Keeping healthy while under stress: Presidential doctor helps executives survive their jobs.

Many business executives are spending an increasing--and sometimes dangerous--amount of overtime in the workplace. Too much work on budget proposals, preparing for meetings, or responding to overwhelming amounts of email could be bringing your tombstone as close to you as the one on the previous page.

This scene is far too common and endangers lives, said Dr. Eleanor Mariano to an audience of mostly executives during a luncheon. The lead physician to past U.S. presidents gave a talk entitled "Executive Health: Lessons from Presidential Medical Care" at an AMERICAN CHAMBER/MEXICO event in April.

"Live long and prosper," Mariano said, quoting the Vulcan motto from Star Trek. "Your life is so valuable. Not only to your company, but to your family and friends as well."

KEEPING PRESIDENTS FIT

A 24-year U.S. Navy veteran and former rear admiral, Mariano served as senior White House physician and currently practices medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz. She has worked with both U.S. President Bush and his father, as well as with Bill Clinton during both his terms of office. Traveling everywhere with three commanders-in-chief--a U.S. president visits an average of 24 countries a year--has taught Mariano the most important health considerations in a high-stress job.

Emphasizing the importance of exercise, Mariano pointed to the extra physical energy it provides. After age 40, Mariano said, a person begins to lose 1% of muscle mass per year, leaving some people unable to lift ten pounds by age 70.

"Unfortunately, as we get older," Mariano said, "the majority of our energy is brain energy." She suggested one hour of exercise three to five times a week to increase physical energy. "Exercise has proven over and over again to extend your life and work as a stress reliever," she said.

According to the doctor, sleeping and eating well are also important ways to stay healthy in the corporate circus. By far, the most common health problem among executives is the amount of stress in their lives.

"You've been a corporate partner with stress," Mariano said. "You [and stress] climbed the ladder of success together."

Mariano suggested that strong connections with faith, family and friends, along with a healthy hobby, can help to relieve stress. Executives need to ask themselves what they would be doing if they weren't focused on money, said Mariano, and then do that activity in their spare time.

"[Executives] are going through tremendous pressure now to deliver results, to downsize, to be more productive," said Ricardo Alvarez, vice president of finance and administration for Michelin. "You end up doing 140% of the work."

STOP SUCKING BUTTS

Smoking is a problem in Mexico that some have called an epidemic, and others shrug off as part of the culture. Ask anyone who has tried to quit smoking, and they will say it is not easy. It takes a person who smokes an average of eight attempts to quit successfully, so persistence is key, Mariano said. Aside from the widely known effects of smoking--emphysema, lung cancer and heart disease--there are also societal problems nationwide with smoking.

"The amount of people dying and getting sick from smoking really drains the health care system," Mariano said. "[The government] can't support all those people."

According to Mariano, a federal antismoking campaign needs to be started in Mexico. Legislation, she said, needs to happen if Mexico expects to witness a drop in the number of smokers.

"It is going to take social reform," Mariano said. "The campaign has to start from the top, the president and the Health secretary need to make that a priority."

While some businessmen will continue to smoke, eat poorly and never exercise, a number of them left the conference apparently excited and prepared to begin a healthy lifestyle.

"Your portfolio of success includes your health," Mariano said.

Mark Gudmastad is an intern with BUSINESS MEXICO.