Yes, sleep apnea–particularly, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)–can often cause recurring headaches, especially in the morning when you wake. Of course, because many factors can contribute to morning headaches (including alcohol, stress, and underlying medical conditions) you need a proper diagnosis from a medical professional to get a formal diagnosis.
How do you know if your headache is due to sleep apnea, and not stress or excessive alcohol consumption? Can sleep apnea cause anxiety? This is where the opinion of a qualified and experienced medical doctor becomes necessary.
It’s also a good idea to read the Sleep Apnea Solution book by Dr. Dylan Petkus, which offers expert information on this condition.
Is Your Headache Associated With Sleep Apnea?
Headaches caused by sleep apnea are frequent and often occur in the morning when you wake up. These headaches are mainly caused by interrupted sleep and rapid reduction in the levels of oxygen in your blood while sleeping.
There are three main causes of headaches associated with sleep apnea:
Hypoxia
‘Hypoxia’ refers to the reduced supply of oxygen in your blood. This condition causes headaches in several ways:
- Enlargement of your blood vessels (vasodilation) occurs as your heart attempts to increase the amount of oxygen delivered to the tissues. This increases intracranial pressure, leading to headaches. Can sleep apnea cause AFib? Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is an abnormal heart rate caused by fast and irregular beats. Sleep apnea can cause AFib through recurring hypoxia.
- Hypoxia is normally accompanied by increased carbon dioxide in your blood (hypercapnia). Too much carbon dioxide in your blood results in widened blood vessels in your brain and recurring headaches.
- Insufficient oxygen in your blood triggers an inflammatory response in your body, causing the release of inflammatory mediators that destabilize your pain pathways, leading to a headache.
- Hypoxia disrupts your sleep, causing you to wake up regularly throughout the night. Without restful sleep, you’re more susceptible to morning headaches.
- Prolonged hypoxia alters your body’s pain threshold, making you more vulnerable to headaches.
Fragmented Sleep
Short, regular disruptions of sleep can cause morning headaches in these ways:
- A normal sleep cycle has several stages, including deep sleep and rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep. These stages allow you to enjoy restorative sleep/rest. Fragmented sleep affects this cycle, causing inadequate sleep and morning headaches.
- Fragmented sleep also causes you to sleep in different awkward positions, thus increasing muscle tension in your neck and shoulders. Therefore, you’re likely to suffer tension-type headaches.
- Regular awakenings disrupt the balance of your independent nervous system, resulting in increased fight-or-flight responses. These responses cause changes in your blood vessels, contributing to morning headaches.
- Interrupted sleep causes fatigue and cognitive strain, leading to mental stress. This further contributes to headaches upon waking up.
Accumulation of Carbon Dioxide in Your Blood
Increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in your blood cause morning headaches in the following ways:
- Increased CO2 levels can cause blood vessel enlargement in your brain. This increases blood flow to the brain, raising the intracranial pressure that causes headaches.
- Because CO2 is an acidic gas, it can cause the pH of your blood to drop, leading to increased acidity in your respiratory organs. Your body responds to this acid through an increased breathing rate. During sleep, your breathing rate is reduced, causing prolonged acidosis and headache.
- High levels of CO2 in your blood will trigger an inflammatory response by releasing inflammatory mediators that will irritate the pain-sensitive components of your brain, resulting in a headache.
Final Thoughts
If you are experiencing recurrent headaches along with symptoms like snoring, daytime sleepiness, or breathing interruptions while sleeping, consult a medical doctor for a proper diagnosis. Additionally, check out Optimal Circadian Health’s resources, such as our ebook, Sleep Apnea Solution!
