Migraine and REM Sleep

It’s no secret that sleep issues are connected to migraine.  For example, check out Sleep apnea and migraine? and Solve child’s sleep problems = solve migraine?.

Building on previous studies, researchers from Missouri State University recently reported on a study that connected a lack of REM sleep with chronic pain.  The research was done on rats, which were deprived of REM sleep for three nights.

What happened?  There was an increase of expression in certain proteins which help regulate sensory response in facial nerves.  The same thing happened with another protein linked to starting chronic pain.

This type of response could cause problems with the trigeminal nerve, which is key in the migraine chain reaction.

Lead researcher Dr. Paul L. Durham says,"People with headaches often have a hard time sleeping.  It is easy to see how several nights of interrupted sleep can make people more susceptible to developing a chronic pain state."

Yet more information showing us how migraine and various types of chronic pain may be links to interruptions in sleep.

For tips from our visitors on getting to sleep with migraine, check here.