Migraines and Driving: What Every Driver Needs to Know

I think of migraines as headaches, but they’re actually so much more. They’re a complicated neurological condition that can repeat in ways that affect your entire body. I know, I had them in my thirties.
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Migraine symptoms include light and sound sensitivity, nausea and vomiting, visual disturbances, confusion, dizziness, muscle weakness, fatigue, and constant yawning. About 25% of migraines sufferers have auras an hour before the migraine strikes. Auras show up as blurred vision, flashes of light, wavy lines, and blind spots. 

My first migraine, and all the others, must have been auras. I remember the blurred vision, how I couldn’t read, and my hand going numb. It was scary. I was teaching. I can’t imagine having one if I’d been driving. It’s why I decided to write this post and share the link below from Stephanie Butler. She’s the Outreach Coordinator from Adam Swallow Injury Lawyers.
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                           Link: https://www.mdaccidentlaw.com/driving-with-a-migraine-safety-guide/


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​                     Part 1: Migraines and the Risk for Drivers

I was surprised to read that a 2020 study said for severe migraine sufferers, 66% of them won’t drive. That’s a good statistic, but the scary one…34% do.  Here are three signs you’re having a migraine. 


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​#1 Vision Impairment--It can happen before, during, and even after a migraine. Think blurred vision, blind spots, flashes of light, and distortions. Imagine trying to navigate roads with intersections, pedestrians, potholes, and debris. You may also have trouble judging distance and staying in your own lane. 


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​2. Delayed Reaction Time--If your head aches, feels foggy or drowsy, you might take longer to spot what’s ahead and hit the brakes. A car ride could be worse than your migraine.



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​3. Light Sensitivity--If you’re struggling to see, imagine what driving toward the sun or having light in your mirrors could do? At night think of blinking lights or headlights shining in your eyes. No matter the time, migraines can make driving more difficult and more dangerous.
 
                                                               Tomorrow: warning signs and migraine stages

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Part 2: Migraines Stages, Warning Signs, & Gender Difference

​Did you know migraines come in three stages? Like pre and post migraine.

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​Prodromes, they’re the pre-migraine stage. You might experience nonstop yawning, food cravings, and mood changes. Prodromes can begin hours, even days before a migraine hits. 

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​Postdromes begin when migraines end. They can last up to two days, and you might experience exhaustion, confusion, trouble concentrating, and dizziness. 

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​Warning Signs for Drivers: If you’re driving and experience any of these signs, please pull over and call a friend for help. If you get one before you leave, please delay your trip. 

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​1. Vision disturbances: Auras, blurred vision, and blind spots can hide obstacles from view. 

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​​2. Light sensitivity: Sunlight during the day and headlights at night can blind or disorient you.

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​ 3. Dizziness: If your head is spinning, your judgement is weakened, especially for distance. 

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​ 4. Nausea: Feeling queasy? Watch out! Vomiting can make you lose control of your car and your stomach…instantly.

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5. Brain fog: If your head feels clouded, your judgement and reaction time can be too.

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6. Sleepiness: When you’re tired, your reactions slow down too. You might even fall asleep at the wheel. 

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7. Weakness: When your senses are weakened, your driving skills are too.

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Gender Matters in Migraines: Guess who’s more affected by them?

- One study said women get migraines three times as often as men.

- They tend to be more frequent, longer-lasting, and more severe.

- They’re the biggest reason for disability in women ages 15-49.

- Migraines peak when we’re 35-39, when work and family demands are at their highest. Funny, mine were all in my 30s.

- Some families, bosses, and doctors say they’re only headaches, so some women don’t get treatment or support.
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                    Tomorrow: safety tips to take pre-migraine, or if you find yourself driving during one.

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Part 3: Safety Checklists for Before/During/After Migraine​

If you suffer from frequent migraines, these three checklists could minimize risk and maximize safety for you, your passengers, and your fellow drivers. 

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                                     Before Driving:

1. Assess risk: Ask yourself if you have any migraine symptoms like auras, nausea, or light sensitivity. If you do, don’t drive.

2. Take preventative medications: Take doctor-prescribed medicine before driving.

3. Pack a migraine survival kit: This includes medication, water, snacks, sunglasses, earplugs, and an icepack.

4. Tell passengers: Pick a designated driver, just in case. Teach your kids how to stay calm and call for help.

5. Plan your route: Use GPS to pick a low-stress route that gives you safe places to stop when needed.

6.  Have someone on call: Have family or a friend ready to pick you up in case a migraine strikes while you’re driving. 

7. Know your triggers: Plan ahead to avoid things like bright sunlight. If possible, pick the best time for you to travel.


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                                  When Driving:

​1. Be self-aware: Track your symptoms, especially if triggers pop up.

​2. Stay hydrated and fed: Sip water and snack when you feel hungry.

3. Minimize bright sunlight: Use your visor and sunglasses to minimize bright light, even on a cloudy day.

4. Minimize driving stress: Allow yourself extra time to get there and avoid peak traffic.

5. Minimize stimulation: Keep the radio on low, food smells too. The temperature should be comfortable, and conversations kept to a minimum.

6. Pull over: If you feel any warning signs, pull over as soon as you can.

7. Take medication: Once you stop, take your medicine and rest until you feel better.

8. Call for help: If your migraine doesn’t get better, let your designated driver take over, or ask your on-call person to pick you up. 


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                                     After Driving:

1. Take care of yourself: Rest and rehydrate. Eat if you can, and don’t drive until you’re better.

2. Write down details: Keep a migraine journal with your symptoms, triggers, and responses to medication. It can help you learn to manage them. ​

3. Evaluate your actions: Did your plan work? How could you improve it for the next time? 

4. See your doctor: If your migraines don’t get better, talk to him/her about what you’re doing.

5. Check out alternative transportation: If migraines still affect your driving, look for safe alternatives, like public transportation, carpooling, or uber.  
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​Legal Implications for Migraines: Across the country, there are no laws against driving with migraines. But it’s illegal to drive impaired, and there are penalties for that.

During a migraine, if you’re dizzy, have light sensitivity or visual disturbances, are nauseas, or have intense pain, you could be considered impaired. If there’s a problem, you can be stopped under general traffic laws. The easy button: don’t drive if you’re in doubt.

If you have an accident while driving with a migraine, you could face civil liability and criminal charges if someone’s hurt. Put safety first, yours and the drivers around you. Talk to your doctor before you step in the car. If you’re in doubt, call family or friends.
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I did…I forgot about a migraine that struck at the end of the school day. My husband came to my rescue.
 
                                                               Tomorrow: where to find help for your migraines

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​Part 4: Where to Get Help

If you suffer from migraines, here are some resources to help you live with them.
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One of the best things to try…SEEDS. Not the plant kind. The acronym kind that’s recommended by the American Migraine Foundation.

S…Sleep--Make sure you get your beauty rest and follow good sleep practices.
E…Exercise--Do gentle activity 3-5 days a week for 30-50 minutes.
E…Eat--Eat small healthy meals more frequently. Don’t fast or stop eating.
D…Diary--Keep one with details about your migraines. Look for patterns to discuss with your doctor.
S…Stress--Keep it under control using mindfulness and relaxation techniques. 

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Primary Care Doctors: This is a great starting place if/when you suffer your first migraine. They can recommend medicines and strategies to try. They can also tell you if it’s safe to drive.
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If your doctor can help you, perfect! If not, he/she can recommend a migraine specialist or neurologist. They’re doctors who specialize in migraines. They follow clinical trials and have the latest information to share. 

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Migraine Support Groups: One of the best ways to survive is with a support group. When I was still teaching, my colleagues supported me through issues like migraines. It helps to realize you’re not alone, and you get great, practical advice. Click on my original source to connect to the groups below. You can Google them too.

1. Move Against Migraines is a Facebook support group that’s connected to the American Migraine Foundation. You’ll find advice and inspiration.

2. Mayo Clinic Headache & Migraine is a community of caregivers and people like you. It’s moderated by the Mayo Clinic Connect.

3. Living Positively with Chronic Pain is an online group from Bethesda, Maryland. It has over 700 members.

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Migraine Advocacy and Education: These four groups are dedicated to raising awareness and getting resources to migraine sufferers and the general public.

1. The American Migraine Foundation raises money for research, education, and awareness for doctors and their patients.

2. Miles for Migraines hosts events to raise money for a cure, education, and support for those living with migraines.

3. Migraine.com is an online community that shares what it’s like to live with migraines while supporting each other.

4. National Headache Foundation offers education for patients and doctors. They can help you start a headache diary and share news about clinical trials. They also support veterans who suffer from migraines. 

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​ In Conclusion: Driving with migraines is dangerous. Impaired vision, light sensitivity, visual disturbances, and intense pain can take your focus off the road and slow your reaction time. Being unable to drive feels like you’re losing your independence. But with the right support and treatment, you can reclaim it and navigate migraines no matter where you are.

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