Restless Legs & Migraine Headaches

A new study examined the relationship between restless legs syndrome and headaches.

The study involved 1,041 people. They were all patients at a headache clinic in Taiwan.

More than 700 of them were suffering from migraine headaches. More than 200 had tension headaches. Fifty-one people had cluster headaches.

Results show that RLS was present in 11 percent of people with migraines. RLS occurred in 4.6 percent of people with tension headaches. It occurred in only two percent of people with cluster headaches.

People with both migraines and RLS had higher rates of other problems such as neck pain, tinnitus, dizziness and vertigo. They also had higher scores on measures of disability, and anxiety and depression.

Sleep quality also was worse in migraine patients with RLS. The frequency of RLS increased as the number of migraine symptoms increased.

The authors suggested that RLS and migraines may share an underlying mechanism.

RLS involves a strong, almost irresistible urge to move your legs. This urge gets worse at night and eases in the morning.

Often RLS also involves an uncomfortable feeling in the legs. It might be a burning, prickling, itching or tingling sensation.

Women are more likely than men to have RLS. The NINDS reports that migraines also affect adult women three times more often than men.

About 12 percent of people in the U.S. have migraines. These headaches involve throbbing and pulsating pain. Untreated migraine attacks last from four to 72 hours.

Migraines occur most often in the morning. Many factors can trigger the headache process. These include too much or not enough sleep, and caffeine withdrawal.

Earlier this year the Sleep Education Blog reported that many people with obstructive sleep apnea have morning headaches. Another study showed that there may be a link between headaches, naps and insomnia.

Get help for a sleep problem at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.

Insomnia & Headaches in Young Children

A new study links insomnia symptoms with headaches and gastrointestinal regurgitation in young children. The results were published yesterday in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

The study involved 700 children. They were between 5 and 12 years of age. Parents completed sleep and development questionnaires for their child.

Results show that 19 percent of children had parent-reported insomnia symptoms. These children had trouble falling asleep and/or woke up often in the night.

Headaches were reported in about 24 percent of children with insomnia. About 13 percent of children without disturbed sleep had headaches. Statistical analysis found that insomnia was 2.3 times more likely in children with headaches.

Gastrointestinal regurgitation was reported in 7.5 percent of children with insomnia. Only two percent of children who were good sleepers had this problem. Insomnia was 3.3 times more likely in children with gastrointestinal regurgitation. It occurs when food or liquid comes back up into your mouth.

The authors noted that the study did not examine causality. But the relationship could be bidirectional.

Medical problems often disturb sleep. And insomnia symptoms may activate the stress response system. This could cause other medical complaints.

Lead author Dr. Ravi Singareddy told the AASM that children with insomnia symptoms should be screened by their doctor for underlying medical problems. Unresolved sleep problems may require further assessment by a sleep specialist.

In July the Sleep Education Blog reported that morning headaches are one warning sign for obstructive sleep apnea in children. Another study found that there may be a link between headaches, naps and insomnia in adults.

Learn more about sleep and children. Get help for a sleep problem at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.

Morning Headaches & Sleep Apnea

A new study takes a look at the link between morning headaches and obstructive sleep apnea.

The study involved 462 people with sleep apnea. A control group included 101 people without sleep apnea.

Results show that about 34 percent of the sleep apnea group reported having morning headaches. People with moderate to severe sleep apnea were more likely to wake with a headache.

Morning headaches also were more common in women than in men. Only nine percent of the control group reported morning headaches.

People who reported morning headaches had much lower oxygen saturation levels during sleep. But the study was unable to determine a specific cause of the morning headaches.

The good news? Treating sleep apnea with CPAP eliminated morning headaches in 90 percent of participants.

Other studies of sleep apnea and morning headaches have reported similar findings. But the exact nature of this relationship remains unclear.

Morning headaches can be considered a “non-specific symptom” of sleep apnea. Waking with a headache is not a clear indication that you have sleep apnea.

But you should talk to your doctor if you have frequent morning headaches. This may be a cause for concern if you have other warning signs of sleep apnea.

The NINDS also reports that a sudden, severe headache can be a sign of a more serious medical problem. Visit your doctor if a headache occurs along with convulsions, fever, confusion, or pain in the eye or ear.

Are you at risk for sleep apnea? Complete this brief questionnaire to find out. Find help for sleep apnea at an AASM-accredited sleep disorders center near you.

Tension Headaches, Naps and Insomnia

Maybe it’s not such a good idea to take a nap when you have a headache.

A new study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine shows there may be a link between headaches, naps and insomnia.

The study involved 32 women who have tension headaches. Their average age was about 22 years. Ninety-four percent of the women reported that stress was a trigger of their headaches.

Eighty-one percent of the women reported using sleep as a coping strategy for headaches. This made sleep the number one self-management strategy.

Sleep also was rated as the most effective intervention. Other common self-treatment methods were:

• Medications
• Relaxation
• Distraction
• Hot or cold compress

So is sleep the best treatment for tension headaches? Not exactly. Fifty-six percent of the women also reported that sleep problems are a trigger of their headaches.

“Insomnia is a common complaint among headache sufferers,” said principal investigator Jason C. Ong, PhD. “While napping may relieve pain, it may also result in poor sleep hygiene, thus triggering sleep disturbance or perpetuating an insomnia episode.”

So taking a nap may provide immediate headache relief. But the daytime sleep may cause you to be more alert that night.

This may lead to an episode of insomnia. Then the insomnia could trigger another tension headache the following day. To break this cycle, practice good sleep hygiene and limit the use of naps as a headache treatment.

The NINDS recommends other treatment options. These include therapies that help you manage stress or relax your muscles. You may want to take a hot shower or apply moist heat to the back of the neck. A massage or gentle neck exercises also may be helpful.