As work stress mounts and deadlines pile up, nearly 20 per cent of corporate women are now resorting to smoking as a coping mechanism. This alarming trend can increase their chances of developing lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and bronchitis in the coming years.
With smoking-related lung issues on the rise, experts stress that quitting is the need of the hour. They say it is time to refocus on timely diagnosis, early treatment, and lung care awareness, especially for working women navigating high-pressure careers to take utmost care of their lungs.
Corporate women today juggle tight deadlines, long working hours, high expectations, work-life imbalance, career pressure; limited breaks can lead to stress. Moreover, stress causes symptoms such as fatigue and burnout, anxiety, sleep disturbances, headaches or muscle tension, and mood swings. “In high-pressure work settings, some women may turn to smoking as a quick escape from stress or to stay alert during long hours. But what starts as an occasional puff often becomes a habit that damages the lungs. Over time, it destroys the delicate lining of the lungs, reducing their capacity and making it harder to breathe. The harmful chemicals in cigarettes are directly linked to lung cancer, bronchitis, asthma, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD),” says Dr Aditya Deshmukh, internal medicine expert, Apollo Spectra in Pune.
Dr Deshmukh adds, “For corporate women dealing with immense stress, smoking might seem like a temporary fix, but in reality, it creates long-term health challenges. Approximately 20 per cent of corporate women tend to take up smoking due to stress, and can suffer from lung cancer in the coming years. This will happen because their lungs are weakened due to smoking. Monthly, 3 in 10 working women aged 25-35 visit me with a cough, and should seek treatment and follow-up regularly to prevent lung cancer. Smoking cessation can be helpful for the lungs; it improves oxygen intake, energy levels, and overall lung function. Regular physical activity, deep breathing, hydration, and yearly lung checkups are key steps to healing and maintaining respiratory health.”
Dr Jyoti Mehta, consultant radiation oncologist at Onco-Life Cancer Centre in Talegaon further explains, “Around 10 per cent of corporate women tend to pick up smoking due to ongoing stress at work, often unaware of the harm it causes to their lungs in the long run. Over time, smoking compromises lung function and makes one susceptible to lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses. Nearly 2 out of every 10 women aged 27-35 report symptoms like constant cough, fatigue, and breathlessness each month, which should not be overlooked.”
With proper diagnosis of underlying symptoms being necessary for prompt intervention, she adds, “Lung cancer can be diagnosed through chest X-rays and CT scans, followed by a biopsy to confirm the presence of cancer cells. After the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment depends on the stage and may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these. Quitting smoking, reducing exposure to indoor pollutants, maintaining nutrition, and stress management techniques like yoga or therapy can reduce the chances of lung cancer.”
