Nurses in the United States are plagued with stress and burnout. According to the health and medical newspaper Stat News, nurses are quitting in record-breaking numbers because of this continuous problem, with turnover rates ranging from 20% to 30%.
We’ve also witnessed a significant rise in the number of nurses who are suffering from occupational burnout as a result of higher workloads. Physicians are in the same boat. A whopping 33% of today’s doctors are suffering from physician burnout, according to research conducted by the telemedicine network Wheel for the benefit of medical professionals. There is a considerable risk of stress for urologists, neurologists, nephrologists, and endocrinologists.
For healthcare workers to be healthy and productive, they must discover ways to enhance their physical and mental well-being and minimise their stress levels. Moreover, there are several ways to address this issue, but yoga is an intriguing one. Stress resilience, illness prevention, and general health may all be improved by yoga.
There are several advantages for healthcare professionals who practise yoga, which we’ll go into more detail about below.
Reduction of Anxiety
The stakes are sometimes life or death for healthcare workers in fast-paced workplaces. COVID-19 epidemic boosted the number of people who required medical attention significantly. In the face of rapidly rising turnover rates and an expanding patient population, many healthcare professionals were forced to take on more work than they were able to manage. Because of this, a job that was already demanding for employees has been much more so.
One of the most well-known advantages of yoga is its ability to reduce stress. According to “4 Mental Health Benefits of Yoga,” yogis may reduce their blood pressure, increase lung function and calm the nervous system via the practise of regulated breathing. The stress hormone cortisol is also reduced by frequent yoga practise. Accordingly, it is logical to conclude that yogis are better suited to deal with the stresses of daily life.
Improved Quality of Sleep
Health care personnel who are overworked and under stress are more likely to suffer from sleep disorders, which reduces their ability to provide quality patient care. A lack of sleep not only impairs one’s ability to think, remember, and concentrate, but it also weakens one’s immune system, making them more susceptible to health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart failure.
Yoga is a great way to improve your sleep habits since it is a physical exercise. As a result of practising yoga, those who find it difficult to sleep will have a better night’s sleep and less sleep disruption. The technique may not address the problem of overworked healthcare professionals, but it may help them get better sleep when they do get it. Better sleep will allow healthcare personnel to wake up more alert and ready to face the challenges of the day.
Protecting Oneself from Harm
Consider the possibility of bodily damage as well. Nurses and surgeons have been reported to be particularly vulnerable to repetitive strain injury (RSI), which may lead to symptoms such as burning pain and arm tingling and numbness. RSI is a prevalent problem among nurses because of the repeated motions they do on a daily basis, such as delivering injections and operating medical equipment. However, bad posture is the most common cause of RSI in the workplace.
Regular practise of yoga postures may minimise the chance of developing RSI since they enhance strength, flexibility, and mobility. Yoga may help healthcare professionals reduce muscle and nerve compression. Practicing yoga regularly may help individuals become more aware of the postures and motions that might lead to injury if done incorrectly or repeatedly.
Immune Systems that are more robust
Nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers deal with ill patients on a regular basis. Add to this the fact that the high levels of stress experienced by many healthcare professionals may impair their immune systems, and it’s apparent that these personnel face an elevated risk of developing infectious illnesses.
As a result, yoga may assist healthcare workers build up their own defences. When it comes to keeping healthy, having enough oxygen is crucial, according to an article in The Good Trade on yoga positions for immunity. Oxygen fuels the body’s organs and promotes cell growth, and humans may increase oxygen circulation in the body via workouts that encourage purposeful breathwork. Yoga, with its emphasis on asanas (postures) and its associated breathing exercises, is particularly well-suited to this kind of training. It’s a great approach for healthcare workers to boost their own immune systems as well.
Healthcare workers labour in some of the most hazardous conditions, and they are at more risk of illness, injury, and burnout than any other group. I think it’s a serious and widespread issue.” In a fortunate turn of events, yoga may enable people to enhance their overall health, which in turn improves their productivity and well-being at work.