Health Problems Related to the Geek Lifestyle

jonasj writes "A doctor and former programmer has written a good article on common geek health problems. From the article: 'If I were to go and try to run a few miles this weekend, I would not be able to easily do so. [...] However, if you take one of the these college basketball athletes, any of them would be able to run miles without even breathing heavy. However, if you made them sit down and try to learn Java for 12 hours a day, most of them would be asleep at their desk before lunch. The typical geek trains their brain to be heavily focused while multitasking day after day. Is it surprising that this same brain does not do well when forced to isolate down to one task?'"

Comments

If there's nothing to see, try moving along.

[Tackhead]

Nothing to see here, because you've already got eyestrain.

Please move along at least every hour or two before you add deep vein thrombosis to your list of troubles.

From TFA:

[eln]

The bed should only be used for two things-sex and sleep.

Or, in the case of geeks, one thing.

Re:From TFA:

[verbatim]

The bed should only be used for two things-sex and sleep.

Or, in the case of geeks, one thing.

Then where is the geek supposed to sleep?

Re:From TFA:

[__aaclcg7560]

Then where is the geek supposed to sleep?

At the keyboard. Get an ergonomic split keyboard so your nose can rest on the split between the two halfs of the keyboard so your face can avoid touching the keys. Otherwise, you will wake up with "QWERTY" stamped on your forehead from a regular keyboard.

getting excercise is not that tough....

[haluness]

I've always found it funny that 'geeks' revel in the fact that they can't be healthy. Stupid stereotypes.

Excercise is a good thing - yeah, it takes a bit of effort (and cursing) to get into it, but once you get into the habit, everything just seems to flow better - smoother thinking, better sleep and so on.

What about the benefits??

[Rob T Firefly]

If it weren't for my intense geek lifestyle, I might never have gotten rid of that parasite I found myself host to, a terrifying creature which constantly drained my health and resources day and night.. but thanks to my intense multitasking focus and nerd powers, she eventually left me and moved back in with her folks.

Balance, it's all about Balance

[rueger]

Several years ago I finally figured out a few things.

If I do one thing at a time it gets done faster, and with better results than if I try to multitask.

If I get out for exercize - any exercize - a couple of times a week I feel better and can work more productively.

If I limit work to something like 9-5 (well, actually 10-4) I get more done, with better results.

If I have interests outside work like art, or film, or reading, or just hiking in the woods, my work improves.

Despite the Wal-Martization of work in North America, it remains true that a healthy, balanced lifestyle allows you to work faster and more productively.

Yes, the less that I work, the more that I am able to do.

Wait, so let me get this straight....

[MustardMan]

I'm fat because my brain can't focus on a single task? Here I thought it was all the taco bell and doritos I ate, combined with the fact that I sit on my big ass 24 hours a day. All along it's been because my brain just likes to multitask. Thank you, TFA, for giving me yet another excuse to skip that pesky personal responsibility thing and blame something else for my lard ass.

Multitask / one task?

[aapold]

I disagree completely. I fit most of the geek stereotypes, but I typically focus on one thing to the point of complete oblivion of all else, especially when coding. I ignore the time and other things that get in the way. When forced to break my train of thought, it can take me like 5-10 minutes to get back the state I was in before where I have the complete grasp on all aspects of what I'm working on.

Re:Sounds mostly familiar

[Stonent1]

My back pain went away when I started using a machine at the gym that you strap into and do reverse sit-ups in. You sit and lean back repeatedly. It is extremely easy to do even with 200+ lbs on it and it really helps. When I cancelled my gym membership for financial reasons, the pain returned.

This guy needs to get out more

[Schezar]

I'm a geek. I work for IBM. I run several websites in my spare time. I play German board games. I watch anime, and in fact ran the largest anime club in the US for several years. I do a freaking podcast four nights a week.

You want to know what I did last Sunday? I climbed a mountain. Yesterday, after work, I ran 4 miles. Today, I'm going to run another 4. Last week, I biked 10. I lift weights. I play DDR.

Being a geek has NOTHING to do with being a lazy fat ass. Using that as an excuse is pathetic. A pasty, weak geek sitting in his parents' basement in front of a computer is no better off than a pasty, beer-bellied sports geek sitting in his livingroom in front of a TV.

Mind and body are both important. To exercise one at the expense of the other is unbalanced and unhealthy (severe medical problems aside). The Greeks knew this. The Romans knew this. It's nothing new.

Re:Sounds mostly familiar

[LunaticTippy]

I had insomnia and back pain until I started swimming regularly. 3x a week for an hour at the city gym. I sleep much better, have more energy during the day, and haven't had back pain in months. Plus, I have more stamina for physical activities.

Oddly, my wrist pain went away too. I used to get achy wrists after a long day.

I even got some tech to make it more interesting, I have optical goggles and am pondering how to make a waterproof mp3 player.

Re:Sounds mostly familiar

[bigattichouse]

Do back bridges.. just try and get your back off the ground for the first week, then work up to holding for a few seconds, then to getting your head up off the floor. After two weeks, you'll have better posture, and your back will feel better.

Re:Sounds mostly familiar

[Bimo_Dude]

I was going to RTFA, but methinks the web server is having health problems related to the geek lifestyle.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Tell me when

[jtaylor00]

Maybe you should find a different job if the 'rule' is to work 9 to 9, 5 days a week, every week. Unless of course you are getting paid overtime.

My life got much more enjoyable when I realized that work is just that...work. I've got better things to do than sit in an office for 12 hours a day.

Re:Sounds mostly familiar

[hazem]

I would add to all that a problem with frequent heart-burn. I go through rolaids like they're candy.

Until this last week. An office worker of mine is Hindu and told me, in an unrelated conversation, about a Hindu proverb or saying that says to chew each bite of food 28 times. He said something about how you'll eat less and enjoy your food more.

So, I started thinking about how I chew. I was startled. Probably as a result of always being on the go, and maybe bad eating habits from the Army, I mostly chew my food just enough to swallow it. So, I've really focused on chewing my food. I find that it often takes up to 40 chews to get a good thorough job of it. But, the amazing result is that for the last week, without changing my diet (which includes spicy thai food, hot wings, etc), I haven't needed a rolaids or tums.

I'm startled and amazed by this!

So, chew your food!

Eat your cake and burn the calories, too.

[iamlucky13]

I'm sorry, why can't a person be both a geek and healthy? Just give up 30 minutes of WoW, 3 times a week, and go run/ride/lift/stretch/something. And cut down on the grilled stuffed burritos and mountain dew. You'll be glad to have done it the next time you have to lug your gaming rig with the dual video cards, 12 cooling fans, and a 20 pound power supply to a LAN party.

For that matter, why can't a person be both an athlete and geeky? Think of plays as functions. Your selector class reads a variable passed by the QB/coach/point guard, then picks a function and executes the steps. Coaches spend enough time pounding plays into jocks heads, so someone might as well take pride in being good at learning them quickly and executing them properly. OOP. Object Oriented Playmaking. The only drawback is when endzone_dance() gets stuck in an endless do/while loop.

I recognize some people have truly crappy jobs and spend 12 hours a day in front of a monitor, but I'd be more than willing to bet that the vast majority of geeks have time to spare for exercising and healthy cooking if they're willing to re-arrange their priorities a little.

You're right though. I'm not seeing much of a story in this. Exercising and eating right makes you healthier. Doing brain work helps intellectual acuity.

you can be a geek and healthy

[Thaelon]

My chest and shoulders are actively hurting right now because of the rigorous resistance training I did yesterday as I sit here looking at a monitor display and typing on an ergonomic keyboard while I pretend to be writing java code.

I highly encourage you to get to the gym, make yourself go regularly. The health benefits are outstanding, and the girls definitely pay more attention. Most people will be impressed simply because you're a geek and a gym rat.

I'm not trying to delude anyone. You're not going to turn into Arnold Schwarzenegger if you're a scrawny fucker like me, but if you seriously commit to it the difference will surprise you and maybe even get you laid. Besides, the chicks at the gym are often hot, and they don't wear those outfits anywhere else. ;-)

Re:This is insulting

[PCM2]

Yes, I consider myself a tech enthusiast and know my way around most things electronic (and mechanical) pretty well. I would not be posting here if I wasn't. But to make a blanket statement that people who are techies have poor health habits is absurd.

And the funny thing is, for all the people here who seem to be up in arms about the article, nowhere does the author make that statement. All he says is that, in his practice, he sees recurrent themes of health problems that can be attributed to behaviors, behaviors which he thinks of as being part of "the geek lifestyle" based on his own personal experience.

Said health problems can be summed up so:

1. People who have poor sleep habits have trouble sleeping.
2. Environmental issues in the office can cause headaches, as can undiagnosed eyesight problems.
3. Poor attention to ergonomics can also cause back pain.
4. A work environment that encourages "multitasking" and constant interruptions can lead to mental fatigue and difficulty concentrating.

Nowhere does he say anything about couch potatoes, sedentary lifestyles, eating Cheez Doodles and drinking Mountain Dew, or any of the other things that people assume he's talking about because, as usual, they have not RTFA.

Re:Sounds mostly familiar

[Davak]

Editor of Carotids.com Here. Sorry that dreamhost is having problems handling the traffic. We bought a dedicated server for tech-recipes.com and then carotids gets slashdotted. Bad guess on our part. :)

Here's a cut and paste of the article. Sorry for the server problems:

Dr. AA06:33 am46 comments Edit This

I am a currently practicing board-certified Internal Medicine physician in a large rapidly expanding tech-growth community. (Ed note: Verified) Our area is rapidly being filled with web development, IT, and biotechnology companies. As a doctor in this area over the last few years, I have discovered some unique health problems associated with this population. One of my patients pointed me to this site when I was discussing with her if computer use causes carpal tunnel syndrome.

I have noticed several repeating patterns in this geek lifestyle population.

I have always wanted to post my observations regarding the geek lifestyle. I affectionately call it the "geek lifestyle" because of my previous life of programming and web design. One of the best part of my job is getting to live vicariously through these young energetic people. I frequently wonder what would have happened to me if I would have stayed with my tech-life instead of transitioning to medicine.

Personal points aside, I have noticed several repeating patterns in this geek lifestyle population. Hopefully, these ideas will spark others to study this unique population.

#1 Horrible Sleep Hygiene
Insomnia and altered sleep patterns is one of the most common complaints to my office. Frequently the complaint is of light sleep or of multiple awakening throughout the night. Although this can be a symptom of depression, this is typically caused by poor sleep habits. It typically starts with somebody waking up in the middle of the night and turning on the laptop or TV. This begins to happen more and more frequently until the patient starts to worry about waking up as soon as they go to bed at night. This stress makes the sleep worse and worse until they finally come to see me.

The bed should only be used for two things-sex and sleep.

The fix is typically easy if the habit is not too ingrained. The bed should only be used for two things-sex and sleep. If one is awake in bed for more than 10-15 minutes, one should get up and do something non-stimulating. Listening to music or reading are excellent choices. Lying in bed and watching TV or using the laptop are the worst. These stimulate the brain to wake up even more. If this happens repeatedly, the habit will be formed.

A few of my patients have tried "sleep hacking" and it almost always fails. The dangers of hacking sleep have been explored by a physician elsewhere.

#2 Headaches

Poor screen position, too small font, screen too bright/too dark, poor sitting posture are all commonly reported causes of chronic headache.
Recurrent headaches are a very frequent complaint among heavy computer users. Typically these are caused by a multitude of issues regarding computer use. If they occur the same time every day or if they do not appear on non-work days, these are the clues that point me to a computer cause.

Often when I tell my patients that I suspect it is their work environment, they come back and tell me me how they fixed it. Poor screen position, too small font, screen too bright/too dark, poor sitting posture are all commonly reported causes of chronic headache. When in doubt, I just tell them to trade offices for a couple of days. If they feel better in the other office, then it suggests that it is related to their personal work environment.

Poor eyesight is frequently believed to be a cause of chronic headaches although I believe that is very overrated. What I have seen a few times is that people with glasses having too strong of a prescription. Type-A people when getting refracted for glasses will mistakenly report that higher and higher powers make them

Re:No, geeks are lazy...

[gardyloo]

You're right at the cusp of realizing the difference between a geek and a dork.

    Only a nerd would draw a distinction.