I often wake up in the morning with a headache – could sleep apnoea be to blame?

Dr Linjawi says:

Someone who has sleep apnoea will repeatedly stop breathing or take very shallow breaths throughout their sleep, and may snort, choke, gasp or snore loudly when their normal breathing recommences. This stopstart breathing can result in reduced blood oxygen levels throughout the night. Unsurprisingly, these sleep disruptions can mean that you then wake up with a headache. To diagnose sleep apnoea, your doctor may refer you for a sleep study and, if the results confirm sleep apnoea, you may benefit from a CPAP machine. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure and, as the name suggests, it supplies a constant stream of air to keep the airways open through the night. There are several models available, and most people will choose one based on the mask they find most comfortable to wear.