Exploring the Link Between Migraines and Sleep Disorders

A lot of people don’t realize that sleep issues and migraines can actually be linked! Whenever someone comes into the office and talks about how they suffer from migraines one of the first things I ask about is how their sleep is. Majority of the time they will either say it’s really hard to go to sleep/stay asleep or that they’ve been tested and that they have sleep apnea. This might sound like a weird coincidence but I hope this blog helps you understand why and how they are actually linked!

Let’s first look at migraines, anyone who struggles with migraines knows that they are dealing with a neurological disorder. A neurological disorder that is super intense and can hit you at the most random times. It is also something that can derail any sort of plans you might have had going on for the day or couple of days. If you’ve dealt with migraines then you know all of the tricks to try….cold face mask, different diet, exercise, cold plunges, medications, and even after doing all of those things it sometimes still progresses. I wrote a blog HERE that talks all about these methods.

Sleep is a different thing in general but also the same. Everyone knows that sleep is important but not many people understand how important it really is and all the factors that go into it! Our body does a ton of regenerating when we sleep which helps in our overall health and healing. Depending on how the quality of our sleep is, how we are breathing when we sleep, or if we are breathing at all can make all the difference.

How are Migraines & Sleep Disorders Linked?

Sleep disorders and migraines may be 2 totally different things but they are much more common than you would think, especially with how different their symptoms are. This is why it makes so much sense that a lot of the people I see who have migraines struggle with sleep and vice versa.

We mentioned above that migraines are a neurological disorder, and it turns out that a lot of sleep issues are also neurological disorders. When the body is stuck in a sympathetic nervous system state, or fight/flight response, it becomes extremely difficult to get proper sleep. This is the same issue with migraines as well, the body is stuck in the sympathetic nervous system state causing migraines to happen.

When you’re stuck in this state it is really difficult for any normal bodily system to function at its optimal or normal level. If this is the case it makes sense how this could cause both migraines and sleep disorders and how they are actually linked. It all stems from the nervous system and whether it is working correctly or not. Something else to mention is that poor sleep can cause migraines and migraines can cause poor sleep…it is a double edged sword.

How Can This Be Fixed?

Luckily there are a variety of things that can be done to help fix both sleep disorders and migraines. One of those things is an oral appliance, especially when we are talking about sleep apnea. Oral appliances help tremendously with sleep apnea and it has been shown that sleep apnea can trigger people’s migraines. The purpose of an oral appliance is to get the tongue out of the way as obstructive sleep apnea is due to a weak tongue that falls into the back of the throat. If this is happening it’s obstructing your airway causing you not to get good sleep and potentially triggering a migraine along with putting you into that fight or flight mode.

If we are focusing only on helping our bodies get out of that fight or flight mode then there are a variety of things that you’re able to do at home that can help.

• Ice Baths – Ice baths, cold showers, and cryotherapy really help the body get into a parasympathetic state or a calming state. It essentially shocks the body out of that fight or flight mode.
• Diet – What you eat and your nutrition can play a huge role in your sleep and migraines. If you are consistently eating food that is inflammatory in nature that is going to cause your body to be in that fight or flight mode. Start focusing on whole foods or a lot of fruits and vegetables and organic meats like beef and fish.
• Exercise – Exercise has been shown to be an amazing stress reliever and decrease the sympathetic nervous system response. Something as simple as going for a 30 minute walk everyday has a huge impact on your nervous system.
• Humming & Gargling – This is something that may seem really odd but this is all about the Vagus Nerve. The Vagus Nerve goes to the heart, lungs, and digestive system. It has a very calming effect on the body as a whole. Humming and Gargling water has been shown to stimulate the vagus nerve allowing the body to start to be in a calmer state.
• Chiropractic – The chiropractic care we provide at The Specific Chiropractic Centers – Naples focuses on balancing the nervous system so people who struggle with migraines and sleep disorders are able to get relief and resolution. Our goal is to get the nervous system working at 100% and being balanced. This allows people to sleep better than ever and decrease the number of migraines they have.

If you are someone who struggles with migraines and sleep disorders I hope this has helped you understand how both of them are related. There are a number of things you can do that don’t require medication and if you have any questions regarding treatment from our office feel free to reach out. I’d love to have you come in for a complimentary consultation to see if we could be of help to you.

Learn more.

Here are a few more posts on how chiropractic care can help those who suffer from headaches and/or migraines.