Approximately 45 million Americans report having a headache each year. That means one in every six people complain of headache pain.
More than 8 million will visit the doctor’s office due to headache pain.
Why is my headache worse when lying down?
When you lie down, the blood vessels in your head and neck become compressed, which can cause headaches. Lying down can lead to increased blood pressure and pain from increased pressure on the carotid arteries.
The increased pressure can also lead to a headache if it persists for long periods of time.
Here are some tips on how to get rid of your headache.
What is Causing Your Morning Headache?
If morning headaches happen regularly, it is recommended to consult a doctor, but some people may experience these symptoms even if not suffering from a medical condition.
Some of the possible causes of a morning headache include:
- Alcohol consumption the night before.
- Morning sickness.
- Jet lag or shift work.
Here are a few more possible reasons for morning headaches.
Increase in Spinal Fluid Pressures
Spinal fluid pressure is a leading cause of morning headaches, and it is crucial to monitor this pressure regularly.
It is not always possible to tell if your headache is caused by spinal fluid pressure or something else.
Along with monitoring the spinal fluid pressure, you should also take precautions to prevent the headache from happening again.
Some of these precautions include sleeping on an incline, changing your sleeping position often, or avoiding drinking before bedtime.
Sinus Disease
Sinus disease can cause a lot of discomfort. It is not just the sinus pressure you are experiencing but also the sinus inflammation.
This inflammation can cause a significant amount of pain and irritation all over your body, especially in your head and face.
Diseases of the Brain
The morning headache is a common symptom of many brain diseases. For example, migraines and epilepsy are two common causes of morning headaches.
Brain disease-related headaches can cause a lot of discomfort and mental stress. This can be devastating to people who depend on their health for their livelihoods.
This headache is often the first sign that something is wrong with the brain, so it’s crucial to find out the cause as soon as possible.
How Should You Lie to Relieve a Headache?
There are many ways to relieve a headache. The first one is to lie on your back and put your feet up against a wall.
When you lie on your back, you relax the muscles in the back of your neck, which can relieve pain and numbness.
This is an effective strategy for those who have headaches caused by tension in their neck muscles and those who have headaches caused by other issues such as migraines or sinusitis.
Lying down with a cold compress on your forehead can also help relieve pain and clear up congestion in the head. You can place it either under or over your eyes.
Types of Headache
Cervicogenic Headaches
A Cervicogenic headache is different from other types of headaches in that they originate from muscles of the neck and back rather than any disorder of the head, neck, or scalp.
This form of headache may be caused by stress or anxiety when your symptoms worsen after being in a stressful situation and causing muscle tension around your neck and upper back.
These headaches can also be caused by sleeping on one’s stomach or having an abrupt change in posture while sleeping.
Migraine
Migraine Headaches are experienced by approximately 17% of women and 9% of men worldwide. The severity can range from moderate headaches to something more severe.
It primarily affects the head, neck, and scalp, but it can also affect other places like the eyes and jaw.
Sinus
Sinus headaches are caused by sinusitis, an inflammation of the sinuses. These headaches can vary in intensity and are often accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, cough, and nasal congestion.
The pain can be sharp or throbbing and may radiate to the ear or forehead. This will soon make you feel tired because you must keep your head upright.
Tension
A tension headache is a type of headache caused by tension in the head, neck, and shoulders. It is usually felt in the back of the head when you are stressed out about something you have to do at work.
Tension headaches can be caused by several factors, including lack of sleep, poor posture, and lack of exercise. They are often difficult to avoid as they can strike at any time during your day.
Cluster
Cluster headaches are rare types of migraines with particular symptoms. They typically occur in clusters that last for about an hour.
The pain can feel like a weight is pressing on your head, which often causes nausea and vomiting.
The typical treatment for cluster headaches is staying calm and lying down in bed. However, cluster headaches can be challenging to diagnose because they do not have the usual signs of migraine.
As a result, it’s essential to speak with your doctor if you think you might have this type of headache because it could be dangerous if left untreated.
Recognizing Headaches with Dangerous Causes
Stroke Can Cause a Headache
Stroke is the most common cause of brain damage and can lead to a headache. If a person has a stroke, they may experience various behavioral changes, which could be both physical and mental.
The most common symptom of a stroke is headaches. However, it can also cause other symptoms such as confusion, seizures, vision problems, numbness in the arms or legs, and speech problems.
Headache from High Blood Pressure
Headaches can be killers, with your blood pressure reaching a high point and causing shock. These are the symptoms of a high blood pressure headache:
- throbbing pain in the temples, forehead, or neck
- the feeling of tightness in the head
- severe itching of eyelids or nosebleed
Brain Tumors Are Rare but Can Cause Headache
The most common cause of headaches is a brain tumor or a mass on the brain’s surface that presses on an area at the base of the skull.
A tumor can cause gradual increasing pressure and headache over time, or it can suddenly cause severe pain and possibly loss of consciousness.
Cluster Headache Pain Can Be Unbearable
Cluster headache is a neurological disorder characterized by severe and recurring headaches with no visible cause. It can be shot, throbbing, pulsating, or severe.
One of the most common treatments for cluster headache is oral sumatriptan. However, it comes with many side effects like dry mouth, stomach ache, and low blood pressure.
This makes it challenging to write prescriptions for patients who would rather avoid these side effects.
Final Thoughts
A typical morning routine usually starts with a cup of coffee to stimulate the mind and wake you up.
For some people, this can lead to headaches and issues like dehydration or, even worse – dehydration migraines.
Coffee is often touted as one of the best ways to start your day, but if you are one of those people who suffer from headaches or migraines after drinking coffee in the morning, you may want to keep the following tips in mind:
- Avoid intense exercise, alcohol, and caffeine
- Give yourself a 20-minute break from work
- Take a nap
- Don’t eat heavy meals in the morning
- Drink plenty of water
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