Is your job making you sick? From ‘iPhone finger’ to chronic diseases, the health hazards at your desk – and how to beat them

• Office workers are at risk of a range of ailments including repetitive strain injuries, vision problems, weight gain and even chronic diseases 

When we think about hazardous work environments, an office is hardly the first place to spring to mind.

But what many of us who spend eight hours a day at a desk don't realize is that our seemingly harmless occupations could in fact be damaging our wellbeing.

Whether it's strain injuries, headaches, dry eyes or even chronic disease, experts have identified a number of potential health hazards lurking behind our keyboards and computer screens.

Repetitive strain injuries

It is not uncommon for employees working in an office environment to suffer from aches and pains caused by repetitive movement and overuse while working at a keyboard.

These repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) are usually suffered in the forearms, elbows, wrists, hands, neck and shoulders, with the most common symptoms including pain or tenderness, stiffness, tingling and cramps.

Poor posture while sitting at your desk can also contribute to RSIs or upper back and neck pain, from hunching over or tightening the shoulder muscles.

glossary:

range of ailments - série de doenças

strain injuries - lesões por esforços

weight gain - ganho de peso

spring to mind - vêm à mente

seemingly - aparentemente

harmless - inofensivo

wellbeing - bem-estar

lurking - à espreita

suffer - sofrer

aches - dores

forearms - antebraços

elbows - cotovelos

wrists - pulsos

shoulders - ombros

Paula Paiva Tashima