Overview

Residency places heavy demands on physicians-in-training, not only intellectually but also physically and emotionally. The work schedule is usually very lengthy and interruptions in the daily routine are frequent. Sleep-deprived nights are quite common. Consequently, it is essential to advise residents, in spite of the fact that they are physicians, to pay careful attention to both their physical and emotional well-being. This should be done both out of self-interest and out of concern for the welfare of their patients. Consequently, this chapter will discuss the various issues relevant to maintaining one's good health during the lengthy rigors of postgraduate training. Consciously training yourself to guard your health will prove to be a constructive habit. Moreover, it may carry over into your later years when you are in practice and thus may prove a rewarding adopted trait to facilitate maintaining your well-being throughout your life.

Guarding and maintaining your physical health

There are many elements that will help protect your physical health, namely, proper nutrition, adequate sleep, adequate exercise, infection precautions, safety precautions, and illness precautions. Each of these factors will be discussed separately.

Nutrition. There are a number of reasons that residents are prone to be subjected to poor nutrition. These include (a) lack of sleep and stress (factors that suppress the appetite), (b) the tendency to eat junk food, (c) dissatisfaction with hospital menus, and (d) the frequent inability to find time to eat three wholesome meals daily.