"When the Pressure Bursts: A Wake-Up Call from the ICU"
Amit Mishra, a Bengaluru-based CEO, thought he was doing everything right—leading a company, keeping up with the pace, staying calm under pressure. Until one weekend, he collapsed. A sudden nosebleed led to a shocking diagnosis: his blood pressure had shot up to 230. He was rushed to the ICU. No prior symptoms, no warning signs. Just a quiet, deadly pressure building up—until it broke him.
He lived to tell the tale, but not without a powerful message. And if you’re working day and night, skipping rest, ignoring small signs from your body, this one’s for you.
1. Your Boss Wants Quantity, Not the Quality of Your Life
You deliver more. You stretch your hours. You skip meals. You ignore the headache that’s been there for days. Why? Because the workplace rewards output, not well-being. But ask yourself this—when you collapse, who takes the hit first? You or your boss? The answer isn’t even a question.
2. No Company Checks Your Blood Pressure
You get monthly targets, not monthly health checks. No one sends you reminders to take breaks, to drink water, to check your cholesterol. It’s not part of the performance review. If you don’t monitor your health, no one else will.
Amit did everything by the book—until his body wrote its own chapter.
3. Where Does the Pressure Go?
In most companies, calmness under pressure is romanticized. If you don’t pass the pressure downward, you’re praised. If you “handle it silently,” you’re celebrated.
But remember this: Thermodynamics teaches us—when pressure builds up in a closed system and has no outlet, it stays in the system until it explodes. That system is you.
4. If Asking for Leave Makes Your Boss Uncomfortable, That’s a Red Flag
When you prioritize your health, and it bothers your boss, it's not leadership—it's exploitation. You are a resource in their eyes, not a person. But to your family, you are irreplaceable. Never forget that.
5. Small Holes Sink Ships
Most people ignore the early warning signs: fatigue, anxiety, shortness of breath, burnout. They push through in the name of “hard work” and “subordination.” But a small hole, when not repaired, sinks the ship. What’s the point of being a loyal employee if it costs your life?
Amit's story is not just a one-off incident. It’s a warning.
Don’t wait for your ICU moment to realize your life is worth more than your job. Listen to your body. Take the leave. Get the check-up. Say no when you need to. Your health is not a weakness. It’s your foundation.
And when the pressure builds—let it out, before it takes you down.
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