Sleep-related Headache

The relationship between sleep and headache has great individual variation. Headaches that arise primarily out of sleep have a broader differential diagnosis than random headaches, and a specific cause should be identified, if possible. Sleep apnea can trigger or cause sleep-related headaches. Hypnic headache is one of a few specific, uncommon, idiopathic sleep-related headache syndromes. Treatment of sleep-related headache includes treating the underlying cause, such as sleep apnea, and prescribing medications usually used for headache as well as medications for sleep disorders.