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Working women can face unique health risks that other women may not experience.
Depending on their job type and work environment, women in jobs may be at higher risk for physical injuries, reproductive health issues, mental health challenges, cardiovascular diseases, occupational asthma, musculoskeletal disorders, obesity, and sleep disorders.
The good news is that families and workplaces are now supporting and prioritizing working women’s health more than ever. Women who work can do a lot for their self-care too.
Let’s see what health issues women may need to deal with if they are working and how they can proactively get the medical help they need.
Over the past few years, some notable changes have occurred in how families support women in their careers.
Here are ten health problems that women workers need to pay special attention to. The mantra to follow is to keep work from coming in the way of timely medical attention if needed.
Women in employment are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and burnout, especially if they balance multiple roles.
They must use any access their employers have created – or they have set up for themselves – to get mental health care services, such as counseling or therapy.
According to Kelly Greenwood, writing in the Harvard Business Review, flexible work arrangements, such as work-from-home or reduced work hours, can be availed at many organizations. Women must take advantage of these options.
Factors such as long work hours, job stress, and workplace hazards can impact women’s reproductive health.
Women may face challenges during pregnancy due to their unique health conditions or job demands. Access to personalized prenatal and postnatal care is crucial for women working through pregnancy and even after that.
Some employers now offer women-centric options such as flexible work hours, extended maternity leave, work-from-home facilities, and lactation rooms to help support working mothers during pregnancy and postpartum.
Women who work long hours and experience job strain have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Some women could have hereditary or lifestyle conditions that foster chronic illnesses such as obesity, cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension. When these ailments combine, they can all have a multiplicative effect on the heart.
Just as they diligently schedule other work-related events, women in jobs must schedule appointments with their doctors regularly. They should get the help they need to reduce high cholesterol, prevent obesity-related diseases, control diabetes symptoms, or get the right hypertension treatment.
Women working in physically demanding jobs, such as healthcare and construction, risk developing musculoskeletal disorders.
Prolonged sitting or standing, heavy lifting, and repetitive motions can contribute to musculoskeletal problems. There can sometimes be a lot of pain, discomfort, and reduced productivity, requiring physiotherapy or chiropractic care.
According to Xiaorong Dun et al., in their medical paper in ResearchGate, employers are getting sensitive to this issue, and many appear to be examining ergonomic chairs and workstations suited to women’s bodies.
Obesity prevention is essential for career women as they may be at higher risk of gaining weight due to work-related stress, sedentary jobs, and a lack of time for exercise and healthy eating.
Women in professions need to invest in wellness programs, nutrition education, and physical activity resources such as gyms close to workplaces. It’s also a good idea to carry nutritious packed lunches from home rather than eating food from cafeterias close to the office.
According to Alan Kohll, writing in Forbes.com, more offices increasingly have on-site gyms or lunch-hour fitness classes, even incentivizing employees’ participation in wellness programs or achieving specific health goals.
According to Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet et al., in their study published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care, women who work 35–40 hours each week have a 63 percent higher risk of developing diabetes. This could be attributed to irregular work schedules and eating times, among other reasons.
Diabetes can lead to various health complications, including nerve damage, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease.
Women in occupations, with any stage of diabetes, need regular blood sugar monitoring and medications … plus healthy food options and opportunities for physical exercise.
Achieving a better work-life balance can be challenging for most women juggling home and work roles, but it is essential for maintaining good physical and mental health.
Carrying work home (or carrying the house to work) usually creates a lifestyle full of conflicted interests. Establishing clear boundaries between work and personal life may be the way out.
Also, according to Lydia Belanger, writing in Entrepreneur.com, studies show that women are less likely than men to take all their vacation time. Women must take annual breaks and use their vacation time to renew their health.
Sleep is a critical component of overall health and well-being, yet many women who hold jobs struggle to get adequate sleep due to work-related stress and busy schedules.
Many women whose positions at work involve flying long-distance may often suffer from sleep disorders – unless they give themselves adequate sleep time to get over jet lag before returning to the office.
Women in the healthcare sector or other industries that require shift work may also need to find ways to get at least 6-7 hours of uninterrupted sleep during non-working time. This may require an investment in household help and childcare services that women must be ready for.
High job demands, job insecurity, and low control over work can lead to occupational stress. Women often like to take up a working lifestyle to find their fulfillment as individuals. But overstretching their limits can create more stress than they anticipated.
Occupational stress can be helped through stress management programs, such as counseling, support groups, or relaxation training. Mindfulness meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises can help.
These practices can be done at home or in the workplace and can help improve work performance and productivity.
According to Judith R. Vicary, Ph.D. et al., in their medical paper in Sage Journals, there has been a noted increase in women experiencing high job stress and working long hours, turning to substance abuse as a coping mechanism.
Harmful habits like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, or drugs are known to increase the risk of several health conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, liver damage, and brain impairment.
There are many treatment options for such problems. They may include therapy, support groups, and medication-assisted interventions.
Working women should be applauded for their hard work and dedication to their careers and personal lives. Their great strides in breaking glass ceilings and gender stereotypes, while also caring for their families, have demanded lionheartedness from them. We’d love to see more families and employers support their well-being and say to them: Stay heart-healthy. Be a Zinda Dil.
