Few environments are quite as unhealthy and artificial as the modern workplace. Think about it. We breathe electronically cooled air and eat bars of mass-produced chemical stodge. We force our protesting backs and hands into unnatural positions for hours at a stretch. We worry ourselves into cardiac arrest because someone we've never met on the other side of the world has failed to send us a three-line email.

And the worst part? We spend an average of 45 hours every week in this place. No wonder we'd rather stay in bed come Monday morning. But take heart - with a few simple adjustments it's entirely possible to replenish the energy that office life sucks out.

Office ailment: dehydration

Air conditioning sucks all the moisture out of the air and consequently out of our lungs. It may be a godsend on holiday, but sitting in an artificially cooled - or heated - atmosphere for nine hours a day doesn't do our health any favours.

Symptoms: tiredness, dry skin, headaches
Solution: Simple - drink more water. Haunt the watercooler. Gradually increase the amount you drink per day until you're up to around eight glasses. More water means better skin, less fatigue, and more loo and gossip breaks.

Office ailment: sugar lows

We fool ourselves that skipping meals helps us lose weight. Wrong. A missed breakfast means plunging blood sugar levels, leading to sugar cravings. It's easy to spot a woman in the grip of a sugar low - she's the one frantically snarfing a Mars Bar mid-morning. Unfortunately, as we all know, that sugar rush only lasts an hour or so. By midday she'll be on her second can of Coke and God help anyone who approaches her during the dreaded three o'clock slump.

Symptoms: exhaustion, snappiness, headaches
Solution: Eat well and eat regularly. Keep high-energy, healthy snacks like raisins, nuts, seeds and dried fruit in your top drawer when hunger strikes. Pick low-GI breakfasts like porridge which release energy slowly and, at lunchtime, swap white bread for wholemeal or granary.

Office ailment: electrosensitivity

Every time we switch on a computer or use a mobile phone, we create an electromagnetic field (EMF). Exposure to high levels of EMFs can be very dangerous but according to the Health & Safety Executive, average office equipment is completely safe. There are many people in the UK who believe they suffer from electrosensitivity - though expert opinion is divided on whether the condition actually exists.

Symptoms: headaches, fatigue, rashes
Solution: To reduce exposure to EMFs from mobile phones, use an in-ear microphone rather than holding the phone up to your ear. It's also possible to buy anti-radiation screens for computer monitors.

Office ailment: stress

When 'stressful' is used to describe everything from missing a deadline to missing an episode of 'EastEnders', it's easy to discount the real misery the condition brings. We lose an incredible six million working days every year through stress symptoms. It's real, it's horrible and it can make life intolerable. But it's also manageable.

Symptoms: headaches, insomnia, depression, nausea. It's even been linked to heart disease.
Solution: When the heat is on, get out of the office and go for a walk. Recent studies have shown that a small amount of regular physical activity can significantly reduce stress. Aerobic exercise like walking or cycling is best, as it helps your body release norepinephrine, a chemical which actually helps your brain and body cope with stress. For a quick burst, try running up and down the stairs once or twice.

Office ailment: repetitive strain injury (RSI)

In 500 years' time, the human hand may well have evolved sufficiently to make thousands of tiny movements using a futuristic mouse all day without causing any permanent damage. Until then, thousands will continue to suffer with RSI. It's estimated that one in three people who use a computer regularly may be in the early stages. The bad news: RSI can end careers. The good news: it's completely preventable.

Symptoms: numbness, tingling, aching
Solution: RSI is caused by performing the same action over and over again without stopping. Taking regular breaks to give the muscles a rest will greatly decrease the chances of developing it. It's also useful to stretch and flex those muscles while resting.

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