Everything comes with risks, and this is also true of office work. However, the problem may be more severe than you think.
Research showed that about 2 million lives lost per year are due to workplace accidents and incidents. This is not a small number! And even worse, this number is mostly focused on incidents that directly result in death, discounting incidents that cause injuries that build up over time.
There is no way to completely eliminate the risk to your health, no matter what. But there are ways to reduce this, and one of the first steps to do this is to identify what health risks are most prevalent in office spaces.
Let's look at some of the common health risks for office workers, and how you can resolve these issues.
Frequent Health Problems in Office Workers & Remedies
Headaches
One of the first things that come to mind, and the most common problem, is headaches. Headaches are so common that most people don't even pay them any mind. Many of us simply pop a pill and continue working.
These are caused by the stressful environment of the workplace, where competition is at its peak and people are constantly expected to do more and more. That, on top of the fact that many of us have to spend long hours staring at the screen, can cause headaches and migraines.
This may come as a surprise to many, but poor posture can also be a cause of headaches!
Avoiding these is easy. Taking regular breaks to refresh your mind and body can do a lot more than you'd think. You should also try and work a bit of exercise into your daily routine, and practice good posture. All of these things can go a long way in protecting your health.
Eye Strain
Another common problem, and one that is perhaps linked to headaches, is eye strain. As mentioned, we spend a lot of time staring at screens, and this causes strain on the eyes. This often results in your eyes getting dry and painful.
The best way to avoid this is to have proper lighting and keep your computer's brightness at an acceptable intensity. If possible, try to have anti-glare screens and glasses, and turn on the blue light filter to protect your eyes as well.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a problem that is growing increasingly common due to how many of us are now confined to our desks for the whole day. This problem is due to repetitive motions of the hand, which can cause your hand and arm to get numb, itchy, and tingly. In more serious cases, it can inhibit your movement and weaken your hand.
You may even lose the ability to grip things properly! Carpal tunnel syndrome doesn't just become a hindrance to your work, it also causes problems in all areas of life. You should make sure to stretch your arms and hands at frequent intervals and practice good ergonomics and posture to protect yourself from CTS.
Mental Health Problems
One issue that is consistently downplayed is the effect that office life can have on your mental health.
As mentioned earlier, headaches are caused by a stressful, competitive environment, but this same environment can also cause a decline in mental health and stability! Workplace stress levels are consistently growing, which makes employees all the more vulnerable to mental health trouble.
Stress, anxiety, and comorbid depression are all problems that should be taken seriously. It is important to take mental health days when you don't feel so good, and get professional help when you feel that the problem is serious.
Getting a good workout every day can also help with improving hormonal balance, which can help you feel better.
Obesity
There is no end to the amount of research that shows how bad sitting can be for your health. A sedentary lifestyle is not a healthy one, and yet we find ourselves spending many long hours at our disks, simply sitting in place.
Unfortunately, we can't exactly abandon our work, either. If your job requires you to be at your desk for hours at a time, there is little you can do about it.
However, this does result in problems like obesity. However, it's important to remember that simply sitting for many hours does not result in obesity - after all, there are plenty of people who do the same jobs but are not obese. Obesity can be a result of unhealthy eating problems, stress and not getting enough exercise…on top of spending, most of your time sitting.
Getting a daily workout can be extremely helpful for minimizing the problem. While it may take some time for results to be visible, exercise helps burn off those excess calories. It's also a good idea to adopt a healthy diet, and minimize the build-up of carbs in your body.
To add to that, keeping in mind that you spend most of your time at work sitting, you should try to limit how much you sit at home. It can be difficult, especially since you want to relax after a long day, but cutting back on your sitting time can do wonders for your health.
Cardiac Arrest
Another, this time more fatal risk is that of cardiac arrest. While not as common as the other risks in this list, this is also a real and pressing concern. It may be linked to high levels of stress, which result in poor blood flow, or it may be linked to obesity which can cause arteries to get blocked due to fat buildup.
One thing is for sure though: you do not want to be a victim of this. It's always a good idea to get regular checkups to make sure you're not at risk of heart problems. Employers should always keep emergency equipment on hand to address any serious issues if they are to occur.
Back Pain
Back pain is the bane of everyone's existence. From older adults to young teens - everyone has back pain nowadays, and the reason for that is simple: poor posture.
Of course, not all cases of back pain can be attributed to posture, but for most of us, our lousy posture contributes to all the aches in our bodies.
You may have noticed it yourself, but when we spend long hours at our desks, we end up slouching. This causes extra pressure on your back and results in pain. In fact, even if you're sitting up, just not having the correct support to your back can cause pain.
Having good posture, taking breaks, and practicing stretches are vital to making sure you avoid this problem.
Flexispot Motorized Aesthetic Sit Stand Workstation
If you're looking for one solution to all the problems listed above: the Flexispot Motorized Sit Stand Workstation is your go-to. This is a desk converter that allows you to convert your stagnant desk into a standing one. Not everyone can afford to completely change their furniture, but they can invest in a desk converter!
This smart workstation has a sleek, stylish design that works well for any space and blends in easily, so you don't have to worry about aesthetics. Because it allows for height adjustment, you can adjust it to make sure that you're working at the correct height which allows you to keep a good posture.
Good posture is vital in preventing issues like carpal tunnel syndrome, and can also do wonders to prevent backaches and headaches, as discussed earlier.
In fact, height adjustment also provides another solution: you can stand while you work! You can adjust the height of this desk converter to make it suitable for you to work while standing. Working while standing is not just good for your legs - which can easily get tired after sitting for so long - but is also great for preventing obesity. Instead of sitting for long hours, you can now work while standing, and burn some calories while you're at it.
In fact, working while standing (or alternating between sitting and standing) can also be great for your mental health! Sitting for long periods can cause you to feel distressed and down. Research has found that people who work while sitting are more likely to show stress and anxiety. Encouraging these workers to stand while they worked showed significant improvements. Standing is also helpful for maintaining good posture since you're less likely to slouch.
The workstation is easy to use since the height adjustment can be made with the press of a button. The gas spring makes sure that the adjustment is also made steadily. It also has integrated charging ports so you don't have to worry about all your cables and wires under the desk as you switch between different height settings. The cord organization system also keeps it clutter-free.
Health is any human's most critical asset, and protecting it is vital. We can't ditch work, but we can ditch the problems that it may cause by taking some extra steps - both employers and employees. Using the right equipment and best practices, it's possible to get the best of both worlds!
