Manage Occupational Stress with Physical Activity, Balanced Diet and Good Sleep
Mayo Clinic and 24alife collaborated on a research of occupational stress among young anesthesiology residents which has been published in "The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists" (2014). We are really proud of the collaboration and can gladly say that Vojko Strojnik, Ph.D., 24alife sports professional contributed to the study. 24alife app was used to measure and monitor participants' physiological changes and lifestyle.
Dr. Ihan summarized the Research of Residents' Stress
"The study on Mayo Clinic was led by Dr. John H. Eisenach, professor of anesthesiology and physiology. The study included young doctors, new anesthesiology residents to observe their coping with demands of the internship and first contact with patients. The main hypothesis was that young doctors with little experiences at the commencement of their professional experience would show increased psychological stress which leads to psychological and physiological changes. Stress can influence their professionalism, work quality and indirectly safety of the patients.
Study included 13 doctors – anesthesiology residents, between 27 and 33 years of age who started their internship on July 1st, 2013. The Mayo Clinic researchers tested for job strain on three systematically chosen days, arranged according to the typical adjustment periods. Measurements were taken: before internship, during internship and after it. By testing residents on specific stages researchers were able to observe response to stress on first day of the job (testing day 1), stage during the internship (testing day 2) and later stage, when work and activities became more routinized (testing day 3). On each testing day they measured an acute reaction (stress hormones, blood pressure, and heart rate) to different stressful loads (cognitive test, change of barostatic pressure, and reaction to cold) and chronic occupational stress response (stress hormones, heart-rate variability, stress-related questionnaires).
Results showed that stress measures were highest and energy level lowest at first month of the internship (testing day 2). Resilience and concentration weren't affected. Psychological stress responded in heightened blood pressure and cortisol level. Other stress indicators (such as: physical activity, sleep, caloric intake, HRV, etc.) stayed unchanged. Researchers concluded that despite heightened psychological stress, chronical physiological markers weren't changed in the period of internship. Among young residents, maintenance of the diet, physical activity and sleep was consistent with their resilience. Authors of the study highlighted that further research on stress-influence on daily well-being, professionalism, and care for the patients should be performed."
24alife Professionals Opinion and Advice for Stress Management
24alife team is already looking forward to further studies in the field of stress at work and finding ways to manage it. Stress management is a great step on the path to a healthy lifestyle and based on findings of the recent study our professionals suggest managing occupational stress by:
- sufficient physical activity,
- good night sleep,
- and balanced nutrition.
24alife solution, your personal guide towards healthy lifestyle, can help with all of the above.