Hypnic headache

A hypnic headache is a rare type of headache disorder that only occurs during sleep. Sometimes referred to as "alarm clock headaches," they typically wake you up two to three hours after falling asleep. These headaches can recur multiple times per night, lasting 30 to 60 minutes on average. Most people with hypnic headaches experience them 10 or more times every month. Adults over 50 and people assigned female at birth are more likely to get them.

A hypnic headache is treated by a doctor who specializes in neurological disorders called a neurologist. Our doctors are among the leading neurology providers in the southeast Pennsylvania and South Jersey region. With decades of expertise, we’re dedicated to helping you get hypnic headache relief. 

During a hypnic headache, many patients report feeling a dull or throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head. The pain ranges from moderate to severe in intensity. Other symptoms may include: 

• Nausea
• Runny nose
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Watery eyes

The exact cause of hypnic headaches is not fully understood. However, they might be linked to problems in the parts of the brain that handle pain management, make melatonin, or regulate rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. When you have a headache, it's because nerves in your blood vessels send pain signals to your brain. These signals lead to inflammation, but experts are unsure why the nerves react this way.

Hypnic headaches are considered a primary headache disorder, meaning they’re not linked to another health condition. They don't typically have specific triggers like other types of headaches. However, certain factors like sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns may contribute to their occurrence in some individuals.