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Migraines Can Affect Ability to Work, Study Results Show
An excerpt from Pharmacy Times, Migraines Can Affect Ability to Work, Study Results Show, written by Ashley Gallagher.
“Based on the study, investigators made 3 recommendations for individuals with migraines or tension headaches:
- – Employees and managers should discuss the possibility of adapting work during headache or migraine attacks to reduce absenteeism. This includes performing tasks that less cognitively, emotionally, and physically demanding or working in a room with less noise;
- – Individuals should see their doctors for advice and possible medical treatment; and
- – Mental health issues and other pain should be addressed to improve the overall quality of life among individuals with headache disorders.
[…]
Investigators used self-reported information from more than 5000 individuals with different educational backgrounds.
The information collected included data on frequent headaches and migraines, their description of the ability to copy with 7 different types of job tasks, and the use of painkillers.
Participants also answered questions about their depressive symptoms, overall health, and pain in joints and muscles. Investigators found that these factors played an important role in the association between headache disorders and the ability to work.
The results of previous studies have shown that headaches and joint and muscle pain coincide with depressive symptoms, so mood changes and neck pain could be warning signs of a migraine attack.
Investigators found that the individuals least able to complete their work among those who suffered from severe headaches were those who did not use painkillers and those who used painkillers regularly.
This could indicate that the group taking painkillers daily may not receive a treatment that works as intended and they might also suffer from headaches that are triggered by medication overuse, Nabe-Nielsen said.
On the other hand, those who do not take any medications are undermedicated, perhaps because they do not consider their illnesses to be severe enough for medical attention, she said.”