Can poor sleep lead to headaches?

Ever woke up with a pounding headache and found every little thing getting on your last nerve? Ever felt as if you wanted to ditch everything & just crawl back into your bed and doze off? Are you also wondering if lack of sleep causes headaches? Yes, sleep deprivation can do that to you.

By now, we’re aware that when we sleep, our body repairs and restores circulatory, immune, and hormonal systems. When one of these processes gets disrupted, you wake up with headaches or in the worst cases, migraines.

If you’re a daredevil and choose to continue your day with your headache, your list of worries will increase bit by bit throughout the day. You’ll experience symptoms such as extreme headaches in one part of your brain, nausea, sound sensitivity, dizziness, and fatigue.

So, if you’re a hustler and are hell-bent on conquering your dreams, please get a good night’s sleep. Read more to understand why poor sleep leads to headaches, what are the treatments, what are the side effects, and more.

Do not doze off while reading please!

How does sleep deprivation cause headaches and migraines?

Conclusive research on sleep deprivation and headaches is yet to be found but a common relationship between the two exists.

The hypothalamus (a part of the brain where the sleep and arousal cycle is regulated) is filled with tiny neurons that modulate pain. It also contains the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) that matches a person’s sleep behaviour. When the SCN is not working correctly, it disrupts the sleep-wake cycle. The end result? You end up with a nasty headache that kills all your motivation to do anything during the day.

Another connection between headaches and sleep deprivation is the pineal gland which is responsible for producing melatonin - a sleep-inducing hormone. Low levels of melatonin in the body are often linked to cluster headaches or migraines.

Are migraines different from headaches? If yes, then how!

Migraines are an advanced form of headache. Many times you must have felt pulsating pain on one side of your brain. You must’ve felt weak, nausea, and high sensitivity to sound and light. This is migraine in action. Many research has suggested that the chances of women getting a migraine are higher than others. To protect yourself from this uninvited headache or pain, you must take prevention and ensure your sleep cycle is on point.

Treatment for headaches due to lack of sleep

If your sleep cycle is still poor and your headache is recurring, then there are other ways to reduce headaches. These are also known as quick fixes that provide temporary relief or, at the bare minimum, reduce the symptoms. You can take over-the-counter (OTC) pain-relieving medicines, prescription medications, acupuncture, etc.

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How Can I Prevent Future Headaches and Migraines?

The first and foremost solution and probably a cliche answer is to fix your sleep cycle. Although, there are other ways as well to prevent bad headaches and kick migraines to the curb. Some are listed below for your reference.

1. Create a fixed sleep schedule and give your body the routine it deserves. When you sleep consistently at the same time every day and for the same amount of hours, your body adapts to the situation. You will automatically start sleeping daily on time and your headaches will reduce.
2. Don’t even think of consuming alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine right before sleep. They’re deterrents to a good night’s sleep.
3. Relax your mind before you nod off to sleep. Engage in calming activities like meditating, reading, or listening to music.
4. Keep your room at a comfortable and cool temperature to induce a peaceful atmosphere.
5. Apart from turning off your lamps and tube lights, shut all your gadgets - TVs, tablets, mobile phones, and other electronic devices - that disrupt your circadian rhythm.

Eat well, sleep better, and stay consistent to ensure your mental well-being is in good condition. The smallest disturbances in your day-to-day life can have a cascading effect on tasks and productivity. So, get good sleep and don’t let headaches define your entire day!