How to cope with Migraine at Work

Coping with a migraine attack is never easy but getting one during work hours at your work place can be significantly torturing and stressful. Majority of those who suffer from migraines state that they cannot perform well enough during a migraine attack; it is often hard for the colleagues to imagine the extent of the severe pain.

It   is very important to resolve migraine at the earliest if it strikes at work as otherwise it will greatly impact your work speed, your ability and sometimes even hinder your day entirely by not letting you stay at your workplace.

A migraine is a severe, painful headache that can be preceded or accompanied by sensory warning signs such as flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light and sound.

The excruciating pain that migraines bring can last for hours or even days.  The typical headache of migraine starts on one side of the head usually around the eye or forehead.

A person suffering from migraines will always like to relax in the dark and quiet place and most of the times relief can be obtained only when vomiting takes place.

The cause of migraine with an aura is common. It occurs due to some factors that trigger migraine can including stress, bright lights, some foods and medications, too much or too little sleep, and menstruation. An aura occurs with flashing or flickering lights, blurry vision, dark spots, partial vision loss, or seeing things that aren't there. A feeling of deja vu, panic, or detachment can also be experienced.

 SIGNS OF MIGRAINE:

Ø  Light and sound sensitivity

Ø  Throbbing pain usually on one side

Ø  Pulsing sensation

Ø  Nausea and vomiting

COMMON CAUSES OF MIGRAINE:

Ø  Hormonal changes in women

Ø  Hormonal medications

Ø  Sensory stimuli like bright lights and sun glare

Ø  Changes in sleep patterns

Ø  Excessive physical exertion

Ø  Weather changes

Ø  Foods like aged cheeses and salty and processed foods

Ø  Food additives including the sweetener aspartame and the preservative monosodium glutamate (MSG)

Ø  Drinks including alcohol, especially wine, and too much caffeine

Ø  Stress

Ø  Strong smells

Ø  Skipping meals or fasting

Below are a few tips that can help your migraine attack at work if you get one:

You must inform you superiors on this health issues as it can be detrimental to your progress in work as well as to find some relief measures in the office when the attack comes on.

Ø  Manage your stress level: Stress has been a major trigger for migraines and a hectic day combined with deadlines, peer pressure, work load, difficult supervisors sometimes at work often leads to stress and in turn to migraines.

Ø  Take a break: Take a break for few minutes through the day in intervals to meditate and relax your mind and take in fresh air.

Ø   Reduce eyestrain: Also turn down the brightness on your system's screen. Put away your phone for some time.

Ø  Find your relaxing corner: Locate an unused room if possible or a space where you can lie down in the dark till the migraine subsides.

Ø   Have a supportive friend by your side: It is always advised to have a friend or a supportive co-worker who help you when migraine hits you.

Ø  Keep an Anti-Migraine kit: You know your needs the best. Keeps an anti-migraine kit handy at work containing pain-relievers, anti-nausea tablets, cold pack and whatever else helps you manage your migraine.

Ø  Stock up on snacks: Make sure water and some healthy snacks are always within your reach to avoid dehydration and hunger. Keep your protein and sugar levels steady through the day.

Ø  Drink more water. Dehydration is a common migraine trigger.

For further information on treatment and managing migraines please contact our Neurology department at Wockhardt Hospital for your clinical evaluation.

The Neurosciences department at Wockhardt Hospitals is well-equipped to take care of patients with complex neurological and neurosurgical problems. In particular, our experienced   Neurologists focus areas are stroke, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, movement disorders, Epilepsy, vascular malformations and brain/spinal cord tumours and dementia. We evaluate and treat headache disorders and migraine.

We believe this leads to much better patient compliance with essential aspects of post-neurosurgical care such as physiotherapy, leading to optimal outcomes in paralysis and other neurological disorders.