Migraine a €45m headache for businesses

MIGRAINE costs Irish businesses €45 million every year through absenteeism and reduced productivity when a person works through an attack.

Around 10% of the population suffer from migraine and experience one attack a month on average.

Chairwoman of the Migraine Association of Ireland Audrey Craven said they calculated the huge cost involved because they were anxious to demystify migraine.

"Education and patient empowerment is central to our role to ensure our clients take steps to make sure they understand their condition and the management options available," she said.

The association has just launched Talking Heads - A Guide to Migraine supported by an educational grant from Pfizer Consumer Healthcare to minimise the misery of migraine.

As well as explaining migraine in a simple, concise manner, the leaflet offers tips to reduce the chances of an attack and reduce the discomfort of symptoms during an attack.

Margaret Williamson, a helpline worker with the association, said an attack can last from three hours to three days.

"€45 million does not have to be lost every year because of migraine. By helping their staff, employers are also helping themselves," she said.

She explained that there was lots of help available and many new treatments that could make a huge difference to sufferers.

Pat Delaney, director of the Small Firms Association, said absenteeism cost small businesses €112 million a year with migraine accounting for about €25 million.

He explained that the average number of days lost due to absenteeism in a small company was 5.9 with 1.5 accounting for migraine attacks alone.

"There is no doubt people's productivity would suffer as a result of migraine headaches and both employees and employers should look at the root causes the workplace structure or the pressures of modern day life."

Mr Delaney said the added cost of migraine at €45million had to be looked at. "There is no doubt that both employers and employees will be anxious to remove the causes of migraine headaches."

He said there was also a lot of human suffering and the ripple effect was not just felt in the workplace. "People who are physically strong can be so easily tumbled in a matter of minutes by a headache of that nature."