Years Lived with Disability (YLD) is a public health metric that estimates the number of years individuals live with a disease or health condition, adjusted for the severity of the disability. According to the 2021 Global Burden of Disease Study, headaches account for 5.2% of global YLDs, ranking just behind low back pain and depression. This burden is particularly significant among working-age adults, as headaches are a major contributor to both absenteeism (missing work) and presenteeism (working while impaired).

In an effort to reduce the impact of headaches in the workforce, a May 2025 study examined data from 63,071 employees of the Fujitsu Group, a Japanese IT company. Participants completed questionnaires on general health, lifestyle, and headache history. Results showed that half of men and two-thirds of women experienced headaches on at least three days per month, and 17% of men and 26.5% of women reported headaches on ten or more days per month.

Further analysis identified high stress levels as the strongest risk factor for headaches—increasing the risk 7.13 times in men and 8.79 times in women. Other contributing factors included workplace conditions such as prolonged sitting and eye strain; mood disorders such as depression and anxiety; musculoskeletal problems like back pain and stiff shoulders; physical inactivity; and insomnia.

These findings highlight opportunities for employers to mitigate headache-related disability, which could improve both productivity and employee retention. Potential strategies include: improving communication across individuals, teams, and departments; encouraging frequent breaks to reduce eye strain and physical fatigue; offering wellness services such as massage therapy, yoga, or calm spaces; recognizing and rewarding employee efforts; and providing benefits that support better sleep, mental health, and physical well-being.

Of course, individuals should also take proactive steps to manage stress and improve their overall health. Doing so can reduce the risk not only of headaches, but also other musculoskeletal and chronic health conditions. While there are more than 150 types of headaches, many of the most common forms respond well to chiropractic care, leading to reductions in headache frequency, duration, and intensity. If headaches are interfering with your ability to function at work or in daily life, consider chiropractic care as part of a conservative treatment approach.