Sleep and headache disorders are closely linked. For many people, disrupted sleep can trigger or worsen migraine attacks, and proper rest can help ease symptoms. If you have ever wondered can tiredness cause migraines, the connection is undeniable. Fatigue and irregular sleep patterns can lower the threshold for migraine attacks and make the brain more sensitive to triggers.
Understanding How the Brain Controls Sleep Timing
Your “biological clock,” known as the circadian rhythm, regulates when you feel awake or sleepy. Light is the main factor that keeps this rhythm on track. As evening approaches and light levels decrease, the brain increases melatonin production to prepare the body for sleep. When daylight returns in the morning, melatonin levels drop, allowing you to wake naturally.
When this rhythm is disturbed by late nights, shift work, or travel across time zones, sleep quality declines. These disruptions can leave you suffering from migraine and tired all the time, especially if poor sleep patterns persist.
The Link Between Migraine, Sleep, and Tiredness
Migraine attacks commonly occur between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m., highlighting the close relationship between migraines and the sleep-wake cycle. Poor sleep, oversleeping, irregular schedules, and sleep deprivation are all known triggers.
Patients often ask, “Do migraines make you tired?” and the answer is yes. Fatigue is common before and after an attack. During the prodrome (early phase) and postdrome (recovery phase), many people experience tiredness, yawning, and low energy.
This connection is thought to be related to how the circadian rhythm and neurotransmitters influence brain activity. When sleep is disrupted or insufficient, the brain becomes more excitable, activating pathways involved in the early stages of migraine. This explains why a lack of rest can increase migraine frequency and why migraines themselves can leave you feeling exhausted.
How to Reduce Migraine Attacks Through Better Sleep
While sleep problems are not the only cause of migraine, better sleep habits can significantly reduce how often attacks occur. Helpful strategies include:
- Keeping a consistent sleep and wake schedule
- Finding your ideal sleep duration (usually six to eight hours)
- Getting natural daylight exposure during the day
- Creating a quiet, dark, screen-free bedroom
- Exercising earlier in the day
- Avoiding nicotine before bedtime
- Using your bed only for sleep and intimacy
- Limiting caffeine and avoiding alcohol close to bedtime
These habits support a healthier sleep cycle and can reduce the likelihood of migraine triggers.
Take Charge of Your Migraine and Sleep Health
Migraines and poor sleep often reinforce each other, making symptoms harder to manage. Improving sleep hygiene is a meaningful starting point for many people and can help reduce the frequency of attacks.
If migraines or fatigue continue to impact your daily life, seeking professional support is the next best step. At Alleviate Pain Clinic, our migraine specialist in Singapore provides personalised assessments to help you identify triggers and optimise your sleep. Book an appointment today and take the first step towards better rest and relief.
