Health briefs

Nov 14, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Learning to type with 10 fingers saves energy

Berlin (dpa) - People who work a lot at a computer should learn how to type with all 10 fingers, advises Lars Adolph, an ergonomics expert with Germany's Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

'It makes more sense because it saves energy and is faster,' he said, adding that it was worth the time and effort it took to learn.

Adolph also recommends placing the computer keyboard so that it lies flat on the desk. If the feet under the keyboard are adjusted to tilt it, he warns, the typer's hands tend to bend upwards at the wrist. 'Over time this can lead to tendinitis,' he said.

Adolph says it is also helpful to rest the wrists on foam cushions in front of the keyboard, which keeps the hands from coming into unhealthy positions when typing.

Fighting cluster headaches

Berlin (dpa) - Keeping a diary of cluster headache attacks can help to get them under control, says Frank Bergmann, chairman of the Professional Association of German Neurologists. He advises sufferers to make a note of the nature, intensity and also possible causes of their symptoms because if they learn the triggers they can avoid them.

Common triggers of cluster headaches - which are extremely painful and so named because they occur in cyclical patterns or clusters - are alcohol, food additives such as monosodium glutamate, and certain foods including cheese and tomatoes. Some odours, bright or flickering lights and sudden changes in sleeping times can also act as triggers, Bergmann says.

Cluster headaches generally affect the area around an eye or temple on one side of the face. Accompanying symptoms are typically redness in the eye of the affected side, a runny nose and facial sweating. People with the condition are usually restless and unable to sit still or lie down. The attacks can last from about 15 minutes to three hours.

Easing muscle tension in the office

Berlin (dpa) - It may not please the boss, but office workers who work a lot at a computer should occasionally put their feet up on the desk, according to Lars Adolph, an ergonomics expert with Germany's Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 'It's good for the body,' he said.

Remaining in the same position in front of a computer screen for several hours is a recipe for back and neck pain, which is why an occasional change of position - including putting one's feet up on the desk - is healthy, Adolph notes.

People loath to irritate the boss can ease muscle tension in other ways. They can hold meetings standing rather than sitting, for example, Adolph says. And during a lunch or coffee break, they can do some quick deep knee bends or make circular motions with their arms. 'It requires little exertion but is very effective,' Adolph says.

Much is gained simply by keeping in mind the importance of changing position now and again, Adolph says. This protects against sitting stiffly with bent back in front of a computer screen for hours on end.