Migraine and sleep are deeply connected.
A bad night’s rest can make migraine attacks more likely, and on the flip side, good sleep can feel like a distant dream when your head is pounding. Over time, this push and pull can become a cycle that’s hard to break.
Insomnia is one of the most common sleep problems among people living with migraine, and it often goes unnoticed or untreated. Dive into how sleep and migraine affect one another, and why talking to your doctor about insomnia may be an important part of your migraine management plan.
Dr. James Kim is a family doctor and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary. He has a special interest in conditions like chronic migraine, diabetes, and liver disease related to metabolic health.
Dr. Kim is passionate about improving access to quality care and making health information easier to understand. He works closely with Diabetes Canada, helping shape national guidelines and resources that support people living with diabetes. He also contributes to research and education efforts across Canada and internationally, sharing practical ways to improve patient care.
Beyond his work in clinics and classrooms, Dr. Kim leads projects aimed at reducing wait times to see specialists, helping more people get the care they need, faster.
Take this short, clinically validated self-assessment to see where your sleep challenges may fall—from mild to more serious—and if it might be time to talk with your doctor.
Yes. Research shows that sleep problems and migraine have a bidirectional relationship—each can trigger or worsen the other. Poor sleep increases the risk of migraine attacks, while migraine pain often makes it harder to fall or stay asleep. Insomnia is the most commonly reported sleep disorder among people living with migraine.
Over time, these restless nights can build significant sleep debt, worsening fatigue and pain sensitivity.
Take our short self-assessment to see if insomnia could be contributing to your ongoing sleep debt and migraine frequency.
Yes. If you’re living with migraine and struggling to sleep, talk to your doctor. Insomnia is common among people with migraine but often goes underdiagnosed and undertreated. Tracking both sleep and headache patterns in a diary can help your doctor identify trends and adjust your care plan.
Addressing insomnia can reduce sleep debt and may help lower migraine frequency or intensity.
Complete our short self-assessment and take your results to your next appointment.
