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COVID-19 Quarantine: Health Effects of Working From Home

COVID-19 Quarantine: Health Effects of Working From Home

The onset of the global pandemic caused by coronavirus or Covid-19 has caused governments to order communities to stay at home to prevent the rapid spread of the virus. Coronavirus or Covid-19 has affected over 2 million people worldwide and has claimed the lives of over 160,000 people. In America, most people have opted to begin a work from home schedule if their jobs allow them to, in order to decrease the risk of getting infected with the virus. But did you know that there are health effects of working from home due to the Covid-19 quarantine? The Covid-19 quarantine helps communities reduce the risk of transmission but if individuals are not careful, they may experience different types of ailments.

 

Health Effects of Working From Home Due to the COVID-19 Quarantine

 

Eye strain, commonly experienced in office workplaces, is also one of the health effects of working from home.

By now, you’ve probably set up your home office, whether it’s an entire room or study in the house or a small nook in your apartment where you can work without the distractions (except for a snuggle here and there from your four-legged buddy and new co-worker). In this space, you can concentrate better and get more work done than any part of the home. But did you know that looking at the screen for extended periods of time, just as we would at the office, can cause eye strain? Even more so now that we bond with our friends and family through our mobile phones or computer screens, foregoing brunches and replacing them with FaceTime chats or Zoom meetings. This is one health effect of working from home. The additional screen time can make our eyes dry and tired.

American Headache Society president and chief at the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah Kathleen Digre told Allure that when we read or look at a computer, we “blink as frequently” so our blink rate goes down and eye dryness goes up. This dryness causes discomfort in the eyes. Moreover, there is a relation between eye strain and headaches. In addition, “eye strain or dryness can be a headache trigger,” because the eyes send a signal to your brain, which is received by the same area of the brain that processes issues on migraine headaches. Eye strain may also cause some dizziness. So what exactly can we do to alleviate eye strain, one of the health effects of working from home? Eye exercises!

Eye exercises help alleviate problems with eye strain. One of the most popular eye exercises is the 20-20-20 rule, which says that one must look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds for every 20 minutes of working on the computer. This gives your eyes a break from the blue light emitting from the computer screen. Medical News Today reports that you can also do the figure 8 exercise, in which one must focus on an area on the floor about 8 feet away and move the eyes in the form of the figure 8 continuously for 30 seconds. Do the same in the opposite direction. Similarly, one can do an eye movement exercise by closing your eyes, slowly moving the eyes upward, then downward, repeating the motion 3 times before doing the same from left to right and vice versa, also 3 times.

To ensure the health of our eyes and to ward off eye strain, one of the health effects of working from home, make sure you have some eye relief essentials in your home. The following are some suggestions.

1. Similasan Computer Eye Relief, 10 ml

Especially designed for eyes that have long been staring at computer screens and other tech devices, the doctor recommended Similasan Computer Eye Relief Sterile Eye Drops effectively relieves eye strain due to intense computer work, TV, reading, writing, or driving at night. It contains active ingredients that temporarily relieve minor symptoms of eye fatigue, which include tired or aching eyes, strained eyes, redness and irritation, blurry and double vision, eyelid spasms, and hypersensitivity to light. Customers rated this product 4.6 out of 5 stars, available at eVitamins.

2. Refresh Optive Advanced Lubricant Eye Drops, 30 Single-Use Vials

A lipid-enhanced lubricant eye drop, Refresh Optive Advanced works on all three layers of your tear film to effectively lubricate your eyes for moisturizing dry eye relief, hydrate the eye surface cells, and protect natural tears by aiding in reducing tear evaporation. This formula is clinically proven to relieve your dry, burning, irritated eyes and comes in sterile, single-use vials that are handy and convenient to use. Available at eVitamins.

3. NATURELO Eye Health Areds 2 Formula with Lutein, 60 Vegetarian Capsules

Eye Health Areds 2 Formula by Naturelo is composed of a large collection of eye-friendly vitamins, minerals, phyto-nutrients and herbs in one natural supplement that helps alleviate eye fatigue and dry eyes. It features a unique, plant-based formula that includes antioxidant carotenoids such as beta-carotene (from carrot powder), lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and astaxanthin. It also contains the exact combination of nutrients which the AREDS clinical trial found helps preserve vision in aging adults. These include beta-carotene (the precursor to vitamin A), vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and copper. It also contains Omega-3 DHA for the retina and brain and Grape Seed extract for ocular health and memory. Available at eVitamins.

4. Life Extension MacuGuard™ Ocular Support, 60 Softgels

Powered by phospholipids that are integral to the cell membrane and fat soluble components for eye health such as lutein, the MacuGuard™ Ocular Support supplement contains ingredients that have been shown to protect healthy eyesight. Its unique MacuGuard™ carotenoid phospholipid blend contains phospholipids, lutein, meso-zeaxanthin and trans-zeaxanthin, and cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) from European black currant extract. This supplement helps support the concentration of lutein and zeaxanthin in the eye and the absorption of lutein in the bloodstream. Available at ProHealth.

5. Naturewise Women’s Multivitamin with Eye Support and Men’s Multivitamin with Eye Support

Naturewise offers men and women specific eye health support with these gender-specific health supplements. Women’s Multivitamin with Eye Support is developed with Lutemax 2020® Lutein and Zeaxanthin that together has proven to improve visual performance and protect eyes from the damaging blue light of screens. It also contains 23 essential vitamins and minerals that support breast and heart health, provide stress support, and boost energy and immunity. It contains Fulvic ionic mineral complex and 12 organic fruits and vegetables plus spirulina, and food-grade digestive enzymes plus L. acidophilus for improved nutrient absorption. Men’s Multivitamin with Eye Support contains Lutemax 2020® Lutein and Zeaxanthin, 22 essential vitamins and minerals support the heart, muscles, prostate, and immune system, Fulvic ionic mineral complex, 12 organic fruits and vegetables plus spirulina, and food-grade digestive enzymes plus L. acidophilus for better nutrient absorption. Shop at Naturewise.

 

Bodily pains are one of the most common health effects of working from home.

If you’ve already relocated your office to your home in the past two to three weeks, you’re most likely to have felt one of the most common health effects of working from home: bodily pains including carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is defined by the Cleveland Clinic as a condition in which “pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand” and wrist are experienced by a person. This is caused by increased pressure on the median nerve, which is located on the wrist and “provides sensation to the thumb, index, and middle fingers, and to half of the ring finger.” Huffington Post reports that about 1.9 million Americans are affected by carpal tunnel syndrome. However, this can be alleviated by keeping wrists flat and straight. If you work on a computer a lot, consider purchasing an ergonomic keyboard that angles out from the center for easier typing and better wrist positioning. Studies have found that Vitamin B6 may be beneficial to those who experience carpal tunnel syndrome, but health authorities warn that there may be negative effects of taking too much vitamin B6, because while it does support the nervous system, it can also be harmful when dosages that are too high are frequently taken. According to Prevention, we only need about 1.4 mg of vitamin B6 in a day. It is commonly found in foods such as potatoes, bananas, chicken breast, brown rice, and avocados, among others. If you are experiencing some health effects of working from home due to the Covid-19 quarantine, including carpal tunnel syndrome, consider taking some vitamin supplements. It’s always best to consult with your doctor to find out if you are missing out on nutrients in your diet.

1. Irwin Naturals Mega B-Complex, 60 Softgels

Keep healthy with Irwin Naturals’ Mega B-Complex, which contains water-soluble B vitamins that help support nervous system health, cognitive performance, and metabolic function. Mega B-Complex contains eight essential B vitamins, including 1,000 mcg of biologically active B12 and MCTS for better cellular energy boost. Shop at eVitamins.

2. Solgar B-Complex 100, 250 VCapsules

Did you know that more than supporting nerve health, B vitamins also play a role in cellular respiration and support the process of efficiently converting food into energy. This product is free of corn, yeast, wheat, soy and dairy products. Shop at eVitamins.

3. Nordic Naturals Vitamin B Complex, 45 Capsules

The B vitamin complex is composed of vitamins B1 or thiamine, B2 or riboflavin, B3 or niacin, B5 or pantothenic acid, B6 or pyridoxine, B7 or biotin, B9 or folic acid, and B12 or cobalamin. This combination of B vitamins help support healthy brain function, proper nerve function, cardiovascular health, and hormones and cholesterol production, among other health benefits as per Healthline. Nordic Naturals Vitamin B Complex contains eight highly absorbable B vitamins in their active forms to support metabolic activities in the body. Shop at eVitamins.

4. Sundown Naturals Vitamin B6, 50 mg, 150 Tablets

Each single tablet serving of Sundown Naturals Vitamin B6 delivers 50 mg of Vitamin B6 in the form of Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, which supports the proper development of the brain, nerves, skin, and more. It is naturally found in beans, vegetables, meat, and eggs and is often used for treating pyridoxine deficiency and anemia, as per WebMD. Shop at eVitamins.

5. Nature’s Way Vitamin B-6, 50 mg, 100 Capsules

Vitamin B6 has a number of health benefits, which include the support of the production of the critical neurotransmitter, serotonin. Vitamin B6 is also converted to the main enzyme that handles amino acids and protein metabolism. Get your daily dose of vitamin B6 with Nature’s Way, which does not contain artificial ingredients, preservatives, yeast, milk, lactose, wheat, sugar or soy. Shop at eVitamins.

 

Stress is one of the health effects of working from home, whether you’re staying home due to the Covid-19 quarantine or not.

When you think about working from home, you’d often think, casual comfortable clothes and unlimited coffee breaks (without the judgy stares from officemates!), and the perfect work-life balance. While this may be true for some, other work from home employees are in fact experiencing stress at home. Inc. reports that a study by the United Nations International Labour Organization looked at workers across 15 countries who (1) worked from home regularly, (2) worked in different locations or are “highly mobile”, and (3) worked in an office and in another location. They found that these three groups reported higher stress levels and higher rates of insomnia compared to employees who worked full time at an office. 41% of those in Group 2 reported that they experienced some level of stress compared to 25% of those who worked strictly in an office. 42% of those in Group 1 or those who regularly worked from home also reported suffering from insomnia compared to 29% of those who worked in an office. This may be indicative that stress is often inevitable no matter where one works, as it is often caused by different factors. Stress is just one of the health effects of working from home, especially when the Covid-19 quarantine and the Coronavirus pandemic is causing added stress to both individuals and communities. Here are some ways you can fight stress during these trying times.

1. Naturewise Ashwagandha for Stress

Naturewise offers a unique health supplement with the Evolutionary™ Anti-Stress Blend featuring KSM-66® Ashwagandha, an award-winning herbal extract clinically proven to help reduce stress and anxiety. It contains soothing herbs and amino acids such as GABA, Rhodiola, L-Theanine, and Chinese Skullcap to help balance stress hormones and encourage a more positive mood. It effectively helps regulate hormones to better respond to stressful situations. It also helps soothe the nervous system so you can rest easier. Shop at Naturewise.

2. Hum Nutrition Daily Cleanse™ Supplement

Get rid of toxins and protect yourself from oxidative stress with Hum Nutrition Daily Cleanse™ Supplement, which contains alpha lipoic acid and milk thistle that helps cells function properly and protect against the effects of stress on your cells. The ALA is a vital antioxidant that protects the cells and supports energy production. This supplement also contains 9 essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals, zinc, and spirulina to help pull toxins out of the body. Shop at Neiman Marcus.

3. Vie Healing Huanhe Calm Loose Leaf Tea

Featuring a calming White Tea infusion rich with soothing Orchids, blood nourishing Goji Berries and antioxidant filled Marigolds, the Vie Healing Huahe Calm has a refreshing taste that calls to mind baked pear and orange blossoms. Its crisp, clean finish helps unwind and gently relax after a stressful day. It contains organic white peony, organic goji berries, organic marigold, orchid oolong, natural flavors, with a crisp, citrus, and floral flavor. Shop at Neiman Marcus.

4. Vie Healing Kualie Happy Adaptogenic Supplements, 120 Tablets

If the health effects of working from home due to the Covid-19 quarantine are getting you stressed out and feeling down, consider the Kualie Happy Adaptogenic Supplements from Vie Healing. It helps lift your mind, body, and spirit with its reviving blend of liver-soothing herbs. It helps nourish the blood and improve blood flow and energy balance. It helps stabilize the nervous system, cleanse the liver, enliven mood, and balance your emotion. Available at Neiman Marcus.

5. Sagely Naturals CBD Roll-On Gift Set

During this Covid-19, why not treat yourself, especially if you’re dealing with the health effects of working from home? The Sagely Naturals CBD Roll-On Gift Set features a collection of relieving CBD roll-ons for when you’re stressed out. The Relief & Recovery Roll-On helps release tension and targets occasional, temporary discomfort, while the Tranquility Roll-On inspires feelings of tranquility and relaxation. Lastly, the Drift & Dream Roll-On is perfect for sleepless, anxious nights so you can quiet your mind. Shop at Neiman Marcus.

 


For more on wellness, visit these our stories:

Best Health Boosters For The Immune System, According to Those Who Use Them

COVID-19: How to Protect Against Coronavirus at Home

COVID-19 Quarantine: Does Coronavirus Survive on Clothes? 

Just a disclaimer – We have partnered with these companies because we use their products and/or proudly trust and endorse them – so we do receive a commission if you make a purchase or sign up for services. Often, we are able to negotiate special discounts and/or bonuses, which we will pass on to you via our links. We often get short notice on sale items available for 24-48 hours as we will pass these savings onto you.

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