Cast & Curious

Tag: mental 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.

  • 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

  • Managing Stress, Building Resilience and Finding Meaning at Work

    Summary: This pandemic brought stress and the needed resilience to an all time high. Experts recommend finding new meaning at work to combat disillusionment. Join our #HealthXPh chat this Sat 9PM MLA Jan 29, 2022, share your experience and results!

    “I quit!!This is hardly the work I imagined when I entered med school! You risk your life and the safety of your family, for what? Getting rebuked for not extending an already extended duty??! What the f-!”

    MD

    I’ve seen more colleagues leaving this past 2 years than in 10 years I’ve been in practice. Many left because of the untenable healthcare system. Most, simply got burned out by this pandemic. Gone were the accolades and praises for health workers leading the fight against COVID-19. Instead, healthcare workers get ridiculed, criticised and accused of profiteering. People would rather believe popular but misguided personalities who propagate misinformation. Thus, vaccine hesitancy is at its highest.No wonder a lot of healthcare workers wonder- “are we still in the vocation that we all so loved before”?

    This pandemic “broke” many records in healthcare. Given the enormous level of burnout and stress healthcare providers receive at work, mental health issues is at its highest. The number of healthcare workers leaving the local health industry is also staggering, probably the highest in recent memory. Exit interviews among healthcare providers reveal predictable answers- seek greener pastures elsewhere or leave medicine until our healthcare system “figure out” this pandemic. If this diaspora continues, our healthcare system will probably collapse.

    What seem pretty obvious though is that in our healthcare system, care for healthcare providers is not a topmost priority. This is a difficult reality to swallow. Notwithstanding, healthcare providers should prioritize self care or we cannot sustain taking care of others. I am very interested in the thoughts and experiences of healthcare providers who continued doing their “calling”.

    “Why are you not leaving medicine? Have you found ways to manage stress at work? How did you sustain and build resilience? Did you find meaning in this thankless job? Or, are you are you simply zombie- riding the tides of this pandemic??” This will be the topic of our #HealthXPh chat. To guide our discussion, here are the topic questions.

    T1. How do you manage stress at work?

    T2. How do you build resilience at work?

    T3. How do you find meaning at work?

    All these questions obviously mattered even before. This pandemic however brought the level of stress and the needed resilience to an all time high. Many psychologist and mental health experts recommended finding new meaning at work as a way to combat disillusionment with the current healthcare work environment. Most of us agree on these recommendations, but “devil is in the detail”. Note my emphasis on the “how to” so many healthcare provider joining this chatr can try some out of what works for you. So come and join our #HealthXPh chat this Saturday 9PM Manila time Jan 29, 2022, share your experience and results!

    Image by WOKANDAPIX from Pixabay

  • Dousing “The Burn” out of Health Workers

    Last year, I was literally up and about helping patients and love ones cope up with burnout amidst this pandemic. This year, I got burned and I had hard time dealing with it.

    Growing up out of poverty and trained as an orthopedic surgeon, I am very confident of my “grit” and “resilience”. I could streetsmart myself out of any crisis or navigate a disaster, unscathed. I am usually called in to lead a team in crisis particularly because of “grit and resilience”. Moreover, Filipinos are known for our grit and resilience having been battered by disasters year in, year out. We usually just joke around these hardships like a regular daily occurrences. No wonder why burn out is overrated among us.

    Well, not until this COVID-19 pandemic.

    T1. How should I know I’m burned out?

    Various studies have shown that 50-70% of health workers experienced burnout during this COVID-19 pandemic. I was expecting health worker burnout to happen anytime soon, but not me. It’s always easy diagnosing a disease when its afflicting someone else. But not me. I went about the business of leading a healthcare team fighting COVID-19 and spearheaded another organization’s learning and digital transformation. I even managed to set up a counselling program for burnout health workers in one institution. Yet, in the months that follow, I noticed the veil of burn out creeping in. Despite the perceived success of many endeavors I led, I felt achieving nothing. I can empathize with the emotional exhaustion of my colleagues, yet I “constructively” deny my own exhaustion. I worked and spend some more time on work. “Maybe this could solve more problems”. Personal tragedies filled up, fuses shortened and the volcanic, emotional outburst showed “the cracks”.

    I am burned. I haven’t accepted it just yet, but I am definitely burned.

    T2. What are the consequences of a health worker burn out?

    What compelled me to accept this is ironically, the grim consequence it could bring not just to myself, but to the entire health care institution. It can and will probably cost lives- Mine or others. I’ve seen colleagues resigning or shifting to other less risky careers. I’ve talked to some who swear not to hold the stethoscope ever again. I’ve seen wards and hospitals shut down because of health worker shortages. I’ve seen patients got worse simply because there’s too much a single health worker could handle. The moral distress is high, particularly with the loss of sense of control over this pandemic. Even that, I still couldn’t believe that the resilient me can be burned.

    T3. How can a health worker help him/herself and others, out of burnout?

    Denial state notwithstanding, I have this moral obligation to do something about my burnout. Perhaps, one way to convince myself that I need help , is to help other health workers both on a personal and systems level. I called out a time out for my team. Not long enough, but not a bad start either. Health workers cannot simply “quit” en masse in a complex health systems. Second, we need to initiate system level safety nets that protect health workers from hazards and toxic work environment. Third and probably the most important, I have to deal with my own “burnt out” issues.

    This will be the topic of our #healthxph tweet chat this saturday Oct 16, 2021 9PM Manila time. Please join us with this guide questions:

    • T1. How should I know that I am burned out?
    • T2. What are the consequences of a health worker burnout?
    • T3. How can a health worker help him/herself and others, out of burnout?

    Image by Sam Williams from Pixabay

  • Coping with Pandemic Induced Stress

    In early 2019, I was assigned several innovative projects because of technical, educational and administrative “troubleshooting” abilities. I was happy with what I considered as a promotion, embracing additional responsibilities to a mildly busy orthopedic practice and academic duties. The projects entailed mostly online work, with few face to face meetings as needed.

    Inspite of my supposedly “stress-proof” lifestyle, stress began creeping in early January of 2020. I was trying out some “stress mitigation tactics” when this pandemic happened.

    Stress, is at a unprecedented level.

    My adult life was about balancing the pursuit of dreams, self care and positive contributions to society. Many medical professionals eat stress for breakfast and most survive, unscathed. We’re “stress-proof” so to speak. We’re confidently resilient, agile and unbending to “pressures” . When COVID-19 pandemic came, I’m confident about surviving stress. One year after and though I’m alive and coping, I’m still trying out new things to stress proof my life inside a bubble.

    I’m having a hard time “managing” this unprecedented level of stress.

    Here’s the deal. I am very much interested in how you, a medical professional, is coping with this pandemic induced stress. I’m an action guy and I like knowing details or specifics of your coping mechanisms. Verb, I repeat specifics and the context of its application. Yes, you may include all those memes, tiktoks, food galore, plants and what nots. Just have the “decency” to spell out if and when these whatever, helped you cope with stress. What metrics did you use. Yes, let’s be scientific- evidenced based coping mechanisms measured by. This will be our tweet chat topic later 9PM manila time. Game?

    T1. How did pandemic-induced stress got you?

    The first step in coping with stress is knowing or accepting you are stressed. I has had sleepless, anxious nights thinking I got COVID after inadvertently bumping one sneezing person. There were times I had to wake up, read online messages for fear of missing out some important news. I easily flare up when people disregard health protocols. I had eating binges and didn’t exercise. I get angry when people don’t follow procedures or are offering excuses . I lost that “what-if-you’re-in-this person-shoes” empathic mind battle completely. I am on a self preserving mode. When I argued with a family member over some trivial stuff, I called up a friend for help. I was breathing stress and I needed help.

    T2. How did you cope with pandemic induced stress?

    Accepting everyone’s in the same stress boat as I am, I started looking for “positives”, a way out, an opportunity to act rather than blame. I was letting go of things or actions that is beyond my influence. Watched less TV, social media fasted and tried a phone-less existence as often as I could. I focused on plants, food then some healthy routines. Pre COVID I had this weekly, daily routine of exercise, creative and challenging pursuits, journalling. When COVID came, all that is left is journalling thoughts, because all the actions were severely limited. I struggled much adapting my exercise, exploring and discovering routines. Am still am. Refocusing is hardest, particularly with greying of the work and personal time with a work from home arrangement. Rereading stoic literature was helpful in this. Then there is this social media hiatus. I often turn off my phone, lock it inside drawer so people could not call me at night. One of I think the best coping I learned this pandemic is being grateful. Even with the smallest of things or failures that made me a better person.

    T3. How did you know your coping mechanism is effective?

    First, I slowly regained some restful sleep at night then wake up early in the morning to exercise. I’ve learned to reply to essential messages at day time. There’s this seemingly relaxed and unperturbed attitude at the breakfast table or a leisurely coffee while trimming plants. I could also now walk away from whatever I work from without guilt, accepting everyone’s is entitled to some reprieved in this pandemic. I’m still working on my stingy often cold, stoic demeanour about so many things. I’m still whinny as hell, but I laugh, or give self demeaning jokes about more often. I’m still a work in progress and hopefully, this tweet chat will give me ideas on how to have breakfast with sarscovid.

    Image by KamranAydinov on Freepik