COPD headaches may be related to chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, or a buildup of carbon dioxide in your blood. Treatment can involve oxygen therapy and medications like bronchodilators and steroids.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease. Underlying health conditions like COPD can cause headaches. Headaches caused by an underlying condition are called secondary headaches.
Keep reading to learn more about symptoms of COPD headache, treatment options, and potential causes.
Because headaches are common, you might find it difficult to tell whether your headache is related to COPD or something else.
These symptoms may suggest that your headache is due to COPD:
- chest pain
- wheezing
- extreme shortness of breath
- choking upon waking up
- rapid breathing
Other symptoms can occur from hypoxia, which happens when your blood doesn’t have enough oxygen. Hypoxia may occur at the same time as a COPD headache.
Hypoxia symptoms include:
- increased heart rate
- increased blood pressure
- red or purple-toned skin spots from oxygen deprivation
Headaches that result from COPD can be treated in a few different ways.
Oxygen therapy
In oxygen therapy, oxygen is delivered to you via a nasal tube or face mask. This can prevent your oxygen levels from becoming too low.
The machine tubes are long, so you can move around your home and complete daily tasks at the same time. There are also portable options if you need to use oxygen away from home.
Even with oxygen therapy, breathing troubles may still interrupt your sleep. Headaches are a common symptom of sleep deprivation, whether you have COPD or not.
Medications
Many medications are available to help treat COPD.
Bronchodilators are inhaled medications that relax the muscles around your airways and improve your breathing.
Inhaled and oral steroids can help treat COPD by reducing inflammation. Doctors usually prescribe oral steroids in combination with a long-lasting medication.
Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics for lung and respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia. If you have COPD, you may also have an
If you have COPD headaches on a regular basis, over-the-counter (OTC) medications and at-home remedies may help ease the pain.
But keep in mind that taking OTC pain medications for a long time can make your body more resistant to the effects of the medication.
Other things you can do at home to help relieve headache pain include:
- doing breathing exercises, such as those used in meditation and yoga
- drinking peppermint tea
- getting more sleep
- avoiding sleeping in
- exercising on a regular basis
- avoiding COPD triggers, such as smoke, chemicals, and dust
Your doctor can also prescribe medication or provide other options for treating your pain.
Headaches from COPD may occur in the morning due to a buildup of carbon dioxide in your blood while you sleep. COPD can
Headaches from COPD may also be related to:
- chronic inflammation
- oxidative stress
- other factors associated with systemic inflammation
COPD is also related to hypercapnia, which occurs when you retain too much carbon dioxide.
If you have morning headaches with COPD, you may also be at risk of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea involves frequent episodes of shallow breathing, which is when breathing stops during sleep. Over time, this can lead to hypoxia and frequent headaches.
Doctors often treat sleep apnea using a system called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP helps keep your airway open while you sleep.
A 2018 study found that using a CPAP is linked with reduced mortality in people with both obstructive sleep apnea and COPD.
Treatment for COPD headaches may involve oxygen therapy or medications. But because it’s a secondary headache, you may experience fewer headaches over time as your COPD is treated.
The primary goal of COPD treatment is to increase lung function. This will help you breathe easier and experience fewer symptoms and complications, including headaches.
It’s also important to consider other causes. Having COPD does not mean that COPD is causing your headaches. If you’re experiencing headaches, talk with your doctor. They’ll be able to find the cause and help you get the right treatment.