Respirators And Glasses Are A Headache For Doctors In The Literal Sense

Respirators and glasses are a headache for doctors in the literal sense

Study participants wore protective equipment for about six hours a day. Most of them developed a specific headache.

Photo: Ong et, al / Headache, 2020

Prolonged use of personal protective equipment - goggles, face shields and respirators - can cause headaches for healthcare workers who are fighting COVID-19. The study, which analyzed headaches in Singapore hospital workers, was published in the journal Headache.

Doctors who work on the front lines of the fight against the new coronavirus (including admissions and specialized departments, intensive care units) must wear personal protective equipment.

The study involved 158 doctors, paramedics and nurses from the National University Hospital. They worked in admissions and specialized departments, as well as intensive care units, where it was necessary to use personal protective equipment.

On average, the health workers in the study wore N95 masks and eye protection for 6 hours a day. Scientists reported headaches in these working conditions by 128 people (81%). Most of the study participants had mild headache (71.9%). 23.4% of the participants had symptoms associated with migraine: photophobia, nausea, vomiting, discomfort when moving, discomfort in the neck.

Participants in the study who had previously suffered from headaches were more likely to suffer from it while wearing the headache. Pain usually started within the first hour of work. Most of the health workers did not use analgesics.

Among the concomitant factors that could cause headache, doctors indicated lack of sleep, dehydration, stress, irregular eating.