Everyone experiences a headache occasionally, but for some, waking up with a headache is a chronic problem. Some people believe they have migraines, but they could, in fact, have sleep apnea. If you wake up with a headache often, you should see a sleep specialist to rule out sleep apnea as a cause. A common symptom of sleep apnea is waking up with headaches. In fact, it is estimated that as many as at least 50% of people who wake up with headaches might have sleep apnea. Other symptoms of sleep apnea may include daytime fatigue, insomnia, snoring, waking up with a gasp or startling yourself awake, waking with dry mouth, redness and other signs of irritation in your mouth and throat.
If you suspect you have sleep apnea, you can take our sleep survey for more information. Sleep apnea is often misdiagnosed as migraines because a migraine is blamed for a miserable night’s sleep. But it might actually be the other way around. Sleep apnea disrupts the deep restorative sleep your body needs to repair and function, which is usually the best treatment for chronic migraines. This creates a cycle, and until the sleep apnea is treated, it will continue.
The Headache/Sleep Apnea Double Whammy
Sleep apnea and chronic headache sufferers are at a double disadvantage because, when left untreated, both conditions can contribute to high blood pressure, depression, a higher risk of stroke, and permanent brain damage. While classic migraines are caused by an imbalance in the brain’s neurochemicals, sleep-related headaches are affected more by the blood vessels. Each time a patient with obstructive sleep apnea experiences an apneic episode longer than 10 seconds, the blood oxygen in the brain dips. Low oxygen levels force the blood vessels to open in an attempt to get more blood flow to the brain. This widening of blood vessels and can cause headaches. If sleep apnea is left untreated, this can have a cumulative effect on the brain and result in slight brain damage.
Diagnosis
If you or your doctor suspects you have sleep apnea, he or she may perform an airway screening to look for other physical symptoms of sleep apnea and refer you to a sleep specialist for a polysomnogram, or sleep study, for a formal diagnosis. During a sleep study, a sleep physician monitors brain activity and body system functions while a patient sleeps overnight at a sleep lab. The specialist evaluates the data collected and will recommend treatment.
Treatment for Sleep Apnea
There are a variety of treatment options for sleep apnea. The gold standard for most people is a CPAP machine. If you have a mild or moderate case of sleep apnea, an appliance worn over your bottom teeth is just as effective at alleviating sleep apnea symptoms and the headaches they cause. For many patients, a sleep apnea diagnosis means the return to a restful and restorative night’s sleep free from headaches and opens a new lease on life. Few realize what a joy it is to wake without feeling tired and without a headache. But if you’ve experienced the chronic and debilitating pain from chronic headaches, you know just how sweet it is. Click here to learn more about sleep testing & diagnostics from the American Sleep Apnea Association.
Physicians
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