Suffering a migraine at work – what can you do?

Last week was Migraine Awareness Week, which helps people to better understand a condition that affects many office workers throughout the country. Migraines can be debilitating and can mean the working day is a nightmare to get through. To raise awareness of the condition, we’ve gathered advice from Dr Alexandra Phelan, a medical practitioner with Pharmacy2U.

Migraine triggers
While it’s unclear what actually causes migraines, we do know that there is a range of triggers that can cause an attack. The most common triggers include lack of sleep, stress, alcohol consumption, dehydration, hormone changes (in women), and environmental factors like flickering bright lights and fluctuations in temperature. Symptoms include throbbing pain in one side of the head, vomiting, nausea and light sensitivity.

Migraine relief
Lying in a darkened room can help to ease migraine symptoms in some people. Although this can be difficult to do when you’re in the office, try to get away from any screens that might exacerbate the symptoms. Painkillers should be taken at the onset of an attack – if taken during, the medication may not have the desired effect.

What can managers do in the office to help migraine sufferers?
Although people experience a variety of triggers, there are some steps that businesses can take in order to aid employees with migraines. Installing watercoolers can encourage good hydration, while anti-glare screens for computers can help those for whom bright light is a trigger.