Morning headaches can stem from migraine, sleep apnoea and other causes, says health guide

Many people wake up with a headache or a sudden feeling of dizziness. A headache affects concentration, mood and the whole day's work. Poor sleep, dehydration or a disturbed routine can show their effect on the body quickly. If headaches on waking recur, it is considered very important to seek timely treatment on a doctor's advice. Migraine, sleep problems and lifestyle changes also show their effect on the whole body quickly. This information explains the causes of morning headaches and the link between migraine and sleep apnoea.

There can be several reasons for a headache on waking. An irregular bedtime, too little sleep and frequent waking at night make headaches more likely in susceptible people. Late-night screen use, too much caffeine, or suddenly stopping caffeine can also cause headaches.

Dehydration occurs in summer and in all other seasons too. Low water levels in the body, heavy sweating and drinking alcohol cause headaches and can spoil the whole day. Recurring morning headaches, bedtime, how long the headache lasts, its intensity, medicines and eating habits all make the problem worse.

When a migraine begins, the symptoms include throbbing pain, nausea, severe headache, sensitivity to sound and loss of appetite.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is described as a serious sleep-related disorder. In it, the airway repeatedly narrows or nearly closes during sleep. The obstruction to breathing begins to change the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. If symptoms such as heavy tiredness even after ample sleep, daytime sleepiness, snoring and waking suddenly with a gasp during sleep appear, timely treatment on a doctor's advice is considered necessary.

There can be several other reasons for a worse headache on waking. The habit of grinding teeth unknowingly during sleep strains the jaw and spine, and causes pain towards the forehead on waking.

When a severe headache develops, painkiller tablets are often bought from a medical store and taken. But repeated use of painkillers raises the risk of harm to kidney health. Normal or moderately high blood pressure generally does not cause headaches, but when blood pressure rises further, it causes a severe headache and affects the health of the brain and heart.

The information is for general awareness only and makes no claim of any treatment. People are advised to consult their doctor before trying any remedy.