Dealing with Migraines in the Workplace

It is often difficult to manage a full-time job when you suffer from migraines. Firstly, a lot of people still don't treat migraines with the right attitude and think it is just a bad headache. This is not true; migraine is a neurological disease that can be a huge hindrance to leading a normal life. For example, the unemployment rate for migraine sufferers is 10-20%, which is several times higher than the general population.

Migraines are responsible for the loss of over 18 million working days each year and recent estimates suggest that the cost to the economy is around £1 billion in lost production. Despite these staggering figures, migraine remians a misunderstood and under-managed condition.

How can migraineurs help themselves at work?

• Keep a diary to try and identify any trigger factors.
• Try to avoid any known triggers.
• Ensure that you take regular breaks from work.
• Ensure that you eat regularly.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Maintain a regular sleep pattern.
• Practice relaxation techniques.
• If you work indoors in a fairly static position, try to get some fresh air and exercise everyday.
• Make your working environment as comfortabe as possible (e.g. adjust your chair).
• Vary your position as much as possible during your working day to avoid stiffness and tension.
• Keep your work well organised and up to date so that colleagues can take over with a minimum of fuss if you need to be away without warning.
• Share with your colleagues how your migraine affects you.
• Take action at the first signs of a migraine attack. Medication taken at the onset of the attack will work much more effectively.
• If your migraine is affecting your quality of life or your current treatment is not bringing you significant relief, make an appointment to see your GP.

How can employers help migraineurs?

Most of these suggestions are normal good working practice and all can be implemented with little cost or inconvenience.

• Install and maintain a good lighting system to ensure lighting is adequate.
• Lighting which imitates natural daylight as closely as possible is best. A migraineur may need to have a fluorescent strip switched off and use a lamp with a special 'daylight' bulb on thier desk.
• Ensure that fluorescent lighting is well maintained to minimise flickering.
• Fit adjustable blinds to windows so that any unwelcome glare can be excluded.
• Fit anti-glare screens to computers and position to avoid glare from windows.
• Adjust and maintain computer screens to elimate flicker or glare (e.g. constant rather than pulsating cursors, etc).
• Ensure there is adequate ventilation.
• Keep the workpace at a compfortable temperate suited to the work being carried out.
• Install efficient extractors if fumes or strong smells are produced.
• Supply ear protection, if noise is a problem.
• Restrict the volume and duration of background music.
• Maintain machinery so that noise levels are kept to a minimum.
• Design workstations to avoid unnecessary twisting, stretching or bending.
• Supply adjustable seating so that working positions can be as comfortable as possible.
• Allow regular breaks during which employees can move away from their workstations, especially if their work is repetitive.
• Do not ask employees to work through meal breaks (lack of ood or long gaps between food are a major migraine trigger).
• Do not ask employees to work overtime without prior warning. Allow them to take a break, if they wish, before starting extra time).
• Supply drinking water (dehydration can be a trigger factor and drinking plenty of water at the onset of an attack can sometimes abort it).
• Make a quiet room available, which can be darkened if required, for migraineurs to retire to if an attack strikes. Sometimes medication accompanied by a short rest can enable them to carry on with their work.
• Put in place provision for short notice cover for known migarineurs.
• Educate managers about migraine and how it can affect sufferers.
• Most importantly, be understanding. The employee will be much more likely to try to work through attacks if she/he knows that she/he can take a break or go home if necessary.

If you have any more suggestions of how you can help yourself at work when suffering from a migraine or how employees can help you please contact us at: