Sleep disruption could trigger migraine —Expert

A neurologist, Dr Adebimpe Ogunmodede, stated that getting enough sleep is crucial because, for individuals already at risk of migraines, sleep disturbances can trigger an attack.

Dr Ogunmodede, speaking at the 22nd webinar of the African Sleep Network titled “Sleep Disorders in Migraine,” stated that various studies have shown poor sleep quality is more common in individuals who experience migraines compared to the general population.

According to her, a study found that 61.4 percent of patients with migraine experience sleep disturbances and that the use of migraine prophylaxis improves both migraine symptoms and sleep quality.

Ogunmodede, a consultant neurologist at the Federal Medical Centre in Owo, Ondo State, identified stress, poor sleep, hunger, menstruation, ovulation, certain smells, excessive sleep, and missed meals as common migraine triggers.

The medical expert stated that migraine is the most prevalent primary headache disorder encountered in emergency rooms, acute medical services, and outpatient neurology clinics and also noted that sleep disorders associated with migraine include narcolepsy, insomnia, parasomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome.

She declared that migraine is a brain condition that impairs quality of life and causes disability, but it can also coexist with sleep disturbances, which further worsen its impact.

“Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which the upper airway repeatedly becomes blocked during sleep, causing pauses in breathing. This blockage can reduce or completely stop airflow, leading to arousals from sleep.

“So, most people with obstructive sleep apnea experience headaches in the morning because they are unable to sleep properly. For someone who has both obstructive sleep apnea and migraines, it is better to treat the sleep disorder first, as this can help reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.

“Studies have shown that treating sleep disorders reduces both the frequency and the intensity of headaches, as well as the need for acute migraine treatments.”

Dr Ogunmodede stated that to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines, individuals suffering from migraines should maintain a healthy lifestyle, avoid obesity, eat more fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, and get adequate sleep, all of which contribute to decreasing both the frequency and intensity of migraines.

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