If you are always pre-occupied with work and office-related matters, you are not alone.
Home to several prominent multi-national and software giants, Bengaluru is witnessing a “living at office” syndrome with employees across sectors – software professionals, doctors, nursing staff, policemen, drivers and security personnel – working without a break, say doctors.
The symptoms
As World Hypertension Day was observed on Tuesday, C.N. Manjunath, Director of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, notes that stress, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are the common health problems resulting out of this “living at office” syndrome.
Dr Manjunath, who recently saw a 33-year-old IT professional with complaints of frequent headaches, fatigue and discomfort in the chest, found that the person had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. “This person was working beyond his capacity so that he could complete his project after which he would qualify for a deputation in the US,” he says.
Added to the sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activity among software professionals is weekend parties.
Weekend parties
“These late-night parties after long working hours in a stressful atmosphere with the pressure of meeting too many targets in a short time and the ambition to rise fast in the profession are the main factors for health problems among the corporates,” the doctor explains.
Get disciplined
B.N. Gangadhar, Director of NIMHANS, says to avoid stress it is important to set a reasonable timeframe to accomplish tasks.
“For example, if you have to reach a particular place at a particular time, leave early, so that traffic jams and delay do not stress you out,” he says.
Maintaining discipline in day-to-day activities is another vital factor that can help avoid stress.
“A half-an-hour delay in waking up in the morning results in a chain reaction delaying your entire routine and causing stress,” he says.
Other factors
Adding to these issues are factors such as anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation and shift patterns.
“A regular workout, a balanced diet and adequate rest are a must at any cost,” doctors advise.
YOUNG AND STRESSED OUT
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are common in most software professionals
Of 1,200 patients who visit Jayadeva hospital every day, 400 are from corporate sector
Nearly 25 per cent of them are aged less than 50
Weekend parties, anxiety, sleep deprivation and irregular eating habits add to stress
RISK FACTORS FOR HYPERTENSION
Stress
Lack of physical activity
Salt-rich diet
Processed and fatty foods
Alcohol
High blood pressure can also be secondary to other conditions such as kidney disease
