Skip to Accessibility Menu Skip to Login Skip to Content Skip to Footer

More news on the fluorescent front

The Migraine Girl's avatar image

By The Migraine Girl

2 min read

Today Migraine Blog informed readers of a Washington, D.C.-area newscast about one of the topics that really pushes my migraine button.

Here's the link to the article and video. I tried to embed the video, but the HTML was screwed up and I didn't know how to fix it.

Here's the short letter I whipped up in response. I'm getting a little punch-drunk at the moment and that may shine through when I go off on my handicapped rampage (see below). I should probably stop staring at this computer screen now (speaking of lighting triggers). Read on, my friends:

By providing your email address, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

I've suffered from severe chronic migraines for over half my life, and one of my biggest triggers is fluorescent lighting (compact bulbs or the old-fashioned tubes). Despite Sylvania's argument that "there's no scientific evidence" that fluorescents are a trigger for thousands, if not millions, of migraineurs, the truth cannot be ignored: people are getting ill to the point of becoming disabled after having been under such lighting. I, like Burchfield, am very "green" and want to do all I can to save the earth. A daughter of an environmental scientist, it's second nature for me to do what I can to see that the earth stays (or tries to get) healthy. I'm not creating a myth here. I have not spent what has amounted to months of my life in classrooms and office areas wearing a hat AND sunglasses, trying my best to shield myself from the light that is bound to get into my eyes no matter what. For many, migraine is a disability and should be treated as such. Imagine that handicapped ramps and elevators somehow damaged the environment. Installing "green" stairwells in place of ramps and elevators would never be a reality in a country that has learned to graciously accommodate to the needs of those who cannot walk. On the same token, we must acknowledge that migraine disease, while "invisible," is severely debilitating and serious. We must do all we can to ensure the health of our planet without sacrificing the health of the humans that inhabit it.

For more information on the link between fluorescents and migraine, try a quick internet search using those words and/or check out this site, which has information and more links to visit: http://irlen.com/index.php?s=news

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely, The Migraine Girl

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Migraine.com team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

Join the conversation

Please read our rules before commenting.