Unreported health issues: Workplace stress headaches that affect millions Digital Journal



A man is crying by putting his head into his hands. Image from Tellmeimok. (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Tension and migraine headaches beginning at work and often attributed to workplace problems are often a neglected disease. Millions of people are affected worldwide and tens of thousands of employees suffer from issues working in a variety of countries.

This is the result of research carried out at The University of Copenhagen’s Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. Researchers anticipate that this knowledge will aid workplaces in becoming better in assisting people with headaches.

For those suffering from migraines or frequent tension headaches The impact can be important. If left untreated the migraine attack can last up to 72 hours, while tension headaches could last for at least a week. They aren’t normal headaches which can be treated with using a pill, but the knowledge of the general population of the significance of headache disorders is a bit limited.

The reasons behind these headaches are not clear, but research suggests that those who suffer from depressive indicators or pains in the muscles and joints tend to be susceptible to headaches. Thus, certain signs and symptoms that can serve as warning signs, can include mood swings.

The conditions are also widespread. In the researcher’s home country which is Denmark They estimate that around 770,000 suffer from migraines or regular tension headaches that are caused by work-related issues.

Regarding the effect of these issues on the capability to perform work, the results are threefold. These include: The capacity to keep track of things, make quick decisions and perform the physical work.

Making sure that you have measures in place to fight headaches is essential as a business owner, but not the least because headaches can have a negative impact on productivity and sick time. The capability of employees to manage their own headaches is different, and the possibility of adjusting their work schedules when they experience headaches is contingent on the kind of work. This is easier for some people than for others, it means that there’s a huge gap in the health of people.

People who provide essential services like nurses or cleaning staff don’t have the same options to change their work hours or defer work.

Researchers suggest that managers be open to employees bringing up concerns about headaches and that they should respond and adjust for example, shifting work tasks earlier in the morning, or permitting the employee to reduce in regards to their work speed till they are feeling better.

The study is published within the International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics and is titled “Demand-specific performance of those who suffer from migraine or frequent headaches.”