4-25-2006

Workplace Stress

A new study shows workers who thought they were suffering from sick buildings may actually be reacting to stress in the workplace.

A study conducted among employees in the United Kingdom found that "sick building syndrome" may be a misnomer, according to the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Many symptoms thought to be caused by workplace environment are actually a result of job stress, explains Sandra Vicari, assistant professor of psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.

SOUND BITE: "Sick building syndrome is a popular, yet vague term to describe headaches, cough, tired or itchy eyes, runny nose or tiredness that’s usually blamed on poor air quality in an office. There’s growing evidence, however, that job stress is really the combination of demanding work load and the loss of autonomy in our society right now that has health effects that are physically affecting us."

Vicari says during long periods of stress, cortisol in the brain can shut down the immune system, which may cause some people to get sick. However, individuals react differently to the various types of stress. Something that is stressful to one person may not be a problem to another. She suggests some ways to deal with stress.

SOUND BITE: " . . . make a to do list and on that list prioritize that list – what you can and can’t do. Delegate what you can’t do and learn to say no because I think people tend to take on more and more responsibilities. You have to balance your work with your home life – be able to do some relaxation . . ."

Vicari says people also can try some calming techniques such as taking deep breaths and thinking about a peaceful place or something they enjoyed. If an individual’s stress is affecting their health, they should see a family physician or mental health counselor.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.