Are you also tormented by the question "Why do I wake up with headaches?" Don't worry, you might find a solution right here!
You slept a luxurious eight hours (or at least six) last night. But as soon as you woke up this morning, you got a headache. A throbbing pain in the shadows, a pounding at the base of your skull. A searing pain behind your eyes. Despite a decent night's sleep, you have a terrible headache.
And you are not alone. According to research by the academic journal Archives of Internal Medicine, every thirteenth person wakes up in the morning with a headache. Why? Is there a solution? Well, of course you can pop a painkiller, grab a cup of coffee and hope for the best. But if you've had these headaches for a while, it's the best solution identify the underlying cause and find a solution together with your doctor.
Here's some information on why you wake up with headaches and how to get through them. (Plus, what to do if you have to wake up and still desperately need sleep.)
What is a morning headache?
A morning headache can feel like any other common headache – the only difference is that you experience it when you wake up or shortly after. It can feel like tightness around the forehead (in which case it's probably a tension headache), a sharp pain around one eye (cluster headache), or a throbbing pain that's stronger on one side of the head (migraine).
First, try to find the cause: write headache diary. Write down observations about how you feel. Your doctor will find this information very useful, and you may even help yourself identify the cause of your headache.
What could be causing my morning headaches?
Sleep apnea - one of the most common causes of morning headaches
Alex Dimitriu, Ph.D. honey and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, says, "This happens because the brain is deprived of oxygen during snoring, which leads to headaches." Sleep apnea can be dangerous and may require a device to help you breathe, such as a CPAP machine, so if you snore and often have a headache in the morning, talk to your doctor.
Lack of sleep
We know that your big project won't finish itself. But if you've been overworking lately, lack of sleep can cause headaches, explains Dr. Dimitri. And if you combine sleepless nights with liters of coffee, you may be compounding the problem. Cut back on caffeine, sleep at least seven hours a night for the next few weeks, and see if your headaches go away.
Dehydration
Have you ever wondered why you always wake up with such a terrible headache after three or four glasses of wine? (Or beers, margaritas, etc.) That's because alcohol contains ethanol, which is dehydrating—and dehydration can cause headaches. Anything that dehydrates you can cause the same type of headache, whether you ate a whole bag of popcorn while watching a movie or TV show last night or simply forgot to drink an extra glass of water after an afternoon workout. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day, without exception.
Depression
In a 2004 study, Maurice M. Ohayon, MD from Stanford found a link between chronic morning headaches and major depressive disorder. So if you've been feeling depressed lately and you're also noticing morning headaches, it's definitely worth mentioning to your doctor.
Grinding and clenching of teeth
If you grind or clench your teeth at night, all that jaw movement can cause tension that turns into a headache when you wake up the next morning. Check with your dentist, who may prescribe jaw exercises or a night guard.
"A headache woke me up. How can I go back to sleep?”
Sleep will improve your mood, but you can't go back to sleep with a headache. When you find yourself in this cycle, Dr. Dimitriu recommends meditation. We love the app Insight Timer, which features free guided meditations, including dozens of tracks specifically designed to reduce headache pain.
Still can't sleep? Try it visualize your childhood home. Walk the corridors. Enter and exit each room. Imagine photos hanging on every wall and the details of a quilt you've had for at least a decade. The next thing you see are birds chirping, the sun shining and, hallelujah, you've just sailed into an extra six hours of sleep!
But you can try square breathing. Breathe in through your nose for a count of four, then hold your breath for a count of four. As you exhale through your mouth, count to four again, then stop and hold for four. Repeat until you drift off into a restful, headache-free sleep.
