• Question: Do scientists get health issues because they work so hard?

    Asked by ZombieBomb to Connor, Jillian, Lidunka, Sarah, Steven on 16 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Connor Macrae

      Connor Macrae answered on 16 Jun 2015:

      Only self inflicted health problems! You might be told to sit properly in your chair at school, well sometimes scientists need to be told off too, as not sitting properly when working at a computer can cause long term damage. Working too hard or for too long on a computer can also damage your eyes or give you headaches, so you always have to moderate yourself. Some scientists work with much more dangerous materials though like radioactive substances. They have to wear protective clothing to reduce the radiation they take in, and must monitor the total amount they are exposed to all the time.

    • Photo: Steven Thomson

      Steven Thomson answered on 16 Jun 2015:

      The most important thing in any job or any aspect of life should be your personal health and happiness. That’s as true in science as in anything else. We do work hard, but it’s really important that we take time off to recharge and relax.

      You might get the occasional historical scientist who works so hard they forget to eat meals, but these days we’re a lot more sensible!

    • Photo: Jillian Scudder

      Jillian Scudder answered on 16 Jun 2015:

      My only health issue that was directly science related was intense tendonitis in my wrist from twisting my hand to reach for the mouse repeatedly, as part of some data reduction. Now I have a better keyboard so I don’t strain my wrist again and I’m much more careful. I never skip meals because I can’t think about science when I’m hungry :/

    • Photo: Lidunka Vocadlo

      Lidunka Vocadlo answered on 16 Jun 2015:

      @ZombieBomb As I write this I am at a standing-desk ! This is because, after 25 years of sitting for hours on end, I ended up with a really bad back problem. After 18 months of various treatments, I got a standing desk and the problem disappeared in two weeks! As for working too hard, you can only do as much as you can do – listen to your body and act accordingly. And take plenty of exercise.

    • Photo: Sarah Beasley

      Sarah Beasley answered on 16 Jun 2015:

      I don’t think it’s exclusively scientists. When you’re immersed in any job you can forget to look after yourself a bit. Even as I’m writing this I’m really tired and should probably go to bed, but I’m more likely to watch some Netflix then get up and do it all again tomorrow! Generally people ‘burn out’ if they work too hard for too long, so we have to be careful of that.

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