Getting enough sleep is essential for good health. Your body repairs itself while you sleep so that your brain and body can function optimally when you are awake. But did you know that getting enough sleep can also help you avoid headaches?
Headaches are one of the most common types of discomfort in the world. 75% of adults worldwide reported having a headache in the previous 12 months. Headaches are a major cause of absences from school and work. They also have an adverse effect on family and social life. The constant struggle with headaches can make some people anxious and unhappy.
Sleep and Headaches
Numerous studies have linked a lack of sleep to headaches. According to a 2011 study, the disruption in REM sleep caused excruciatingly painful headaches that did not resolve easily and lasted a long time. REM sleep is critical for mood regulation and memory consolidation. The researchers discovered that not getting enough sleep causes the body to produce a protein that lowers the body’s threshold for pain perception, resulting in painful headaches.
The Hypothalamus, which regulates sleep, also plays an important role in the mechanism of headaches. Furthermore, the medication commonly prescribed for headaches regulates serotonin levels, which are a chemical messenger that deals with pain and control pathways, as well as mood regulation.
Hypnic Headaches
If you’ve ever woken up in the middle of the night with a headache, you may have had a hypnic headache. Because hypnic headaches are thought to affect less than 1% of people, they are considered uncommon. However, if you have them, you are already aware of how inconvenient they can be.
The term "alarm-clock headaches" refers to a rare type of headache known as a hypnic headache, which causes a person to wake up while sleeping. Because of the pain, people may struggle to sleep for fifteen minutes, if not longer. Hypnic headache sufferers frequently experience them multiple times per week. Only while sleeping can a person experience hypnic headaches. They differ from other types of headaches, such as migraines or cluster headaches, which can occur at any time of day and can disrupt sleep.
Oversleeping Headaches
When you sleep too much, this brain pathway is disrupted. If you continue to sleep after serotonin has signaled to your receptors to wake you up, your body is no longer properly resting. Your body perceives itself to be awake and begins to crave food and liquids in order to reactivate the brain’s sluggishly functioning nerves and blood flow following sleep.
If you sleep for several hours after your system has begun to function, you may experience a headache caused by moderate nutritional deficiency and dehydration. This headache will go away once you eat or drink something.
Sleeping With Headaches
Headaches can be caused by both a lack of sleep and an excess of sleep. If at all possible, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Throughout the winter, use weighted blankets or orthopedic pillows with specific designs, appropriate mattresses, and humidified airflow in the room.
If you are sensitive to light, consider installing blackout curtains in your bedroom and keeping it free of dust and dirt. Don’t overlook the most important aspect of your bedroom. your invaluable mattress! One of the best investments you can make for yourself is a comfortable, luxury mattress. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and eating too close to bedtime, and turn off electronics an hour before bed.
