Senior Sleep Issue - Head Hurts When I Wake Up, Any Remedies?

Posted By Nicholas (Edison, Nj) on 01/25/2017

I am 79 years old. If I lie down to sleep I wake up with an aching head. To avoid that I sleep in a sitting up position which is not satisfactory. Are there vitamins I should be taking to correct this problem, so I can sleep lying down? I eat right and exercise every day.
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Replied by Michael (New Zealand) on 01/25/2017

Hello Nicholas,

Hard to know the exact reason for your aching head! Too much worry or stress? Sinus problems? Visit to the Osteopath to stretch those neck joints possibly? If it was your neck causing you grief, then it might be easier to treat. In that case you would need to select a different pillow or try rolling up a towel in differing configurations to see if that helped. A rolled towel under your neck can give surprisingly rapid relief after a couple of nights of you getting accustomed to the new position. Otherwise you could experiment with taking a drink before bedtime of either Magnesium Chloride, Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) or Molasses or Warm Milk and Honey. These have substances in them that often relax the muscles sufficiently to enable better sleep to occur and therefore better rest and relaxation. As we age we tend to loose our suppleness and this tightening up of the body causes mischief in many diverse places around the body. Everybody is different so you will need to experiment. The above suggestions are safe as long as you don't have another health issue such as diabetes for instances in which case the Molasses/Honey might not be too clever. The inclined bed theory may be of interest to you. Also, wearing a hat at night can be surprisingly beneficial for the health of the head. Really! Done that one myself with success. Is there a draught in your bedroom? Make sure that you change your pillow (or towel) regularly too.

All of the above are elaborated on in this wonderful Site. Check with your Doctor anyway to see if you are safe to do the above. Can you be more precise about your head problem?

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Replied by Kt (Usa) on 01/26/2017

Dear Nicholas,

I was waiting to see if anyone else had ideas before I posted.

Have you seen a physician about this?

What time is your last meal of the day?

I think a safe vitamin to try would be B Complex. They are water soluble and have been reported to relieve headaches. Getting some BSM (blackstrap molasses) may be ideal as they contain the B vitamins but are also rich in a good balance of minerals.

Love,

KT

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Replied by Charity (Faithville, Us) on 01/26/2017

A headache that is only present from a certain body position may imply your spine /neck is out of alignment or inflamed. You may have dehydration. I ice my neck when I lay in bed if I get headaches and increase water consumption in early morning.

Minerals also balance electrolyte system.

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