Stop gathering dust in the office…
Six types of office diseases: what to watch out for and how to resist
Vera Kramskikh, "Newspaper.Ru»After interviewing experts, "Newspaper.
Ru" compiled a list of typical "office" diseases and learned how to resist them.
Dry eye syndrome, decreased visionThe ophthalmologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences Hristo Takhchidi comments.
The main problem of all office employees is related to working close up: the optical system of the eye begins to strain to focus on the object. The closer the object is and the smaller it is, the more powerful the voltage. The human eye by nature is not designed to be operated near for a long time. If we take our ancestors, then 80% of their eyes worked far away and only 20% – at close range, and now we use our eyes to work "far away" only 10%, and 90% – to work close.
At increased risk are those who have a slight farsightedness: for their eyes, working near is even more disastrous. Short-sighted people benefit (from one to three diopters), they do not have visual tension. There is such a theory that a person in general will evolve towards a slight myopia, since it will be more comfortable for him to live in a civilized world with such vision.
The first signs of eye fatigue that you should pay attention to are the desire to blink more often, itching of the eyelids, slight lacrimation, redness, a feeling of ache in the eye area or in the area of its orbit.
If you feel similar symptoms, pause, go to the window and look at objects in the distance: count the windows on distant houses, look at some details. Ten minutes is quite enough to compensate.
Dry eye syndrome affects those who have naturally low tear production. There is a diagnostic test: a special paper strip is laid behind the eyelid, and it should get wet for a certain length. If it gets wet to the norm, it means normal production of tears, and if it is less than normal, it means low production and it is necessary to compensate for it. Such people should definitely use an artificial tear during the day – these are drops that are sold in pharmacies without a prescription.
Tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndromeThe head of the Department of Faculty Therapy of the Medical Faculty of the Russian National Research Medical University named after N. I. Pirogov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation Nadezhda Shostak comments.
Many of those who, by their occupation, work all day in the office with a computer mouse, suffer from pain in the hand. The same type of repetitive movements, tightness of the muscles lead to similar problems.
It all starts with a feeling of numbness of the fingertips. If nothing is done, the pain rises higher and becomes more intense, swelling appears. There is a microtrauma, inflammation of the tendons. If a person hopes that this condition will pass by itself, then the next stage is carpal tunnel syndrome (one of the forms of arthritis of the hands). Sometimes, in particularly severe and neglected cases, atrophy of the hand develops.
First of all, those who have impaired thyroid function and pregnant women are susceptible to this disease (since tissue swelling increases). If you feel some of these symptoms, then first of all change the mouse – let it be a different shape and a different size, you need to do gymnastics for the hands, go to the pool. Local warming gels will help relieve the pain.
Fatigue in the legs, thrombosis, varicose veinsAmiran Demurov, surgeon-phlebologist, doctor of ultrasound diagnostics of the clinic "Center of Phlebology", comments.
When a person is in a stationary position for a long time, say, sitting at a computer or at a meeting, his venous outflow of blood worsens. The body is designed in such a way that blood flows through the veins in one direction: there are special valves in the lumen of the vein that allow it to pass only towards the heart. If the blood stagnates, the veins stretch over time, expand, the valves stop working, and this leads to an even stronger deterioration of venous outflow.
It is very harmful to sit on one leg for a long time – this greatly hinders the outflow of blood from the popliteal veins and outflow through large subcutaneous veins.
First of all, varicose veins and other problems associated with blood stagnation begin in those who have a hereditary predisposition to this. These people need to listen especially carefully to their condition and carry out various preventive measures. The reasons for concern are hum and heaviness in the legs, swelling (especially if swelling is regular at the end of the working day), rapid fatigue of the muscles of the lower extremities, visible or protruding veins, vascular asterisks. This is a reason to consult a doctor.
Prevention of varicose veins and thrombosis is not difficult – about once an hour and a half you need to get up from your workplace and move around:
walk up the flight of stairs to the floor above, work your calf muscles, stomp, dance. A contrast shower in the evening is very useful – 5-6 alternations of warm and cool water will be quite enough. The main preventive measure is wearing special compression knitwear under prolonged static loads: office work, long flight, moving – it doesn't matter.
If you know that you will be in a static position for a long time, be sure to use compression stockings or knee socks. Sometimes such knitwear is confused with a tightening one, but compression can be easily distinguished by marking – it is measured in mm of mercury. For preventive purposes, you need to take products with a mark of 18-23 mm of mercury.
Office syndromeThe head of the Department of Faculty Therapy of the Medical Faculty of the Russian National Research Medical University named after N. I. Pirogov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation Nadezhda Shostak comments.
Office syndrome is a fairly new term in medicine. This is the name of a condition that occurs as a result of musculoskeletal disorders associated with prolonged sitting in one position. As a rule, in the office at his workplace, a person sits in the wrong position, on the wrong chair and at the wrong table. As a result, posture is deformed, muscles are strained, and then a muscle spasm occurs in any area of the spine. If nothing is done, then this condition threatens to develop into hernias and anatomical disorders in the bone skeleton itself.
The alarm signal is pain and constant tension in the muscles of the back. First of all, you need to properly equip the workplace, it must be prepared for long-term sitting: a certain height of the table, which is calculated by special coefficients, a comfortable chair. It is very important to get up more often, change your posture, perform various motor movements during the working day so that not the same muscles work. The second simple preventive measure is comfortable shoes (best of all orthopedic) and clothing. High-heeled shoes and uncomfortable tight suits are best kept in the closet and worn only for important negotiations and official meetings.
Hemorrhoids, proctitis, colitisThe proctologist, surgeon Alexey Maksimov comments.
Most often, office workers suffer from diseases such as hemorrhoids, perianal dermatitis, cryptitis, proctitis, colitis, paraproctitis, anal fissure. A number of reasons can cause these diseases. The main ones are hypodynamia against the background of a sedentary lifestyle, causing stagnation of blood in the pelvic organs, violation of venous blood outflow, violation of intestinal peristalsis and weakening of the muscles of both the anterior abdominal wall and pelvic floor.
It all starts with seemingly insignificant symptoms: itching in the anus, irregular stools, discomfort in the pelvis and rectum. The pathological process progresses, pain begins during defecation, the presence of blood, mucus, pus in the stool, the appearance of tumor-like formations in the perianal region and in the anus. It is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis based on complaints alone. Examination and ano-/rectoscopy are required.
It is necessary to remember and strictly observe two basic rules: do not engage in self-diagnosis and self-medication and regularly, at least once a year, visit a proctologist, while paying special attention to preventive measures. The main preventive measures are regular physical education, a healthy and active lifestyle, a healthy and regular diet with mandatory inclusion in the diet of fresh vegetables, cereals and dairy products.
Colds and viral diseasesThe therapist, candidate of medical Sciences Oleg Astakhnovich comments.
As soon as the heat starts and air conditioners are turned on in offices, the percentage of cases of bronchitis, otitis media, sinusitis increases significantly. Moreover, as a rule, people go to work with such diseases until the last and go to the doctor already in the advanced stage.
The first reason for such diseases is a sharp drop in temperature: outside, say, +30, and in the office + 18. For a weakened body, it is a lot of stress. The second is cold water, which is drunk in large quantities, even worse if it is carbonated at the same time. And the third – air conditioners. Ask how long the air conditioner in the room where you work has been processed.
As a rule, they are never cleaned: they were hung up once and forgotten. A lot of harmful bacteria accumulate inside, which then spread with the flow of air throughout the room. You breathe it. As a prevention of these office ailments, nasal flushing helps very well. Now pharmacies sell different sprays based on sea water, which effectively cleanse the mucous membrane. It should be washed in the morning and evening. Drink only warm – water, tea. And if there are patients nearby, it is better to smear the nose with oxoline ointment so as not to get sick. And, of course, do not forget about vitamins and hardening.
And to distract yourself from the sad thoughts inspired by this article, listen, if you haven't heard yet, to the cheerful song "Anthem of an office worker". Just pay attention to the subtitle of the anthem and keep in mind that this word is almost there through the word, and other Russian folk words are sometimes found in the text :) – VM.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru24.05.2012