News Update
November 2008
How Stressful is your job?
Firstbeat Technology featured on 'The One Show'
BBC's The One Show hosted by Adrian Chiles and Strictly Come Dancing Queen Christine Bleakley, kicked off 'Stress Week' looking at the causes of stress in the workplace and featured optima-life's Firstbeat Technology.
A BBC camera followed event organiser Justin Clark focusing on him organising and hosting a high profile, celebrity led event. It saw moments of huge stress, not least with his leading celebrity guest, Anthony Worrell Thompson, lost en route to the venue and Justin himself, having to make a keynote speech in front of hundreds of invited guests.
Jackie Coetzee from the optima-life team had set Justin up with a heart rate monitor which he wore throughout the filming. The results were downloaded after the event using Firstbeat technology and both Jackie and Nigel Stockill worked with the BBC team and Psychologist, Professor Carey Cooper to interpret the data.
Justin's results had a few surprises, not least for himself. The cool headed character identified his speech making as the most stressful part of the day. However, the Firstbeat technology clearly showed how Justin's heart rate increased during his speech but his heart rate variability was not affected.
Professor Cooper explained:
' What he is experiencing is pressure not stress. It's a big difference. Pressure is stimulating and motivating. When pressure exceeds your ability to cope then you are in the stress arena.'
The data received back from Justin's heartrate monitor showed that it was the news that Anthony Worrall Thompson was running late that did in fact cause the most stress to Justin's body. Michael Mosley, presenting the film explained how 'Psychological stress triggered a physical reaction in Justin's body.' The data had clearly identified this change.
He added: 'True stress tends to occur when we feel unable to cope'. He continued: 'At times of acute stress the brain triggers adrenalin and cortisol to flood our bodies. These increase our heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar, in case we have to run for our lives.'
Justin was in control making his speech but was helpless to do anything about Anthony Worrell Thompson. He just had to hope he would get there on time.
Stress can be counteracted in a number of ways. Exercise is particularly helpful. In Justin's case deep breathing exercises were also advised to counteract moments of high stress in his work and to get his hormonal system 'back into balance'. 'Such exercises 'stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and help lower the heart rate and blood pressure. If left unchecked stress can become chronic and develop into a long term problem,' explained Michael Mosley.
Both pressure and stress occur in most people's lives. However, if stress becomes a dominant feature, performance and health can be affected. The Firstbeat HEALTH software helps identify these times and also indicates times when optimal recovery is occurring.
For further information on Firstbeat Technology and how it can help you take the stress out of your life - contact the optima-life team at info@optima-life.com
To view the piece in full log onto http://www.bbc.co.uk/theoneshow
The One Show Monday 24th November 2009
It's a First for St John + St Elizabeth Hospital
The Hospital of St John + St Elizabeth in St John's Wood, London has launched the Healthpod, a state of the art facility designed to improve health and deal with both the prevention and management of long term conditions such as Type II Diabetes, Stress and Obesity.
The Healthpod is the first of its kind in the UK where the assessment and intervention strategies centre round the use of optima-life's much acclaimed Firstbeat HEALTH software.
Hospital Deputy Chief Executive Claire Hornick said: 'Lifestyle diseases are a major issue in our society today. Assessing the condition is naturally the first step but here at the hospital we wanted to take a proactive approach that would provide help, support and most importantly a solution'. She continued:
'The technology we are using has allowed us to develop programmes which set highly motivational health, wellbeing and lifestyle objectives for the individual and we are very hopeful that this approach will achieve significant results.'
This brand new facility is available for staff and carers as well as patients and there are three key stages for visitors to the Healthpod. Jackie Coetzee, lead clinician at The Healthpod explained:
'The first step involves Assessing the patient by way of a Health Diagnostic check. Here we look to take a series of measurements from the individual and look at lifestyle habits. Bloods are also taken. The patient is then given a heart rate monitor to take away and wear for 48hours.
'Step two is all about Understanding what is happening to the body and is a feedback session for the patient, looking at the test results from the heart rate monitor and matching with lifestyle habits. The monitor works like a camera showing areas of stress, exercise and recovery giving reports that are highly visual.
'Once the results have been fed back a patient can move to stage three which is all about Helping to create a solution. Personalised programmes are developed to suit accordingly.'
For further information on The Healthpod please contact 020 7432 8256.
Firstbeat Technology Shares in World Class Performance
Optima-life joins with Firstbeat Technologies, in congratulating the McLaren F1 team and Lewis Hamilton on the Formula 1 Drivers' World Championship title! Firstbeat participates in McLaren's Human Performance - programme, the goal being to prepare the entire McLaren team for top-level performances.
Optima-life is delighted to be working with Firstbeat Technologies to bring their world class performance and recovery technology to sport and health programmes throughout the UK.
Optima-life Team Present on World Class Coaching Programme
Simon Shepard and Nigel Stockill accepted an invitation from John Neal, Director of the Ashridge Sport Business Programme to talk to coaches on the World Class Sport Coach Development Programme.
The optima-life duo, both highly experienced in working in professional sport, introduced the coaches to the Firstbeat SPORTS technology discussing with the group how it can be used both in optimising health and performance in the sporting population and also in assisting them as coaches in their decision making process.
Simon said: 'This was a highly enjoyable and stimulating session working with coaches from a variety of different disciplines.'
The World Class Sport Coach Development Programme was created to assist National Governing Bodies in the development of top quality professional sports coaches.
