1000 and one disease
Often, IT specialists of Russian companies refer to doctors with vision problems, stomach and back pain, as well as complaints of neurosis, and some with several problems at once. This was reported to socialbites.ca in the online health service SberHealth.
Service specialists analyzed impersonal calls to doctors by IT specialists of Russian companies since the beginning of 2022. In total, the study analyzed 3,000 online requests from Russian IT specialists to doctors and service professionals.
“The most common complaints of IT professionals are vision problems – 3 out of 4 professionals (74%) treat them and stomach problems (54%)”,
– Artem Nikolaev, chief physician of the SberHealth telemedicine clinic, told socialbites.ca.
According to Nikolaev, the causes of complaints of pain and fatigue in the eyes are working for hours at the computer without resting for the eyes, the use of drops that moisturize the cornea, and the frequent use of intraocular carbohydrates and the lack of diet for complaints of pain in the stomach.
Various addictions, primarily smoking and using energy drinks, rank third in terms of complaints from IT professionals.
“If the harms of smoking are known, energy drinks are a relatively new bad habit, in some cases addictive and health-altering. In case of an overdose of caffeine, taurine and other substances found in energy drinks for a long time, increased anxiety, palpitations, insomnia and headaches can occur, causing IT specialists to turn to doctors,” Nikolaev explained.
According to Nikolaev, 23% of IT professionals complain of problems caused by the use of energy drinks.
About 21% of applicants for help complain of neurosis. According to Nikolaev, neuroses in IT people mostly occur due to disruption of circadian rhythms.
These are internal processes in the body, hormonal and behavioral fluctuations that differ in periods when a person is asleep and awake. Human circadian rhythms are adapted to periods of sleep and wakefulness, which under normal conditions are synchronized with the day-night cycle.
The causes of violations in this case can be both internal and external. Irregular working hours and the regional distribution of the team stand out among the external reasons.
It is important to remember that with artificial disruption of the “sleep-wake” rhythm, the frequency of depression and exacerbations of mental illness increases in people with artificially disrupted biological rhythm.
In addition, 12% of IT workers complain of back pain caused by a person not wanting to sit at the desk too long and for as long as recommended. Other popular complaints are varicose veins in the lower extremities, vitamin D deficiency and pain in the arms.
Why so many problems and how to stay healthy?
Working in the field of information technology implies a static position of the body and physical inactivity for hours, disruption of nutrition and sleep biorhythms, stress due to deadlines, as well as eyestrain, I’m sure a candidate of medical sciences, named after Dr. Academician PE Russian National Research Medical University Lukom Medical Faculty, AINI Pirogov (University participating in the Priority 2030 program) Evgeny Taratukhin.
“The body adapts to all these factors just as it adapts to other environmental influences. But over the months and years, harmony is carried out in violation, that is, in pathology, ”explained Taratukhin.
According to him, the spine, especially the cervical region, suffers the most, which leads to impaired blood circulation, mainly to venous stasis and vertebral artery syndrome. Prolonged static false tension of the spinal muscles leads to radicular syndrome, scoliosis, dizziness and high blood pressure.
Head of the Department of Vascular Surgery of the Hospital Surgery Clinic of Samara State Medical University, Candidate of Medical Sciences Mikhail Melnikov, said that by all Russian and international standards, the most provoking factor for the development of chronic venous diseases is sedentary work. , Associate Professor Mikhail Melnikov.
“In the sitting position, not only the work of the leg muscles as the main component of venous outflow is turned off, but also the bending of the venous vessels, especially in the hip and knee joints. Accordingly, venous outflow is impaired,” he said.
Cardiologist Natia Nebieridze says that the cause of the development of pathology on the part of the visual system is not the radiation of monitors and screens, but eyestrain caused by prolonged work at a computer. MEDSI clinic, candidate of medical sciences, on Leninsky Prospekt.
“The causes of complaints about problems with the gastrointestinal tract are insufficient content of vegetable fiber in the diet, insufficient water intake, disruption of the rhythm of nutrition (1-2 times a day), the systematic use of a large amount of spices. , hot spices, vinegar, over-consumed fats and carbohydrates,” he said.
The emergence of neurosis and other mental disorders is a direct result of many addictions such as caffeine, cigarettes or energy drinks, as well as prolonged stress.
According to experts interviewed by socialbites.ca, in order to avoid the negative consequences of working in the field of information technology, it is necessary to follow a number of simple rules.
It is important to observe the correct body position while working: you need to sit so that the top of the screen is at eye level and at arm’s length. Elbows should be completely on the table. This will keep your neck in a neutral position and reduce fatigue.
To relieve tension in the eyes, you need to apply drops that moisturize the cornea, as well as periodically do eye exercises at least once an hour. It is also important to exercise every 1.5-2 hours and walk short distances. This will help stretch the muscles and reduce emotional stress.