By: Team NewsdayExpress | Posted: 10 Sep, 2021
New Delhi. Migraine is a debilitating neurological disease that consistently ranks among the top 10 leading causes of years of living with disability worldwide. The main symptom of a migraine is a persistent headache with symptoms such as sharp or throbbing pain on one side of the head, sensitivity to light and sound. Despite being a very common headache disorder, affecting approximately 15 percent of the adult population worldwide, it remains poorly understood and most neglected. In Delhi, about 25 percent of the population suffers from migraine every year.
While migraine is an invisible condition, it can severely affect individuals in the personal, professional and social domains, thus affecting overall quality of life and productivity. Work from home, or the ‘new normal’, has significantly affected the lives of people with migraines, ranging from an inability to focus on work to missed workdays. It has become even more important to ensure that individuals have the understanding and tools to effectively manage migraines.
Debashish Choudhary, Professor and Head of Neurology, GB Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (GIPMER) and in-charge, Headache Clinic, GIPMER, New Delhi said, “There is a lack of understanding among people about the severity of migraine. In one of our recent studies, about 50 to 60 percent of migraineurs were not diagnosed, despite recurrent headaches. Because migraines fall on a spectrum that ranges from occasional or mild attacks to recurrent attacks, many people just call it a headache. With hectic work-from-home schedules, fear of contracting the COVID-19 infection and difficulty in accessing personal care, people are avoiding seeking medical help for the condition, instead opting for related comorbidities such as stress or depression. are attributing the symptoms.
“Financial concerns due to job losses or pay cuts also contribute to increased migraine attacks, which have been more noticeable lately,” he added. The effects of migraine on one’s quality of life have also reportedly worsened, especially for many migraineurs working as essential healthcare workers.
Migraines can become chronic due to neglect of symptoms and failure to treat the condition. Recognizing migraine as a serious condition with severe disability and adopting a holistic treatment approach is a fundamental requirement. Early detection can be a valuable aid to a smoother patient journey and better quality of life.
Here are 5 ways to manage your migraines while working from home:
Identify risk factors and monitor triggers
Migraines can start at any age but tend to peak during one’s prime productive years. In addition, women are three times more likely to be affected than men, with the prevalence peaking between the ages of 25 and 55.
Prolonged working from home as well as prolonged screen time, disturbed sleep time and irregular eating habits can increase stress levels. For migraineurs, such changes can become a migraine trigger, making their condition worse. Identifying individual triggers can help individuals better manage their migraines.
Make the right choice for diet and lifestyle:
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