Healthy Leaders: Core Self-Evaluations Affect Leaders' Health Behavior Through Reduced Exhaustion.

Leaders' self-directed health behavior (i.e., SelfCare behavior) plays an important role in the health and well-being of both leaders and employees but has been neglected in research so far. This study was aimed at investigating the antecedents of SelfCare behavior in terms of the personal characteristics of the leaders. In a sample of 150 (98 male, 52 female) German leaders from a wide range of organizations, we examined the direct and indirect effects of core self-evaluations (i.e., CSEs) on leaders' SelfCare behavior. We predicted that CSEs would be positively related to SelfCare behavior with reduced exhaustion as a mediator, and organizational health climate (i.e., OHC) as a moderator of this relationship. Results showed that CSEs were positively related to SelfCare behavior and that the reduced exhaustion mediated this relationship. There was no evidence that OHC moderated the positive relationship between CSEs and SelfCare behavior. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed.

Atmospheric Pressure and Onset of Episodes of Menière's Disease - A Repeated Measures Study.

BACKGROUND: External changes of air pressure are transmitted to the middle and inner ear and may be used therapeutically in Menière's disease, one of the most common vertigo disorders. We analyzed the possible relationship of atmospheric pressure and other meteorological parameters with the onset of MD vertigo episodes in order to determine whether atmospheric pressure changes play a role in the occurrence of MD episodes. METHODS: Patients of a tertiary outpatient dizziness clinic diagnosed with MD were asked to keep a daily vertigo diary to document MD episodes (2004-2009). Local air pressure, absolute temperature and dew point temperature were acquired on an hourly basis. Change in meteorological parameters was conceptualized as the maximum difference in a 24 hour time frame preceding each day. Effects were estimated using additive mixed models with a random participant effect. We included lagged air parameters, age, sex, weekday and season in the model. RESULTS: A total of 56 persons (59% female) with mean age 54 years were included. Mean follow-up time was 267 days. Persons experienced on average 10.3 episodes during the observation period (median 8). Age and change in air pressure were significantly associated with vertigo onset risk (Odds Ratio = 0.979 and 1.010). We could not show an effect of sex, weekday, season, air temperature, and dew point temperature. CONCLUSIONS: Change in air pressure was significantly associated with onset of MD episodes, suggesting a potential triggering mechanism in the inner ear. MD patients may possibly use air pressure changes as an early warning system for vertigo attacks in the future.

Effects of ventilation behaviour on indoor heat load based on test reference years.

Since 2003, most European countries established heat health warning systems to alert the population to heat load. Heat health warning systems are based on predicted meteorological conditions outdoors. But the majority of the European population spends a substantial amount of time indoors, and indoor thermal conditions can differ substantially from outdoor conditions. The German Meteorological Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst, DWD) extended the existing heat health warning system (HHWS) with a thermal building simulation model to consider heat load indoors. In this study, the thermal building simulation model is used to simulate a standardized building representing a modern nursing home, because elderly and sick people are most sensitive to heat stress. Different types of natural ventilation were simulated. Based on current and future test reference years, changes in the future heat load indoors were analyzed. Results show differences between the various ventilation options and the possibility to minimize the thermal heat stress during summer by using an appropriate ventilation method. Nighttime ventilation for indoor thermal comfort is most important. A fully opened window at nighttime and the 2-h ventilation in the morning and evening are more sufficient to avoid heat stress than a tilted window at nighttime and the 1-h ventilation in the morning and the evening. Especially the ventilation in the morning seems to be effective to keep the heat load indoors low. Comparing the results for the current and the future test reference years, an increase of heat stress on all ventilation types can be recognized.

Influence of temperature changes on migraine occurrence in Germany.

Many factors trigger migraine attacks. Weather is often reported to be one of the most common migraine triggers. However, there is little scientific evidence about the underlying mechanisms and causes. In our pilot study, we used smartphone apps and a web form to collect around 4,700 migraine messages in Germany between June 2011 and February 2012. Taking interdiurnal temperature changes as an indicator for changes in the prevailing meteorological conditions, our analyses were focused on the relationship between temperature changes and the frequency of occurrence of migraine attacks. Linear trends were fitted to the total number of migraine messages with respect to temperature changes. Statistical and systematic errors were estimated. Both increases and decreases in temperature lead to a significant increase in the number of migraine messages. A temperature increase (decrease) of 5 °C resulted in an increase of 19 ± 7 % (24 ± 8 %) in the number of migraine messages.

Периоды сильной жары: угрозы и ответные меры

Даже в нынешних климатических условиях высокие температуры воздуха могут влиять на здоровье людей и приводить к дополнительным случаям смерти. Хотя периоды сильной жары и не характерны для Европы, они могут оказывать сильное воздействие на здоровье населения, что было наглядно продемонстрировано событиями, имевшими место летом 2003 года. В настоящем докладе дается обзор наших нынешних знаний о воздействии периодов сильной жары, в том числе о физиологических аспектах тепловых заболеваний, приводятся эпидемиологические данные о дополнительной смертности в такие периоды, а также предлагаются рекомендации о соответствующих профилактических мерах. В качестве примеров эффективных действий в этой области можно назвать создание систем медицинских предупреждений о наступлении сильной жары и принятие мер для решения связанных с жарой проблем на этапе городского планирования и проектирования жилья. В европейских странах необходимо внедрить больше систем медицинских предупреждений о наступлении сильной жары. Для этого требуется четкая координация действий между ведомствами здравоохранения и метеорологии и выработка соответствующих целевых рекомендаций и мер вмешательства. Для изменения биоклимата городов и уменьшения эффекта городских тепловых островов в летнее время нужно более тщательное долгосрочное планирование. При разумной конструкции зданий температуры в помещении должны сохраняться комфортными и без применения энергоемких систем охлаждения внутренних помещений. Частота периодов сильной жары будет, по-видимому, увеличиваться из-за изменения глобального климата, и поэтому необходимо разработать и оценить наиболее действенные меры вмешательства, практические действия и направления политики по охране здоровья уязвимых категорий европейцев.

Heat-waves: risks and responses

High air temperatures can affect human health and lead to additional deaths even under current climatic conditions. Heat-waves occur infrequently in Europe and can significantly affect human health, as witnessed in summer 2003. This report reviews current knowledge about the effects of heat-waves, including the physiological aspects of heat illness and epidemiological studies on excess mortality, and makes recommendations for preventive action. Measures for reducing heat-related mortality and morbidity include heat health warning systems, and appropriate urban planning and housing design. More heat health warnings systems need to be implemented in European countries. This requires good coordination between health and meteorological agencies, and the development of appropriate targeted advice and intervention measures. More long-term planning is required to alter urban bioclimates and reduce urban heat islands in summer. Appropriate building design should keep indoor temperatures comfortable without using energy-intensive space cooling. As heat-waves are likely to increase in frequency because of global climate change, the most effective interventions, measures and policies to protect the health of vulnerable Europeans need to be developed and evaluated.