Half those questioned about their migraines say that their migraine has interfered with their career and job prospects. Migraine has a considerable effect on our ability to work. With minor attacks it’s possible to work through a migraine, but in full-blown attacks it’s impossible. Not only is the headache so severe that you can hardly think, but it is worsened by excess noise, motion, flickering lights, stress and computer VDUs, to say nothing of strong smells.
Despite the fact that millions of working days are lost each year due to migraine, only about a third of employees have ever told their doctor that they suffer from migraine, even though they may find that it is triggered at work. It is interesting in that the group who are least likely to tell their employers about their migraine are those in middle management, for whom advancement and job prospects are so important.
Migraine attacks at work present two different problem^ firstly, work is more likely to trigger off migraines, simply because so many trigger factors may be present. Furthermore, stress may trigger off migraines in certain people, and work often stresses tis more than anything else. Finally allergic triggers, such as chemicals and strong smells may also be present in your workplace.
It’s not just stress and over-work that can cause damage, either. Underwork can do it, too. Therefore, if your job consists of mere machine minding, with little to do from hour to hour except to wait for the occasional problem, then you may get more migraines as a result.
Migraines can be quite dangerous at work, for several reasons. Firstly, your attention and concentration is likely to be reduced because of the pain, so you may make mistakes and errors of judgement. Secondly, if you’re working near machinery you may not be aware of danger, particularly if you’ve got distorted vision or a blind spot in your field of view. It also means you shouldn’t be driving if you have visual impairment of this sort. Thirdly, if you get paralysis or weakness you may not be able to control your car or your machine properly. Lastly, your mental functioning declines in migraine, and you may not be able to form sentences properly during the aura phase – and this is potentially dangerous if you need to give clear instructions or make complex decisions.
Once the attack has started, work is not a helpful place to be. In a bad attack a migraineur needs quiet and rest, and most factories and offices are anything but restful, quiet places.
If at the beginning of an attack you can get rest and quiet for a time, and take whatever medication you usually need, then you may abort the attack and be able to return to work; but, if there is no rest room or sick room where you can go and lie down, then the attack is likely to continue and you’ll be off work for the next day or so.
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