Doctor says air fresheners in your home could be causing morning headaches

05 April 2023 , 06:00

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Waking up with a headache is common (stock image) (Image: Getty Images)

Have you ever felt like you've had a lovely sleep, but still wake up with a headache? Or similarly, had a horrific night and topped it all off with a pounding head?

Let's face it, waking up with a sore head is a terrible way to start the day, but you're not alone.

According to a doctor, relatively common to wake up with a headache, and there are several reasons why it might be happening regularly.

While it would make sense that you could wake up with a headache if you've had a bad night's sleep, it turns out sleeping too much is bad for your head too.

Sleeping too much could be causing your headache (stock image) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

GP Dr Nisa Aslam, from plant-based health products Puressentiel, told The Mirror: "Morning headaches are very common and have a variety of causes, including sleep deprivation, sleeping for too long, anxiety, snoring, sleep apnoea [or] heavy drinking in the evening, which can result in dehydration – even low levels of alcohol can disrupt sleep patterns."

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But headaches don't only occur due to how we've slept the previous night – they can also be caused by the conditions we sleep in.

Dr Aslam continued: "Indoor air pollution including insidious pollutants, breathing in mould, dust mites, hairs and allergens can also all cause morning headaches."

Now you've got a good idea of the cause of your headache, it's time to do something about it.

If your sleep quality has been suffering, it's important to try to find ways to sleep better – including avoiding alcohol.

Dr Aslam explained: "Getting a good night's sleep is essential to reducing the risk of morning headaches, but so too is treating the headache.

"If morning headaches are occurring regularly, speak to your GP in the first instance."

She also recommends going to bed and getting up at the same time each day, adding: "Keep well hydrated with water, keep fit and active and try to avoid alcohol or keep to the NHS guidance on the levels of units a week."

If your headache is caused by indoor pollution Dr Aslam recommends avoiding "synthetic air fresheners" and "household cleaners as they are all a source of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which put more chemicals back into the indoor air".

Instead, she recommends the Puressentiel Purifying Air Spray, which is "clinically proven and contains 41 essential oils including two species of lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, and geranium— all of which combat airborne bacteria and viruses, fungal spores, and house-dust mites".

It also "reduces all the nasties in the air that can affect our airways and hence can help to prevent morning headaches.

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Dr Aslam recommends spraying it "into the four corners of your bedroom and around the house to help reduce the risk of morning headaches".

Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz