How Poor Sleep Worsens Migraine: What You Need to Know


Key Questions
  • Why is sleep important for brain health?
  • Is there a connection between poor sleep and migraine attacks?
  • How much sleep do we need? Can we get too much?
  • What is the relationship between circadian rhythms and migraine?
  • How can we regulate our circadian rhythms?
  • How can early morning headaches and migraine attacks be prevented?
  • Can migraine and headache medications affect sleep?
  • Is there a connection between sleep and brain fog?
  • What sleep disorders are comorbid with migraine?
  • What are some effective sleep hygiene strategies?
  • What is melatonin’s role in sleep management?
  • Does managing a sleep disorder help reduce migraine symptoms?
Interview Notes
Treatments Mentioned
  • Amitriptyline
  • Benadryl
  • Beta-blockers
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)
  • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
  • Iron
  • Light therapy box
  • Limiting screen time
  • Magnesium
  • Melatonin
  • Nighttime relaxing rituals
  • Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRIs)
  • Sleep diary
  • Supportive pillow

Please note: The Migraine World Summit’s aim is to bring you a variety of perspectives and expertise, independent of bias or judgment. Alternative theories presented in this video have not been medically reviewed. Views expressed in this interview do not necessarily represent the views of the Migraine World Summit. Please always consult your health care professional and do your own research before making changes to your treatment plan.

Lauren R. Natbony, MD, FAHS

Founder & Medical Director
Integrative Headache Medicine of New York

Lauren R. Natbony, MD, FAHS, is a board-certified neurologist and fellowship-trained headache specialist and the founder and medical director of Integrative Headache Medicine of New York.  She is also an assistant clinical professor of neurology in the Division of Headache and Facial Pain at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine.

Dr. Natbony received her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and her medical degree from the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Natbony completed her internship in internal medicine and residency in neurology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in headache medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She also received advanced training and certification in medical acupuncture at Harvard Medical School. She is board certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and in headache medicine by the United Council of Neurologic Subspecialties. Dr. Natbony has been named a Fellow of the American Headache Society (FAHS), a reflection of her professional and scholarly achievements in headache medicine.

Dr. Natbony is a frequent speaker at national headache conferences and provides educational lectures to healthcare professionals worldwide to improve migraine and headache care. Her work can be found in multiple textbooks and peer-reviewed journals, including Headache and Current Pain and Headache Reports. Dr. Natbony conceptualized and authored the book Integrative Headache Medicine: An Evidence-Based Guide for Clinicians, which provides illuminating, evidence-based approaches for combining traditional medical therapies with alternative treatments for headache. Dr. Natbony is also a mother, an acupuncture and lifestyle medicine expert, and someone who experiences both migraine and headaches. Her practice focuses on empowering patients with integrative healing tools by creating individualized holistic treatment plans. Dr. Natbony can be found as a featured expert on the Today show, Self magazine, Good Morning America, Time magazine, and other media.

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Miles for Migraine is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of improving the lives of people with migraine and other headache disorders, and their families, by raising public awareness about this disease, and helping to find a cure. Miles for Migraine produces fun walk/run events, typically a 2-mile walk and 5K and 10K races to raise money for migraine research. We also host adult education days, and a youth program for kids and teens impacted by migraine and other headache disorders.

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