Do you struggle with these issues? After starting work, your weight keeps climbing higher. Despite the exhausting job and frugal lifestyle, people still tease you about living the good life. The collagen in your face diminishes while your hips widen. After a day of "caressing" the mouse with your right hand, your wrist stiffens and goes numb—maybe you'll never love that mouse again...For each of these problems, we have a term that sounds amusing but feels utterly helpless.
White-collar workers are prone to these "occupational diseases"
High-tech workplace syndrome: Upon entering a modern office, you feel chest tightness and headaches, which intensify by afternoon.An inexplicable sense of unease settles over you, draining your energy for work. Tinnitus, a constant buzzing in your head, and mental fogginess make you prone to overthinking.
Premature Aging Syndrome: Prematurely aging and developing conditions traditionally associated with older age, such as diabetes, hypertension, and neurasthenia.
Neck-Shoulder-Wrist Syndrome: After prolonged computer work, experiencing soreness in the neck and shoulders; sudden inability to turn the neck; intermittent numbness and tingling in fingers and palms; swelling and pain in palms, wrists, or forearms, worsening at night; restricted thumb movement with pain; severe cases may involve weakness in fingers and hands.
Computer Vision Syndrome: Blurred vision, decreased visual acuity, and symptoms such as dry, itchy, burning, painful eyes, and light sensitivity. Some individuals may also experience headaches and joint pain.
Information Anxiety Syndrome: No pathological changes or organic alterations are present, yet sudden episodes of nausea, vomiting, irritability, neurasthenia, and mental fatigue occur. Women may also develop gynecological issues like amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, or irregular menstruation. Onset intervals and timing are unpredictable.Individuals aged 25-40 with higher education levels—such as journalists, advertising professionals, information officers, and web administrators—are at higher risk for this syndrome.
Workplace Depression: Physical pain in specific body parts, fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite, weight loss... progressing to an inability to engage in daily activities or concentrate on tasks.Severe cases may cause irritability, anxiety, or even suicidal thoughts. High-risk groups include expectant mothers and working women in roles as wives, mothers, or subordinates.Sometimes accompanied by dry mouth, severe mental stress, and restlessness. May blame colleagues in the company's IT department or even the boss for computer malfunctions.
Common "Occupational Illnesses" ≠ Legally Recognized Occupational Diseases
Although the above seven "occupational illnesses" are common among white-collar workers, they are not legally recognized occupational diseases.
Legally recognized occupational diseases fall into 10 major categories: occupational pneumoconiosis and other respiratory diseases, occupational skin diseases, occupational eye diseases, occupational ear, nose, throat, and oral diseases, occupational chemical poisoning, occupational diseases caused by physical factors, occupational radiation diseases, occupational infectious diseases, occupational tumors, and other occupational diseases. There are 132 specific disease types in total.
Currently, common ailments like mouse hand syndrome and cervical spondylosis are not included in the list, making them ineligible for corresponding medical reimbursement.
How to Effectively Prevent Occupational Diseases
Individuals working in dusty environments should consume more pig's blood. When the plasma proteins in pig's blood are broken down by stomach acid, they produce a substance that lubricates the intestines, promotes bowel movements, and detoxifies the body, effectively expelling toxins and dust particles.
Individuals frequently exposed to lead or lead dust should consume 1-2 glasses of milk daily and regularly eat garlic along with fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C. Milk, garlic, and vitamin C-rich foods can precipitate lead within the body, thereby reducing its absorption.
Individuals frequently exposed to benzene should increase intake of high-protein, high-sugar, low-fat foods rich in vitamins B and C. High-protein foods accelerate benzene oxidation and enhance liver detoxification. High-sugar foods promote rapid excretion of benzene derivatives. Vitamin C shortens bleeding and clotting times while preventing leukopenia.Additionally, limiting fat intake can reduce benzene accumulation and absorption in the body.
Individuals frequently exposed to phosphorus should consume fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C, while prioritizing foods high in protein and carbohydrates.
Individuals frequently exposed to mercury should consume more carrots and mung beans. Carrots accelerate the excretion of mercury ions from the body, while mung beans serve as an excellent detoxifier. Those regularly exposed to arsenic and cyanide should also increase their intake of these foods. People frequently exposed to manganese should prioritize foods high in iron.
Individuals frequently exposed to noise should consume foods rich in vitamins B1, B2, and B6. These nutrients effectively prevent damage to auditory organs, improve hearing, and alleviate fatigue caused by noise.
Those regularly exposed to radiation should prioritize foods high in protein, dairy products, and legumes. This helps replenish tissue proteins degraded by radiation damage.
Further Reading: Are Occupational Diseases Considered Work-Related Injuries?
According to Article 14(4) of the Work-Related Injury Insurance Regulations, workers "suffering from occupational diseases" shall be recognized as having sustained work-related injuries. Occupational diseases recognized as work-related injuries must be listed in China's statutory Occupational Disease Catalog. Employees must have a history of occupational exposure to such diseases and receive a diagnosis confirming the occupational disease from a healthcare institution to qualify for work-related injury recognition.Per the Work-Related Injury Insurance Regulations, labor security administrative departments shall not conduct further investigations or verifications for cases where a legally obtained occupational disease diagnosis certificate or occupational disease diagnosis appraisal certificate is presented.
In 2013, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the State Administration of Work Safety, andand the All-China Federation of Trade Unions jointly issued the Classification and Catalog of Occupational Diseases. This catalog categorizes occupational diseases into 10 types comprising 132 specific conditions: occupational pneumoconiosis and other respiratory diseases, occupational skin diseases, occupational eye diseases, occupational ear, nose, throat, and oral diseases, occupational chemical poisoning, occupational diseases caused by physical factors, occupational radiation diseases, occupational infectious diseases, occupational tumors, and other occupational diseases.