Not an open-and-shut case

PROBLEMS EXIST WITH OPEN-PLAN OFFICES

In this year’s U.S. Open, both Angelique Kerber, the 2016 Open winner, and Nick Kyrgios, this year’s second seed, were knocked out by Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova and Roger Federer, respectively. Sometimes Open plans don’t work out for even the most talented players.

The same can be said for open-plan offices — even though an estimated 70 per cent of U.S. offices are now set up with low or no partitions.

Despite the fact that a new study from researchers at the University of Arizona found that open-plan workers are more physically active and consequently less physically and emotionally stressed than those in semi-private or private offices, not everyone agrees. There’s also research that says noise, lack of privacy and crowding cause stress and reduce productivity. And according to Harvard researchers, the open plan actually reduces face-to-face collaboration.

We bet reactions to open-plan offices depend on the work being done, the office setup and individual preferences.

If you’re irked by your open workspace, what can you do, besides closing off the outer world with headphones? Talk to your boss about approaching the HR department and discussing new policies: Speakerphone calls have to be placed in a conference room; no one can wear perfume or aftershave; food isn’t eaten at desks (the smell of egg salad can be hard to take); personal calls can be made in established privacy zones. And suggest a company-wide meeting to discuss these issues and find solutions. Plan on opening the lines of communication — your health, productivity and happiness deserve it.

TO FIGHT AN AGING BRAIN, COOL IT!

In mid-September, the National Interagency Fire Center reported that firefighters continued to battle 89 large blazes across the Western states and Alaska; in Canada last August, B.C. alone had more than 500 separate wildfires. You could say that both the U.S. and our northern neighbour were an in-FLAME-nation!

But you don’t need timber and lightning to witness the ravages of inflammation firsthand. Your own brain is a potential target, according to researchers from Germany’s University of Bonn. They’ve done a study, published in the journal Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, that pinpoints how poorly regulated inflammatory responses affect certain neurons and can lead to loss of brain cells — especially as you get older.

Major triggers are inflammatory foods like added sugars and saturated fats, hormonedisrupting phthalates and BPA/BPS, and fiery habits like smoking, excess drinking and lack of sleep. If you have Type 2 diabetes, high-blood pressure, cancer or chronic stress, your body’s battling excess inflammation. So call out the fire brigade.

Quick Coolers: To put out your fires NOW try these three steps:

• Take 900 milligrams daily of DHA omega-3 from algae. • Take a probiotic. • Floss your teeth daily. Long-Term Fixes: To banish destructive inflammation adopt these habits:

• Exercise for at least 30 minutes five days a week (walking 10,000 steps or equivalent and strength building). • Sleep seven to eight hours nightly. • Eat inflammation-fighting foods, like salmon, olive oil, 100 per cent whole grains and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli and cauliflower).

THE GENERIC EPIPEN IS ON ITS WAY

So what do the names Mark Sinclair, Caryn Johnson and Eric Bishop have in common? They sounded too generic — even though they were the originals — for their brands, which are better known as Vin Diesel, Whoopi Goldberg and Jamie Foxx.

But sometimes the generic version is a better choice. Take the original EpiPen from Mylan, which delivers lifesaving epinephrine to people suffering severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to thing like bee stings, peanuts and shellfish. The brand raised its price by 400 per cent between 2010 and 2016. That led to a $465million federal overcharge settlement against Mylan, and encouraged it to market an authorized generic version, which still costs a lot — between $300 and $500 for a two-pack. Even with that, there’s been a shortage of EpiPens lately, and the Food and Drug Administration has had to extend the expiration date on specific lots of 0.3 milligram versions of the EpiPen and their authorized generic by four months.

The FDA hopes the expiration-date extension will be timed to coincide with the release of a newly approved, truly generic version of both the EpiPen and EpiPen Jr. It took a while for this generic to be developed because the delivery system was very difficult to duplicate. Once the device was proven to work (it took two years), the FDA gave Teva Pharmaceuticals permission to market its version. We hope everyone will breathe easier once the generic is available — and (hopefully) affordable — to all who desperately need it to protect themselves from anaphylaxis.

YOU CAN TEACH OLD DOGS NEW TRICKS

What does Chelsea Handler have in common with Ryan Gosling? They both know that resistance/strength training is key to staying in shape — and staying with your exercise routine. Chandler says she made a mental shift and now she pumps to feel stronger in mind and body, and it’s very motivating.

A new study out of Finland found that doing resistance training builds confidence along with muscle, and that makes exercise more enjoyable, so you end up sticking with it for the long run. Although these researchers were looking at folks over age 65, the lesson applies to all ages.

If you’re sedentary, it’s hard to reconnect with your body. That’s why, unfortunately, around 80 per cent of the 66 million Americans with gym memberships never or rarely go. If that’s you, you’re missing out on a key way to make exercise a regular and fun part of your life. Your body likes to go out and have a good time!

Start by doing strength building at home with hand weights or stretchy bands. And when you’re doing stretching/strength-building exercises, you’ll discover how much your body loves you back when you show it some love — and love is precisely what strength building is to your organs, muscles, bones and brain.

So if you’re having trouble getting into “Sweatin’ to the Oldies,” try building up your resolve (and muscles) with two to three 20-minute strength-building sessions weekly. Once you feel the love (along with the burn) you won’t want to give it up!