After all day running, night comes and you have a headache. This is something that will interrupt your plans for a relaxing night on the couch watching Christmas movies. Or worse, your headaches may wake you up in the middle of the night and have to decide whether to get out of bed to take your medications or try to sleep.
Finding out the source of the headache will help you take action (or get help) so that you can reduce the risk of lying down with acute discomfort.
Why do you have a headache at night?
You're stressed
Not surprisingly, you've ever felt like you barely survived Zoom's multiple video calls, a boss who's not happy with anything, kids with online classes while trying to work, etc. But yes, stress causes headaches.
Most appear due to accumulated tension, and surely you recognize them as the annoyances of stress.
Stress management training or meditation is a common treatment to relax your mind and reduce the risk of this type of headache. R deep exhalation, relaxing music or guided imagery are some tools to disconnect at night and get ready for bed.
You spend too much time in front of your computer
After video calls, you may find yourself spending hours at a time in front of your computer. Even more than last winter. If you are looking at a computer screen, you run the risk of developing " computer vision syndrome, " which includes symptoms such as eyestrain, neck and shoulder pain, and headaches.
If you wear glasses, make sure you have the correct prescription for viewing the computer screen, correct your posture when working, and practice the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes of work, look away for 20 seconds that is about 20 meters away.
You have hypnotic headaches
Also called " wake-up headaches," these pains are more common in people over the age of 50, only occurring at night and at the same time. They are so regular, in fact, that they wake you up like their own special alarm clock.
It's important to note that these headaches are rare, so see your doctor to rule out other causes of nighttime headaches. Interestingly, consuming caffeine before bed is a common treatment.
You're grinding your teeth
Headache is a common symptom of teeth grinding. The coronavirus pandemic has caused enough psychological stress that more people are suffering from teeth grinding and jaw pain, according to a 2020 study in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.
If you grind your teeth (you may not be aware of it), you may need a mouth guard to protect your teeth from potential damage.
You have a headache disorder
Migraines, tension, and cluster headaches are the three broad categories of headaches. They can happen at any time, including at night, and are triggered by a number of factors, including sleeping poorly or sleeping too much, food, medications, and stress .
You don't have to live in pain. If the headaches are frequent, write down how you feel them. A good description can help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.
Migraine headaches are characterized by throbbing sensations, are usually intense, and the onset may appear with an aura (such as seeing flashing lights). Tension headaches are like a band around the head. And the cluster type are burning and penetrating, also known as "ice pick."
You have a serious problem
If you can describe the headache as "the worst of my life," you should go to the ER. One possible cause is a ruptured brain aneurysm that can lead to a life-threatening brain hemorrhage.
You suffer from anxiety or depression
At night everything comes to a head. While you may experience symptoms of anxiety or depression at any time of the day, for some people, they can be especially acute once the day is over.
The headaches themselves can indicate that someone suffers from a generalized anxiety disorder. Also, people who have more severe symptoms of mood disorders are also more likely to have migraines. There are medications that can treat both headaches and anxiety or depression. Don't hesitate to talk to your doctor.
