There has been a noticeable trend among employees with desk jobs, who are suffering from body ache and fatigue. As stress and deadlines have become paramount in workplaces, many people are overlooking a lifestyle disorder, known as fibromyalgia. Are you one of them?
What Is This Alien-Name Like Disorder?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition showing widespread musculoskeletal pain and is currently affecting a large proportion of the workforce. As evidenced by functional MRI studies, fibromyalgia is linked to abnormalities in pain processing in the brain.
This condition predominantly affects women and is marked by fatigue, cognitive disturbances as well as psychiatric symptoms.
Fibromyalgia’s pathophysiology is still uncertain. However, ongoing research suggests that it is not associated with tissue inflammation but may be a pain regulation disorder, part of a broader category known as central sensitisation syndromes.
Neurochemical imbalances in the central nervous system, leading to heightened pain perception, known as allodynia, and an increased response to painful stimuli, termed hyperalgesia, are the symptoms of this disorder.
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Why Are Working Professionals The Specific Victims?
Fibromyalgia has a profound impact on working professionals, causing pain and stiffness throughout the body, overwhelming fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive issues commonly referred to as “fibro fog”, which severely impair work productivity.
This condition can make it difficult to balance work and personal life, negatively affecting social relationships and mental health. These employees have to restructure work schedules, allowing for frequent rest breaks, and considering part-time hours or flexible work arrangements.
Jobs that require prolonged standing, repetitive movements, or heavy lifting, such as retail positions, are particularly unsuitable for people with fibromyalgia.
What Should Be Done Then?
Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia yet, current research focuses on identifying novel drugs targeting these underlying mechanisms, with some studies exploring the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and antidepressants for chronic pain management.
Corporate employees must prioritize their health by adopting a conscious lifestyle and making mindful choices throughout the day. It is also very important to follow customized diet plans, stay hydrated, engage in regular exercise routines, practice gentle desk stretches, and openly address stressors to promote emotional well-being and maintain fitness, thereby preventing the onset of fibromyalgia.
Initiatives such as increased awareness, tailored education, and targeted psychotherapeutic support are paramount. These strategies collectively contribute to cultivating a workplace environment that aims at not just physical but also mental well-being.
Image Credits: Google Images
Feature image designed by Saudamini Seth
Sources: Times of India, India Today, ABP News
Find the blogger: Unusha Ahmad
This post is tagged under: lifestyle, disorder, fibromyalgia, workplace, employees, employers, jobs, work life, workload
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