While work from home has its benefits like personal time management and flexibility in working hours, safety from exposure to COVID during these times, it also comes with a few health implications. Long hours of work, reduced physical activity, improper sleep routine, reduced in-person interaction with people are some of the factors that may impact your mental health along with overall wellbeing.

Therefore, even though you may have a highly ergonomic work from home setup, it is still important to pay attention to some of the signs and symptoms of mental and physical health which are often left ignored.

The Health Risks Involved

Spending long arduous hours in front of the computer screen can put immense pressure on both the eyes as well as the backbone and joints leading to quite a bit of strain. Moreover, work from home can result in a series of health issues:

• Vitamin Deficiency

Work in the office requires a regular commute and this exposes us to the sun which is a great source of Vitamin D. Without having to regularly venture outdoors, work from home can lead to Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency can often lead to fatigue, impacting your immunity, mental and emotional wellbeing and bone health. Therefore, if you’re looking for working from home tips, getting a Vitamin D test would be at the top of such a list.

• Obesity

During prolonged hours of work from home, there is a reduction in physical activity, we often indulge in stress eating because of the pressures of coping with office work as well as trivial household chores. Moreover, without the need to venture out, we also tend to depend excessively on food delivery services. All of these combined could be a recipe for obesity and other allied health risks. If you consider a few quick bites as an essential part of your work from home setup, then it is recommended that you get a Lipid Profile Test.

• Cardiac Risk

The more obvious health risk that can emerge from prolonged hours of work from home is related to the cardiovascular system. Since work from home pushes one towards a more sedentary lifestyle we often forget that a few minutes of physical activity can go a long way in maintaining both physical and mental health. Lack of physical activity, increased screen time, improper sleep can greatly increase the risk of cardiac ailments and therefore, it is important that you get a Cardiac Risk Markers Test done.

The lack of physical connection can leave workers feeling they have nowhere to turn when they feel stressed or anxious. It becomes more challenging to form the strong support network which is crucial for good mental health.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

• Musculoskeletal Ailments

Whether it be work from home or at the office, long hours of sitting in the wrong posture or straining your neck too much can inevitably lead to shoulder and joint pain. In our tireless efforts on how to be more productive, we often tend to ignore the warning signs of our musculoskeletal system. However, there are an increasing number of cases where people are complaining of muscle and joint pains. Your doctor can advise you an Arthritis Screening Health Checkup to understand to what extent your work from home setup puts you at risk of arthritis.

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Conclusion

Besides physical health, you also need to be mindful of mental health when you work from home. This is because increased stress, anxiety, irregular sleep in some cases, burnout can also impact your mental and physical well-being. This in turn can affect your productivity at work. Indulge in some creative activities, play indoor games, exercise well, practice meditation and breathing exercises.

It is equally important to take care of your emotional and psychological well being to stay at the top of your health. By heeding the above-mentioned warning signs and undergoing diagnostic tests for early detection, you can ensure a healthy and happy work from home experience.

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