Migraines and sleep abnormalities are complex disorders often intertwined in a vicious cycle of one precipitating the other.
Is there an association between migraines and poor sleep?
Yes. In fact, a study found that patients with migraine headaches without aura have a higher prevalence of sleep abnormalities than the general population. More specifically, a different study found that patients with chronic migraines (more than 15 headache days a month) sleep less and report more difficulties falling asleep and staying asleep then patients with episodic migraines (fewer than 15 headache days a month).
What sleep abnormalities are linked to migraines?
Excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, early morning awakenings, daytime fatigue, snoring, and restless leg syndrome are found with increasing prevalence in patients with migraines. Certainly in internal medicine and neurology practices, sleep disturbances and migraines are common primary complaints. This does not mean that you cannot have one condition without the other. But if you do suffer from both it would be prudent to connect the dots and discuss with your doctor whether therapy for one condition can help the other.
If you suffer from both headaches and sleep disturbance what should you do?
1.) See your healthcare provider and obtain a diagnosis of your headache. This is essential as certain types of headaches like migraines are affiliated with specific sleep disturbances. The diagnosis may require further testing such as a sleep study to rule out sleep apnea, which can cause early morning headaches otherwise known as the sleep apnea headache.
2.) Maintain both a headache diary and sleep log for at least 24 hours and include measures that promote sleep (sleep aids) and wakefulness (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine). Be comprehensive and include mood symptoms and stress along with your diet and weather or menstrual changes to help in identifying triggers. Bring your headache diary and sleep log in to your doctor’s visit so you can correlate patterns together.
3.) Discuss therapies including both behavioral (sleep hygiene, identifying and prioritizing triggers, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychiatric evaluation) and pharmacologic with your healthcare provider.
As with all medical conditions, discuss all concerns with your doctor. Be candid so that your provider can assess your health issues in detail and help you achieve appropriate treatment strategies.
Tags: aura, headache, migraine stages, migraine treatment, Migraines, postdrome, prodrome, stages of migraines
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