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Headaches

Can Lack of Sleep Cause Headaches in the Morning?

If you wake up with a headache and aren’t sure why, sleep issues may play a role.

Marisa Taylor KarasBrian Clista, MD
Written by Marisa Taylor Karas | Reviewed by Brian Clista, MD
Updated on January 18, 2026
Reviewed by Brian Clista, MD | January 19, 2026

A hangover isn’t the only reason you might wake up in the morning with a headache. In this video, learn different ways your sleep quantity and quality might trigger a morning headache.

References

Korabelnikova, E. A., et al. (2020). Sleep disorders and headache: A review of correlation and mutual influence. Pain and Therapy. 

Lin, Y. K., et al. (2016). Associations between sleep quality and migraine frequency. Medicine. 

Lovati, C. (2014). Sleep apnea headache and headaches with sleep apnea: The importance of being secondary. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. 

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2023). Headache. 

Seo, M. Y., et al. (2023). Improvement of morning headache in adults with obstructive sleep apnea after positive airway pressure therapy. Scientific Reports. 

Spałka, J., et al. (2020). Morning headache as an obstructive sleep apnea-related symptom among sleep clinic patients — a cross-section analysis. Brain Sciences. 

Summer, J., et al. (2023). Morning headaches: Why do I wake up with a headache? Sleep Foundation. 

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Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.
Brian Clista, MD
Reviewed by:
Brian Clista, MD
Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

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