Sleep Apnea and Headaches or Migraines

Sleep problems and headaches often go hand in hand. Pain from headaches can make it hard to sleep, and poor sleep can trigger or worsen headaches. This two-way connection has been known for a long time and is now supported by growing scientific research.

Types of Headaches Linked to Sleep Issues

• Tension-Type Headaches (TTH):
  People with tension-type headaches often struggle with sleep problems, especially insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep).
• Migraines:
  Migraines have a stronger connection to sleep problems. Studies show that people with migraines often have trouble sleeping, and both too much and too little sleep can trigger migraine attacks. Poor sleep quality is also common among migraine sufferers.

How Common Are Sleep Problems in Headache Patients?

Research shows that:

• People with migraines are about five times more likely to have severe sleep disturbances.
• Those with tension-type headaches are about three times more likely to have sleep problems.
• Daytime sleepiness is more common in migraine sufferers, while insomnia is more common in people with tension-type headaches.

More Headaches, More Sleep Problems

The more frequent the headaches, the worse the sleep disturbances tend to be. People who have headaches every day or very often usually report more trouble sleeping compared to those who get headaches less often.

Summary

If you suffer from headaches or migraines, it’s important to pay attention to your sleep. Improving sleep quality can often help reduce headache frequency and severity, and treating sleep disorders like sleep apnea may be an important part of headache care.