Verdict: TRUE.
A headache that regularly wakes you up at night or is particularly intense upon waking deserves special attention.
Dr. Gérald Kierzek points out that certain headaches become more worrying when they disrupt sleep or are worst in the morning.
For what ? Because certain neurological causes can manifest as greater pain when lying down or upon waking up.
This does not mean that an isolated night waking is necessarily serious. A migraine, viral infection, stress or even lack of sleep can occasionally cause nighttime pain.
On the other hand, several elements should alert:
- A new headache in a person over 50;
- Pain that gradually gets worse;
- Vomiting upon waking up;
- Vision problems;
- Confusion or difficulty speaking;
- A fever associated with a stiff neck.
Specialists also emphasize the unusual nature of the pain. A migraine sufferer who experiences an attack identical to their usual episodes is not in the same situation as a person who suddenly experiences a nocturnal headache of unknown intensity.
While waiting for medical advice, it is advisable to note the time of awakening, the duration of the pain and the associated symptoms. This information is often very useful in guiding the diagnosis.
Most nighttime headaches are not related to a serious illness. But when they become repetitive, intense or unusual, they should not be trivialized.
Advice from Dr Gérald Kierzek
Inflammatory pain is typically present at rest, and therefore more marked at night and in the morning with prolonged stiffness, then improved by movement and sometimes by anti-inflammatories.