Migraines and Sleep

March 01, 2023
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Those who suffer from migraines instinctively know that sleep and migraines are connected. But, do migraines cause poor sleep quality or does poor sleep quality cause migraines? According to a recent meta-analysis, adults and children who suffer from migraines may get less quality REM sleep time than people who don’t.

This major study, which was published in the September 2021 online issue of Neurology, included 32 studies, involving 10,243 people. Participants completed a questionnaire to rate their own sleep quality. The questionnaire asked about sleep habits, including how long it takes to fall asleep, total sleep time and the use of sleep aids.

“We wanted to analyze recent research to get a clearer picture of how migraines affect people’s sleep patterns and the severity of their headaches. That way, clinicians can better support people with migraines and deliver more effective sleep treatments” said author Jan Hoffmann, MD, PhD, of King’s College London in the United Kingdom and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. The difference was found to be even higher in those who suffer chronic migraines.

Researchers found that adults with migraines had higher overall average scores on the questionnaire than people without migraines. “Our analysis provides a clearer understanding of migraines and how they affect sleep patterns and illustrates the impact these patterns might have on a person’s ability to get a good night’s sleep,” Hoffmann said. While this research does not prove a causal relationship between sleep and migraines, it points to the importance of improving the conditions for natural sleep in both adults and children.

Other studies have found that those living with migraine are between 2 and 8 times more likely to experience sleep disorders than those who do not live with migraine. Those with chronic migraines, classified as experiencing headache 15 or more days per month, experience rates of insomnia that are double those of their non-migraine peers.

According to the American Migraine Foundation too little sleep as well as too much sleep could act as migraine triggers. Regular, consistent and the right amount of sleep is the key to reducing migraine headaches.

Zenbev Drink Mix is the healthiest way to promote natural sleep and, thereby, tackle migraines as well. While Zenbev is not recommended for children, it provides a food source of tryptophan in a proprietary, medical formula to ensure proper conditions for natural sleep to take hold and keep you sleeping the whole night. Zenbev preserves natural sleep architecture so you cycle through all five stages of sleep and get the REM sleep at the end which is so important for feeling rested and refreshed.

Some ways to help cope with migraines include relaxation therapy, exercise, staying on the same sleep schedule, and keeping a migraine journal to determine your triggers. Based on these findings, tackling both sleep and migraine minefields in your life can go a long way to improving your overall health by improving positive conditions for each other.