Advertisement
Health TopicsPainHeadache
question

Is it good to take a nap if I have a headache?

Dr. Michael Breus, PhD
Dr. Michael Breus, PhD
Psychology
answer
It’s no surprise that one of the ways to treat a headache is to lie down and take a nap (assuming, of course, you have the luxury of napping in the middle of your day). But napping can also conflict with your nighttime sleep if it’s not planned carefully. It also appears to incite a vicious cycle: 59 percent of those in a study with tension-type headaches complained of sleep problems as a trigger of those headaches.

It’s the classic catch-22. Sleep to dull headache. Sleep to trigger headache.

Continue Learning about Headache

Brain Training Relieves Children’s Migraines
Brain Training Relieves Children’s Migraines
There’s good news for children who experience frequent, debilitating migraines—and for parents who have to endure seeing their kids in pain. Research ...
Read More
Migraine Headache Relief Comes at a Cost
Migraine Headache Relief Comes at a Cost
First it’s a dull ache. Then your head begins to throb, followed by a nauseous feeling and a desire to lie down in a dark, quiet room—for hours. With ...
Read More
Prevent Vertigo with a Simple Half-Somersault Maneuver
Prevent Vertigo with a Simple Half-Somersault Maneuver
Suffer from chronic vertigo? Carol Foster, MD, of the University of Colorado, Denver's School of Medicine, devised this simple, effective half-somersa...
Read More
7 Unexpected Migraine Triggers
7 Unexpected Migraine Triggers7 Unexpected Migraine Triggers7 Unexpected Migraine Triggers7 Unexpected Migraine Triggers
See if you recognize any of these unusual triggers. Migraines affect roughly 12 percent of people in the US, according to the National Institute of N...
Start Slideshow

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.