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Does your head ache when you awaken in the morning? Even though there are a variety of reasons this might be happening, you might be experiencing sleep apnea.
One out of 13 people report that they experience early morning headaches. This may be the result of your body’s actual physiology. In the early morning, your body’s internal pain reduction levels may be lowered, or your body could be producing more adrenalin during this time, and this could lead to migraine headaches. More often, morning headache is associated with sleep-related breathing disorders like sleep apnea. People with sleep disorders are 2 to 8 times more likely to have a morning headache than those without a sleep disorder.
Some of the more common causes of morning headache can include:
- Insomnia. You could be sleeping too little due to tossing and turning or lying awake during the night.
- Snoring. As a symptom of sleep apnea, snoring is a risk for chronic headaches.
- Tooth Grinding. When you clench your jaw or grind your teeth in your sleep, the tightened muscles can lead to headaches.
- Improper Sleep Position. If you’re using the wrong pillow, your head could be in the wrong position, thereby straining neck and scalp muscles.
- Cold Room. If your room is too cold, your muscles can tighten and cause pain.
As sleep specialists, Airway & Sleep Group looks at the symptoms and the underlying causes for morning headache with sleep apnea. We can provide an examination and talk to you about treatments that can help alleviate or even cure your morning headache. Contact us for an initial consultation.