Sleep Apnea cause headaches?

[debbiedm]

Thank you for your site.  I have found the information you have given very interesting.

I have suffered from severe chronic migraines for 35 years as well as depression.  Both have been treated.  However, I wake up almost daily with a headache.   I have always been puzzled though as to why the timing is almost always 4am that I wake up with a headache and much neck stiffness. Could this be a symptom of sleep apnea?
thanks for your time.

[debbiedm]

Thank you so much for your answer re. migraines and sleep apnea.  I plan on looking into it here in Mesa, AZ.   Would you be able to recommend a doctor or clinic in the Mesa or Phoenix area that are known to be very good in the area of sleep issues?  
You've given me some hope of finally finding an answer.  Thank you!

[Steven Y Park, MD]

It's possible that you have a sleep breathing problem Your migraines and depression could all be related as well. Waking up with headaches is one of the classic symptoms of sleep apnea. The reason for the constant 4AM wake up time is because of your sleep cycles. You go through 4-5 cycles of sleep, from light to deep to REM sleep. During REM sleep, your muscles (including your throat muscles) relax completely and the longer you stay in this stage, the more likely you'll stop breathing and wake up.

You don't have to wake up gasping or choking. You probably don't like to sleep on your back, right? Is it worse when you turn onto your back or after drinking alcohol before bedtime? Are you tired when you wake up, no matter how long you sleep?

Imagine if you're chronically deep sleep deprived. It promotes a stress response in your body which tightens all you muscles, and can produce headaches, including migraines.