Health briefs

Dec 26, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Spend only half your time at the desk

Berlin (dpa) - People doing desk work should spend only half their working time sitting at their desks, with the rest of the working day spent either standing or walking in equal measure.

A German back health group says this helps to prevent the back complaints that are often the result of lack of movement and poor sitting posture at a work desk.

Standing lecterns and so-called 'sit stand chairs' are useful aids. The latter have adjustable desk tops, so that work can be done in either a sitting or a standing position.

This reduces the load on the back, promotes blood circulation through the muscles and leads to more movement in general.

Don't give whole nuts to small children

Berlin (dpa) - Children younger than four should not be given whole nuts, almonds or groundnuts, whether on their own or in pastries or chocolates.

Should the children be distracted or speak while their mouths are still full, the nuts could, as a result of their shape and small size, pass into the windpipe and deeper into the respiratory tract.

This in turn could lead to an inability to breathe, according to Wolfram Hartmann of the German association of paediatricians. These foreign bodies then need to be removed surgically or they could lead to serious and lasting health problems.

Parents faced with a child who has had a nut 'go down the wrong way' and who is coughing badly should take them to hospital immediately.

Hartmann also advises seeking professional advice if a child coughs for long periods and there is no indication of an infection.

Measuring blood sugar painlessly

Berlin (dpa) - Diabetics can reduce the pain associated with taking blood to measure blood sugar levels by pricking the side rather than the tip of their finger.

The side of the finger contains plenty of blood vessels but few nerves, the German Diabetes Association says. The association also recommends changing the finger used to take blood after each prick.

Another piece of advice is washing the hands with warm water to stimulate blood flow and to increase the size of the droplet of blood.

This makes taking a reading easier. Many diabetics are required to measure their blood sugar several times a day by pricking a finger, squeezing a drop of blood out onto a testing strip and assessing sugar levels with a measuring device.

Depression frequently causes sexual dysfunction

Berlin (dpa) - Depressives frequently suffer problems with their sex life, withdrawing emotionally and experiencing low libido. Hormonal metabolism may also be negatively affected.

Michael Berner of the German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Neurology says patients should first undergo thorough physical examination, and if physical causes are ruled out, they should consider sexual therapy.

This should be considered particularly if the symptoms persist over weeks.

Sexual dysfunction is often shown through reduced potency or impotence, and an unsatisfactory sex life that in turn leads to problems in relationships and self-esteem.