1.6m working days lost to migraine

AN estimated 1.6 million working days are lost each year because of migraine, at a cost of more than €100 million to Irish employers.

A study into the effects of migraine in Irish society, shows that about 200,000 workers suffer from the condition, and miss an average of 8.4 days of work each year as a result of the symptoms, which include severe headache and vomiting.

The report by the Migraine Association of Ireland said: “This has huge cost, not only to the individual but to the Irish economy as well. Even based on the minimum wage of €7.65 per hour, this equates to a cost per migraineur of €514 per annum. In addition, work performance was reduced by 50% or more due to migraine attack on 22 days a year for sufferers.