Headaches when you wake up in the morning can occur because of this

Headaches can occur at any time, including when you wake up in the morning. You may experience it occasionally, but this condition can also occur regularly every morning. To deal with headaches in the morning, you must first know what causes them. So, what are the causes of headaches when you wake up in the morning and how do you get rid of this condition?

Causes of headaches when you wake up in the morning

Headaches often occur when you wake up in the morning, especially at 4-8 in the morning. The reason is, as reported by the National Headache Foundation, at this time the body tends to produce less endorphins and enkefalin, which are natural pain-relieving hormones, than at other times of the day.

In addition, headaches after waking up can also occur due to a greater release of adrenaline in the early hours of the morning. The release of this hormone affects blood pressure and temporary contraction of blood vessels, so it often plays a role in the onset of headaches in the morning.

Generally, the causes of headaches when you wake up are not dangerous. However, this condition can also be a sign of serious illness if the headache occurs almost every morning. Here are some possible causes of headaches after waking up in the morning:

1. Migraine

Migraine is a headache that usually starts on one side of the head, but can spread to both sides. The cause of migraine is not known for sure, but this condition is suspected because of neurological disorders and changes in brain activity that affect nerve signals, chemicals, and blood vessels in the brain.

Migraine is a type of headache that can cause recurring or recurring pain. One of the triggers for relapsing migraine headaches is poor sleep quality, including lack of sleep or excessive sleep. In this condition, migraine attacks often occur in the morning, especially at 8-9 am.

2. Insomnia

Insomnia is another possible cause of waking headaches. Insomniacs usually have trouble falling asleep, can't sleep well, or wake up in the early morning and can't go back to sleep. Thus, your sleep quality is poor and sleep time is reduced.

Lack of sleep and poor sleep quality can interfere with homeostasis and circadian rhythms that help ensure all body functions run optimally. When this happens, you may experience tension headaches or migraine attacks in the morning after waking up, or until later in the day.

In fact, if sleep deprivation occurs continuously, you can experience chronic headaches that can cause severe pain that often wakes your night's sleep.

3. Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea causes a person to stop breathing for short periods of time during sleep at night. This condition can interfere with sleep routines and reduce oxygen levels in the brain, so that sufferers often feel headaches and fatigue when waking up in the morning.

Sleep apnea is usually characterized by loud snoring during sleep. However, snoring isn't always a sign of sleep apnea. As for difficulty sleeping (insomnia) is also another symptom that is common in people with this condition.

4. Grind your teeth

Bruxism or the habit of grinding your teeth while sleeping can also be a cause of headaches when you wake up in the morning. Excessive jaw muscle activity is thought to be the cause of these headaches.

Not only that, people who have bruxism are also more likely to experience other sleep disorders, such as snoring and stopping breathing (sleep apnea), which can also be a cause of headaches. This habit of grinding teeth can occur due to various causes, such as stress, misaligned teeth, or other conditions.

5. Depression or anxiety disorders

Depression and anxiety disorders are the most common causes of post-waking headaches. The reason is, these two conditions often interfere with your sleep at night, so that headaches are prone to occur the next day when you wake up.

Anxiety disorders and migraines are also linked. Anxiety disorders are said to be five times more common in migraine sufferers, and people with migraines are 2.5 times more likely to experience depression than those who don't.

6. Wrong pillow

Wrong pillows can cause neck pain and stiffness such as being unable to move to the right or left. The pain can even radiate to the shoulder.

Wrong pillow can occur when your muscles are too tense due to the wrong sleeping position or using an improper pillow, such as a pillow that is too high. In addition, neck and head stiffness can also occur because you are held in the same position for a long time while you sleep.

7. Consuming alcoholic beverages

Drinking alcohol at night can cause headaches in the morning for many reasons. Besides being proven to be one of the triggers for migraines, consuming alcohol at night can also cause sleep disorders.

In fact, when consumed in excess, alcohol can cause a hangover which can cause various symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and others. Not only that, dilation of blood vessels and dehydration due to diuretic properties in alcohol can also cause headaches.

8. Drug side effects

Some medicines and supplements that you take at night can cause headaches when you wake up in the morning. These drugs, namely acetaminophen, aspirin, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are commonly used to treat headaches, or other pain relievers prescribed by a doctor.

In addition, excessive caffeine withdrawal and use, both in the form of pain relievers and those from drinks and food, can also cause headaches.

9. Serious medical conditions

Headaches when you wake up in the morning that occur continuously and don't go away can be a sign of a more serious medical condition. Certain medical conditions or diseases that may cause headaches every morning, such as brain tumors, severe and uncontrolled hypertension, or other disorders.

How to get rid of headaches when you wake up in the morning

The way to deal with headaches that appear in the morning can be different for each person, depending on the conditions that cause them. For example, headaches due to wrong pillows can be overcome by using the right pillow to support your sleeping position.

As if it occurs due to the use of certain drugs, you can consult your doctor to adjust the dosage or replace it with other drugs. However, you should never change or stop taking medication without your doctor's permission to avoid other unwanted side effects.

Sleep disorders, such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and bruxism, as well as other medical conditions, including depression or anxiety disorders, also need to be treated to get rid of the morning headaches you experience. Usually, once these problems are resolved, the headaches tend to go away.

However, apart from the methods above, you can also deal with headaches in the morning by using the tips below. Here are some ways to get rid of headaches after waking up in the morning that you can try:

• Implementing regular sleep hours to get adequate sleep and good sleep quality. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night, including weekends.
• Create a conducive sleeping atmosphere, such as sleeping in a quiet, dark, cool, and avoiding room screen time in bed.
• Avoid taking too long naps.
• Exercise regularly, at least 5-6 hours before bedtime for 30 minutes.
• Control stress by doing activities you enjoy or doing relaxation techniques, such as meditation, yoga, or simply listening to music.
• Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption.
• Eat a nutritionally balanced diet, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, or foods containing protein without saturated fat, such as fish.

If you have done this method and feel headaches when you wake up still happening, you should consult your doctor. The doctor will help find out the exact cause and the right treatment.