“Office Syndrome”
Office Syndrome is caused by work habits and daily lifestyle, especially among office workers who spend long hours in front of a computer with poor posture. This leads to muscle tightness and stiffness, eventually resulting in pain. People who sit and work regularly often experience neck, shoulder, and back pain that comes and goes chronically. If not treated seriously, it can become severe enough to cause abnormal curvature of the spine.
Now, let’s check whether the aches and pains from work that we often overlook fall into the category of “Office Syndrome.” Because when we recognize the symptoms early, we can take care of our bodies before it’s too late.
1. Numbness during the day, especially in the hands
While working, have you ever suddenly felt stiffness in your index finger, pain radiating to your wrist, difficulty controlling the mouse, or trouble gripping objects? If so, this is a sign that your body is under significant tension. Overuse of the fingers can cause inflammation and swelling of the finger muscles, which then compress the nerves and tendons at the wrist, leading to conditions such as “trigger finger” or “hand numbness.”
2. Pain radiating in the neck, back, and lower back
Office workers often have to sit for long periods dealing with heavy workloads, rarely getting up to move around. This leads to physical fatigue, and many people also sit in unhealthy postures such as slouching, rounding the shoulders, or sliding down in the chair. These postures place excessive strain on the neck muscles and can cause chronic pain that spreads across the back and lower back.
3. Frequent headaches or migraines
Headaches can have many causes, but if they occur frequently along with muscle tightness and body aches, they may be related to excessive work stress. Lack of sleep and rushing to work every day prevent the body from regulating hormones properly, which can further trigger severe headaches. Instead of relying on painkillers, it’s better to rest more and consult a doctor.
4. Blurred vision from screen use
Nowadays, we use communication devices almost nonstop, whether computers or smartphones, all of which involve bright screens shining directly into our eyes. Prolonged daily exposure for many hours increases the risk of retinal degeneration and glaucoma in the future. Without proper eye care, this can even lead to permanent vision loss. This is a serious issue, so if you must work in front of a computer, remember to take regular breaks to rest your eyes for better eye health.