Why do you get headaches nausea and dizziness from fluorescent lights?

Answer 1

I experience this same effect as the entire building I work at is now 100% flourescent lighting. I have been to the doctor numerous times and unfortuantely we couldn't identify the cause after many of many attempts.

Thought fortuantely, I was able to get some hits on the effects of this type of lighting had on others. So, I had our facilities guy (he owed me a favor from fixing his PC) turn off the lighting around my cube. Bingo, no more sickness!!! Now, I'm back under the lightening to confirm it wasn't a fluke and I'm so sick by the end of the day, I can barely drive home.

They say this is caused by the frequency the light is emitted from the bulbs. Like an old computer screen that flickers as it refreshes the screen, light does the same thing but has severe affects if way out beyond natural frequencies.

Some types of lamps cause headaches more often than others. Doesn't really matter if it's t12 or t8, magnetic or electronic. I worked under them for 13 years as a teacher. During that time I experienced the eyestrain, headaches, fatigue, blurry vision, etc.. I researched this for years and set up at lab at home to test every combination of lamp and ballast to see what was causing my headaches and ill health. I even worked as an electrician for a year to find out if the wiring could affect the way the lights operated. Turns out that there are several factors that can make the lamp flicker more so that the eye is strained causing these headaches. If you use the right lamp and is wired correctly is very unlikely to bother you. I am actually considering starting up a consultancy business for businesses, offices, or schools or anyone who is affected by these lights. I will also have a money back guarantee if your headaches don't disappear. I will include an email here if anyone wants more info. stephen_707@hotmail.com

Answer 2

I do not know if there are other reasons and causes; but for me, fluorescent lights give me migraines, most with a headache, but sometimes without. I also have nausea, with and without vomiting. I become dizzy and disoriented, even confused after exposure; and the longer I am exposed, the worse it gets.