recommended to explain the patient that maintaining the cleanliness of eyes, mouth, nose and nails is the very important in relieving the pain and reducing discomfort. Moreover, the nurse should holistically view the personal care of a patient and explicate him/ her that a personal hygiene is a vital factor in the prevention of skin injuries, and spreading of infection.
- Eye care can be performed by cleaning an eye with the purpose to remove a caustic substance or a foreign body, using medical equipment (such as sterile dressing pack, gauze swabs, clinical waste bag, etc) in order to relieve the discomfort and pain. Furthermore, if a patient wears contact lenses or glasses, before cleaning these aids, it is recommended to consult with the patient’s optician. Additionally, if a patient has sore infection, it is advisable to identify the type of this infection and after that to take the appropriate treatment.
- In order to perform mouth care on patient it is highly recommended to clean an oral cavity. Additionally, a nurse should daily inculcate the oral assessment (application of baseline, monitoring the response to treatment or therapy, and identification of a possible infection).
- By assessing a patient’s skin, it is advisable to pay attention to its temperature, level of protection, excretion, and sensation.
- In order to prevent pressure damage to the skin it is recommended to have regular skin examination, to use non perfumed toiletries including soap, to apply high-qualified moistures, to avoid skin rubbing and talcum powder that extremely dries the skin, and to eat healthy food. Benefits of these measures: healthy skin, the inability of arising prolonged wetness on the skin and prolonged pressure, bruises or scrapes.
- The signs of discomfort are clearly seen, since the person feels humility and self-disgust; shows inferiority and rearing, has bad mood, blood pressure, cry of pain, anger, rushing, and loss of scope. Moreover, the person is irritated and extremely nervous.
- A nurse should treat pain or stress of the patient by application of holistic diagnosis, proficient psychological attitude, using of necessary medical remedies, and utilization of alternative treatment, such as massage, yoga, acupuncture, aromatherapy, or herbal remedies.
- The hand decontamination is used before performing a diagnosis of a patient (it means any haptic contact), before sterilizing procedures, after the diagnosis of a patient, and touching his/ her equipment or clothes. I would use an alcohol rub when I do not have proper condition for the hand washing, since an alcohol rub is its alternative. Moreover, I would use this substance when I need to sanitize some staff, and after visiting of the restrooms. Moreover, an alcohol rub can be used on cuts and infected places of the body.
- The role of the nurse in maintaining standards of hygiene/cleanliness is significant, since he/ she is responsible for the health, life and effective treatment of the patient. By maintaining hygiene, a nurse can considerably reduce the level of infections, and transmissible diseases.
Communication
- I have seen the following nonverbal skills within my practice area: facial expressions, body movements and posture, gesture, eye contact, space and voice.
- I reflect that seen communication barriers can significantly affect the flow of communication and lead to aggression or mental exhaustion. One of these barriers is inattention that can be overcome by an attempt of the listener to understand the speaker. The second one is emotion that can be solved by changing the topic that can be irritating for the communicators. The third one is information overload that can be overcome by the control of the information flow and the reproduction of vital points.
- I reflect that signs of aggressive situation are overreaction to the situation, bad mood, intolerance, abusive language, and abhorrence to surrounding. To my mind, a good idea of dealing with aggression in a general hospital setting, a community setting and within a mental health placement will be an application of the ten de-escalation skills. as Among them are identification of the causes of anger and its warning signs, understanding, avoidance of overreaction, demonstration of an attempt to listen, agreeing, apologizing, and asking the anger person why he/ she was upset.
- I had an experience of taking care of my cousin’s child. Personally, I used verbal and nonverbal cues of greetings. To the verbal cues, I can refer the application of tolerant words, and painting of maps, while playing with him. To the nonverbal cues, I can impute smiling face, an eye contact, and warm facial expression. These cues significantly helped me to understand the psychology of the child, his way of thinking, attitude to the adult world, and manner of communication.
- Self-awareness is important, since it is a unique way of the perception of our inner world. Moreover, it helps to stabilize our psychological spheres, such as id, ego, and alter ego.
- I speculate that I can become more self-aware in relation to my interactions due to control of my emotions, words, voice, and body language.
- Within interprofessional teams, the confidentiality of patient information is protected on the higher level, since interprofessional health providers clearly understand their role in medicine, and vitality of a patient’s confidentiality. They share their diagnosis, personal effective ways of recovery, and innovative approaches of treatment by paying attention to consent from a patient (independent agreement from the patient before providing the treatment) and mental capacity (a structure that helps vulnerable people to make decisions).
Student self-assessment
I can significantly develop my knowledge and skills by improving my personal self-awareness, effective application of verbal and nonverbal communication devices. | https://courseworkinfo.co.uk/examples/placement-coursework-example |
Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes welcomes the submission of manuscripts focusing on the topic of global cardiovascular health disparities, defined as differences in the burden of disease and access to healthcare across vulnerable population groups. All submissions will receive expedited consideration for publication in a special focus issue, which will publish in the fall.
We are looking for Perspectives, Original Research, Methods, and Data Visualizations articles. We are eager for content that includes both within country and across country comparisons in healthcare disparities (access to or availability of facilities and services) and health outcomes disparities (variation in rates of disease occurrence and disabilities) in settings outside of North America. We are interested in racial/ethnic, socioeconomic and/or geographically defined population groups. Manuscripts may describe social determinants or disparities in cardiovascular health in lower and middle-income countries or indigenous populations in high-income countries. Lastly, manuscripts that describe interventions aimed at reducing disparities will be of the highest interest.
Deadline for Submission: Friday, June 30, 2017
Submission Site
For more detailed information, please contact the journal.
For more information on submitting a manuscript, please visit our Instructions to Authors. | https://professional.heart.org/professional/ScienceNews/UCM_494517_Circulation-CV-Quality-Outcomes-Call-for-Papers-Global-CV-Health-Disparities.jsp |
The Wurtsboro Board of Trade mission is to support our local business community. Monthly meetings are open to all. Join them the 3rd Tuesday of every month!
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Wurtsboro Art Alliance
The Wurtsboro Art Alliance is a non-profit community arts group formed to encourage and promote art and artists from the regional area.
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Mamakating Transfer Station
Information about the Mamakating Transfer Station for refuse
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Schools
View a list of the 6 School Districts that serve the Town of Mamakating.
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Community Events
Find upcoming community and department events to participate in.
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Community News
Stay up-to-date on current organizational news and announcements.
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Community Voice
Interact with your government and with other citizens by suggesting initiatives, posting ideas, and participating in conversations around community proposals.
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Community Health
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Employment Opportunities
Browse job openings, download an application, or email your resume.
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How to Prepare for Storms
Find out how to prepare for a storm and sign up to receive Orange or Rockland County alerts and/or report an outage.
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Local Businesses
Browse through local businesses and organizations that operate in the area.
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National Lifeline Awareness
The New York State Department of Public Services (DPS) support and encourage residents to focus attention on the National Lifeline Awareness Program. | https://www.mamakating.org/31/Our-Community |
Recently, I have been spending much time in reflective thought about incidents of irresponsible violence against our children in places where the expectation is one of safety and security. I think that people of goodwill should do what is necessary within our laws to make our schools places where our children can learn and grow into the leaders of our future. We must also understand that simple solutions are not the answers to complex issues. Ultimately, in addition to local responses, actions must be taken at both the state and federal level to address these matters.
Over the past week or so, I have been asked about the school districts’ reaction to the anticipated actions by Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS) students in support of the National School Walkout that is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Please know that CCPS Leadership is fully supporting efforts of staff/students to participate in peaceful demonstrations associated with this event.
I join with other members of CCPS leadership in a belief that it is important to give our students a voice concerning critical matters that have a direct impact on their lives. They should be allowed an opportunity to participate in the democratic process to display their opinions within an instructional non-disruptive experience. It is our goal, as an institution of public education, to provide CCPS students an opportunity to think critically about issues that impact them, to react in a responsible manner if it is believed that change is needed and to maintain a safe and secure platform that allows them to voice their concerns/opinions.
The CCPS Administration is preparing to support “Student Voice” demonstrations on our campuses on March 14 in keeping with the national expectations: they should occur during the school day morning, beginning around 10 a.m. and should last 17 minutes to honor the 17 students and staff members killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018.
Our school leaders are working with teachers and students interested in participating in any planned activities. In addition, as we provide support to school leaders and collect demonstration plans from each school, we have advised all school principals to govern these events and support them as needed and appropriate. Know that through our stated support of these activities, students can participate without fear of administrative penalty, while we also perform our due diligence to ensure a safe and secure environment.
It is my heartfelt hope that through these peaceful, thoughtful, and organized “Student Voice” demonstrations our students, their families, our community and our nation can begin and sustain a healing, while also providing an impetus that will lead to a brighter, safer future for everyone in America. | https://www.clayton.k12.ga.us/news/district_news/dr__morcease_j__beasley__c_c_p_s_superintendent_of |
Brief description of the main purposes and contents
The Guidance Space contains information and exploratory activities that favor career development and management.
Reasons why the project / program is considered a “good practice”
The Guidance Space is useful for all citizens who need support in managing their own career, and also for those who provide support in managing the careers of others.
Managing authority / organisation
Institute of Employment and Professional Training
Main target group
All adults (general public)
Source of funding
Public sources (national, regional,…)
Stakeholders involved
All citizens, young people and adults up to retirement age and employers.
Contribution of the practice in improving / promoting the social inclusion of the beneficiaries
Insofar as they facilitate the decision-making process in choosing a profession and more easily access the labor market.
Elements of the project / program that could be easily transferred to other contexts
The Guidance Space and its resources can be adapted and transferred to other public and/or private entities that provide guidance/support services for citizens’ career management.
Other potential target groups to which the project / program could be extended
All citizens, young people and adults up to retirement age and employers.
Description of the methods of implementation and any recommendations
The Guidance Space offers a set of resources to support career management, namely: in employment, in the creation of a business project, in changing your professional project, in moving from one study or training cycle to another or even in planning for retirement, the use of this space can provide support in each of these career situations. The Guidance Space provides information and exploratory activities (questionnaires, exercises, reflection sheets), organized in 4 thematic pathways: Job Skills pathway that allows you to discover which skills you have more and less developed and learn how to improve relational, creative, information management, time management, decision making and learning skills; Job Contact pathway that allows you to learn more about the job market, learn how to look for a job, write resumes, answer ads and prepare for job interviews; Exploration Pathway which allows you to improve your knowledge about your personality traits, interests, values, abilities and skills, explore the multiplicity of professions that exist and discover the most suitable opportunities for you in terms of education and training, in Portugal and in Europe, employment measures and job offers; Entrepreneurship Pathway which allows you to discover and/or develop your entrepreneurial potential, learn the steps to take to create your own job and the support you can count on; Multimedia Center with resources to support professional exploration (e.g: guidance games, podcast about training, employment measures…); Events with a schedule of career-relevant events (guidance, training, and employment fairs; business, association, and academic seminars; award ceremonies…). | https://www.adult-learning.eu/en/good-practices/guidance-space/ |
There will be a public hearing of the Law & Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, April 16th at 6:00pm at City Hall. The public hearing will give you and other citizens the opportunity to share your thoughts on the two headquarter location options, 3300 Central Parkway (Clifton), or 5837 Hamilton Avenue (College Hill). Each person will be given two minutes to address the committee.
The CTM board has voted in support of the Central Parkway (Clifton) and expressed that to the City. Our reasons for supporting the Clifton location are 1) That the Central Parkway location is more centrally located to all of District 5, therefore, it is best positioned to respond ever-changing needs of the entire district and 2) The Central Parkway location can be implemented at a lower capital cost and sooner, thus saving precious taxpayer dollars and getting District 5 into a permanent location sooner.
If you are unable to attend the meeting, please consider contacting the representatives listed below.
Thank you for taking the time make your voice heard on this very important issue! | http://www.cliftoncommunity.org/district-5-site-selection-community-input-opportunity/ |
In honor of Women's History Month, here are three key things to share with your members about the women in elected office:
- As candidates, on average, women face more unfavorable spending than men. (Click to Tweet)
- Women have a higher chance of winning in open seat races; however, they are often underfunded by PACs and parties. (Click to Tweet)
- Women represent 51% of the population but hold only 20% of the seats in Congress. (Click to Tweet)
VICTORIES
New Mexico is One Step Closer to Stronger Government Accountability & Getting Money Out of Politics
Thanks to the hard work of advocates and state groups in New Mexico, several pro-democracy reforms were passed in the New Mexico state legislature and now await action by the Governor.
Reforms include:
- A constitutional amendment to create an independent statewide ethics commission. This legislation will be on the 2018 and does not require action by the governor.
- Money in politics disclosure reform that will increase campaign finance transparency. The Koch-funded Center for Competitive Politics even went down to New Mexico to try to stop this bill from passing the legislature, and failed!
- Updating and strengthening citizen-funded elections in New Mexico
- Consolidating non-partisan elections (school, municipal, etc) to be held in the off year in order to increase turnout
The legislature also rescinded outdated calls for an Article V constitutional convention that wold have jeopardized our constitutional rights and civil liberties.
PROGRAM CALL REMINDER
Join us for our Bi-Weekly program call next Wednesday, March 22nd at 3PM ET/12PM PT. RSVP to [email protected].
ACTION ALERTS
The Fight for Fair Elections in Maryland Continues!
Now is the time to make sure the Howard County lawmakers finalize the Citizens’ Fair Election Fund and give every voter a strong voice. Democracy Initiative partners successfully worked together to pass the county charter amendment to create a citizens’ funded election program (53%-47%) last November. The Council will begin working on a bill to fund the program on March 23 with a final vote expected in early May.
Mobilize Your Members in Howard County!
- View list of upcoming County Council hearings.
- Share social media content.
- Encourage members to write letters to the editor to local papers.
Join the Movement for Fair Elections in DC!
Today, the D.C. Fair Elections public financing bill was co-introduced by eight (8) councilmembers. The bill will hold D.C. elected officials accountable to district residents instead of special interests, and gives everyday citizens a stronger voice.
Show your support for the bill and learn more at www.dcfairelections.com.
Kudos to the strong grassroots coalitions that includes national and local chapters of DI partners like Public Citizen, CWA, Demos, Every Voice, 350.org, Jobs with Justice, U.S. PIRG, Sierra Club, League of Conservation voters, Food and Water Watch, SEIU, and People for the American Way.
#BigMoneyGorsuch
Judge Neil Gorsuch’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing began on Monday. DI partners are turning up the heat on Gorsuch’s troubling connections with money in politics and his harmful opinions that impact the environment, workers' rights, and civil liberties. Groups supporting Gorsuch have spent $3.3 million in ads targeting key Democrats, compared to $181,000 spent by groups opposed to Gorsuch -- a 20-to-1 margin.
Now more than ever it's important for the U.S. Senate Judiciary to ask serious questions about whether Gorosuch will side with #DonorsOrVoters.
Your Actions Have an Impact!
We had over 3100 people participate in the Gorsuch call-in last week, along with the letter signed by over 120 groups.
Representatives from Communications Workers of America, Sierra Club, Demos, and Lawyers Committee will be testifying on Thursday.
We Must Hold Sessions & Trump Administration Accountable
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sign-Up for People's Climate March
Saturday April 29 -- Millions will mobilize in resistance against Trump’s agenda and for our climate, our jobs, and our justice. The "country-wide arc of action" led by The People's Climate Movement will have marches in DC, Miami, San Diego, and many more cities find one near you here. Sign up and share the link to join the march here! Mobilize your members with sample social media.
We will share how organizations can get involved in the march at the next program meeting (March 22).
Want to share a victory or call to action in the fight for democracy? Email us for a chance to spread the word for the next Weekly Update! | http://www.democracyinitiative.org/latest-news/democracy-initiative-weekly-update-32217 |
As the largest space interest group in the world, the Society is addressing three main topics at the hearing: public interest, international cooperation and lunar missions.
“We believe that the new space exploration policy is extraordinarily well crafted, balancing the public interest in science and exploration with the practical need for changing America’s human spaceflight program,” said Friedman.
The Planetary Society recommends that the Moon to Mars Commission create “an international lunar way-station to prepare the way for human missions to explore Mars.” A lunar way-station could serve as a test-bed for the technology and experience needed to create future outposts on Mars to sustain a robotic and human presence on the planet’s surface.
The testimony also urges a re-examination of American policies about use of foreign launch vehicles and export control laws inhibiting international cooperation; the earliest possible retirement of the shuttle; and moving ahead with new transportation for exploration beyond Earth orbit. The full testimony is available on line at http://aimformars.org/friedman_mtm.html.
The Planetary Society petition states, “Humanity has been stalled in Earth orbit for more than 30 years since the end of the Apollo program. The human spaceflight program needs a goal, and the goal is to Aim for Mars.”
Promoting a bold new vision of human spaceflight, the Society asks the public to support the space initiative by signing its on-line petition to Senator John McCain, Chairman, and Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and Representative Sherwood Boehlert and Members of the House Committee on Science. The petition will be delivered to Congress signed by US citizens.
The citizens of all countries are encouraged to Aim for Mars! by signing the petition. The Planetary Society will deliver the messages to the appropriate space authorities around the world.
Louis Friedman is testifying Monday, May 3rd, at commission hearings held at the Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue, New York City, NY between 3 and 4 PM. The commission is hearing testimony from invited speakers both May 3rd and 4th. Hearings are open to the public.
THE PLANETARY SOCIETY:
Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray and Louis Friedman founded The Planetary Society in 1980 to advance the exploration of the solar system and to continue the search for extraterrestrial life. With members in over 125 countries, the Society is the largest space interest group in the world.
CONTACTS: | https://spaceref.com/press-release/planetary-society-aims-for-mars-worlds-largest-space-interest-group-launches-aim-for-mars-campaign-in-support-of-new-us-space-policy/ |
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