This topic was lifted from a full article written by J. Leahy of Health Today. Just scroll down if you wish to read the full article.
EYES BREAKER
The eyes are also a particularly vulnerable area for office workers. Manolette Roque, M.D., consultant ophthalmologist at Eye Republic and Asian Hospital, has seen a sharp increase in the number of patients experiencing eye problems as a result of long hours spent in front of a computer. "We call it computer eyestrain and the symptoms can be dry, stinging eyes, blurring of vision or even headaches." The combination of staring at a computer screen for long periods without a break and the drying effect of air conditioning and low humidity in office buildings can make working very uncomfortable. As with CTD, computer eyestrain can be avoided (see "Give your eyes a break").
Roque suggests that all office workers have their eyes tested by an ophthalmologist as refractive problems, such as astigmatism, need to be corrected with proper eyeglasses, ideally using multicoated lenses to minimize glare, reflection and UV radiation. Failure to address even minor vision problems can result in very painful headaches due to straining of the eye muscles. Roque, who runs a Web site for patients (www.WebEyeMD.com), also recommends office workers to increase the humidity in their workspace by placing a dish of water at a window; as the water evaporates, extra moisture is added to the air. This reduces the drying effect on the eyes.
"Most people over 40 require vision correction for reading or performing other near-vision tasks such as computer work," says Roque. Talk with your eye specialist about the kind of work you do, how much time you spend in front of a computer, how your workstation is set up, and so on. There are lenses available that have been specially designed for computer users and even those with apparently perfect vision may be advised to use them.
Full article reprinted with permission from HealthToday Online Copyright 2004. HT Online (www.healthtoday.net)
Don't let your office job make you ill
There's a lot you can do to make your work and workplace safer and healthier. By Johanna C. Leahy, Ph.D.
Office workers make up almost half the world's working population-that's several hundred million people sitting at desks and staring at computers 5 or 6 days a week. While such numbers hardly conjure up images of people living dangerously, sitting at a desk to earn a living can have serious adverse affects on a person's health. So before you spend another day slogging it out on your computer, stop and consider the health risks lurking in your workplace. The sooner you realize how you can avoid office-related illnesses, the healthier (and happier) you will be.
LABOR PAINS
"People spending 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, in front of a computer will start experiencing health problems within 1 to 2 years," says Ben Adorable, M.D. of the Philippine Chiropractic Healthcare Institute.
The problems he is referring to are soft tissue injuries, known as cumulative trauma disorder (CTD), in which muscles, tendons and nerves become irritated or inflamed. CTD, which is sometimes referred to as repetitive strain injury (RSI), is the leading cause of injury among office workers. The most commonly recognized examples of CTD are low back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects the wrist. Problems can also occur in the fingers, arms, neck and shoulders.
Injuries are caused by a combination of poor posture, continued repetition of movements, such as pressing computer keys and the sedentary nature of office work. Initial signs of CTD can be fatigue, numbness and general aching of the affected area. At first, symptoms tend to occur only after prolonged activity and then disappear when the work is stopped. However, as damage progresses, rest is not enough to alleviate the pain. If left untreated, CTD can cause extreme pain and become debilitating. Treatment options include rest, application of ice packs, physical therapy, cortisone injections and surgery, depending on the severity of the condition.
The good news is that CTD is relatively easy to prevent (see "Avoid CTD"). Arranging your workstation to avoid unnecessary reaching and straining of muscles is undoubtedly an important factor.
However, Donald Lim, M.D., an occupational health adviser in Singapore, says, "even if you have the best-designed office workstation, the body is 'made' to move. Keeping still can strain the muscles and ligaments, making one feel tired and unproductive." He advocates regular stretching and hydration to reduce fatigue and promote a sense of well-being, suggesting that workers use a timer to remind them to stop, stretch and drink some liquid.
For office workers who are serious about maintaining the health of their muscles and skeletal system, Adorable recommends regular chiropractic adjustment even if they are not experiencing any pain. "It is best to treat the problem before it arises," he stresses. If you are already experiencing CTD symptoms, see your physician immediately. Take action before it's too late, and work literally becomes too painful to bear.
EYES BREAKER
The eyes are also a particularly vulnerable area for office workers. Manolette Roque, M.D., consultant ophthalmologist at Eye Republic and Asian Hospital, has seen a sharp increase in the number of patients experiencing eye problems as a result of long hours spent in front of a computer. "We call it computer eyestrain and the symptoms can be dry, stinging eyes, blurring of vision or even headaches." The combination of staring at a computer screen for long periods without a break and the drying effect of air conditioning and low humidity in office buildings can make working very uncomfortable. As with CTD, computer eyestrain can be avoided (see "Give your eyes a break").
Roque suggests that all office workers have their eyes tested by an ophthalmologist as refractive problems, such as astigmatism, need to be corrected with proper eyeglasses, ideally using multicoated lenses to minimize glare, reflection and UV radiation. Failure to address even minor vision problems can result in very painful headaches due to straining of the eye muscles. Roque, who runs a Web site for patients (www.WebEyeMD.com), also recommends office workers to increase the humidity in their workspace by placing a dish of water at a window; as the water evaporates, extra moisture is added to the air. This reduces the drying effect on the eyes.
"Most people over 40 require vision correction for reading or performing other near-vision tasks such as computer work," says Roque. Talk with your eye specialist about the kind of work you do, how much time you spend in front of a computer, how your workstation is set up, and so on. There are lenses available that have been specially designed for computer users and even those with apparently perfect vision may be advised to use them.
AIR OF ILL HEALTH
Air conditioning is a fact of life in Asia. Many buildings are tightly sealed to conserve energy; thus, office air is often recycled, and mechanical systems and filters are used to control ventilation. Poorly maintained air conditioning systems, as well as toxins from photocopiers and dust, compromise indoor air quality and have been cited as causes of sick building syndrome (SBS).
In 1982, the World Health Organization (WHO) formally recognized the existence of SBS. More than 20 years later, the condition is still poorly understood. The fact that it cannot be precisely diagnosed is of little consolation to the millions of people who suffer from symptoms as diverse as fatigue, headaches, dizziness, stuffy nose as well as poor concentration and respiratory problems. What is clear is that SBS differs from specific building-related diseases such as Legionnaires' disease. In SBS, symptoms disappear when workers spend time away from their office building.
A 1998 study by the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Singapore Department of the Environment found that "at least 1 in 5 office workers in Singapore suffered from SBS." However, Associate Professor Swee Cheng Foo of NUS, who was part of the study, pointed out that indoor air quality alone was found to be an unreliable predictor of symptoms; work stress, poor lighting and lack of control over building temperature were also identified as possible triggers for the disease.
A study by Birmingham Heartlands Hospital in the U.K. appears to confirm the complexity of the illness. It concluded that symptoms are more common among women, those lower down the office hierarchy, and those who are stressed by their working environment. It seems that a combination of physical, biological and psychological factors cause the syndrome although there is no clear evidence yet of a direct cause-effect relationship.
"The best advice I [can give] is to open the windows and let the fresh air in," says Lim. As impractical as this may be in a tropical environment, it does highlight the one fact that is known about tackling SBS: increasing ventilation rates and properly maintaining air-conditioning systems reduces symptoms. Research into the syndrome continues. In the meantime, the best you can do is to encourage employers and co-workers to give serious consideration to both indoor air quality and maintaining a pleasant office environment.
DIRTY FINGERS
If there was one positive outcome from the recent severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, it was the focus the illness put on personal hygiene. The office is a haven for bugs and germs, and good hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infections.
SARS, influenza and colds are transmitted in the same way - via fine droplets and by transferring freshly contaminated mucous secretions to the nostrils and eyes. Studies have shown that the risk of catching flu can be dramatically reduced by just hand hygiene. "Hand hygiene is important as you just need to watch a person for half an hour and you will be surprised how often they make contact with the face using their fingers," says Lim. Ensuring that workers wash their hands properly after using the washroom is also very important in reducing transmission of gastrointestinal infections.
Good hand-washing means using an adequate amount of soap combined with hot water, rubbing the hands together to create friction for at least 10 seconds and rinsing under running water. Hands should then be dried with a single use towel or under a dryer. Touching dirty surfaces should be avoided when leaving the bathroom.
The message is clear: careful attention to hygiene and keeping your hands away from your face are simple steps that can help make your office a healthier place.
Careful attention to hygiene and keeping your hands away from your face are simple steps that can help make your office a healthier place.
GRAVEYARD SHIFT
Occupational stress is a growing problem. In Europe, 50 percent to 60 percent of all lost working days are related to stress at work, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). Work-related stress is the biggest occupational health problem in the world after musculoskeletal disorders.
Lim says that the most common stress-related illnesses among his patients are tension headaches, fatigue, insomnia, recurrent coughs and colds, as well as musculoskeletal problems such as neck and backache. However, chronic stress can have far more devastating consequences.
"Stress at work is cutting lives short," said Brendan Barber, general secretary of the U.K.-based Trades Union Congress (TUC). A recent TUC study of workers from all over the world claims that exposure to stress in the workplace significantly increases your chances of dying from a heart attack or a stroke.
So why are people getting so stressed? Heavy workload, lack of autonomy, low interpersonal support, under-utilization of skills, lack of control over work, wage scales and repetitive work have been identified as major contributors to workplace stress. In cities such as Manila, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, battling traffic can increase blood pressure long before you even reach your desk.
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE At the end of the day, unhealthy workers are bad news for everybody - employees, employers and society in general. Working in an office may expose you to a multitude of health risks but there is a lot you can do to stay healthy.
"It's worth remembering that while occupational illnesses are preventable, not all occupational illnesses are curable," says Leni Ramirez, M.D., an occupational health adviser. Good nutrition, proper hydration, regular exercise and adequate rest combined with good practice, awareness of health issues and a little bit of effort are your best weapons against ill health.
Reprinted with permission from HealthToday Online Copyright 2004. HT Online (www.healthtoday.net)
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