Can sleep cure migraines? Science says yes

A regular sleeping pattern is imperative for humans to be able to get on with their daily tasks and responsibilities with a clear head and mind, as well as energised and well-rested bodies.

New research has shown that getting adequate sleep and maintaining a regular sleeping schedule may reduce the frequency of migraines.

In their study, the team from the University of California San Francisco found that teenagers with migraines whose high school started before 8.30am experienced an average of 7.7 headache days each month, this is almost 3 more days than those teenagers whose high schools started at a later time.

The team then reached out to about 1,000 high school students through a survey, and the results showed that the migraines which fit the criteria were experienced by 509 students who started school before 8.30am and 503 students who started school at a later time.

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Among irregular sleeping patterns, the researchers also found out that migraines among teenagers may be caused by skipping breakfast, gender, grade homework volume and medication use.

In another study conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter, it was discovered that “people who go against their natural body clock are more likely to be diagnosed with depression and have low levels of mental wellbeing”.

They also found that people who generally wake up early are less likely to be diagnosed with depression, and this may be because society is more aligned with those who usually wake up early.

According to health.gov, these are the benefits of getting enough rest during the night

• Reduces stress
• Improves your mood
• Better patience and tolerance to deal with people on a daily basis
• Lowers your risk of serious health problems such as diabetes and heart disease
• Make better decisions
• Get sick less often
• Stay at a healthy weight