Hypnic Headache Can Strike Like Clockwork
One of the more rare forms of disruptive pain, often referred to as the alarm clock headache is the hypnic headache, most often seen in persons over the age of 50. Although it can develop in people as young as 40, it is most often seen is those 60 years of age or older. Persons who suffer from a hypnic headache will be woke up in the middle of the night with a headache, usually between one and three a.m., hence the name alarm clock headache.
Often times, persons with a hypnic headache will experience the pain effects from 15 minutes to six hours, but they usually last between 50 and 60 minutes, after which the person generally can fall back asleep. Typically, there are no other symptoms involved with a hypnic headache such as watering eyes or stuffy nose. How they start or what causes them is still under investigation. The first research on this type of malady was not documented until 1988 and research continues on this rare disease.
As the causes of hypnic headache are still unknown, treatment methods are also relatively new. Lithium carbonate is currently the leading medicine used in its treatment but everyone can tolerate lithium and will be prescribed caffeine, flunarizine and verapamil or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkiller.
Ruling Out Sleep-Related Headache Causes
For a proper diagnosis of hypnic headache, the doctor will have to document medical history as well as document sleep patterns in order to rule out other possible causes. Sleep apnea is a more common sleep disorder with which millions of people suffer loss of sleep by waking up hundreds of times during the night unable to breath. The lack of sleep and inability to catch their breath while sleeping may also cause headaches, similar to a hypnic headache.
Drug withdrawal, prescription or otherwise, as well as inflammation of the temporal artery can also be another cause for night time headaches that must be ruled out before a diagnosis of hypnic headache can be established. Although more women than men appear to suffer from the disorder, there have also been incidents where people have suffered from a hypnic headache when taking a nap during the day.
Indomethacin is another non-steroidal anti0inflammatory drug that has had success in allowing people to sleep throughout the night, or to shorten the time of the hypnic headache. Research is continuing on the causes of these headaches as well as in more appropriate treatment methods.
