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How BPO workers can stay healthy on the night shift

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Jessica Fenol, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Night shift workers are exposed to various health risks, including lower immunity from sleep deprivation and diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, health advocates said Tuesday.The danger is more pronounced in the business process outsourcing industry, which employs over 1 million people, mostly answering phone calls from different time zones.Aside from sore throat, cough and flu, call center agents are also at risk from depression, said former health secretary Paulyn Ubial.&quot;The worst is that even before you reach middle age you&#x27;ll already have chronic diseases like diabetes or hypertension that you&#x27;ll be taking medications for the rest of your like and it has a long-term effect on your productivity,&quot; Ubial said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/business/12/27/17/bpo-industry-is-still-highest-job-generator-in-ph">BPO industry is still highest job generator in PH </a></li></ul>The Department of Health and health care company Johnson &amp; Johnson launched on Tuesday &quot;Voice Your Care,&quot; a health awareness campaign aimed at BPO workers.“Our collective vision is to be able to promote health and wellness of every BPO agent in the Philippines because we recognize that their work is difficult and ultimately, it predisposes them to get sick,” said Johnson &amp; Johnson project lead Karlo Patron.<div>MONITOR YOUR HEALTH</div>Patron advised BPO workers to maximize their health benefits. Ubial said employees should avail of annual check-ups.Call center agents can invest in a sports watch or fitness tracker to set targets and monitor the number of hours slept and steps taken daily, they said.&quot;If you think you have been missing on sleep, my advice, when you’re off duty, you make sure you catch up on sleep,&quot; Ubial said.&quot;Hindi yung off duty off partying, trip with your gang,&quot; Ubial said. (When off duty, you can&#x27;t just party or go on a trip with your gang.)Re-organizing the office in such a way that requires a lot of walking and parking a few blocks away from the office can compel office workers to walk more, she said.Ten thousands steps daily is an ideal target, she said.<div>EAT AND REST PROPERLY</div>If snacking cannot be avoided, opt for healthier alternative instead of junk food, Patron said.Enough sleep is necessary for BPO workers to recharge, Ubial said.&quot;Sleep and rest are important, even if you’re young you have the energy, you’ll have to stop and take a dose of sleep and dose of rest,&quot; she said.&quot;It&#x27; is okay to rest, rather than go to work sick,&quot; Patron said, adding enough rest can help BPO workers last longer in the industry.Ubial advised BPO workers to stop smoking, lessen their alcohol consumption and wear a helmet if they&#x27;re going to or from work on a motorcycle.&quot;You can still live healthy even if you’re sleep deprived, hindi lang naman call center and 24/7, it’s a choice you have to make to prioritize your health,&quot; she said.

Night shift workers are exposed to various health risks, including lower immunity from sleep deprivation and diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, health advocates said Tuesday.

Night shift workers are exposed to various health risks, including lower immunity from sleep deprivation and diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, health advocates said Tuesday.

How BPO workers can stay healthy on the night shift

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How BPO workers can stay healthy on the night shift

Jessica Fenol,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 30, 2018 02:57 PM PHT

|

Updated January 30, 2018 03:53 PM PHT

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BPO

call center

health risks

DOH

Johnson & Johnson

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