I get a terrible headache at work almost every day. If I leave the building it goes away. I have a feeling it's the big glaring flourescent light directly above my desk. Is that possible?
(also, it goes away in meetings and such where the light is track lighting)
2007-03-01 03:34:24 · 8 answers · asked by Tiff 5 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Fluorescent lights have a flicker like CRT computer screens, and the flickering commonly causes headaches. The flicker rate is controlled by the ballast in the light fixture. The ballast in the light fixture is a transformer that causes the lights to glow. They wear out and cause flickering - ballasts last anywhere from 10 to 20 years before they have to be replaced. Some ballasts have conventional low-frequency flicker (120 Hz) and 'flicker-free' lights have higher frequencies between 20-60 kHz. The older ballasts were magnetic, and the newer, high frequency ballasts are electronic.
The light bulbs also affect flickering. The flickering is sometimes barely noticeable when fluorescent light bulbs are new, but it increases as the light bulb ages. Some fluorescent lights will start flickering after 3 or 4 years, but they will continue to last for another 5 years before they burn out entirely.
My wife sneaked into her office to change her lights after the maintenance people told her they didn't need replacing, and the new lights made a huge difference. You could replace the lights to see it helps, or see if the maintenance people can replace the ballasts with a flicker free model. The color spectrum also can make a difference - lights that simulate the natural light spectrum cause fewer problems.
2007-03-01 04:07:42 · answer #1 · answered by formerly_bob 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, florescent lighting can cause headaches. I get out and out migraines from them. I use to have them where I worked and it bothered me a lot. I have also noticed that every time I go into Sams Club I get a migraine from the lights. Florescent lighting has also been known to cause seizures in people with epilepsy. It's some bad stuff for people who are sensitive.
2007-03-01 03:43:21 · answer #2 · answered by mardaw 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes that can definately cause headaches. i have migraines so i have started to watch for thingsthat trigger them. I have alot of things like certain lights, smells, colors for long time periods, and food and drinks. probably what i have found the weirdest that triggers mine is pickles. i know sounds dumb right but they really do. so now your light idea isn't so impossible sounding is it? headaches are caused by different things in different people.
2007-03-01 03:39:49 · answer #3 · answered by amromine 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, fluorescent lights NEVER give me headaches. I love white tube lights. They are refreshing, cool, and make me calm and happy.
In fact, it is the inefficient, dim, yellow, ugly and outdated incandescent bulbs which give me REAL headaches.
2015-11-06 06:33:35 · answer #4 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. Flourescents are very unhealthy and can surely cause headaches in folks who are sensitive to it.
Peace!
2007-03-01 03:38:34 · answer #5 · answered by carole 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely! They give me headaches big time. I try to avoid them by using indirect lighting. However, i don't know how you can avoid them at work other than using tinted glasses.
2007-03-01 03:43:12 · answer #6 · answered by Shar 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By the sounds of things, I would say so. I have never had that problem, personally, but we're all different.
2007-03-01 03:40:27 · answer #7 · answered by Shortstuff13 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
short answer is YES!
2007-03-01 03:38:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋