Many of us suffer from headaches; there are several reasons for it, including exhaustion, migraine, diseases, or sleeping disorders. For people with sleep apnea, headache in the morning is quite common, and most of them face it. Breathing becomes difficult while sleeping. The problem causes air to trap inside your lungs, which has carbon dioxide; hence oxygen levels decrease in the bloodstream that affects the brain leading to sleep apnea headaches. These headaches are different than the ones people with migraines suffer. Let’s first look at the differences between headaches with migraine and sleep apnea.
Migraine vs. Sleep apnea headache
People with sleep apnea feel the pain on both sides of the head, and it reoccurs regularly. Moreover, the situation normalizes in an hour after the individual wakes up and starts breathing normally. As the oxygen levels regularize in the bloodstream, headache reduces, and sometimes the body is back to normal. On the contrary, during a migraine, the person feels pain only on one side of the head; and it lasts for many hours or, in extreme cases, for days. There is also a chance that it leads to visual impairments or may cause nausea and vomiting. People with migraines have a terrible headache with nausea, and it becomes difficult for them to start a typical day until their situation normalizes.
Types of sleep apnea headaches
At times, people with sleep apnea wake up after a few hours of sleeping due to severe headaches. It usually starts in the middle of the night and slowly progresses; the situation might worsen with age. Usually, there are three types of headaches; cluster, hypnic, and OSA headaches.
- A headache that continues for weeks or even months and occurs in clusters or specific patterns is called cluster headache.
- Another one is a hypnic headache that is moderately painful; however, it is discomforting, and the person wakes up often during the night due to the pain.
- Finally, the OSA headache causes the blood vessels to widen up. It disrupts blood flow, causing pain.
The headaches result from insufficiency of oxygen in the blood that occurs due to difficulty in breathing for people suffering from sleeping disorders. Hence, it is better to consult the health practitioner and discuss the matter in detail to find a solution. Initially, a few tests are performed to confirm your sleeping disorder; and based on the results; the practitioner plans your treatment. Few devices can help regulate the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood at night by normalizing your breathing rate while sleeping.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) Device
The device is useful for sufferers and treats sleep apnea. The person can sleep peacefully with the device to prevent oxygen deprivation. Hence, the result will be no sleep apnea headache in the morning after the person wakes up. With it, you can continue your everyday life and wake up fresh and energetic, ready to start your day in full mood. To know more, contact Village Park Dentistry. Call us at 281-376-4444 to schedule your oral appointment.