How migraines impact your work

If you suffer from migraines, you’re not alone. Thirty-eight million Americans experience painful symptoms of migraine headaches. Migraines are still a very misunderstood condition. More than half the people who have migraines never get a diagnosis. A majority of migraine sufferers don’t seek medical care.
Migraines are most common in adults of working age. When migraines happen frequently or at work, they can impact your productivity. Since migraines are still misunderstood, there’s not typically a lot of support at work.
However, a little support from employers can help you work more effectively and manage your migraines.
Talk to your employer
The first step to getting support at work is telling your manager or employer. Since migraines can occur at seemingly random, you may feel uncomfortable talking to your employer. However, keeping them informed about your episodes and their impact on your work can ease the stress of managing it on your own. If your employer needs proof, you can ask your doctor to write a note with a confirmed diagnosis.
Your employer or coworkers may not know you're having a migraine at the time. By talking to them about your condition, they should be more understanding when you tell them you're having a migraine at the moment. They can also put a note in your file to help your work stay informed, should management change.
Check your company's sick policies
Migraines and work can be hard to manage, depending on the severity of your headache. During some migraine attacks, you might need to take time off work. Some migraines can last between four to 72 hours, so taking a short-term sickness absence might be best to recover.
After talking to your employer, you can discuss sick policies. They may have information about managing migraines and work. You should also tread your company’s Equality and Diversity and Health and Safety policies.
FMLA coverage for migraines
The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was enacted in 1993 and is designed to protect workers who:
- Become ill
- Become parents through adoption or birth
- Have sick family members that need care
FMLA applies to private, local, state, and federal employees that meet the following requirements:
- The employee has had 12 months of employment in the last seven years.
- The employee has worked 1,250 hours during those 12 months.
- The employee has worked with 50 employees, or their employer has 50 employees within a 75-mile radius.
FMLA leave is unpaid but ensures you won’t lose your employment status while you’re away. While you’re on leave under the FMLA act, your employer must also maintain your employer-provided health insurance benefits.
You can take the 12 weeks of leave all at once or when needed during episodic migraine attacks. If you are using all your paid time off and need more time, FMLA can be your fallback plan.
How to treat and prevent migraines at work
There is no cure for migraines, but there are ways you can manage the pain.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines
OTC pain medicines can be helpful for mild migraines. These include:
Some doctors recommend caffeine for combating migraines. A study showed that melatonin could potentially help prevent migraines and cluster headaches. Your doctor will have to tell you the right dosage to start.
Prescription medications
Moderate to severe migraines that occur regularly will need to be treated with a stronger medication. Prescription medications that can help reduce the severity of your migraines include:
- Blood pressure medicines
- Antidepressants
- Anti-seizure medicines
- Botulinum toxin A (Botox) injections
Lifestyle changes
This type of treatment is more preventative and may not work when you’re experiencing a migraine. These changes may help, but if they’re making your migraines worse or more frequent, talk to your doctor.
- Regular exercise
- Dietary changes to avoid foods that trigger your migraines
- Better sleep habits
- Practicing yoga and meditation for relaxation
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), up to 10 sessions of acupuncture can help prevent migraines. They recommend doing this over a five to eight-week period. There still needs to be more research to confirm this.
Vitamins and supplements
If you want to try a natural approach to preventing your migraines, you may turn to supplements. Magnesium and riboflavin have been shown to help ease migraine symptoms.
For more advice on managing your migraines or easing the pain of the symptoms, talk to your doctor. They’ll be able to give you a proper diagnosis, write a note to your employer, and help you manage the attacks.
Keep a migraine journal
Keeping track of migraines and what happens before and after your attacks may help you find what triggers them. Whether it’s certain foods, sleep habits, or stress at work, taking notes can help you avoid it in the future. It’ll also be helpful to know what treatments have helped before so you can get quick relief.

SLIDESHOW
16 Surprising Headache Triggers and Tips for Pain Relief See SlideshowHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
American Migraine Foundation: "FMLA for Migraine."
Brain & Spine Foundation: "Migraine."
Familydoctor.org: "Migraines."
The Migraine Trust: "Managing migraine at work."
Top Can You Take Time Off Work for a Migraine Related Articles
Celebrities With Migraines
See how celebrities cope with the pain caused by migraines. Learn their methods used to prevent and relieve migraine pain.Migraine Triggers
Do you have frequent headaches? Learn the most common headache triggers for tension headaches, sinus headaches, cluster headaches and migraine. They include red wine, skipping meals, and smoke. Find medical treatments that work, like diet, exercise, massage, and physical therapy.How Do You Get Rid of a Migraine Fast?
Migraine is a neurological condition that is characterized by recurrent episodes of intense headaches. It may be associated with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and other clinical features.How Long Do Migraines Last For?
Migraines typically last from four to 72 hours. The frequency of migraines differs for everyone, but usually, there would be two to four headaches per month. In some, the migraines may occur every few days, while others may get them once or twice a year.Migraine Headache
Migraine headache is a type of headache associated with a sensitivity to light, smells, or sounds, eye pain, severe pounding on one side of the head, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. The exact cause of migraine headaches is not known. Triggers for migraine headaches include certain foods, stress, hormonal changes, strong stimuli (loud noises), and oversleeping. Treatment guidelines for migraines include medicine, pain management, diet changes, avoiding foods that trigger migraines, staying hydrated, getting adequate sleep, and exercising regularly. Prevention of migraine triggers include getting regular exercise, drinking water daily, reducing stress, and avoiding trigger foods.Migraine Headaches
Is it a headache or a migraine? Learn what a migraine is, causes, symptoms, treatments, and at-home remedies.Migraine Hacks
A migraine can be more than just a whopping headache. Try these self-care tips for relief before and after it hits.Migraine or Tension Headache? Symptoms, Triggers, Treatments
What does a migraine headache feel like compared to a tension headache? Learn to spot migraine symptoms early, how to identify your triggers, and get more information on migraine headache medications and treatments. Learn to tell migraine from other types of headaches.Migraine vs. Headache: Differences and Similarities
Headaches are the most common reason why a person goes to the doctor or other healthcare professional for treatment. There are different types of headaches, for example, migraine, tension, and cluster headaches. The most common type of headache is tension headache. Migraine is much less common. There are few similarities between migraine and other headaches, for example, the severity of the pain can be the same, mild, moderate, or severe; and they can occur on one side or both sides of the head. However, there are many differences between migraine and other types of headaches. Migraine headaches also have different names, for example, migraine with aura and menstrual migraine.Symptoms of migraine that usually aren't experienced by a person with another type of headache include nausea, vomiting, worsens with mild exercise, debilitating pain, eye pain, throbbing head pain.
Migraine trigger include light, mild exercise, strong smells, certain foods like red wine, aged cheese, smoked meats, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, alcohol, and dairy products, menstrual period, stress, oversleeping, and changes in barometric pressure.
Untreated migraine attacks usually last from 4 to 72 hours, but may last for weeks. Most headaches resolve within 24-48 hours. Doctors don't know exactly what causes migraine headaches; however, other headaches like tension headaches have more specific triggers and causes. Additional tests usually are required to diagnose migraine from other types of headaches, diseases, or other medical problems. Most headaches can be treated and cured with home remedies like essential oils, massage, and over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn) or ibuprofen (Advil, Midol, Motrin). Most headaches resolve with OTC and home remedy treatment, while your doctor may need to prescribe medication to treat your migraines. If you have the "worst headache of your life," seek medical care immediately.
Should I Go to the ER for a Migraine?
A migraine is a severe throbbing and pulsating headache that causes pain on one side of the head. A patient should visit an emergency department if they have a severe headache with or without nausea and vomiting.What Causes Migraines?
A migraine is a complex disorder that involves episodes of recurrent and severe headaches. An episode of a migraine can be very painful, lasting for hours, making day-to-day activities difficult until the episode is resolved. The frequency and severity of migraine attacks tend to decline with age. And women are more likely to suffer from migraines than men.What Foods Trigger Migraines?
Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder that features intense headaches on one or both sides of the head. Migraine attacks may resolve in few hours or may take as long as several days.What Is the Best Cure for Migraine?
The best cure for migraine involves preventive medications and lifestyle changes. Some newer medications and therapies are effective in controlling the symptoms of migraine. Avoiding or controlling triggers may provide considerable benefit. Migraine can be prevented mainly by using medications, avoiding triggers and implementing lifestyle changes.What Is the Best Thing to Do for a Migraine?
There is no permanent cure for migraine headaches, but there are migraine treatments that can prevent attacks and relieve symptoms. When you get migraines, you can ease the pain immediately by simple measures such as resting with your eyes closed in a dark, quiet room, putting an ice pack on your forehead, and staying hydrated by drinking plenty of liquids.What Is the Most Common Type of Migraine?
The most common type of migraine is migraine without aura (common migraine). 70-90% of people with migraine experience this type. The frequency of this type of migraine may range from once a year to several times per week.