Sleep Apnea Headaches
Key Takeaways
- Sleep apnea can cause several types of headaches, including morning headaches, cluster headaches, hypnic headaches, and migraines.
- Morning headaches are a common symptom and often feel like dull, bilateral pressure that resolves within a few hours.
- CPAP therapy can help reduce or eliminate sleep apnea-related headaches.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, you may have experienced the discomfort of morning headaches. Of course, headaches can be caused by other factors, too, such as alcohol or stress. Researchers have been able to document that obstructive sleep apnea and morning headaches are often linked.¹ However, there are different types of headaches associated with sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
There is a wide range of sleep apnea symptoms, some more common than others. Of course, you may not have all these symptoms, which is a good thing. However, you may experience one or more of these symptoms at some point.
Most Common Sleep Apnea Symptoms
- Loud snoring
- Episodes of stopped breathing while asleep
- Gasping for air or choking while sleeping
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Morning headaches
- Trouble concentrating or focusing
- Restless sleep
- Not feeling well-rested when you wake up
- Irritability or moodiness
- Falling asleep throughout the day
Less Common Sleep Apnea Symptoms
- Night sweats
- Nocturia (needing to go to the bathroom during the night)
- Restless leg syndrome
- Dry mouth or sore throat
- Sexual dysfunction
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Why Sleep Apnea Causes Headaches
No one knows for sure why sleep apnea causes headaches. Most attribute it to blood oxygen levels that drop while you are asleep. It is often thought to be due to sleep disturbances caused by paused breathing during the night. Most researchers agree that people with sleep apnea suffer from morning headaches.²
Headache Types Linked to Sleep Apnea
Many people suffer from sleep apnea-related headaches. It is important to understand that there are different types of headaches associated with sleep apnea.
Morning Headaches
Sleep apnea morning headaches³ are named so, since they usually occur in the mornings, when you first wake up. But they can happen in the middle of the night. Most people say a morning headache related to sleep apnea feels like a pressing pain on both sides of the head. They usually last for 30 minutes to about four hours.
A sleep apnea morning headache responds well to treatment. They differ from other types of headaches like migraine because they don’t’ usually have other symptoms like nausea or light sensitivity.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are commonly associated with sleep apnea symptoms.⁴ However, cluster headaches usually happen while you are asleep. Also, cluster headaches sometimes have other symptoms like a runny or stuffy nose, sweating on our face or forehead, puffy or droopy eyes, or tearing up of your eyes.
Cluster headaches occur in “clusters.” This just means you may have a few of them a day, at about the same time of day, for a few months. Then, you may not have them for a while before they start again. Cluster headaches typically last about an hour.
Hypnic Headaches
A hypnic headache occurs at night, too. They are another sleep-related headache that can affect people who have obstructive sleep apnea. It is more common for older people to experience hypnic headaches. Sleep apnea headaches usually start when you wake up, but hypnic headaches typically start about four to six hours after falling asleep. They usually wake the person up, which is why they are also called “alarm clock” headaches.
Like other sleep apnea headaches, hypnic headaches go away on their own after 30 minutes to an hour. They do often accompany other symptoms like nausea, which is not usually the case with other types of sleep apnea headaches.
Migraines
Migraines are often associated with sleep apnea but differ from sleep apnea headaches. Migraines last a lot longer, usually between four hours and three days. Usually, sleep apnea headaches go away on their own after waking up. Also, a sleep apnea headache affects both sides of the head. A migraine is usually localized to one side of the head.
Migraines can occur at any time of the day or night, even if you are asleep. Most sleep apnea headaches occur when you wake up. Migraines can also have other symptoms like nausea or sensitivity to sounds and light.
How to Help Headaches Caused by Sleep Apnea
If you wake up to morning headaches, talk to your doctor. They’ll ask you some questions about your symptoms to make sure your headaches are related to sleep apnea and not caused by something else. Sleep apnea headaches can usually be successfully treated with CPAP therapy and some simple lifestyle changes.
Lifestyle Changes
You may be able to make some lifestyle changes that help reduce sleep apnea symptoms, including headaches. Here are a few suggestions that may help you manage sleep apnea.
- Avoid alcohol
- Don’t take sedatives at bedtime
- Sleep on your side or stomach if possible
- Eat a nutrition diet
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain a healthy weight
CPAP Therapy
Consistent CPAP therapy (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is often used to treat people who have OSA, or obstructive sleep apnea. The CPAP machine works with a CPAP mask to provide constant positive airway pressure⁶ to help keep airway passages open. This keeps the airway passage from collapsing, so you can breathe normally during sleep. Using a CPAP machine regularly allows you to enjoy many health benefits of good sleep, and helps to prevent serious side effects like morning headaches⁷ that are linked to sleep apnea.
Want to Learn More?
Visit The CPAP Shop for your CPAP equipment and accessories. If you still have questions, contact us at 866-414-9700. We are happy to help you find what you need to sleep well and avoid sleep apnea headaches.
References
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Russell, M. B., Kristiansen, H. A., & Kværner, K. J. (2014). Headache in sleep apnea syndrome: Epidemiology and pathophysiology. Cephalalgia, 34(10), 752–755. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24928423/ ResearchGate+10PubMed+10scofa.com+10
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N. K. Loh, MMED (INT MED), MRCP (UK); D. S. Dinner, MD; N. Foldvary, DO; et al (1999). JAMA Internal Medicine. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1105630 NCBIEurekAlert!
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Evers, S., Barth, B., Frese, A., Husstedt, I. W., & Happe, S. (2014). Sleep apnea in patients with cluster headache: A case-control study. Cephalalgia, 34(10), 828–832. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25022696/ SAGE Journals+3PubMed+3yaronhaviv.co.il+3
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Spałka, J., et al. (2020). Morning headache as an obstructive sleep apnea symptom. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7016602/ healthline.com+15PMC+15PubMed+15
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Ravesloot, M. J. L., & de Vries, N. (2011). Reliable calculation of the efficacy of non‑surgical and surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea revisited. Sleep, 34(1), 105–110. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21203364/ periodicos.capes.gov.br+2PubMed+2PMC+2
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Pinto, V. L. (2023). Continuous positive airway pressure. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482178/ NCBI+1NCBI+1
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Johnson, K. G., & Ziemba, A. M. (2013). Improvement in headaches with continuous positive airway pressure for obstructive sleep apnea: A retrospective analysis. Headache, 53(2), 333–343. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22963547/ PubMed+1profiles.umassmed.edu+1
