Can sleep disorders cause headaches?

A common symptom of sleep apnea is waking up after sleep with headache is one of the most common sleep disorder in kids .  In general, it can be assumed that about 50 % of people who wake up feeling headache can be considered as suffering from some sleep disorders.

Relation between sleep disorders and headache

Sleep disorders like pregnant and insomnia, sleep disorder in kids etc and headaches are interdependent. Headaches have intrinsic relationship with sleep.  Cluster headache, migraine without aura, hypnic headache, paroxysmal hemicrania etc are likely to affect sleep or can affect sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea. Though our knowledge about sleep disorders and headaches has increased considerably during the past few decades, and the study is being continued and more and more information is being unfolded day by day.

The risk of sleep problems in the case of headache sufferers is 5 to 8 times greater than it on normal people. Various theories have been put forward describing the relation between head ache and change in oxygen saturation, cerebral vasodilation, intracranial pressure etc. No the definite cause is not yet found out.

Sleep related headaches

Some  of the important sleep related headache types are discussed below.

  • Hypnic headache
  • Cluster headache
  • Headache linked to Obstructive sleep apnea

Treatment for sleep apnea

Throbbing pain causing nausea and vomiting is the common symptom of sleep related headache. Oral appliances or bite guards can relieve pain of jaw muscles caused due to bruxism or misalignment of jaw bones. Appliance therapy has been found to be very useful in treating misaligned jaws. Using oral appliances can very well resolve the pain experienced by headaches also. Maintaining regular sleep schedule is also very important in controlling sleep apnea.

Treatment for sleep apnea and headache

Continued research is being done to find out the relation between anatomical, electrophysiological and biochemical entities relating to sleep apnea and headache. Lower part of the brain known as stem plays a great role in relation to sleep and headache generation. When pregnant and insomnia patients discuss r sleep problem with physician, clearly explain him regarding the sleep cycle and sleep pattern of your daily life. Your  physician will try to understand the increased headache experienced by you and its relation with various type of sleep disorders like sleep apnea, sleep deprivation, insomnia etc. Similarly, parent of children with sleep disorder in kids are also expected to explain everything in detail in your sleep pattern and making it more structured can be helpful in decreasing the frequency and intensity of the headache experienced by him.

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