We live a sedentary life. Long hours sitting in the office – usually in a wrong position for our back and our entire body. If this wasn’t enough – on many occasions also having to handle with tight deadlines will cause us stress…

This fast and demanding environment can easily lead us adopting an unhealthy diet. A bad diet plus lack of exercise are not the best friends of a healthy lifestyle. And all this added together will inevitably lead to our immune system becoming compromised and unprotected against viruses and other diseases.

These 5 illnesses are the most commonplace in the workplace and can affect any employee. Be aware and take action to prevent them:

Musculoskeletal Disorder

This is the medical name for the common back pain, stiff neck or any other pain in our muscles and bones. The cause is quite simple: long hours spent in a constant and bad position.

Knowing this, there are some things we can do to avoid that uncomfortable pain in the back:

Take breaks frequently (even if it’s just for a few seconds)

Make sure you are sitting in a good position: both feet on the floor, straight back and arms parallel to the floor.

Computer Vision Syndrome

Do you feel your eyes getting tired after watching the computer screen for several hours? Do you have dry eyes, blurred vision or headaches? Long hours with our vision fixed on a bright screen can cause what is called computer vision syndrome.

Maintaining a proper posture with the screen at the same level as your eyes is the first step in preventing it. Try to avoid glares on the screen and shift your focus to somewhere else at least every 20 minutes, for at least 20 seconds.

Occupational Asthma

Asthma is a respiratory disease. Symptoms are wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. The lack of fresh air in air-conditioned offices can worsen such respiratory problems. Many substances in the workplace can trigger asthma symptoms like dust, wood dust, and chemicals.

Try to avoid exposure to such triggers. Step outside of the office environment for a while and breath in some fresh air. Medication might even be needed in some cases.

Occupational Dermatitis

Dermatitis means the inflammation of the topmost layer of the skin. Rashes, inflammation, itchiness, dryness and blisters are some of the symptoms. The cause is invariably contact with a substance that our skin perceives as dangerous. Not everyone has the same reaction to the same substances.  A reaction could be immediate or it could develop over time. In a work environment with lack of fresh air, sensitivity to some substances could increase.

To prevent dermatitis at the workplace you should drink a lot of water and moisturize your skin. Taking supplements rich in vitamins A, C and E could help too. Keeping our skin healthy will make us less sensitive to dangerous agents. If you have to use chemicals use gloves or other protection.

Stress

Stress is an illness itself, that can cause major problems to our health. It is worthwhile to be aware of our emotional state and to handle our stress in a timely manner before it is too late. Some of the symptoms are feeling anxious, irritability, problems sleeping, fatigue, muscle tension, headaches, stomach problems, etc.

We will find ourselves in a stressful situation at work many times in our lives. To cope with that we should learn how to handle stress. The first step is to realize and recognize it even before we have any symptoms. Relaxation techniques, like taking deep breaths, meditation or practising sports are some of the things we could do, not just to handle stress but to prevent it…

Now you are aware of these common illnesses at the workplace, you can do something to prevent them. Don’t wait until it’s too late!

This is a content partnership between MyDoc and Lifestyle Collective to provide high-quality health content to our readers. MyDoc is a digital health brand that makes access to quality health easier and faster. This series is focused on educating people on general health topics. The information shared has been reviewed by third-party medical professionals. 

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