Can sleep apnea cause morning headaches?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Sleep apnea can cause morning headaches. During sleep, repeated breathing interruptions lower oxygen levels and raise carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which dilates blood vessels in the brain and triggers head pain upon waking. These headaches typically occur on both sides of the head, last less than four hours, and improve throughout the day.

If you're waking up with headaches, it's worth investigating the root cause. Untreated sleep apnea is linked to serious health risks, including heart disease and stroke, so early identification matters. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand your symptoms and confidently plan your next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/20/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn if sleep apnea causes morning headaches Discover why you wake with headaches Find out if morning headaches need care See OTC relief for morning headaches Find a sleep specialist for headaches Understand home remedies for morning headaches Find if headaches signal sleep apnea

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Explanation

Morning headaches are a common symptom for people with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing stops and starts during sleep, which can lead to lower oxygen levels and higher carbon dioxide levels in the blood. These changes can cause the blood vessels in the head to widen, leading to headaches when you wake up.

Here are some key points:

Sleep Apnea Effects: Sleep apnea disrupts normal breathing patterns, which can affect how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood.
Headache Cause: The imbalance in oxygen and carbon dioxide can cause blood vessels in the head to change, leading to morning headaches.
Common Symptom: Morning headaches are often reported by people with sleep apnea, and improving sleep apnea symptoms can help reduce these headaches.

If you're experiencing persistent morning headaches or other concerning symptoms, you can use our free symptom checker to help identify possible causes. It's important to talk to a healthcare provider who can help diagnose and manage the condition. Proper treatment can improve sleep quality and reduce symptoms like morning headaches.

(References)

Spałka J, Kędzia K, Kuczyński W, Kudrycka A, Małolepsza A, Białasiewicz P, & Mokros Ł. (2020). Morning Headache as an Obstructive Sleep Apnea .... Brain sciences, 31963788.
Provini F, Vetrugno R, Lugaresi E, & Montagna P. (2006). Sleep-related breathing disorders and headache. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 16688620.
Goksan B, Gunduz A, Karadeniz D, Ağan K, Tascilar FN, Tan F, et al. (2009). Morning headache in sleep apnoea: clinical and .... Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache, 19187338.

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