Vanhus ja helle:suojaudu, viilennä, nesteytä

Tiivistelmä Suomessa helteet (lämpötila yli +25 °C) ovat yleistyneet 2010-luvulla, ja ne tulevat haittaamaan etenkin ikääntyneitä (1). Terveydenhuollon ammattilaisten on tärkeää ymmärtää kuuman ympäristön terveysvaikutukset, kun he antavat ohjeita ja huolehtivat ikääntyneiden tarkoituksenmukaisesta suojautumisesta. Kuvaamme artikkelissamme helteestä aiheutuvia riskejä ikääntyneen terveydelle ja keinoja hallita niitä.Abstract Older people and hot spells : protect, cool and hydrate Climate warming increases the occurrence of hot spells with detrimental health effects especially on older people. Hot spells cause heat illnesses and worsen chronic diseases, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. The ageing population is susceptible to these effects because of their altered thermoregulation (reduced capacity to lose heat), high prevalence of chronic diseases and related medication, as well as due to behavioural, environmental, housing and social factors. Heat action plans are needed for systematic long- and short-term preparedness and require national, regional and local multisector co-operation. These activities include developing early warning systems, practising long-term urban planning, reducing indoor heat exposure, increasing preparedness of health care, caring for vulnerable populations and developing real-time surveillance and monitoring. Increasing awareness among the elderly themselves, as well as among their caretakers, is crucial for protection from the health risks of hot spells. Older people need instructions regarding adequate and sustained hydration, how their health condition can be affected by heat, use of appropriate clothing, how and when to engage in physical activity and how to cool their homes or cool themselves by regular cool showers or baths. Equally important is to increase awareness among caretakers of older people in healthcare facilities or care homes. During hot spells the personnel in healthcare facilities need to identify symptoms of heat illnesses and apply cooling methods and related treatment, consider the use and monitor the effects of medication, as well as monitoring water intake. In addition, the indoor temperature of healthcare facilities needs to be kept below 25°C. If air conditioning is not available, facilities can be cooled through increasing ventilation and passive cooling methods. In the worst case, older people need to be evacuated from the healthcare facilities or homes

Cold Stress : Part V. Physical Agents

Owing to the steep temperature gradient between the warm human body and a cold environment, a potential for high heat losses prevails that may endanger heat balance and represent a threat to human health, function, and performance. Our physiological adaptive power is relatively is relatively low in the cold. Instead, humans rely on technique, organization, and protection to mitigate the effects of cold and create conditions for work that can be coped with, at least for some time. This chapter describes the physics of heat exchange between man and the cold environment. In particular, clothing is dealt with in more detail, as it is one of the most powerful and simple means of controlling body heat exchange and to preserve an optimal heat balance. When heat cannot be preserved, the body cools, starting with fingers, hands, toes, and feet. Whole-body or local cooling, and the related physiological responses, leads to decreased work performance and adverse health effects. International standards intended for ergonomics of thermal environments are available for the assessment and management of cold-related occupational effects. The chapter ends with a suggestion for a simplified risk-assessment procedure and tables with numerous examples of preventive measures for alleviation cold stress

How to mound a horse?:remembrance and thoughts of afterlife at Finnish companion animal cemetery

Abstract This article presents the results of a combined archaeological and cultural anthropological study of 170 horse burials at a pet (companion animal) cemetery in Mikonkangas, Oulu, Finland. The applied methods include archaeological documentation, interviews with the horse caretakers, and visits to the site. Contrary to socially and legislatively controlled human burial grounds with organized maintenance, companion animal cemeteries with their inherent do-it-yourself character are often displays for more spontaneous expressions of grief and longing. The evidence of remembrance varies from nearly unmarked graves to elaborate memorials with headstones, epitaphs, flowers, and personal objects. The thought of a reunion in the afterlife is evident in some of the epitaphs and could also have influenced the use of crosses and angel symbols on some of the graves

The built environment as a determinant of physical activity:a systematic review of longitudinal studies and natural experiments

Abstract Background: Physical inactivity is a global problem that increases the risk of many chronic diseases and shortens life expectancy. The built environment contributes to physical inactivity through accessibility of amenities and transportation patterns. With better urban planning, cities could be designed to enhance active transportation and population health on a permanent basis. Purpose: We conducted a systematic review to identify determinants of the built environment associated with physical activity and to evaluate how changes in the built environment are associated with changes in physical activity. Methods: We searched six databases, from the inception of each until December 2015, for studies that were written in English, used longitudinal before-and-after design and assessed changes in both the built environment and physical activity. A total of 21 prospective cohort studies and 30 natural experiments were included in the review. Results: The review showed that changes in the built environment and in physical activity were related. A higher objective accessibility and new infrastructure for walking, cycling and public transportation were associated with increased overall and transportation-related physical activity. Some evidence was found for perceived aesthetics and safety as determinants of physical activity. Conclusions: Improved objectively measured accessibility of different type of destinations and public transportation and land use mix were associated with increased physical activity. Creating new infrastructure for walking, cycling and public transportation could induce demand for walking and cycling. The results support the creation of compact and diverse residential areas and investments into infrastructure that encourage active modes of transportation

Parental Factors Related to Physical Activity among Adolescent Men Living in Built and Natural Environment: A Population-Based MOPO Study

Introduction. Physical inactivity is a global concern, especially among adolescent men. Little research has been done on the association between parental factors and young adults’ physical activity in the context of residential environment. We aimed to reveal what parental factors are associated with physical activity among adolescent men living in built and natural environments. Methods. A population-based sample of 1,904 men (mean age = 17.9, SD = 0.7 years) completed a questionnaire regarding physical activity, parental factors, and lifestyle in Northern Finland in 2012 and 2013. Geographical information system methods and dominant land-use type were used to define the residential environment in a 1-kilometer radius buffer zone surrounding each participant’s home address. If the residential area included more artificial surfaces, it was defined as a built environment, and areas including more nature were defined as natural environments. Results. According to multivariable analyses, a mother’s physical activity (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3–2.8) was positively associated with the physical activity of adolescent men living in built environments, and the father’s physical activity was positively associated with the physical activity of adolescent men living in natural environments (2.8; 1.7–4.8). Self-rated health (built 5.9 [4.0–8.7]; natural 5.2 [3.0–9.0]) was positively associated with physical activity level. Those with symptoms of depression were more likely to be physically inactive (built 0.5 [0.3–0.8]; natural 0.3 [0.1–0.6]). Adolescent men were equally physically active regardless of the living environment. Conclusions. The level of physical activity of parents, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms should be considered when designing physical activity promotions for adolescent men according to their residential environments

Parental factors related to physical activity among adolescent men living in built and natural environment:a population-based MOPO study

Abstract Introduction: Physical inactivity is a global concern, especially among adolescent men. Little research has been done on the association between parental factors and young adults’ physical activity in the context of residential environment. We aimed to reveal what parental factors are associated with physical activity among adolescent men living in built and natural environments. Methods: A population-based sample of 1,904 men (mean age = 17.9, SD = 0.7 years) completed a questionnaire regarding physical activity, parental factors, and lifestyle in Northern Finland in 2012 and 2013. Geographical information system methods and dominant land-use type were used to define the residential environment in a 1-kilometer radius buffer zone surrounding each participant’s home address. If the residential area included more artificial surfaces, it was defined as a built environment, and areas including more nature were defined as natural environments. Results: According to multivariable analyses, a mother’s physical activity (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3–2.8) was positively associated with the physical activity of adolescent men living in built environments, and the father’s physical activity was positively associated with the physical activity of adolescent men living in natural environments (2.8; 1.7–4.8). Self-rated health (built 5.9 [4.0–8.7]; natural 5.2 [3.0–9.0]) was positively associated with physical activity level. Those with symptoms of depression were more likely to be physically inactive (built 0.5 [0.3–0.8]; natural 0.3 [0.1–0.6]). Adolescent men were equally physically active regardless of the living environment. Conclusions: The level of physical activity of parents, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms should be considered when designing physical activity promotions for adolescent men according to their residential environments

Cold weather-related cardiorespiratory symptoms predict higher morbidity and mortality

Abstract Symptoms perceived in cold weather reflect physiological responses to body cooling and may worsen the course of a pre-existing disease or precipitate disease events in ostensibly healthy individuals. However, the associations between cold-related symptoms and their health effects have remained unknown. We examined whether cold-related cardiac and respiratory symptoms perceived in cold weather predict future morbidity and mortality. Methods: Cold-related symptoms were inquired in four national FINRISK surveys conducted in 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012 in Finland including altogether 17 040 respondents. A record linkage was made to national hospital discharge and cause-of-death registers. The participants were followed up until the first hospital admission due to a cardiovascular or respiratory disease or death, or until the end of 2015. The individual follow-up times ranged from 0 to 18 years (mean 11 years). The association of cold-related symptoms with morbidity and mortality was examined by Kaplan-Meyer and Cox-regression analyses. Results: Cold-related cardiac [hazard ratio (HR), 1.76 and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.44–2.15] and combined cardiac and respiratory symptoms [1.50 (1.29–1.73)] were associated with hospitalization due to cardiovascular causes. The respective HRs for admissions due to respiratory causes were elevated for cold-related respiratory [1.22 (1.07–1.40)], cardiac [1.24 (0.88–1.75)] and cardiorespiratory [1.82 (1.50–2.22)] symptoms. Cold-related cardiorespiratory symptoms were associated with deaths from all natural [1.38 (1.11–1.72)], cardiovascular [1.77 (1.28–2.44)] and respiratory [2.19 (0.95–5.06)] causes. Interpretation: Cold weather-related symptoms predict a higher occurrence of hospital admissions and mortality. The information may prove useful in planning measures to reduce cold-related adverse health effects