Are you too sick to work?

Source: Best Health Magazine, January/February 2011

Not only does returning to work too soon after an illness mean you could be putting your colleagues at risk, but it could boost your risk of taking a long-term sick leave down the road. Researchers from ‘Denmark’s Herning Hospital surveyed 11,838 Danes, and found that those who went to work sick more than six times a year had a 74 percent higher risk of getting ill for more than two months. Researcher Claus Hansen says that being absent ‘helps prevent more serious illness from developing later.’

Of course, there are times it should be fine for you to get back at it. Says Dr. Marek Smieja, a microbiologist and infectious diseases physician at McMaster University in Hamilton, you can generally evaluate your symptoms as follows. (If you’re not sure, check with your doctor.)

This article was originally titled “When to Call In Sick’ in the January/February 2011 issue of Best Health. Subscribe today to get the full Best Health experience ‘and never miss an issue!’and make sure to check out what’s new in the latest issue of Best Health