Cast & Curious

Tag: fitness

  • Balancing Health and Career as a Physician

    Balancing Health and Career as a Physician

    [su_dropcap]A[/su_dropcap]s healthcare professionals, we dedicate our lives to the health and well-being of others. Yet, amidst demanding schedules, long hours at work, and constant emotional and physical toll, we still think our body will handle itself, without us “helping” or investing time and effort on our overall well being.

    [su_box title=”Stories from the Clinics”] A patient sought consult for a low back pain and tingling sensation down his legs. He is overweight and his random blood sugar was elevated on testing. Both his parents were diabetic. I asked if he consulted an internist or endocrinologist. “Not yet, but I will” he said. After doing a physical examination, additional diagnostics, preliminary diagnosis and strategy for managing his concerns, he asked me this question “what is your physical activity and how do you avoid obesity? This patient obviously noticed my “not so healthy physique” but courteously waited for my advice. So as an orthopedic surgeon, I advised him what I know about the (theoretical) benefits of physical activity and proper nutrition to his overall well being. Then he followed up with – “How”? I paused for a moment and replied, ” I try fitting all that into my busy schedule. My answer confused him even more. I doubt he’d follow my concoction of advice, seeing that I, a physician, was obviously out of shape. [/su_box]

    This clinical encounter flashed backed months ago, when I saw my physique on a mirror. I am out of shape! Last year alone, I saw two colleagues my age succumbed to lifestyle disease-related complications. Another one took his own life. I got so scared I started researching physical and nutritional health, again. I did the same research, activity and dieting, several times in the past. I even went on organic farming to support these effort but well, failed. So not this time I promised. I also delve into specifics of incorporating such healthy physical and nutritional lifestyle into a busy physician life. Is it even possible?

    Share Your Insights

    For this conversation, I wanted to learn how healthcare professionals maintain well-being while delivering the best care possible. I want to reach out and gain insights from colleagues’ experiences. Your experiences and strategies can provide invaluable guidance and support to fellow physicians navigating similar challenges. Here are three main questions I’d love for you to answer:

    T1. How Do You Manage Stress and Prevent Burnout?

    Burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment, is a prevalent issue among physicians. There’s no published local data yet, but according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), more than half of U.S. physicians experience substantial symptoms of burnout (Shanafelt et al., 2015). How do you manage stress and prevent burnout in such a high-pressure environment? Are there specific strategies, routines, or practices you follow?

    T2. How Do You Prioritize Your Physical Health?

    Given the irregular hours and intense workload, maintaining physical health can be challenging for healthcare professionals. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep are fundamental to overall well-being but are often compromised. An 2018 FNRI study showed 37.2 % of Filipinos adults are obese. Since 1993 to 2018, fasting blood glucose is increasingly elevated in adults. Approximately 40% of Filipino adults are also physically inactive. While these figures do not single out healthcare professionals, it doesn’t exempt us either. According to the American Medical Association, a significant number of physicians report insufficient sleep, which can impair cognitive function and overall health (American Medical Association, 2017). How do you ensure you get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy diet? What tips and tricks do you have for balancing these aspects amidst your busy schedule?

    T3. How Do You Sustain Mental and Emotional Well-being?

    The emotional demands of being a physician are immense. I witness doctors quit training because “they couldn’t handle the pressure”. I talked to a colleague shifting into an outpatient only practice because in patients took much of his night time sleeps. Dealing with patients’ suffering, making critical decisions, and managing complex relationships can take a toll on your mental health. The National Academy of Medicine highlights that mental health issues among physicians are often underreported and undertreated (National Academy of Medicine, 2019). How do you take care of your mental and emotional well-being? Are there support systems, hobbies, or mindfulness practices that you find particularly helpful?

    [su_box title=”Key Takeaways”]Healthcare professionals should balance their physical and mental well being while taking care of their patients and their families. The best way to do this is to invest time and effort on physical and mental activities, incorporating these into our daily life/work routines.[/su_box]

    “If you don’t make time for exercise, you’ll probably have to make time for illness.”

    Robin Sharma

    Looking Back

    Will that patient follow my advice when he sees my physique now? Will my improve physical and mental well being impact my work as a physician? Please share your insights in the chat with the guide questions above . Kindly append your answers with #healthxph hashtag. Your insights should help foster a community of well-being and resilience among colleagues.

    Image by freepik

    References

    1. Shanafelt, T. D., Hasan, O., Dyrbye, L. N., et al. (2015). Changes in burnout and satisfaction with work-life balance in physicians and the general US working population between 2011 and 2014. JAMA, 314(22), 2334-2343. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.13971
    2. American Medical Association. (2017). Addressing physician burnout: The way forward. Retrieved from https://www.ama-assn.org
    3. National Academy of Medicine. (2019). Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout: A Systems Approach to Professional Well-Being. Retrieved from https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25521/taking-action-against-clinician-burnout-a-systems-approach-to-professional
  • The Impact of Healthcare Professional’s Sports and Fitness Activities on Personal and Professional Life

    The Impact of Healthcare Professional’s Sports and Fitness Activities on Personal and Professional Life

    In 2010, a third of the world’s population was considered physically inactive. Back then it was estimated that approximately 5 million deaths were attributable to physical inactivity, making it the fourth leading cause of mortality worldwide.

    To address this global issue, a whole society approach consisting of “policy and environmental changes” to make physical activity “an easier choice for leisure and transportation purposes”. An example of this is the recent proliferation of bike lanes in many of our cities. We also need to adjust our social and cultural norms to promote physical activity rather than sedentary lifestyles.

    It is not uncommon that many patients see healthcare professionals as role models for physical activity. Several studies have shown that counseling by physicians and other HCPs, helped patients improve their lifestyles and physical activity levels. The impact of physical activity counseling by healthcare professionals on patients are well documented, while the physical activity levels of healthcare professionals and the its relationship to his or her overall health, is sadly not. This shall be the topic of the #HealthXPh discussion this Dec 2, 2023 9PM Manila time.

    T1. Do you regularly exercise or participate in any sport and fitness activities?

    The American Heart Association recommends, among others, that for adults “at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of both, preferably spread throughout the week”. I would assume that us, being healthcare professionals aren’t exempted from these recommendations. So yes I do regularly cross train and play badminton each week mainly for the health benefits and some socialization as well as for my professional practice as a number of my patients play the same sport I do. The 2.5 hours spread across the week isn’t easy as it looks

    T2. What are the barriers to a healthcare professional regularly participating in sports and or fitness activities?

    The lack of time and geographic location of sports facilities in my areas are my greatest barriers to sports. The often unpredictable demands of my field- trauma orthopedics and clinical work often puts my sporting schedule in jeopardy. I got hooked to badminton because the court is just few blocks away from my home and we have a same age group of players committed to playing weekly. I also run and trail bike but I am still afraid of the absence of bike lanes and safe trails as well as the driving behaviour of motorist in our area. I wanted swimming but theres no pool near my area and getting into one may take me thirty plus minutes more. I do long hikes or trek mountains but thats not a regular weekly activity.

    T3. Do sports and fitness activities impact your personal and professional lives?

    Have it not been for sports or physical activity, I probably been obese or dead years ago given the many risk factors I have. My mental wellbeing is also tightly intertwined with sports and all these outdoor activities. I do curse by the pain and aching muscles everyday but I also am in a better disposition to confront my everyday tasks as a healthcare professional. The negative impact is the socializations and binges I have to refuse just top hit the court, or gym.

    Professionally, as an orthopedic surgeon, I have a number of patients coming up to me because “I play the same game they are playing”. These patients thought I do understand, can explain or help them better when it comes to their complaints.

    So there, join #HealthXPh as we discuss the Impact of Healthcare Professional’s Sports and Fitness Activities on Personal and Professional Life via Twitter/X this Dec 2, 2023 9PM Manila Time.