Morning Headaches From Sleep Problems

In researching this often-requested topic, we scanned 80 medical journal reports. The majority came to the conclusion that morning headaches are most often the result of sleep problems. Before we come to their suggestions for relief, here are some of the journal extracts:

"Women living with heavy snorers were more frequently affected by symptoms of insomnia, morning headache, daytime sleepiness and fatigue than women with non-snorers." ¹

"Disturbances in sleep...contribute to the experience of pain...the management of the sleep disorder ameliorates both morning headache and migraine...In conclusion, there is a reciprocal relationship between sleep quality and pain." ²

"An association between headache and sleep is long recognized in the medical literature and deemed highly clinically relevant for at least a portion of headache sufferers." ³

Quite a few mentioned that overuse of analgesics (pain-relieving drugs) as a culprit in morning headaches including one from the Mayo Clinic.

Many suggested the use of melatonin which aids sleep and therefore may be beneficial against morning headaches. The added benefit is that melatonin, especially when taken in modest doses (1 mg.) is both healthful generally and has not shown side effects.

Examples include this from Sleep Med., vol. 4, 2005, "In this series 'of studies and reports] persistent benefit with melatonin beyond 12 months of therapy occurred in most but not all patients." ⁴

Not universally accepted, but some researchers point to obstructive sleep apnea as a cause of morning headaches. ⁵

Morning Headaches From Sleep Problems Bibliography

1 Health Care Women Int., vol. 21, 2005, by Drs. Ulfberg, Carter, Talback & Edling, Sleep Disorders Center, Avesta Hosp., Sweden.

2 Sleep Med. Rev., vol. 5, 2005, by Dr. M. Moldofsky, Professor Emeritus, U. of Toronto, Canada.

3 Seminars in Neurol., vol. 25, 2005 by Drs. Rains and Poceta, Ctr. for Sleep Evaluation, Elliot Hosp., Manchester, New Hampshire, USA.

4 The Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905, this by Drs. Boeve, Sllber & Ferman of Mayo's Sleep Disorders Center.

5 Acta Neurol Scandinavia, May, 2005 by Drs. Mazzota, Gallinella & Sarchielli, Dept. of Neuroscience, U. of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.