Since Covid-19 took over the world, working from home has been the new norm. Whether you're team WFH or you're more of an office person, there are different benefits to working at either place. And while a lot of us have gotten used to the arrangements, doctors aren't so sure it's such a good idea. Not for the long run at least.
It turns out, working from home can result in a lot of negative health effects.
It was reported that there was a 20 percent increase in patients that developed medical ailments which might have been caused by WFH.
You might be wondering: how do you fall sick when you’re at home most of the time?
According to Dr Sunil Kumar Joseph, a medical practitioner at the Tayka Medical Family Clinic in Jurong, the most common complaints are musculoskeletal pain, such as backaches and neck strain, as well as migraine or tension headaches.
Body aches are usually caused by inactivity or poor posture, said Dr Joseph, adding that most home offices have poor ergonomics.
But it seems like WFH also has other, less tangible effects.
For example, the boundaries between “work” and “home” are blurred, allowing a phenomenon called 'job creep' to settle in.
Job creep involves us not being able to stop working when we're at home. It's when elements of work seep into our personal lives, for example constantly checking and replying to work emails at all times of the day. Unfortunately, WFH makes this a lot harder to avoid, since we are almost always connected and can easily pull out our smartphones or sit at the computer to continue our work.
Dr Alvina Nam, who runs Clinic@Costa in Bayshore’s Costa Del Sol condominium, said that as there are more meetings and the boundaries between work and play are not there when working from home, people are more stressed and anxious and this can cause migraine and tension headaches.
Doctors are also seeing an increase in ailments such as myopia, cracked teeth, asthma and eczema which could also be a result of prolonged WFH.
Dr Lynn Chiam, a dermatologist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, said irritants such as soaps and detergents, and environmental factors such as dust mites, pet fur and pollen commonly trigger eczema.
“There has been an increasing number of patients presenting with hand and facial eczema. This is likely related to the overuse of hand sanitiser and frequent hand washing with harsh soaps or detergents,” she said.
Dr Chiam added that higher stress levels during the pandemic could also lead to increased sensitivity and make the skin more susceptible to external irritants and allergens.
Like eczema, asthma can also be made worse by environmental factors, said Dr Ong Kian Chung, a respiratory specialist at KC Ong Chest & Medical Clinic.
Pandemic-induced stress and anxiety have caused many to complain about shortness of breath, he said, adding that this is usually a psychological problem which can be exacerbated by the extra weight gained by many during WFH.
Similarly, stress and food intake are the common reasons dentists are seeing more patients coming in with cracked teeth.
Dr Raymond Ang, chief operating officer of Q&M Dental Group, said a common problem he sees among those who work from home WFH is the increase in snacking, which can lead to dental problems especially if the snacks are sugary.
Another problem is clenching and grinding of teeth, which can be caused by stress and anxiety of WFH.
In the long run, doctors across the board believe that WFH is not a sustainable arrangement as the prolonged sedentary behaviour can bring with it various health effects.
So make sure to step outside from time to time, and some exercises wouldn’t hurt too! And don’t forget to set clear boundaries between work, play and rest.