What Are the Causes of Waking Up With a Headache in the Morning?

If you wake up with a headache, there are a few possible causes. These include not getting enough sleep, stress, sleep apnea, and bruxism. However, it is unlikely that any of these causes is the only one responsible for your headache. Luckily, there are many things you can do to reduce the frequency of your morning headaches.

Getting enough sleep

A healthy sleep schedule is essential for those who suffer from headaches. A lack of sleep can cause your body to produce proteins that contribute to chronic pain, making you more prone to headaches. Sleeping more than seven hours per night can help you avoid headaches and improve your overall health.

Stress

There are many different causes of headaches, but the most common is stress. Stress is likely the culprit if you suffer from a tension headache, migraine, or even just a headache in the morning. An excellent way to treat stress and prevent future headaches is to learn how to manage stress. Stress can disrupt sleep, making your body more susceptible to a headache.

Bruxism

Bruxism causes headaches when you wake up and affects your quality of life, but there are some ways to treat it. Since this condition is caused by excessive muscle tension, a variety of effective remedies can be found, including botox injections, night guards, stress reduction techniques, and root canals.

Sleep apnea

One of the most common sleep apnea symptoms is waking up with a headache in the morning. Fortunately, there are treatments for sleep apnea that can help reduce these symptoms. One such treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which helps increase blood oxygen levels and improve sleep quality. This treatment is effective for both mild and severe sleep apnea.

Using the wrong pillow

Using the wrong pillow can lead to headaches, especially if you sleep on your back or have a neck that is too high. Pillows support the head and neck and help you relax your neck muscles while you sleep. However, the wrong pillow can cause headaches, especially if you are allergic to feathers.

Circadian rhythm disorders

The circadian rhythm regulates a person's energy levels at night and in the morning. If this cycle is disrupted, the person can develop headaches. Some of these headaches include cluster headaches and migraines. The body has a 24-hour biological cycle, which is controlled by the hypothalamus in the brain.

Migraine triggers

Migraine triggers can include a combination of factors, ranging from stress to certain foods. Sometimes, the same trigger can cause an attack within just 6 hours or as long as two days. Nevertheless, identifying the triggers is tricky for sufferers. Many of the triggers are not accompanied by other symptoms.