Beware of your sedentary life style
Six software professionals under the age
of 33 have died and 2 top executives from
renowned software companies have become
paralysed because of stress-related heart
ailments in the last six months in Chennai,
says a study by Mitran Foundation, a
Bangalore based voluntary association of
practising doctors.
"All the six who died, and the two who
became invalid, had no family history of
heart attacks or any pre-history of heart
ailments or paralysis. They were all in
their prime, between 27 and 33 years,
and handled challenging projects at work
in their respective companies.
They worked long and continuous hours.
The end struck them very suddenly, and
it looked as if their hearts refused to take
any more stress," said Dr Dwarakanath,
director of Mitran Foundation, who has
studied stress components in 40 software
companies in Chennai during the last six
months.
The study, conducted at a cost of Rs 45
lakhs, covered more than 4,000 software
professionals from 80 companies who were
in service for a minimum of three years.
The email responses were scientifically
tabulated and the findings were ready in
2002.
Dr Dwarakanath, who was the late Dhirubhai
Ambani's personal stress management
consultant, said questionnaires extracting
every minute detail were sent to the
respondents. The personal background,
family history and personal characteristics
of these individuals were assessed and it
was found that stress in these professionals
was only due to work pressure. All other
factors were eliminated.
"Our study confirmed that the number of
suicides, divorces, heart ailments, BP and
diabetes patients and mental depression
are the highest in the software industry.
The fancy salaries of software professionals
are no longer something to rejoice about,"
Dr Dwarakanath said.
"We found that the software industry has
simply no routine.
Deadlines hang before them and every day
they chase new problems. During weekends
more than 60 per cent of the vehicles are
found parked in the office complexes.
There is no physical exercise and new food
habits favoured by pizza culture fuel the
problem. Cervical spondilitis and wrist problems
due to uncomfortable handling of the computer
mouse, eye problems and discomfort in bowel
movements are common.
The stress for couples where both are
employed in the IT industry is the worst.
The simple step of taking time off from
work for three months allowed an IT couple
wanting a child for years to conceive one,"
Dr Dwarakanath said.
M.T.R. Venukopalan, senior training
coordinator, Covansys India, acknowledged
that IT professionals were the most
stressed individuals. "Even if the company
sponsors a movie or self-care lecture, not
many attend them," he said.
Jyothsana, a travel coordinator for Temenos
India Pvt Ltd, expressed concern for the
young employees who complain of back
and knee pains.
She acknowledged that IT professionals
require a specific eating and physical
exercise routine to ease their stress.
"Our lives are becoming mechanical, guided
only by deadlines," she said.
So think again if you are staying late in the
office regularly.
Think again about your family.
Think again about your social life and health.
Please forward it to your friends too ...
Work is essential. Your contribution to the
goal should be great. But, please don't
make it a habit to stay late.
Don't skip your Break Fast/Lunch/Dinner.
None of these are equated by Pizza,
Biscuits/Wafers/Chat items.
Avoid rich masala foods.
Be Indian, Eat Indian
Let your food regularly have
1) Ginger, Onion (small), Garlic, Mint leaves
2) Apple, Mosambi / Orange, Water Melon
3) Honey
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