Are doctors capable of managing their own health? The short answer is, “of course, definitely!” While this may seem like an obvious answer, the way to achieve it is far from straightforward, especially with the long working hours and high stress working environment that doctors face. Many patients look up to doctors not just for medical advice, but also on how they can maintain their health, and a doctor who is unable to manage their own health is almost a contradiction to them. Although it is much easier said than done, personal health management should be as natural to doctors as using a stethoscope. Understandably, doctors face many obstacles in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Hence in this article, we will explore ways that this can be done while still juggling the high demands from this occupation: 1. Eat in moderation In maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating in moderation is the key for success. Thinking of eating that mouth-watering plate of char kway teow? How about having prata with curry for lunch? And why not add in that succulent tiramisu for dessert? And not forgetting all the snacks and sweets at your desk! While all that sounds lip-smackingly good, it is a recipe for a health disaster. It is commonplace for all doctors to advise patients, no matter their health problems, that a healthy diet and eating in moderation is a must for recovery. And doctors can easily forget this as they turn to sweets and snacking to help them last their long shifts, or crave all these oily foods after a long day of work. It is impossible to stay healthy while feeding your body so much junk. The foundation of a healthy lifestyle is to watch your diet, and while junk food and oily food is perfectly fine when taken occasionally, keep a balanced diet which includes all your essential food groups. A good diet is already half the battle won in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. What’s more, this change barely takes any effort! Why not swap out fried chicken for the occasional salad, or instead of having a fastfood takeaway when in a rush, try healthier takeaway options like sandwiches. 2. Find time to exercise The second of the two most important things to a healthy lifestyle is to exercise. While finding time to do this may be hard, especially for doctors, a balanced diet alone is not enough to keep you healthy. Research has shown the many benefits of exercise, including: • Up to a 35% lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. • Up to a 50% lower risk of type 2 diabetes. • Up to a 50% lower risk of colon cancer. • Up to a 20% lower risk of breast cancer. • A 30% lower risk of early death. While all this benefits health in the long run, exercise also has immediate benefits. This includes the release of endorphins immediately after a workout which can help improve your mood, relieve stress and make you feel happy. This can be especially beneficial after a long and stressful day at work. Why not try running home instead of taking the bus, or why not take a quick run before going to work. An early morning run can help wake you up in the morning, and may even be better than your daily cup of Joe. Of course, this takes a lot of commitment and dedication, dragging your groggy body out of bed, or your burnt out self after a long shift to go exercise takes a lot of determination, but the positive effects of the workout should be more than enough for you to do it. 3. Small changes in lifestyle While a complete lifestyle overhaul may be too much for you, you can start by opting for healthier choices in everyday life. Try taking the stairs instead of the escalator. Why not get off a stop early and walk home instead? How about when ordering a fast food meal, chose a healthier drink, or a smaller side of fries? Why not instead of sending your colleague an email, walk over to talk to them instead? Singapore’s Health Promotion Board has been promoting a 10,000 daily step challenge since the beginning of the year- why not give it a try every day? Many small things can add up to a much larger effect in the long run and the cumulative effect could just be enough to improve your health. 4. Standing Desk While this may be the most drastic of all the suggestions in this article, it is definitely one of the easiest to implement! Standing desks have shown many health benefits, including lowering risk of obesity and weight gain, lowering blood sugar, back pain and even increasing productivity. Not just improving overall health, a standing desk can also improve posture and reduce eye stress by moving your monitor slightly above eye level, so as to prevent slouching and improves core strength to stay upright. Plus, standing burns more calories than sitting does, and while walking burns more than both, standing instead of sitting for extended periods can be very beneficial, especially for doctors who spend long hours in the seat seeing to patient consultations. While managing your own health while juggling a job with such high demands may seem impossible, it is very doable if you incorporate these small changes in lifestyle. Of course, it is impossible to change completely overnight, but minute changes in lifestyle can help improve overall health for doctors. A healthier doctor means a happier one with with more energy, and this will definitely be appreciated by your patients. Source
