It’s no secret that it can be really difficult to maintain your fitness and overall health when so many of your days are spent in the office. Employees can develop carpal tunnel from repetitive wrist movements and a constant deficiency in circulation can cause a number of cardiovascular problems. There are, however, some great solutions to prevent discomfort and a deterioration in health while at work. Some of the best results come from employers that lead by example and implement programs such as a walking group or a push for ergonomics awareness.

A recent post on the Nuesoft Blog shares some great advice when it comes to workplace wellness. In the featured Neusoft video podcast, I talk with Lindsey Coates about how to engage in a routine that works for everyone as well as how to encourage good habits and comfort. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Designate a coordinator to get everyone involved.
2. Create a board that will centralize all wellness information (leaflets, routines, leader board – if you want to make it a competition, etc.).
3. Walk as a group during lunch around the building or floor you are on.
4. Sit on a yoga ball for an hour a day while working on the computer. When your hour is up pass it to another team member.
5. Sign up as a group to do a 5k, softball team or other sporting activity. It’ll also promote morale!

To find out more, read the article and watch the interview on the Nuesoft Blog.

“Fibrofog” has several hypothetical causes and we are still not clear about the exact root cause of cognitive impairment. The brain capacity of patients is still normal, however trying to evaluate the factors leading to fog gives rise to several possible explanations. For example, fibromyalgia has a significant sleep disturbance. As such, lack of adequate sleep can affect the brain’s ability to produce enough serotonin which is critical for memory. There is also research which shows decreased blood flow in patients with fibromyalgia and this can lead to difficulty creating memory. This could explain why complex executive functions like balancing a check book, paying bills on time or remembering engagements can become forgotten in a woman with moderate to severe fibromyalgia.

Likewise, there is a concern that pain itself is distracting and makes it difficult for people to process other information. Processing pain signals takes up a lot of the brain’s time and energy, especially in someone with fibromyalgia. This excessive pain may therefore reduce the amount of time the brain spends on trying to form new memories. Pain also produces large amounts of stress which can be one of the causes of short term memory loss. Many people with fibromyalgia also suffer from depression, which is known to lower the levels of serotonin in the brain. Low serotonin levels have been associated with delayed learning capacity. Some studies, however, show that the severity of brain fog is not correlated with depression symptoms. Medications that some patients may take that have sedative properties may also contribute to brain fog. Thus a host of tips such as writing things down, decreasing the volume on one’s TV/radio or iPhone to help focus are useful. Other strategies include setting reminders in your smartphone, picking a good time to complete complex tasks such as errands or chores, and working with a multidisciplinary team approach to learn healthy brain exercises.

Dr. Moshe Lewis has treated women with fibromyalgia for the past 7 years and finds that an integrated approach to treatment including cognitive behavioral therapy, aerobic exercise, and support groups are useful complements to regular MD visits.

Here are six tips that I always prescribe to those who suffer from Fibromyalgia:

1. Darken the room so your brain releases more of its own melatonin for better sleep.
2. Try not to eat or drink much just before bed, and try not to take medications with stimulants—for example, avoid antidepressants, caffeine, Ritalin, and Straterra. Food and stimulants shorten the REM stage in unhealthy ways.
3. Turn off the television and radio an hour before bedtime. Decreasing stimulation will help to ease your brain into a state of restfulness.
4. Incorporate restful practices into your waking life. For example, try yoga, or take time to pamper yourself at a spa or with a massage.
5. Take vacation time and use your paid time off, especially when it does not accrue year to year. Fatigue builds over time, so be kind to yourself.
6. Take naps, especially on the weekend when there is some extra time.

This article was released on PressReleasePoint.com earlier; here is the accompanying press release information they provided:

Common complaints of living with fibromyalgia is sleep disturbance. Physical pain and rehabilitation expert offers tips on how to get better sleep and deal with the on-going wide-spread pain of fibromyalgia, a syndrome that dose not discriminate from day or night.

According to National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, scientists estimate that fibromyalgia affects 5 million Americans 18 or older. Between 80 and 90 percent of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women. The widespread chronic pain of fibromyalgia is a syndrome causing on-going physical discomfort throughout the body, affecting muscles and joints. One of the more intolerable symptoms of fibromyalgia is sleep disturbance. Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia and the exact cause of disorder is still being studied, consulting with the right pain specialist is key in learning how to deal with fibromyalgia.

Board Certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician Moshe Lewis M.D., M.P.H., pain management specialist and one of the countries top integrative medicine experts offers six tips on how to get a good night sleep while living with fibromyalga, a syndrome that does not discriminate between day or night. Dr. Lewis is a trailblazer in his field whose cutting-edge methods are rapidly gaining media attention. Dr. Lewis has been featured in USA Today, ABC, CBS, NBC, KISS FM, as well as a host of other major media outlets. The following are six sleep secrets for those dealing with sleep disturbances caused by fibromyalgia. But, as Dr. Lewis explains, “you don’t need to be a fibromyalgia sufferer to benefit from these tips.”

Read the press release on PressReleasePoint.com