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Usually, sleep apnea headaches happen when you wake up in the middle of the night, but are mostly in the mornings. The sleep apnea headaches are different from migraines and there isn’t any sensitivity to light or sound, which are prevalent symptoms in migraines. Sleep apnea headaches are marked by dull pain on both sides of the head and the pain can continue for as long as 4 hours. One of the main considerations is interrupted sleep and low oxygen levels, due to cessation of breathing for a few seconds, all night through due to sleep apnea.

What is a Sleep Apnea Headache?

The recurring headaches caused due to Obstructive Sleep Apnea happen when an individual wakes up in the morning. Sometimes, it occurs in the middle of the night for some people with moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea. The sleep apnea headache happens at least 15 days a month and you feel a pressing pain on both sides of the head. It usually lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours. However, unlike a migraine, there is no nausea or sensitivity to sound or light.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea Headaches

Before any treatment starts, it is important to study the symptoms of sleep apnea headaches. When the underlying cause of a headache is, sleep apnea you have a pressing, dull headache that starts as soon as you wake up in the morning. However, you will not experience any nausea, sensitivity to light and sound.

One of the key reasons for sleep apnea headache is oxygen deprivation due to interrupted cessation of breathing during sleep. When the breathing is shallow, your blood oxygen levels are low and that leads to increased pressure within the head with blood vessel dilation. Other symptoms of sleep apnea include low concentration, memory and cognitive issues, mood swings amongst others.

Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea Headaches

One of the secondary symptoms of Obstructive sleep apnea are the headaches. It is marked by bilateral and dull pain that occurs when the individual wakes up in the morning. Diagnosis of sleep apnea headaches isn’t easy. It requires proper evaluation of sleep apnea and the symptoms of the headache to co-relate that the headache is due to the sleep disorder.

The medical evaluation highlights the snoring, sleep patterns, morning headache intensity and the daytime drowsiness. Polysomnography or sleep study is conducted to confirm the sleep disorder by monitoring the brain activity, oxygen levels and breathing patterns. Usually, when sleep apnea is the underlying cause for headaches, its treatments reduce the frequency and intensity of the headaches. CPAP therapy is considered to be the gold-standard treatment. With reduced breathing interruptions, oxygen levels are maintained and sleep quality improves, thereby reducing the headaches.

What is the difference between sleep apnea headaches and migraine headaches?

Though both migraines and sleep apnea headaches cause you discomfort and pain, here are the main differences:

Key Aspects Sleep apnea headache Migraines
Occurrence Mornings, when waking up Anytime of the day due to different factors
Reason for headache Low oxygen levels due to frequent breathing pauses when asleep Neurological causes- blood vessel pressures and abnormal brain activity
Duration of pain 30 minutes to 4 hours From 4 hours to few days
Type of pain Pressing and dull. No throbbing Throbbing or pulsating
Location of pain On both sides of the head One side of the head
Triggers Sleep apnea Stress, hormones, sensory stimuli, weather
Diagnosis and evaluation Polysomnography Imaging, neurological examination
Additional symptoms Snoring, fragmented poor-quality sleep, fatigue Vomiting, nausea, sensitivity to sound and light
Treatment CPAP therapy, treatment for sleep apnea Preventive drugs, medication- pain medications, triptans

What are The Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea Headaches

One of the issues involved with treating these types of headaches is that they’re often mistaken for migraines because of their frequent occurrence. However, there are 4 key differences between migraines and sleep apnea headaches as follows:

  • A migraine can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours; a sleep apnea headache usually subsides after 3 to 4 hours.
  • Migraines are typically felt on one side of the head while sleep apnea headaches are usually felt on both sides.
  • Migraines can occur any time of the day or night; sleep apnea headaches occur when you wake up.
  • While migraines are characterized by other symptoms such as nausea and sensitivity to light, sleep apnea headaches are not.
There are two common groups of treatment options for sleep apnea headaches – lifestyle changes and medical solutions as follows:
  • Lifestyle changes include avoiding sleeping on your back, exercising, losing weight, and treating allergies (if applicable).
  • Medical solutions include CPAP machines, oral appliances, and surgical procedures. It helps you breathe better when you are asleep.

When it comes to treating sleep apnea headaches, there’s more to it than treating the pain and symptoms. Treating the actual cause is essential. Left untreated, sleep apnea can often lead to diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure (hypertension). If you think those morning headaches may be sleep apnea-related, you should speak with a specialist as soon as possible regarding your treatment options.

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Frequently Asked Questions Sleep Apnea Headache

Although OTC pain relievers will help, it is important to address the sleep apnea causing the headaches. CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy ensures that you can breathe easily by maintaining open breathing passages. Seeking treatment for sleep apnea so that you get restful sleep is important to mitigate the headache.

It is a dull, pressing headache on both sides of the head. It usually lasts from half an hour to about 4-5 hours. You experience it as soon as you are awake in the morning or sometimes even in the middle of the night. It usually happens due to low oxygen levels and fragmented sleep due to sleep apnea.

For someone with untreated sleep apnea, life expectancy is lower as it is riddled with the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, stroke and other health concerns. With early diagnosis and proper treatment, most people live a normal life. However, it is crucial to get the right treatment to improve longevity and quality of life.

Yes, sleep apnea can be treated and managed by the right treatment. Usually, doctors recommend anti-snoring devices, CPAP therapy, lifestyle changes, positional therapy and weight loss. Most people that are overweight tend to be diagnosed with sleep apnea. The extra fat layers around the face and neck put a lot of pressure on the breathing airways, narrowing them down, which causes regular snoring.

This is a serious sleep disorder that leads to snoring and cessation of breathing for a few seconds during sleep. This leads to sleep deprivation and low blood oxygen levels. If sleep apnea is not treated, it leads to an increased risk of stroke, high blood pressure, heart diseases and diabetes. Additionally, cognitive and behavioral issues crop up that can lead to accidents.

 
 
 

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