yup. one of the more unpleasant factors of being a programmer. does anybody have any tips for avoiding migraines or for treating one?
I’ve noticed sometimes that if i listen to certain songs it gets better. anyone else notice that? any songs that work for you?
implying there is a relation between headaches and monitor screens.
CRT I might agree, but I have been looking at monitors my whole f**king life, and I get like one headache a year
Haven’t used crts for a long time. sometimes i just get them without being on a computer at all.
I also never heard of any link between computer work / coding and migrains. There is a lot of info on how to prevent it and/or reduce the symptoms. I wouldn’t know how effective they are, as I never had a migraine as of yet.
If looking at a screen for a long time gives you headaches you could try changing the lighting in the room. Or maybe you just need glasses. If the eyes need to work too hard to focus that can cause headaches.
There are studies which show that migraine sufferers can be negatively affected by close monitor work - but there’s also studies which show the same for eating chocolate. :-
The trick is to find your personal ‘triggers’ and avoid/reduce contact. Are you using a CRT? Are you taking too much caffeine/alcohol/chocolate/cannabis? Are you under stress? Are you working under fluorescent lighting? All have been associated with migraine aggravation…
In terms of coding being a trigger for you, maybe spend more time with pen and paper to reduce actual typing time if pos? Take regular breaks &c. You have my sympathy!
Migranes != Headaches. Your garden variety headache can be avoided with good environmental conditions, staying hydrated, cutting down on caffeine, etc. Migranes are a severe condition that completely knock you on your ass. The answer for treating those is “see a doctor, namely a migrane specialist, and don’t let up til you get effective treatment”. Everyone I’ve known who gets migranes had a different answer as to what helped.
I used to get migraines often when I was younger, coffee used to trigger it for me and strangely also bright very fine patterns (like the default X11 background). Once triggered I was in for 8 hours of pain that only dark and quiet could mitigate. Luckily as I got older they diminished in frequency and intensity (this is common) to the point where I haven’t had one in years and am now able to drink coffee (which I couldn’t live without).
I know your pain, migraines suck, but the one good thing is it is quite common for them to go away as you get older.
They could also be stress related headaches as well. I know I’ve gotten some wicked ones that have left me curled up in bed with the lights out for days at a time, listening very quietly to music. Heh.
Honestly, I have one while typing this. Not caused by coding but daily class. Usually I’ll drop everything when it comes, and get sleep by minimal 2 hours.
I never have migraines or headaches, and I’m on the computer at least 5-6 hours per day.
Then again, I’m really not in…deepthought…most of my time 
(badum tsssssss ;D)
5-6 hours ? pffff!
most of us who have a real job spend at least 8 hours at work, then 5 or 6 more at home!
sometimes I do have headaches, but it’s because of too much time without resting.
When I’m really into something I can stay like 4 hours without getting out of the chair, and just get up when I fell I cannot hold it anymore and have to go to the bathroom. (that is when I get headaches)
I don’t get migraines (I’ve seen in person what that does to you, I know for sure I don’t suffer from that), but sometimes I do have pretty severe head aches. Usual suspects:
Strangely enough staring at a computer monitor for hours on end doesn’t give me a head ache (anymore?), but sometimes I do start to feel sick to my stomach especially when playing games that do not have silky smooth graphics (unstable FPS or screen tearing). Usually a sign that I’ve been at it for too long.
Oh well I did say at least, but it’s usually 2 hours at school and 7-9 more at home 
I get headaches from poor sleep schedule and lack of exercise. 
Get your eyes checked regularly.
Lol, generic advice rules. While you’re at it, eat plenty of veggies.
Generic maybe, but my eyes don’t focus properly on a computer screen…which is apparently pretty common problem. If I don’t wear my glasses, everything looks just fine but after a few hours my eyes start to dry out and if I ignore it and carry on I’ll get a nasty (migraine-like) headache (minus the light sensitivity). With my glasses…no problem. So get your eyes checked regularly…and eat your veggies and drink plenty of water.
Whoa same for me! With glasses I’m fine, but without them my eyes start drying out and I get a headache
I read that as: when you stare at monitors for long periods of time, have your eyes checked out regularly - pretty sound advice that cannot be repeated often enough as it is one of those things that people safely assume away under the guise of “Nah, MY eyes won’t be affected”. But then you realize you’ve been living with unnecessary daily discomfort for years (for example frequent head aches) which could have been lifted simply if you were fitted with glasses. I’ve seen two family members go down that road already; its amazing how much discomfort you can “ignore”, they both finally opened up when they were at that point where it became almost unbearable 