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    8 health issues that affect every working mom. Here’s how to stay fit and fine

    Synopsis

    According to a survey, 75% of working women suffer from one health problem or another.

    Working mothersiStock
    Even today, housework is still considered the woman’s domain.
    The working mother is an institution in her own right, one who combines a successful career with effective motherhood. Both these jobs are extremely demanding, and to do justice to each without neglecting the other is a formidable task.

    A person could become a working mother due to material aspirations, necessities of daily life or to maintain a financially independent position. Women were believed to be capable of only “kuche, kirche und kinder” (German for kitchen, church, and children; used to describe a woman’s duty during The Third Reich). Even today, housework is still considered the woman’s domain. She is under stress to send her child to school, reach work on time, and look after her home simultaneously. Sexual relationships can also be strained because of this pressure.

    Working mothers who work and tend to their family and kids may look like super-moms on the outside, but they’re practically working around the clock. This is not to say that they don’t enjoy being working moms, but they also tend to put self-care last on their list.

    According to a survey in the UK, more than 80% of working women were found to be suffering from at least one stress-related health issue. It is not difficult to imagine the condition in a country like ours, where the major onus of domestic responsibilities falls on a woman, whether working or not. The pressure to juggle professional responsibilities and family responsibilities is further augmented in our culture which also discourages women from speaking about mental burdens.

    Stress, lack of sleep, absence of physical activity, sitting for long, workload and poor eating habits lead to serious illness in working moms. They are prone to health disorders such as anxiety, depression, heart diseases, obesity, insomnia, asthma, arthritis, psychological issues, high blood pressure, thyroid, body ache, and fatigue. A study on working women (Harvard) said a woman with job stress has a 40% higher chance of getting a cardiovascular disease. Further, many said that their most primary responsibility, their kid, was getting neglected, thus becoming victims of frustration, guilt and depression.

    According to a survey, 75% of working women suffer from one health problem or another.

    Following are the common health issues among these people:
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    Stress & anxiety - Most working mothers end up working round-the-clock and so feel exhausted and overwhelmed all the time. Young mothers, attending to a child and feeding an infant in the night are sleep-deprived. Most working moms get less than 8 hours of sleep per day which puts them at high risk of getting heart diseases, high blood pressure, stroke or diabetes.

    Cardiovascular diseases - Because of their sedentary lifestyle, working moms, even as young as 35 years, find themselves at the risk of suffering cardiovascular ailments. Poor eating habits, skipping meals often, leading a stressful life and lack of physical activities can lead to high cholesterol and hypertension.
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    Chronic backache
    - There is no denying that working moms are breaking the glass ceiling at work. But in this process, they end up breaking their backs as well. Sitting glued to their chairs in front of a screen without breaks restricts body movement and leads to several problems. At home, too, they don’t get time to rest.

    Thyroid – Hypothyroidism is twice as prevalent in women due to hormonal changes in the body during and after pregnancy. It slows metabolism and leads to weight gain and menstrual irregularities. Chronic constipation or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is quite common, as is dehydration.
    (Tip – Try to include fruits and vegetables in your diet and as snacks. This will help with roughage, easing bowel movements)

    Breast discomfort (particularly in new moms) - Most new moms are back to work even when they are breastfeeding. Some working moms may choose to pump their milk and store it in a container. However, the stress of this can take a toll on the body leading to conditions such as blocked milk ducts or mastitis or breast engorgement.
    (Tip: Keep a feeding or pumping schedule. Empty breast milk at regular intervals. If possible, breastfeed the infants for at least 6 months)
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    Weight gain - Working mothers are unable to take time out for themselves and have poor dietary habits leading to weight gain. Lack of physical activity due to prolonged sitting can lead to deposition of fat leading to fatty liver, hypertension, etc.
    (Tip: Try to do some physical workout like 30 minutes of walking or jogging. This will make you feel energetic and helps improve blood circulation. Simple activities like climbing stairs instead of the elevator can also help. Practise yoga.

    Nutritional deficiency - Quick dinners due to lack of time can be calorie-rich but nutritionally deficient. This leads to deficiencies in iron, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D.
    (Tip: Try to have a balanced diet)

    Mental health - Working mothers face “the maternal bias”: the conscious or unconscious belief that a working mom can’t be effective both in work and motherhood. According to a McKinsey study, more women than men report exhaustion and burnout. According to a new analysis by Great Place to Work and health-care startup Maven — which surveyed 226,000 working moms — 9.8 million working mothers in the US suffer from workplace burnout. Just by being a working mothers, they are 28% more likely to experience burnout or “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed” (WHO). It manifests in both emotional and physical symptoms like fatigue, cynicism, lack of motivation, headaches, chest tightness, stomach aches, nausea, hair loss and even increased crying.
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    Working mothers spend most of their time attending to their children, family needs and professional requirements. In the midst of it all, they do not realise that unless they are healthy, they cannot continue looking after everyone else. It is essential that every working mother must listen to the needs of her body. Routine health check-ups, a healthy diet, regular exercises, frequent physical movements, timely breaks and adequate rest can prevent most ailments.

    Working moms should not hesitate to ask for help and involve their partners and families in sharing their workloads. It’s critical we support mothers because they make such a huge contribution through their work and also to children, families and communities.

    Dr Rana Choudhary is a consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist & Reproductive Medicine (Fertility) Specialist at the Masina Hospital in Mumbai.
    (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)

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