Being a working mom is like working two jobs; the only difference is you do both jobs simultaneously. Whether you work from home or the office, being a working mother sometimes means pushing your body and mind to the limits. And apart from the stress involved, this easily puts you at risk of several health issues. But that’s no excuse to give up on your job, as you may need to work while raising a family for various reasons. But it’s important to know the risks so you can avoid them. So, here are some health issues that affect every working mom.
5 Health Issues That Affect Many Working Moms
Hyperthyroidism
Studies show that hyperthyroidism is twice as prevalent in women because of hormonal changes in the body after pregnancy. Unfortunately, the condition also slows down the metabolism, causing some menstrual irregularities and contributing to weight gain. Other common issues associated with it include dehydration, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic constipation.
While daily hormone replacement tablets can help treat hyperthyroidism, surgical procedures are also available for thyroid removal. But surgical procedures also have their risks, especially when medical negligence occurs. Thankfully, medical malpractice attorneys can offer legal assistance should you become a victim of any medical negligence.
Digestive issues
Swinging between work and home responsibilities, most working mothers don’t have enough time to eat healthy meals regularly. And in most cases, unhealthy snacks and energy drinks become the quick go-to options to keep them going. But this eating habit affects the body’s fiber intake, leading to different digestive issues, including irritable bowel syndrome, even in the absence of hyperthyroidism. Stress and lack of sleep can also affect a working mom’s digestive system and gut health.
Cardiovascular diseases
Long working hours can lead to a sedentary lifestyle. This issue is usually the case for those who work from home, spending countless hours behind their computers. Even young working mothers end up with various cardiovascular diseases. As if that’s not enough, stress, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and proper nutrition can also lead to hypertension and high cholesterol.
Increased rate of infections
Combining family life and work responsibilities every day can take its toll on the body. Regardless of how hardy you are, the body is not designed to take stress levels daily for too long. Being stressed out daily can affect your immune system and cause the body to fall apart, making it easy for infections and other health issues to take over. Since stress is one of the main causes of immune system weakness, the body finds it difficult to ward off infections. From upper respiratory tract infections to UTIs and yeast infections, working mothers can experience an increased rate of infections.
Mental health issues
While stress and anxiety have grave effects on physical health, you cannot ignore the damage they pose to mental health. Work burnout and the lack of ‘me-time’ combined with the pressure to meet deadlines and attend to pressing family issues can affect your mental health as a working mom and even lead to depression.
Knowing these health issues will help you be more conscious about your lifestyle and work actively to avoid them.
Jessi is the creative mind behind The Coffee Mom, a popular blog that combines parenting advice, travel tips, and a love for all things Disney. As a trusted Disney influencer and passionate storyteller, Jessi’s authentic insights and relatable content resonate with readers worldwide.
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