Cast & Curious

Tag: Health

  • Breaking the Irony: Healthcare Professionals, Sports, and Fitness – Let’s Get Real!

    Breaking the Irony: Healthcare Professionals, Sports, and Fitness – Let’s Get Real!

    Ah yes, sports and fitness… again?! I know, it’s the last thing many of us healthcare professionals want to talk about. We’re busy saving lives, managing stress, and battling the daily grind. But this topic just too important to ignore. So, let’s dive in.

    Seriously though, how many of us, despite knowing the undeniable benefits, consistently engage in sports or fitness activities? The key word here is consistent. Yes, we tell our patients to “exercise regularly” but, let’s be honest, how many of us actually practice what we preach? Personally, I’ve struggled with this myself, and I know I’m not alone. Even athletes—those fitness gods—have their ups and downs. But unlike them, sports and fitness are not our profession.

    For us mortals—busy, overworked healthcare professionals—finding time and energy for fitness feels like climbing a mountain. But here’s the kicker: we, of all people, should be leading by example. Yet, many of us are trapped in a cycle of inconsistency, letting our mental and physical health slip.

    The Moment of Realization

    I had my wake-up call just six months ago when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. There I was, staring at a pot-bellied version of myself, wondering how long before my clothes would burst at the seams. The weighing scale wasn’t kind either. Then, I noticed a colleague stacking up maintenance meds like they were vitamins—some even taking five different pills a day. It made me wonder: am I the odd one out for not being on medication yet?

    To add salt to the wound, my patient went to someone else for weight loss advice after consulting me. Ouch. That was the final push I needed to realize that something had to change.

    Let’s Skip the Basics and Get Real

    We already know the benefits of physical activity—let’s not waste time repeating them. The real conversation we need to have is about the barriers. Why aren’t we, as healthcare professionals, engaging in consistent sports and fitness activities? What’s holding us back, and more importantly, how can we overcome these barriers?

    This Saturday at 9PM Manila time, during our #HealthXPH Twitter/X chat, we’ll tackle these questions head-on.

    T1: What are the common barriers for healthcare professionals to consistently engage in sports and fitness activities?

    T2: What is your compelling motivation to consistently engage in sports and fitness activities? And if you’re not into fitness yet, what could motivate you?

    T3: What tips or strategies have helped you stay consistent with sports and fitness?

    I won’t give away my thoughts just yet. I want to hear from all of you—your experiences, your struggles, and your solutions. Afterward, I’ll follow up with a post summing up the best advice and tips from our collective wisdom.

    In the meantime, start warming up! Get those fingers ready to tweet and, more importantly, stretch those hands and bodies before and after our hour-long chat. See you Saturday at #HealthXPH, and let’s move towards better health together!

    P.S. If you’re already feeling inspired (or guilty, like I was), why not take a few minutes to schedule that long-overdue workout? You deserve it—your patients, your family, and most importantly, your future self will thank you.

    Image by freepik

    Disclosure: This post was edited with the help of a writing AI.

  • 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.