Well-being and Health Issues from Work

Well-being and Health Issues from Work

Dr. Phakin Lowasataporn

Internal medicine at Vibhavadi Hospital

In this month's special issue of the magazine celebrating the 25th anniversary of the hospital's founding, I have had the chance to write an article that is accessible to both readers and medical staff. It focuses on health problems in clinical practice that are commonly encountered in the workplace, yet are often overlooked. As of now, I am currently conducting a patient examination and the patient happens to be a working woman. Therefore, I would like to ask permission to use her as a case study in my article.

The patient presented with a headache around their temples, neck pain, occasional nausea, dizziness like they hadn't slept, and waking up in the middle of the night for unknown reasons. From further history taking, it was revealed that the patient works as a financial analyst and has to use the computer all day and bring their work home every day, leading to staying up late and waking up early to send their kids to school. The patient reported being in a good mood and having no work stress. Physical examination revealed no neurological abnormalities, but the patient is obese and has high blood pressure, as well as muscle pain in the nape of the neck when pressed. It seems likely that the headache is caused by prolonged sitting in the same position and looking at a computer screen all day, leading to tension in the temples, scalp, neck, shoulders, and back muscles. In addition, the patient's lifestyle of eating fast food, lack of exercise, and living in a hurry has led to an increase in their weight and blood pressure.

Did you see that? Not only was the headache of this patient a problem - but there were also other issues occurring without their knowledge. Therefore, treatment of this patient should not just be limited to oral medication. It would be beneficial to refer them to physical therapy or even acupuncture in order to loosen up tight muscles and determine the cause of the issue. Additionally, resting the eyes after using a computer for a while, as well as exercises for the neck, shoulders, and waist muscles, are all important for strengthening the body and improving overall immunity and weight control. Furthermore, eating healthy is key to a person's health, especially for busy city dwellers - as the saying goes, you are what you eat, and this will be reflected in your body.

Eating a diet high in fat can cause hyperlipidemia, which is an adjunct to coronary artery disease. Eating too much sweet food can result in diabetes, and obesity can lead to the same issues. After introducing this information to a patient, I realized I had said too much when the patient asked for an injection of pain medication to relieve their headache. I stopped the conversation and took the patient to wait for the injection, but I made an appointment for them to follow up on the headache and to have their blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipid levels monitored. This is why I want to remind everyone to pay more attention to their health since good health can be achieved through self-care.