Migraine And Work Absence

A migraine is a collection of neurological symptoms that usually includes a severe and throbbing headache.

Migraine and work absence.

Help at work toolkit provides you with information about migraine in the workplace your rights and guidance to help you if difficulties arise. If your attacks appear to be hormone related you could work additional hours to accrue time so that time off work during an attack. Migraines are most common among the 30 50 age groups when workers are at their most economically productive. Migraine aura and seizure aura are both chronic neurological events that have some similar symptoms including.

Since migraine attacks typically last between 4 to 72 hours people with migraine are more likely to take short term sickness absence due to their condition. When a migraine strikes at work rosen says studies suggest that when a migraine strikes taking medication as soon as the pain starts can help to prevent a headache from getting out of control. A seizure is a change in the brain s electrical activity that may affect how a person acts or what they do for a short period. The most common seizure disorder is epilepsy.

Where possible the work environment should be kept well ventilated and at a comfortable temperature suited to the work that is being carried out. This toolkit provides general information for people with migraine their colleagues managers trade unions human resources departments and occupational health professionals about. Have a drawer full of pain relievers anti nausea medications a cold pack and anything else that helps you manage your migraines. Many of these are effective for headaches without intense pain.

Some brands such as excedrin have begun implementing this. Some simple measures may help to reduce the impact for both your employee and you. Migraines can be disruptive as they often lead to repeated short term absence. If no work factors are considered to be contributory your employer may want to consider adjusting your hours of work in order to reduce sickness absence and the impact of migraine attacks on the business e g.

Migraine is most common during the peak productive years between the ages of 25 and 55. A study has recently shown that for migraines an effective treatment is the combination of aspirin acetaminophen and caffeine. These medications work best early in the migraine symptom cycle before head pain begins. Keep an anti migraine kit at work.

Migraines may affect people as infrequently as once a year or as often as a few times a week. When migraines do strike they can be debilitating and sufferers are often unable to carry out normal day to day tasks or work productively.