Was Working On My Computer Increasing My Migraine Frequency?
So, there are stretches of time I feel like everything is a migraine trigger. I laugh too much and, well…get a migraine. Cry too hard — oops, there goes a migraine. Spent time on my computer, and boom! Migraine. In some cases, it’s a one-time occurrence, and laughing at my husband’s jokes won't actually trigger my head pain again and again. (Even when his jokes are bad.) However, I did start to notice a pattern when spending time on my computer. Was it triggering more migraines for me?
How much time do I spend on my computer?
I do all my work on my computer, so you could say I spend a good amount of time there. Whether I’m answering emails or working on a new writing project, my computer screen is my home base for all the things. I learned early on, I needed to take a 10-minute screen break every hour or so or my body wouldn't revolt. Getting up to stretch, walk, and rest my eyes made a difference in my shoulder aches and my migraine aches. But suddenly these tricks weren’t working anymore.
What does research say about computer screens?
I’d read all the research - while sitting in front of my brightly lit, blue light-emitting computer screen and it goes something like this: All modern screens emit blue light which is the highest energy color of the light spectrum. When we get too much of this it can cause problems — like maybe me having more migraines. But the question remained: Was sitting at my computer upping the frequency of my migraines? And why hadn’t this happened before?
Is it my migraine trigger?
So, I did what I always do when trying to decipher a new migraine trigger - I started a migraine diary. I looked for a pattern and it didn't take long to discover that sitting in front of my computer for longer than 2 hours was making migraines happen. I felt defeated. How in the world could I avoid this trigger when I had work deadlines to meet? It was almost impossible for me to write words that made sense when dealing with a full-blown migraine. So (in short increments) I did some more research on a brightly lit computer screen and made some changes.
What changes have I made?
First, I went to the eye doctor. We discovered I have a slight astigmatism and glasses would help ease some of my eye strain. My doctor also suggested anti-glare glasses that help block the brightness and blue light of the computer. Next, I set my desk up in the economically correct way to support my body. Now, I sit upright, with my feet flat on the floor, and have adjusted my keyboard so my wrists are flat and my elbows bend at a 90-degree angle. This takes the pressure off of my neck and shoulders. My migraine diary (and my head) shows that these changes pretty much eliminated working at my computer as a migraine trigger. My breaks from the screen still support my head and body, and it's good to know that sometimes not everything is a trigger for a migraine to begin.
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