Today's Featured Guest Writer is: Arlene Karidis, Freelance Writer
Migraines can be torture, I hear. I am lucky that they are not among my ailments, but I have been reading up on the condition. I feel for those of you who suffer from what you describe - the eyeball clenching, head pounding and horrible hum that just won’t quit. If you’re among those who believe fluorescent lighting is driving you to the outer limits, I can imagine your frustration if you’ve been reading the stories questioning these bulbs’ role in migraines.
Dr. Andrew Hershey, director of the Headache Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is among the medical professionals who believe there isn’t evidence to support that all fluorescent lights contribute to headaches. But he won’t tell you light isn’t a factor.
“Patients with migraines are more sensitive to light, thus being exposed to bright lights when hypersensitive may push the patient over the edge,” he reported to NYTimes.com
Hershey went on to say blue lights particularly may be a trigger for migraine sufferers. Some doctors argue it is light in general - not fluorescents - that is the problem. Some people claim it is the glare or accompanying high-pitched noise that bothers them.
Yet, when I got on the Internet, I saw that many are still convinced, as some studies show, that it is the flicker of the fluorescents that is getting to them. The motion is invisible to most but causes sensory overload in some.
One teacher blogged that when she convinced the principal to replace fluorescents with full spectrum bulbs the number of students going to the nurse with headaches dropped from several a period to none. There are multiple similar anecdotes. Other migraine sufferers reported that using electronic ballast fluorescents, which do not flicker, relieved their suffering.
Preventing or Treating Ocular Migraines:
- Avoid long periods on the computer or watching TV
- Wear a visor or attach a visor-like device to your computer to decrease glare
- Rest in a quiet, dark room
- If you have ocular migraines that persist, aspirin may provide instant relief but sometimes, extracranial vasoconstrictors or other drugs become necessary
- Know that blood pressure control helps as does keeping up with your glasses subscription if you wear glasses
- Acupuncture sometimes relieves pain. It involves insertion and manipulation of fine needles at various, body- pressure points, and
- Another natural alternative is biofeedback which is relaxation therapies designed to control the body's response to stress. Exercises include deep breathing, meditation, and visualization.
For More Information:
Health Central - My MigraineConnection.com
Arlene Karidis has written extensively on health care for life style magazines, newspapers, and the health care industry. She brings you news of recent medical breakthroughs; heart-clenching survivors' stories; women's, children's, and seniors' health issues. And she offers tips and resources for accessing information and supportive services.
To contact Arlene with questions about her write-ups on www.barbsdailydose.com or to inquire about her written services: agkaridis@msn.com
Comments