Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 15)

SHIFT WORKER Why it's tough on your ticker: Whether you're a security guard or a power plant employee, working night or rotating shifts can be hard on your body. In recent years, we've learned that not getting enough sleep not only leaves you tired but can affect your eating habits and weight as well. And working rotating night shifts long term has even been linked to an increased risk for diabetes in women. Make it healthier: After you've rested up, it's important to ﬁnd some way to get physical activity, Goldberg says. "If you work in a job where it's possible to take the stairs instead of the elevator, that's one way to get some physical activity while you're at work," she says. "Walk to work if you can, get off the bus at an earlier stop and walk, or park farther from the building if you drive." Goldberg also emphasizes the importance of sleep hygiene. "No caffeine or alcohol before bedtime, keep your room dark with no TV in bed, and stay off your smartphone, tablet or computer and just rest," she says. ASSEMBLY LINE WORKER Why it's tough on your ticker: The pressure of working on an assembly line often causes job strain, a term that describes jobs with high levels of demand and little personal control. "There's high pressure; you have to speed things up. The belt controls you; you don't control the belt," Goldberg says. Multiple studies on job strain Desk Jockey Detox When your boss hits you with a 9 a.m. deadline or a client threatens to pull his account, remember to breathe. Peter L. Schnall, MD, director of the Center for Social Epidemiology, says deep breathing is a fundamental relaxation technique that's beneficial in temporarily managing stress. Try it for five minutes. Take a slow, deep breath and let your stomach push out as your lungs fill with air. Hold your breath for a count of six. Exhale slowly to a count of six to eight as your stomach deflates. 1 2 3 offer convincing proof that working in a high-demand/low-control environment is a risk factor for heart disease. Make it healthier: If your occupation produces high job strain, take a break when you're able, Goldberg says. "Relax and do deep breathing exercises," she says. At the end of the day, try to leave anxiety behind in the workplace. Don't take it home. SPRI NG 2014 15

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Staying Ahead of Concussions
The Recovery Zone
Occupational Hazards
The New Rules of Play
Shopping for Two
Back to Basics
Burn, Baby, Burn
Angelina Jolie
Rock Your Health
Breaking Up with Salt
Disgusting! (or Not?)
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Ready, Set, Run!
You Can Change the World
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center