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Headache researchers Ong and Park say other factors affect sleep according to the popular Biobehavioural Model. The model says that a person may already have issues (predisposing factors) like anxiety which, when combined with stress or daily hassles (precipitating factors) may cause short-term sleep problems. The person may then try to find short-term ways to cope (e.g., take naps, take sleep medicine at night, or use caffeine during the day). These ways of coping may become factors themselves (perpetuating factors), which can make sleep problems continue.
This model may have special meaning for people with headaches. This is because some perpetuating factors are common ways to manage headaches, like:
If people aren’t careful, regular use of these strategies might lead to chronic sleep and chronic headache problems. A better solution is to learn ways to manage stress and to use sleep hygiene strategies.
Do you have expectations about sleep that aren't realistic?
Does the way you manage your headaches (e.g., using caffeine, napping) make your sleep problems worse?
