By Jenny Stamos Kovacs

Feel better fast by giving these five unhealthy habits the pink slip today.

Call them “occupational hazards”: people, places, and things you come in contact with at work that have the ability to harm your physical and emotional wellbeing. It’s a fast-growing problem, especially since we’re spending more time in the office than ever before. In fact, women have tacked two extra hours onto their workweek since 1980, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “From your frame of mind to the germs you’re regularly exposed to, your office environment plays a huge role in your health,” says Jane Sadler, M.D., a physician with Baylor Health Care System in Dallas. That’s why we consulted the experts to reveal five ways the daily grind may be wearing you down—and what you can do to keep yourself protected.

1 YOU’RE ALWAYS ON CALL

Out of all the things women stress over, their job is at the top of the list, reports the American Psychological Association. Blame it on heavier workloads and longer days, says Ellen Kossek, Ph.D., a professor of human resources and organizational behavior at Michigan State University.

“More and more, companies are expecting employees to be available around the clock via cell phone, BlackBerry, or e-mail,” she says. Although it’s easy to write off daily pressure as an inevitable part of the job, it takes a toll. “Stress causes surges in the hormone cortisol, which makes your heart beat faster, your blood pressure rise, and your muscles tighten,” says Claire Michaels Wheeler, M.D., Ph.D., author of 10 Simple Solutions to Stress. While this response can power you through a deadline or emergency, our bodies aren’t equipped to be on constant red alert. Chronic stress raises your risk for diabetes, depression, and heart disease.

PROTECT YOURSELF

Have an end-of-day ritual “Bringing work problems home with you can affect your personal relationships, rob you of sleep, and raise your risk for depression,” says Wheeler. To avoid working—or dwelling —on a project all evening, take a few minutes at the end of the workday to decompress. A simple act, like listening to a favorite song on your commute home, can signal it’s time to transition to home life.

Make a date Whether it’s dinner with friends or a session with a trainer, post-work commitments will ensure you won’t linger in the office. “When you know you have to leave at a specific time, you’ll get more done during the day,” says Kossek.

Ban the BlackBerry for an hour
It’s called a CrackBerry for a reason: Some 90 percent of BlackBerry users in one study compulsively checked it on their own time, say researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. That constant connection is draining; people who frequently take business calls, e-mails, and pages at home are the most likely to report feeling tired and distracted. Reclaim your free time by turning it off after a certain time at night or setting aside a specific room in your house in which to return messages.

Take Charge of Your Work Life

2 YOU KEEP TO YOURSELF

Between preparing for a presentation and tackling an overflowing in-box, bonding with co-workers may be the last thing on your mind. But having a close friend in the office makes you more content and productive, according to research from the Gallup Organization. That’s important, because work unhappiness spills over into every aspect of your life: A study from Britain’s Lancaster University found that people who were dissatisfied on the job were more likely to become anxious or depressed.

PROTECT YOURSELF

Get the scoop
Gossiping with coworkers can help foster relationships and release tension, according to a study in the journal Personal Relationships. “Having a similar gripe helps people build trust and get closer,” says lead researcher Jennifer K. Bosson, Ph.D. But before you start spilling secrets, now that the office gossip is ranked the most annoying person in the office, finds a nationwide survey. “Try dishing about your night out instead,” says Bosson. “It can help bring you together without someone getting hurt.”

3 YOU CAN’T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME YOU CLEANED YOUR DESK

“Your office may look neater than your co-worker’s, but it’s probably still teeming with germs that cause colds, flu, and intestinal problems,” says Chuck Gerba, Ph.D., a professor of microbiology at Arizona State University. In fact, his research reveals your desk is one of the dirtiest places in the average office building, containing 400 times the bacteria of the average public toilet seat.

PROTECT YOURSELF

Wipe down your work space
“We found women’s desks had three times the number of germs as men’s,” says Gerba. “That’s because women tend to eat and apply makeup in the office, leaving behind particles that bacteria can feed on.” Clean up your act by running a pre-moistened disinfecting wipe over your desk, phone, mouse, and keyboard at least once a day.

Store snacks in the kitchen
You’ll ward off mindless munching and a dirty environment—Gerba discovered that desk drawers in which food was stored were often spotted with mold. If you frequently dine at your desk, lay down a place mat or a few paper towels to catch crumbs.

Lighten up on the lotion
The creams and lotions that keep your skin soft can be transferred to surfaces, spreading bacteria from your hands. Apply a product before lunch so it has time to absorb before you start touching the keyboard.

4 YOUR CUBICLE MATE SNEEZES ALL DAY LONG

Even if you steer clear of your sniffling co-workers, they still pose a risk to your health: Cold-causing germs can thrive outside the body on door handles and in other common spaces for up to two days. In fact, up to 80 percent of colds are caught by touching an infected surface.

Take Charge of Your Work Life

4 YOUR CUBICLE MATE SNEEZES ALL DAY LONG continued...

PROTECT YOURSELF

Skip the handshakes
Because germs can also live on skin for two hours, avoid contact with a co-worker you’ve just heard coughing. “Say something like, ‘I’m just getting over the flu and wouldn’t want to pass it on to you or your family,’ ” says Gerba.

Keep your immune system in check
Having a few healthy habits beyond washing your hands can strengthen your ability to fight off a cold. Research shows a few extracurricular activities, such as exercising three or four hours a week, calling a friend, and watching a funny flick, can actually shore up your immune system.

5 YOUR EYES ARE GLUED TO THE COMPUTER

“Our eyes converge, or cross together, in order to focus on a close-up object, like a computer screen,” says Arthur Benjamin, M.D., an ophthalmologist in Los Angeles. “Keeping your eyes in this position for long periods of time causes strain.” In fact, up to 90 percent of computer users develop computer vision syndrome, a set of symptoms that includes dry, burning eyes; headaches; blurred vision; and sensitivity to light. “Over time this eyestrain can lead to permanent changes, such as nearsightedness,” says Benjamin.

PROTECT YOURSELF

Get rid of the glare
Everyone dreams of a sun-drenched office, but that excessive light can bounce off your computer screen, putting additional strain on your eyes. Switch off overhead lights and use lamps, then position your monitor so that windows are to the side instead of in front of or behind it.

Take a break
Research shows people blink half as much as usual—just six to eight times a minute—when they’re looking at a computer screen, which can dry out the eyes. So make a conscious effort to blink every so often. “Also look away from the screen every 10 to 15 minutes and stare as far off as you can for a few seconds to relax your eye muscles,” says Benjamin.

Adjust your screen
You might think moving your computer closer to you is easier on your eyes, but it’s best to keep your distance. “Your screen should be 20 to 28 inches from your face,” recommends Benjamin. And tilt it so it’s 25 degrees lower than eye level; a Danish study found this angle can reduce vision fatigue.

Originally published on: June: 1, 2008

Researchers Investigate Asthma-Mental Health Connection Poor Mental Health, Asthma Risk Linked? Study: People Reporting Poor Mental Health May Be More Likely to Also Report Having Asthma By Miranda Hitti WebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Dec. 4, 2008 -- A new study hints at a possible link between adults' poor mental health and their odds of having asthma. The study, a national survey of more than 300,000 U.S. adults, shows that those reporting more days of poor mental health in the previous month were more likely to also report having asthma. In the survey, which was conducted in 2006, participants were asked how many days during the past month they had poor mental health, including stress, depression, and emotional problems. They were also asked if a doctor, nurse, or other health care provider had ever diagnosed them with asthma, and if so, whether they still had asthma. Compared with people who reported no days of poor mental health in the previous month, people reporting up to a week of poor mental health in the previous month were 38% more likely to say they currently had asthma. By the same comparison, people reporting one to two weeks of poor mental health in the previous month were 49% more likely to report currently having asthma. People who reported two to three weeks of poor mental health in the previous month were 67% more likely to report currently having asthma, and people reporting three or more weeks of poor mental health in the previous month were more than twice as likely to report currently having asthma. The researchers -- who included Thomas Chun, MD, of Brown University's medical school in Providence, R.I. -- considered participants' age, gender, race, smoking, marital status, obesity, exercise, overall health, and social class. But they didn't have data on other factors, such as a family history of asthma and allergies or whether participants had been born prematurely or had mothers who smoked. Those findings, published in December's edition of Chest, don't prove that poor mental health causes asthma or vice versa. That's partly because participants weren't followed over time and also because the data were self-reported since participants' medical records weren't checked. Also, the study only looked at adults; it didn't include children with asthma. But Chun's team notes that other observational studies have shown a possible link between mental health problems and asthma. The exact nature of that connection needs further study, Chun and colleagues conclude.   Why It Matters:  Study participants who claimed to be struggling with their mental health seemed more likely to have asthma as well. See why this report in the journal Chest may be just the start in investigating this correlation. Also See:  •  Does Asthma Increase Adult Suicide Risk?  •  WebMD's Asthma Health Center  •  WebMD's Mental Health Center  •  The 10 Worst Cities for Asthma