Severe Headaches at Work - Recommended Advice

Migraine is a type of pain, located in a certain area of ​​the head and sometimes accompanied by a pronounced sensitivity to light and noise.

Other common symptoms of migraine are nausea and vomiting. Migraines usually increase progressively in intensity and become stronger. When these headaches are mild or moderate, they are usually described as permanent and constant. When severe, migraines are agitated and throbbing.

Some migraines become more pronounced due to head movements, sneezing, or physical exertion. Some people may become sensitive to light and noise, preferring to lie in bed in a dark, soundless room to escape the pain.

The onset of migraines usually occurs between the ages of 5 and 35 and is considered uncontrollable, although it can be managed to get rid of the annoying symptoms.

Migraine forms

• Hemiplegic migraine - is a form of migraine in which you feel temporary paralysis of a part of the body (hemiplegia), blurred vision, and dizziness;

• Ophthalmic migraine - the pain is located around the eyes; a headache may be accompanied by drooping eyelids and blurred vision.

• Migraine of the basilar artery - is characteristic of adolescents and young women. The pain is felt after the spasm of the basilar artery, a major blood vessel at the base of the brain. Symptoms may include dizziness, blurred vision, impaired motor coordination, and difficulty speaking and hearing.

• Headache caused by physical exertion - a type of vascular headache caused by physical exertion, such as running. It does not last more than a few minutes.

• Migraine - is a rare, continuous, and extremely severe form of migraine with pain and nausea so intense that those who suffer from this form of migraine need hospitalization.

• Migraine without headaches - vision problems, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea, but without headaches.

Factors that can trigger migraines

• Hunger (skipping meals);
• Alcohol;
• Consumption of foods containing monosodium glutamate or rich in caffeine (coffee, tea) or nitrates and nitrites (canned meat) or containing tyramine (old cheeses);
• Oral menstruation or contraceptives;
• Sleep too long or lack thereof;
• Stress at work and in personal life;
• Extremely strong light, strong odors, changing weather, or high altitude.

Studies have shown that the form of stress that causes headaches is daily stress, not occasional stress such as marriage or a newborn.

Stress at work can be difficult with other colleagues or superiors, working late, working with a deadline, or just working when, in fact, you want to do something else.

Other factors may include:

- Light - Strong, flickering light and light from the computer screen can trigger headaches due to the sensory pathways involved in migraines. Researchers have found that people with migraines are so sensitive to light that even people with poor eyesight experience extreme pain when exposed to light.

-Smells: whether you smoke or use a strong scent, these are factors that can trigger a fairly severe headache. Other toxic odors at work could be chemicals or cleaning products.

- Noise: a noisy job can cause headaches. A loud, sudden, or sudden sound can cause a migraine or make it worse.

-Food and drink: There are many types of foods that can cause headaches, so it is important to keep track of what you eat at work, especially if you give up dieting during work breaks. Common factors are lunch and chocolate. Even an artificial sweetener put in a cup of coffee can be the cause.

-Overload: If the service involves long periods of physical exertion, it may be to blame for the headaches you have. On the other hand, regular exercise can be good for migraines, as well as the action of medications.

-Travel: usually changes in temperature, damage caused using transport (example: plane), change in altitude, even stress while waiting for the plane at the airport can cause migraines.

How to prevent migraines

When you feel a headache starting at work, remember these steps:

At the first sign of a headache, take a pain reliever. Waiting for it to go away on its own is not a good decision, especially if the pain is a migraine.

For regular headaches, try taking an aspirin or a caffeinated medicine. Caffeine improves the analgesic ability of other drugs by 40%.

Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can cause pain long before you feel thirsty. Air conditioning used in summer and some types of warm air used in winter can dry out the office atmosphere. Keep drinking plenty of water.

Take a break from all the stressors, spending a few minutes away from the computer screen, the intense focus, the sound of the phone. Give the medicine time to act.

How to prevent migraines

• Keep stress under control

• Watch for headache factors and try to avoid them

• Sit at the computer in the correct position

• Check your health. Many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and even obesity trigger migraines.