Post on 31-Aug-2014
Factors creating health hazard & dysfunctional stress in NSU Page 1
Introduction
Health is wealth. It is the most precious asset. A health hazard is anything that could result in ill
health. An ill health can mean suffering, disability and loss of life. And stress is the body's
reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response. Stress
can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, nervous, or
anxious. Stress is caused by an existing stress-causing factor or "stressor”. Stress is a routine part
of our lives. Certain amounts of stress are beneficial; however, sometimes the level of stress can
become burdensome. Students in university experience many changes. Being able to manage and
control stress is a useful skill not only for life as a student but also for life beyond university.
Stress is a normal & universal factor in life of human being. A good stress is stress that benefits
our health, like physical exercise or getting a promotion. Distress is a negative stress response. It
occurs when stress continues without relief. Distress disturbs the body's internal balance causing
physical and emotional symptoms: headache, elevated blood pressure, chest pain, insomnia,
depression, panic attack and anxiety. People will have their own personal signs or reactions to
deal with stress, which they should learn to identify. Many of these symptoms come and go as a
result of short-term stress. However, symptoms that are associated with more long-term,
sustained stress can be harmful. Consequences can include fatigue, poor morale and ill health.
High levels of stress without intervention or management can contribute to mental health
problems (e.g. depression, anxiety, interpersonal difficulties), behavioral changes (e.g. increased
alcohol intake, drug abuse, appetite disorders) and sometimes involve medical consequences.
Objectives The main objectives of this report are:
To find out the factors which creating health hazard & dysfunctional stress in NSU.
To determine the solution to eliminate the factors which creating health hazard &
dysfunctional stress in NSU.
Provide some suggestions to deal with these factors.
Factors creating health hazard & dysfunctional stress in NSU Page 2
Scope
In this report, we want to identify which factors are creating health hazard and dysfunctional
stress in North South University (NSU). And try to find out possible solutions to remove these
factors so that NSU students has hazardous & stress free life.
Methodology
As we has been assigned to prepare the report on “factors creating health hazard & dysfunctional
stress in NSU”. We will collect information from different sources like books, websites, journal
reviews and our own perceptions etc.
After gathering all the information and experience we have prepared our report.
Limitations
Although we have tried our level best to provide the most important and accurate information
about the issue which is factors creating health hazard & dysfunctional stress in NSU in this
report but there were a few limitations. Because of which we were unable to present the report to
the level of accuracy which we were wanted to obtain. The limitations were-
The factors creating health hazard & dysfunctional stress in NSU that we have used in
this report were gathered from our own perceptions which we thought and also
information provided from our friends.
The time frame for writing this report was restricted to 3 months or a single semester. If
we were allowed more time, we would surely be able to present the information more
descriptively.
Factors creating health hazard & dysfunctional stress in NSU Page 3
Literature Review
List of factors creating health hazard
The list of 20 factors which creating health hazard in North South University. These factors are
such as:
1. Smoking on Gallery
2. Taking drug on library area
3. Improper Air Circulation System in
Classroom Environment
4. Unhygienic Environment of
Cafeteria’s Kitchen
5. Lack of Hand Wash liquid soap in
Toilets
6. Food service
7. Poor Food Quality
8. Noise Pollution during concerts
9. Improper management of used water
before water purifiers
10. Chaos in the study hall
11. Waste management in the campus
12. Clash between students
13. Improper management of
construction equipments
14. Lack of field for games
15. Hectic class schedule
16. Dusty tables and chairs in class room
17. Unhygienic environment in toilets of
lounge
18. Improper use of stairs
19. Lack of emergency exit
20. Poor drainage system
Problem identification & solution of hazardous factors
1. Smoking on gallery: Smoking in the North South University gallery area has become a
common scene. Students especially males are more comfortable to smoke in the gallery.
They have adopted smoking as a daily activity in gallery. They hardly care about others
who are nonsmokers. We know that our female students do not like the smell of smoking;
Factors creating health hazard & dysfunctional stress in NSU Page 4
so as a result, they are getting affected because of unconscious male smokers. Though
gallery is a place for all students but smokers are disturbing nonsmokers by smoking.
Solution: We can take necessary steps to make the gallery free from smoking. We can go
for campaign that says, “No smoking in gallery”. Though we know smokers are
increasing day by day, if we want to remove smoking from nonsmoker then North South
University authority should give a separate smoking zone for smokers so that the
nonsmoker will not be affected in gallery place.
2. Taking drug on library area: Though we do not see any drug taking scenario in the
campus but in reality the activity goes on the campus. The activity basically seen in the
tree area besides library building. Drug addicted students take drugs when the place is
calm & quiet. Addicted students also encourage others to join them in taking drugs. So,
as a result drug addicted students are getting increased.
Solution: We can let know our North South University authority about the matter to
catch addicted students on the spot & take necessary steps against them. We can advise
the addicted persons to give up taking drugs for their own physical and mental benefits.
We can observe a day for making consciousness among our students about the matter
that, “No drug in our life”.
3. Improper air circulation system in classroom environment: Though our North South
University follows the standard North American Universities but in reality to some cases
it does not do so. North South University does not maintain proper air circulation system
like Western Universities do. North South University only has Air conditions and fans to
cool and flow air but it does not have any air circulation system which manages the
circulation of air in the classroom.
Solution: So, for having a standard classroom environment like North American
Universities, North South University administration should introduce good circulation
system of air by ensuring well ventilation system.
4. Unhygienic environment of cafeteria’s kitchen: The environment of cafeteria’s kitchen
of the North South University is not up-to-date. Mainly the kitchen is not hygienic. Chefs
there just use kitchen for cooking but hardly go for cleaning them properly for
maintaining a hygienic environment of kitchen. Because of lacking in maintaining
kitchen the food quality goes down which is a bad signal for food taker’s health.
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Solution: North South University authority should notice the food business persons in the
cafeteria to maintain a standard hygienic cooking environment for health consciousness
of all the people who take or make food. If the businessmen do not maintain standard
cooking environment in the kitchen after getting notice from North South University
authority then they must be penalized for that as it is a health related serious issue.
5. Lack of hand wash liquid soap in every toilet: If we observe the toilets of North South
University then we will find that most of the toilets do not have the liquid hand wash
facility. So, for lack of liquid hand wash soap we cannot wash our dirty hands
appropriately after completing necessary work in toilet. As a result, germs in our hands
do not remove which can cause serious health hazards.
Solution: North South University authority should facilitate the availability of liquid
hand wash soaps in every toilet, so that everybody can use those stuffs to clean up the
hands properly.
6. Food service: North South University have large cafeteria but food service of this
cafeteria is not so good. Because they are not concern about health of students. It occurs
when food service provider give a food using his hands without wearing any hand glop.
So, germs in service provider’s hand are easily entering into food.
Solution: Cafeteria authority should concern about this issue because students are facing
threat on their health. Service provider of cafeteria should wear hand glop on their hands
so that students will not suffer.
7. Poor food quality: The food quality in North South University’s cafeteria is not up-to-
mark. The food sellers are only concerned with taste. They might think that the more
taste they give the more easy to make money. They hardly go for serving quality foods.
They may not think that taste does not give nutrition to food. But we know nutrition is
how much important it is for our health to have quality foods.
Solution: So, we can let know our food sellers around the campus to maintain good
quality of foods for ensuring better health. If any seller does not maintain quality in food
should be fined and warned by North South University authority. In serious cases the
seller should be cancelled from the opportunity of doing business in North South
University.
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8. Noise pollution during concerts: As we see when a concert is going on the campus, it
creates noise around the whole area. Concert during exam hours harm students to
concentrate properly on their examination. The students as well as others doing prayer in
the prayer room hardly get concentration on the prayer because of noise pollution from
concert. Students enjoying the concerts standing before the stage also get affected by the
noise made by concert music but they hardly realize that they are entering in the door of
serious ear problems.
Solution: A tolerable volume level should be maintained during concert. Students should
concentrate on study more rather enjoying concerts frequently.
9. Improper management of used water of buckets before water purifiers: If we look at
the buckets in front of water purifiers then we will see that almost all the buckets are full
of unclean water preserved for a long period of time. This preserved unclean water in the
buckets help insects to grow themselves rapidly. As a result, insects can do serious health
hazard for human being.
Solution: North South University cleaners should throw the water of these buckets in a
proper place more frequently which will interrupt insects to grow themselves rapidly.
10. Chaos in the study hall: Now a day’s study hall in North South University has become a
place of gossiping for some students. Some students make noise doing gossiping which
disturbs other students who really go to study hall for their study purpose. Students not
only gossip but also shout themselves during gossiping.
Solution: Students who gossip should stop themselves. Gossipers must not disturb those
who study by keeping themselves silent in the study hall.
11. Waste management in the campus: Though North South University’s waste
management workers do good job but sometimes wastes are seen in the bottom of the
pillar or under table of lounge. These wastes can smell bad for some time which can
cause hazardous problem.
Solution: Not a single waste should be allowed to stay in the campus for a few minutes.
12. Lack of field for games: In North South University there is no field to play games for
students. That’s why some students play games in gallery area. But gallery is not the
place for playing games. Students walking in the gallery for going to the library & so on
sometimes get hurt by ball of cricket players in gallery.
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Solution: North South University authority should introduce a separate playing space for
those who hardly get any place in this non-spacious play unfriendly North South campus.
13. Hectic class schedule: Suppose any particular student of North South University has
taken back to back three courses on the same schedule, so it is hard for him or her to go
for refreshment or a meal because of hectic class schedule.
Solution: Break between two classes should be extended.
14. Unhygienic environment in toilets of lounge: The toilets of the boys lounge remain
dirty almost all the time. Workers engaged in cleaning the toilets do not do their work
appropriately. They maintain a big interval among cleaning times. They do not clean the
toilets frequently.
Solution: Workers employed in the toilet should better do their job. They should clean
the toilets whenever those toilets get dirty.
15. Lack of emergency exit: In our NSU campus there is no emergency exit and that’s why
we cannot say that our life is fully safe by any kind of occurrence.
Solution: North South University should go for facilitating emergency exit so that in any
emergency case people can save their lives.
16. Clash between students: Now-a-day’s students are increasing in every semester in NSU.
Lot of students is coming to complete their graduation but sometimes students are
fighting each other for silly issues. Because of these occurrences students are injured
physically.
Solution: NSU authority should implement the code of conduct strictly, so that students
who are guilty he/ she can be punished for that.
17. Improper management of construction equipments: NSU new campus is not fully
completed on its construction work. There is a construction work going on for
auditorium. For this construction lot of dangerous equipments are exposed around the
NSU campus. So students can get injured by these construction heavy & dangerous
equipments anytime.
Solution: To resolve this problem, NSU authority should monitor the construction area
where there is any equipment uncovered by workers. So that students will not get injured.
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18. Dusty tables and chairs in classroom: In the classroom table and chairs are not properly
clean. So chair table are dusty. For this reason students who have asthmatic problem or
allergy they can face problem.
Solution: Table & chairs should be clean regularly so that students are not facing any
problem.
19. Improper use of stairs: In NSU lifts and stairs are available for students for going to
upstairs but students are getting injured by improper use of stairs. Suppose a student is
talking in mobile phone when he/she is using the stairs, it can cause him or her for any
uncertain incident.
Solution: NSU authority should post warning sign near stairs for caution that, “Do not
use mobile during using stairs”. In the sign students can be advised for cautiousness
about when using stairs should be careful to talk in mobile phone.
20. Poor drainage system: In the rainy season, NSU are facing problem of proper drainage
system of rain water. This problem is occurring because of improper drainage system.
Water in the floor which can create health hazard for students like students can slip by
water.
Solution: To remove the problem NSU authority should focus on proper drainage system
so that rain water can disburse proper way.
Factors creating dysfunctional stress in NSU
The lists of factors which are create dysfunctional stress in NSU. The factors are such as:
1. Boring Re-advising System
2. Inefficient employees of Register Office
3. Trouble in using computers & printer in resource
4. Excessive Course Pressure
5. Lack of Transportation facilities
6. Poor service in Photocopy center
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Dealing with dysfunctional stress
1. Boring re-advising system: Re-advising process in North South University is painful to
students. For doing re-advising students need to stand in a queue for a long period of time.
After going to re-advising room for advising students hardly get courses what they desire.
Solution: To prevent stressful re-advising system we can go for re-advising like normal
advising but after normal advising is finished. Students will be doing their own re-advising
like they do on the normal advising. And also North South University authority should
increase the sections of different courses of different faculties.
2. Inefficient employees of register office: Sometimes the students do not get required
information from registrar’s office in time. Register Office’s help desk employees are not so
efficient to provide information when needed. Sometimes it seems that these employees work
for North South University but unwillingly.
Solution: Proper training should be provided by North South University to register office’s
help desk employees. They should be motivated and register office should take one stop
service where student get quickly service for any problem.
3. Trouble in using computers & printer in resource: In the resource sometimes it is difficult
to get a computer free for a quick print out. Sometimes some computers do not work
properly. After logging in the computers students need to configure the printer manually to
have a print. Computers are virus affected & so that whoever uses a pen or flash drive in the
computers gets viruses like Trojans, Win32 etc. The types of problems mentioned above
create psychological effect in student’s growing mind.
Solution: Computers of the resource should be well configured. Viruses of the computer
should be removed by installing anti-virus programs & regularly updating them. Printer
should be automatically configured for having quick print out. More than one printer should
be given in the resource for business domain to meet the current demand of printing in time.
4. Excessive course pressure: Lots of students are taking 3 or 4 courses every semester. In
every course students have lots of academic workings like exams, quizzes, assignments and
projects. Most of the students cannot bear the pressure of assignments given by faculties. As
a result, students perform bad results in courses. It affects their developing minds.
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Solution: To deal with this stress North South University faculties should consider the
course pressures of students before giving any task or assignment.
5. Lack of transportation facilities: North South University is the first private university in
Bangladesh which builds state of art campus in Bashundhara at Dhaka. North South
University provides international standard education. Recently lots of students are enrolled in
North South University but they face transportation difficulties to reach their home or
campus.
Solution: To deal with this stress North South University authority may provide
transportation facility for students like IUBAT did and for this facility they can charge
monthly fees. So student can get hassle free solution for their transportation service.
6. Poor Service in book store or photocopy center at NSU: North South University book
store is another stressful factor which causes students to lose their valuable time. There is one
book store in North South University for more than 10000 students. So students are facing
problem during purchasing their necessary stuffs from one photocopy center as the service
there is not satisfactory.
Solution: North South University authority should increase the book stores so that they can
meet the current demand of good service for lots of students.
Analysis
Stress is the important element which creates students life more complicated. Stress can have an
impact on a student’s academic performance. Students have many obstacles to overcome in order
to achieve their optimal academic performance. It takes a lot more than just studying to achieve a
successful university career. Different stressors such as time management, financial problems,
sleep deprivation, social activities, can all pose their own threat to a student’s academic
performance. A student’s CGPA determines many things such as class rank and entrance to job
market.
There are also a number of health–related factors that can contribute to a student’s academic
performance, and therefore have an effect on his or her CGPA. The amount of exercise,
nutritional routines, and also the amount of social support the student perceives all can contribute
to how a student academically performs. Exercising too much or not at all can influence
academic performance. Taking time out of frequent study hours to work out pulls away from
Factors creating health hazard & dysfunctional stress in NSU Page 11
grades. A frequent occurrence on university campuses is students becoming almost addicted to
smoking, taking drug which turning to a health hazard behavior.
Nutrition is also a problem with students. Students may have difficulty finding the nutrition food
in NSU cafeteria. Because most students are spent their whole day in campus, in the campus they
eat cafeteria food. The cafeteria food is not up to the mark so that students are suffering from
many diseases. If students are suffering from diseases they cannot attend the class. Attendance is
important in university because if you miss classes you do not have the opportunity to get back
in the track.
All of the factors that have been reviewed in the literature can contribute to a NSU student’s
level of stress. By themselves these constraints may have no effect at all on a student, but when
combined, a student could perceive them as stressful, and the stress factors could have a dramatic
effect on a student’s academic performance. With too many stress factors present and with
limited resources of time and energy, a student could easily become overwhelmed.
What one student perceives as stressful may not be a factor of stress at all for another student. On
the other hand, other students may not perceive these life situations as factors of stress at all.
Stress itself has been proven to be a factor affecting a student’s CGPA. Moreover the way the
student perceives his or her stress can determine how much stress the student is actually under.
Recommendations Health hazard & dysfunctional stress is a part of our life. We cannot control these factors which
creating health hazard and dysfunctional stress. However, we can minimize by knowing ways
how to manage stress which can be beneficial to us. Some suggestions to stress management
which can help us such as:
1. Make time to relax.
2. Maintain a normal routine: As much as possible, try to stick to a normal daily routine.
3. Eat a healthy diet: Focus on whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Avoid excessive sugar, fatty
foods and caffeine. Try to avoid alcohol and don't try and self-medicate which can make the
distress worse.
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4. Include exercise as part of your day: Participating in some kind of moderate exercise
activity for at least 30 minutes on most days helps relieve stress, boost energy levels, aid sleep
and improve mood. Exercise is also good for the heart, lungs and mind. Activities include
walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, aerobics, hiking etc.
5. Keep a positive attitude: Holding positive thoughts, rather than succumbing to a negative one
can help in maintaining a positive attitude.
6. Participate in activities that you enjoy: Make time for hobbies and other interests. Read a
good book. Be part of a sports team.
7. Get enough sleep: Getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night will make it easier to cope with stress
and distress. A well-rested person is more alert and quick thinking and less irritable, grouchy and
tense.
8. Learn to adapt instead of control: Accept that there will be situations, events and people
throughout life that you are unable to control. Learning to be flexible, to roll with the punches
and ride the waves can help in reducing stress.
9. Remember to laugh: Laughter is one of the best medicines; it releases chemicals into the
brain that promote relaxation. People who are able to find humor in life and are happier tend to
be more productive live longer and have less physical problems. Maybe a good laugh a day will
help keep the stressors away.
Conclusion
We can conclude that, NSU authority & students should come forward to resolve the hazardous
& dysfunctional factors to make the environment of NSU more favorable to human beings. We
must ensure an environment which creates opportunity for all to pursue life, liberty and
happiness—all of which depend on good health.