5 Ways to Cope With Migraines at Work

Work can be a drag sometimes no matter how much you love your job. But for those who experience migraines, trying to make it through a workday in the midst of an episode can be downright excruciating. Migraines aren’t just a big deal to those who directly suffer from them, either. According to the National Headache Foundation, missed workdays and reduced productivity due to migraines cost the American economy more than $20 billion annually. That may seem like an overly hefty price, but it makes sense if you understand how hard it is to get almost anything done in the midst of a migraine, and consider the millions of American workers who regularly have to stick out their symptoms in the office or on the factory floor. To get advice for those who struggle with migraines at work, TIME spoke to Dr. Merle Diamond, director of the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago, to learn how to manage migraine symptoms during the workday—or avoid them altogether. How to avoid migraines at work More important than treating migraines once they come on is avoiding episodes to begin with, says Diamond. That means taking steps to adjust your work routine and office environment as much as possible in order to mitigate the specific factors that prompt episodes. “Ultimately lifestyle plays a role, and so we talk about the migraine brain being more irritable,” says Diamond. “It doesn’t like change.” Establishing solid routines and sticking to them can be an imp...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Migraine onetime Workplace Source Type: news