5 Causes For Morning Headaches And How To Prevent Them, According To A Sleep Expert

Unless you have a specific morning routine down pat, waking up each day will always be a different experience. Sometimes, it’ll be a breeze to just get out of bed, eat breakfast, and go on with your daily tasks. Truthfully, there will also be instances when you’ll feel sluggish, unmotivated, and “out of it”—which is understandably okay, too.

In fact, getting headaches as soon as you wake up can be a common experience for some. If you find yourself in a situation like this, we got you covered. To know more about the causes of morning headaches and how you can prevent them, we reached out to Dr. Erin Stokes, Naturopathic Doctor and Medical Director at MegaFood. Keep reading to see what she has to say.

Causes of Morning Headaches

According to Dr. Stokes, there are several reasons as to why you experience headaches in the morning. Below are five of the most common causes:

DehydrationRestless sleepStressDrinking alcoholTeeth grinding

Below, she explains how you can combat each cause and prevent your morning headaches from happening.

How To Prevent Morning HeadachesStay hydrated.

“It’s ideal to focus on hydration throughout the entire day,” Dr. Stokes tells us. “Start the day with a glass of water. Keep water at your work desk. Carry a water bottle with you on walks or when driving around town running errands.”

Drink water as soon as you wake up for a better day. She warns, “If you wait to start hydrating until the evening, then you’ll end up needing to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.”

Get enough sleep.

Nothing beats the feeling of waking up in the morning after a good night’s rest. “Conversely, when we have a restless night, we can wake up stiff and tired,” says Dr. Stokes. She advises, “Make sleep a priority by going to bed at the same time every night and getting off screens an hour before bed. If needed, invest in new, high-quality pillows and sheets to create a comfortable oasis for sleeping.”

Meditate.

We know it sounds a little cliché, but this activity is definitely worth considering. Dr. Stokes notes, “For some people, excess stress can trigger a headache. If you are feeling stressed first thing in the morning, instead of reaching for your phone, try a guided meditation with a meditation app like Calm.”

Cut down on alcohol.

When you drink too much alcohol in the evening, chances are you will most likely get a headache in the morning. Dr. Stokes explains, “One of the primary reasons is that alcohol is a diuretic, which can cause dehydration.” To avoid morning headaches, she recommends “to balance out alcohol intake with drinking plenty of water, and consider cutting back overall.”

See your dentist regularly.

Based on an article published by Hackensack Meridian Health, grinding your teeth at night can eventually cause certain problems such as tooth pain, tooth damage, gum soreness, and more. If you suspect that you may be grinding your teeth, Dr. Stokes shared that the best course of action is to go see your dentist.

Hackensack Meridian Health reports that the treatment for nighttime teeth grinding can include “wearing a fitted mouth guard that prevents the teeth from rubbing together” or “taking prescription muscle relaxants for a short time frame,” among others.