If you find yourself frequently waking up with a morning headache in the morning, you are not alone. Approximately 1 out of every 13 people experiences morning headaches. These headaches typically affect women more than men and are most frequent in people between the ages of 45 and 64.
Chronic morning headaches usually are either a migraine or a tension headache. A migraine often feels like piercing pain in one location along with symptoms such as sensitivity to light or nausea. Tension headaches tend to cause pressure all around the head.
What Causes Morning Headache?
As you transition from sleep to wakefulness, parts of your brain start to “wake up” too. Your brain becomes more responsive to changes in your body position, touch, and sound. During this period of heightened sensitivity, you may be more susceptible to pain.
Additionally, the hypothalamus in the brain is involved in both sleep and pain processes. The hypothalamus regulates your natural circadian rhythms and sleep cycles and modulates sensation and pain. Disturbances in the hypothalamus during sleep affect your ability to tolerate pain. As a result, while you may not have felt pain as you slept, you may feel it in the morning.
Before consulting a doctor, recommended to track the following details for Morning Headache:
- The time the headache started
- How long the headache lasted
- Whether there were any noticeable triggers
- What you ate the night before
- The quality of your sleep the night before
- Experiencing any nausea or sensitivity to light during the headache
Tips for Relief from Morning Headache :
If you have frequent or daily morning headaches, talk to your healthcare provider about what might be causing them. Consider keeping a sleep diary to track your symptoms and sleep habits and share this with your doctor. They can help you identify the exact trigger or triggers of your morning headaches and develop a treatment plan.
- Keep a Consistent Sleep Schedule
- Exercise Regularly
- Limit Caffeine and Alcohol
- Adjust Your Sleep Environment
- Find a Relaxing Routine
With good sleep hygiene and treatment for the disorder causing your headaches, you may be able to reduce or eliminate your morning headaches. Talk with your healthcare provider to determine the right treatment plan for you.
Dr.Yogita Pawar PT
By Dr.Yogita Pawar, MPT in Pediatrics Neurosciences, Trained Neurodevelopmental Therapy ,Trained Sensory Integration Therapy
Certified Child and adolescent COUNSELLING,
Certified in Clinical psychology
Parenting Coach