Every year The Migraine Trust promotes Migraine Awareness Week to raise general awareness of migraine as a serious public health issue. This year Migraine Awareness Week runs from the 1st-7th September.
In order to help promote migraine awareness in the workplace we have been tweeting facts about migraines from @Santia_UK using the hashtag
An estimated 25 million working days are lost due to migraine costing the UK an estimated £2.25 billion per year. (Steiner TJ. Lecture to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Primary Headache Disorders. 19 November 2008.)
Migraines are much more than just a headache and symptoms are severe, painful headaches which can often be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light.
Migraine attacks can last from 4 to 72 hours and in some cases can be very disabling, preventing people from carrying out their usual activities.
Headaches and migraines can be exacerbated by our busy lifestyles. Trying to ensure a good work/life balance can help in reducing the frequency and severity of attacks.
What can you do to prevent headaches and migraines?
1. Relax – Finding time for can help prevent a build-up of tension and help reduce the onset of migraine attacks.
2. Keep calm – Recognise when you are angry or annoyed and try to keep calm by taking deep slow breaths. This should reduce the risk of a tension headache escalating into a migraine.
3. Good posture – try to avoid staying in one position for lengthy periods. Poor posture can cause tension which can lead to headaches.
4. Avoid heavily perfumed products – The chemicals used in the manufacturing of products such as household cleaners and perfumes can bring on headaches.
5. Lighting levels – When working at a computer ensure there is no glare on the screen. Bright lighting and glare can induce migraines.
How can you tell if you have a migraine or just a bad tension headache?
Adapted from a table produced by the American Council for Headache Education The Migraine Trust have produced a handy guide to help you identify a migraine:
Recording a migraine diary
Keeping a detailed record of your migraine attacks can help doctors make a firm diagnosis. It can also help you identify warning signs and triggers. Consequently you may be able to prevent migraine attacks by avoiding certain triggers.
What information should you record?
1. When the head pains started
2. How often they happen
3. If there are other symptoms (such as being sick or having vision problems)
4. How long the attacks last
5. Where the pain is
6. Whether the pain is throbbing, piercing
You can also keep records of what and when you eat, your medication, daily exercise, how much sleep you have and for women, your menstrual cycle.
By keeping this diary over a period of a few months you may see a pattern to your migraines and headaches.
The Migraine Trust have an online diary tool to help you track your migraines. Click to view the migraine diary.
How Santia can help
This year Santia have introduced Choices for Wellbeing; a campaign to help employers communicate the importance and benefits of staff looking after their own health and wellbeing. The Choices for Wellbeing calendar focuses on a different topic each month and September covers headaches, migraines and hydration. Santia will provide a pack of information on each topic which includes fact sheets and posters to help you inform your staff.
Click here to find out more about the Choices for Wellbeing calendar.