Determining why people snore has been the subject of many studies. Snoring is not only annoying but can be rather unhealthy for some people. Some studies have recently found that there may be a direct correlation between chronic headaches and snoring. There are several similarities between headache sufferers and snorers. For instance, both groups have certain foods and activities that can increase their changes of either headaches or snoring. However, do they actually have anything to do with one another is the question.

A recent study in the sleeping habits of chronic headache sufferers gave some interesting results. Two groups were compared; one group contained people who suffered from debilitating headaches at least fifteen times a month, the other group only experienced the occasional mild headache (more than two but less than 104 per year). The results of the study showed that 24% of the chronic headache group was also chronic snorers, compared to only 14% in the control group.

Now we must try to determine whether it is the headaches causing the snoring or the other way around. Someone who experiences chronic headaches likely takes pain relievers before they go to sleep, and some pain medications have been found to cause snoring. Conversely, snoring typically makes for a very restless night and poor sleep. Chronic snorers also may hold on to carbon dioxide longer which can thus be a trigger for headaches.

The bottom line is more research needs to be done. There are many theories on the matter of chronic headaches and snoring. For instance, it is thought that perhaps snoring causes morning headaches. It is also a theory that a constriction of the neck during a headache can cause snoring. Unfortunately there are many factors that can contribute to both of these afflictions, and without detailed studies including a subject’s detailed lifestyle there won’t be any conclusive data. Perhaps soon we will discover the cause of snoring and headaches and be able to relieve sufferers of both.