Did you know that spending long hours at your computer can put your health at serious risk?
Most people does not even consider that possibility, but it does.
Working at a desk is extremely hard on your body, and I would like to share this with you so maybe you can avoid some of the most common health risks.
One of the most common one is: Chronic Fatigue.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Tired and troubled? Experiencing severe fatigue that lasts for months and go back over and over?
Feeling tired is common, and depression is a condition that everyone goes through from time to time. However, the chronic fatigue syndrome is not similar to the simple emotional ups and downs that we experience sometimes.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is medically known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, post-viral fatigue syndrome. It targets the central nervous system. People who have this disorder usually complain of severe fatigue that is aggravated even by simple exertion.
The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is not yet known, but some researches show that this might be incurable. Some cases disappear over time and some people use medications to relieve them of this disorder.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is medically defined as a severe chronic fatigue thats lasts six months or over but other medical conditions should have been ruled out before a diagnosis of CFS can be made.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may be precipitated by an illness. It may be a cold, or a stomach upset, or may even begin after major stress.
The symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are headache, muscle pain, inability to concentrate, tenderness in the lymph nodes, and fatigue that will not go away or may recur over the next several months. Patients also suffer from headache, non refreshing sleep, sore throat, myalgia or muscle pain, and body malaise for over a day.
In the past, people call CFS "yuppie flu" because it usually occurred on well-educated, well-off middle-ages women. Doctors also noticed that this disorder often occurred in people from mostly English speaking countries all over the world.
Women have a two to four times increased risk of getting the chronic fatigue syndrome than men.
The CDC or Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that over 500,000 people in the US have been diagnosed to have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Diagnosis of CHF is difficult because it has similar symptoms as the other illnesses.
The physician will first evaluate your condition and ask questions to rule out other diseases that may have the same symptom.
When everything has been eliminated, it is only then that the physician will come to a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
It is important that patients who are suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome learns how to manage their moods and know what to do whenever the disorder hits. Health providers suggest that people suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome should try to always try to get adequate rest.
Patients should also try to get a regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and trying to pace yourself whenever stress gets too much that you find it difficult to handle.
Patients will also benefit from medications to treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The doctors usually prescribe a lower dose of anti-depressant because it might increase the level of fatigue of the patient or the frequency it occurs. But it also helps to reduce the pain of people with the disorder.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may be mistaken with other illnesses which have the same presentation. These are fibromyalgia syndrome, neurasthenia, and chronic mononucleosis.
Other conditions that may also result in fatigue include thyroid problems especially hypothyroidism, eating disorders, autoimmune diseases, hormonal disorders, infections, narcolepsy, alcohol dependence, substance abuse, drug reactions, psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorders.
It is important to consult with a physician to evaluate the symptoms the patient is having and to make sure that the patient does not have any other organic or systemic diseases that might cause excessive long-standing fatigue.
Some people also find it comforting to seek the help of other people like rehabilitation experts to fully understand the patient's condition. Some also talk to other patients who are undergoing the same condition.
There are other risks as you sit in front of that computer but it would be to much to write about in this article, so if you would like to learn more about other risks such as:
Eye strain
RSI (Repetitive Stress Syndrome)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Constant Head Aches
Dizziness
Breathing Problems
Difficulty Concentrating
You can learn all about this in the book: "The Painless PC"
About the author:
Hege Crowton is establishing herself as an expert copywriter.
She is known for doing in-depth research before writing her articles.
Many of her articles are posted on
www.ezinecrow.comand she also does a lot of writing for
www.CrowSites.com.
Copyright 2005 HealthCrow.com
