Women’s health has received a lot of press lately, as it has been widely recognised that it has not been given the focus it deserves, despite over half the population being female. So, this month we are highlighting some of the more common health issues women can face. For all of the health issues discussed within the blog please refer to the NHS website for further information, and if you have any of the symptoms below, please seek medical advice from your GP.
Health Conditions
Endometriosis is caused when cells similar to those in the womb grow in other parts of the body. The condition affects one in ten women in the UK, symptoms can vary but are often debilitating and can affect how women live their lives. Common symptoms include pain in the lower tummy and lower back and heavy bleeding.
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths in and around the uterus. Similar to endometriosis they can cause a range of symptoms such as low back pain, abdominal pain and heavy and painful periods. It is thought 1 in 3 women will develop fibroids but for many, they are symptom-free and do not require invasive treatment.
Menopausal symptoms can take many forms including, but not limited to headaches, fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, hot and cold flushes, tummy pain/cramps and back pain and without the right treatment women can find this a very negative time in their lives. It largely affects women from the age of 45 onwards, but some women will start to experience symptoms at a much younger age.
A pelvic organ prolapse; when one of the organs in the pelvis drops and protrudes into the vagina, which can lead to pain and discomfort in the lower tummy and vagina. It can severely impact a woman’s daily routine.
PCOS (Polycystic Ovaries) is a condition thought to affect around one in ten women in the UK. Symptoms include irregular periods, difficulty getting pregnant, excessive body hair, mood changes and weight gain.
Whilst not a condition that only affects women; urinary incontinence does affect twice as many women as men. This is due to pregnancy, childbirth, prolapse and menopause, all making urinary incontinence more likely.
Urinary Tract Infection can affect anyone, male or female, however, the most common UTIs occur mainly in women and affect the bladder and urethra. They can be very painful, and result in symptoms such as an urge to urinate frequently, a burning sensation when urinating and considerable pelvic pain. In serious cases the infection can spread to the kidneys causing back and side pain, as well as fever and nausea.
Pregnancy in itself is not an illness, however, it does of course lead to changes in a woman’s body, which can cause general discomfort, tiredness, the urge to urinate more often, swollen hands and ankles, back pain and more seriously pre-eclampsia.
Management Strategies
The list of health issues above is far from exhaustive and many of the ones mentioned are conditions that women have to manage through medication and lifestyle changes. So, whilst the right office equipment and office environment cannot cure any of these conditions, they can make some symptoms more manageable.
One of the simplest and most effective strategies is to take regular breaks away from your desk. Regardless of whether you have any health issues, taking regular breaks allows you to alter your posture, gives you time to get a drink, to ensure a regular intake of fluids, gives you time to undertake some stretches to ease any discomfort and allows you to adjust your seated position when you come back to your desk. Moving away from your desk is also important for your mental health, allowing you to change your focus for a few minutes and come back to the task in hand with a fresher outlook.
If you have already tried implementing posture breaks but have not found these effective, or have struggled to incorporate breaks into your schedule you could consider either a sit-stand desk adaptor or an electric height adjustable desk. Both of these options will enable the better management of postural change by allowing you to raise and lower your workstation to work in both seated and standing postures.
A well-supporting chair is a must for anyone suffering from back pain or abdominal pain/cramps. A chair that fits your stature and can be adjusted to provide support where you need it, is an effective tool in managing the pain you experience. A chair with a well-cushioned seat pad could be very useful to someone who experiences pain on sitting, a lack of cushioning is quite likely to increase ground reaction forces through the back and pelvis. Being able to sit back fully in your chair allows the pelvis to remain open and less pressure to be placed on the abdomen from adopting a slouched posture. You may wish to consider a mesh-backed chair if you suffer from hot flushes, as they allow for better airflow. Some chair suppliers also offer a vinyl fabric covering; useful for anyone experiencing heavy bleeding or incontinence. Bespoke chairs can also be configured to offer adaptations to include split seat pads, coccyx cutouts and even heat pads.
If you are often on the move so using the same chair every day is not an option inflatable lumbar support, that can be fitted to any chair may be helpful and provide the additional support required to improve your comfort. Also, consider a laptop trolley bag, that can be wheeled rather than carried. Reducing the amount, you lift and carry can help reduce the risk of exacerbating conditions such as prolapse and stress incontinence, and reduce symptoms such as back pain and stomach cramps. For anyone with swollen ankles, a rocking footrest can help to encourage movement, whilst you are seated and boost circulation to the legs and feet to help reduce swelling.
As a pregnancy progresses and your body changes it is important to reassess your workstation setup. Your chair may need adjusting or a chair that offers more support may be required. You may find you can no longer pull yourself in close to your desktop to rest your arms, in this case, arm supports that can be mounted on the desktop can be useful.
Don’t forget to think about your working environment too. Check out last month’s blog for more information about this. Our team of assessors are on hand to offer their expert advice to help you within the workplace, whatever your needs. So please get in touch if you think we could help you.