Understanding the Connection between Migraine Headaches and Sleep Apnea
How frequently have your friends advised you to “sleep away” your headache? They’ve likely noticed how drained you feel because head pain can be incapacitating. Persistent headaches and migraines can significantly disrupt your quality of life, often impacting daily tasks such as work, decision-making, and sleep. Lack of oxygen while sleeping may be a root cause of your headaches.
If you have looked up the reason for your constant morning headaches, sleep apnea could have come up in your search. This sleep-disordered breathing condition often pauses breathing when sleeping, resulting in numerous undesirable symptoms like headaches. At Sarasota Center for General Dentistry, Dr. Francisco Marcano could be your best bet to combat sleep apnea-related headaches. Visit our office today!
Understanding obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Sleep apnea is a sleep-related condition characterized by cessation of breathing during sleep. While several sleep apnea types exist, OSA is the most common, accounting for over 80% of sleep apnea cases.
OSA occurs when the throat muscles relax when sleeping, obstructing the airway completely. Although these pauses (apneas) are brief—lasting 10 seconds or more—they can occur multiple times throughout the night. When sleep apnea episodes happen night after night, it disrupts your sleep and oxygen supply, straining your body and related functions.
The link between OSA and chronic headaches
Wondering why sleep apnea patients experience morning headaches? These could be the possible reasons.
- Decreased oxygen levels: During apneic episodes, breathing stops, suppressing oxygen levels in the blood. Reduced oxygen supply (hypoxemia) can cause blood vessels in the brain to dilate, leading to vascular changes that contribute to migraine attacks.
- Fragmented sleep: We all experience head pain after a poor night’s sleep. Right? Sleep apnea disrupts normal sleep patterns, causing frequent awakenings throughout the night. Sleep disturbances deny you the recuperative sleep you deserve, increasing the risk of migraines and headaches.
Although there is a link between sleep apnea and headaches, sleep apnea headaches differ from chronic migraine headaches. Sleep apnea headaches tend to improve on their own after a few hours. In contrast, chronic migraines can last up to 72 hours without appropriate treatment and are often accompanied by symptoms like nausea, sight changes, etc.
Sleep apnea relief near me in Sarasota, Florida
Waking up with morning headaches isn’t the best way to start your day. We get how exhausting this can be. So, what’s next? Call (941) 900-3555 to discuss your symptoms with Dr. Francisco Marcano. Proper treatment can improve sleep and quality of life for sleep apnea patients.
