Health Challenges

Navigating Chronic Illnesses at Work

Facing the Challenges of Chronic Illnesses

On a daily basis, you’re tackling deadlines, leading projects, managing team and navigating office dynamics with resilience and tenacity. Yet, amidst these achievements, you’re also quietly confronting a health challenge that is probably invisible to your colleagues: a chronic illness.

Your symptoms fluctuate unpredictably, leaving you grappling with severe fatigue one day and a semblance of normalcy the next. Your mind feels clouded, making concentration a fleeting luxury. Emotionally, you swing between moments of calm resolve, overwhelming frustration, and deep despondency. It’s a relentless cycle, where every day brings its own set of challenges, demanding resilience and a steadfast spirit to navigate the uncertain path ahead.

Woman working while navigating chronic illness
Tired young businesswoman in the office

The Many Symptoms of Chronic Illnesses

Working women experiencing chronic illnesses commonly report the following work-related difficulties:

  • Chronic Pain: Persistent pain that makes it hard to focus on work tasks. (CDC, 2022)
  • Fatigue: Persistent tiredness that affects energy levels and productivity. (WHO, 2021)
  • Brain Fog: Cognitive impairment that makes concentrating on work difficult. (WHO, 2021)
  • Mood Swings: Emotional fluctuations impacting interactions and decision-making. (CDC, 2022)
  • Frequent Medical Needs: Regular doctor visits and treatments that disrupt your usual work routine. (CDC, 2022)
Many women and people assigned female at birth frequently contend with a spectrum of physical, mental, and emotional symptoms stemming from chronic illnesses. These symptoms manifest differently in each individual, yet nearly everyone faces challenges in managing their impact.

If you’re grappling with these symptoms or other effects of chronic illness, know that you’re not navigating this journey alone. If you’re unsure how to handle these challenges in a professional setting, know that many others face similar uncertainties:

2 in 5

45% of Canadian adults (20+) have at least 1 of 10 common chronic conditions 3

Higher Rates in Women

Women are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions than men. For instance, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is two to three times more common in women than in men and 9 out of 10 people with lupus are women.1

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References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Managing Chronic Pain.” (2022). CDC
  2. World Health Organization (WHO). “Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion.” (2021). WHO
  3. Government of Canada – Prevalence of Chronic Diseases Among Canadian Adults (2019) Government of Canada
  4. National Institutes of Health (NIH). “Chronic Illnesses and Conditions.” (2020). NIH
  5. Harvard Business Review – “Employers, It’s Time to Talk About Chronic Illnesses” (2020). HBR

Disclaimer: This one-pager offers a summary of key topics in women's health, supported by research data and sources. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not replace detailed academic studies. For more comprehensive and detailed insights, please refer to the original research cited.