What causes a headache when coughing?

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Why does my head hurt when I cough? What could be the causes of such ailments? Could this be a symptom of serious medical conditions? Should you be concerned? Is it normal to have a headache when coughing? The question is answered by the drug. Katarzyna Darecka.

Why does my head hurt when I cough?

Good day. I would like to ask what it results from headache when coughing? I am now 37 years old and in my youth I had no such symptoms. For about a year, however, they started to appear much more often, and now the coughing headache accompanies me almost every time. Most coughing headaches last for a few minutes, depending on how long I cough. If the cough tires me longer, the automatically coughing headache is also longer and lasts up to half an hour. It is quite strong and I have the impression that it is gaining strength.

First of all, I would like to ask if a cough headache is dangerous, and most importantly – what are they? causes of headache when coughing? No one I know has these symptoms and I have had a headache when coughing for many months. The worst thing is when I really have a bad cold – then the cough headache is particularly severe and makes it difficult for me to function normally. I am afraid that this is not normal and that the headache when coughing is a symptom of some medical condition that I am not aware of – is it even possible?

The doctor explains the causes of the headache when coughing

Coughing headache is a rare type of headache, caused by coughing, sneezing, blowing the nose, laughing, crying, singing, defecating, which are all the conditions in which we use an abdominal press. Coughing headache can be divided into two categories – primary (cause unknown) or secondary (secondary to pathology in the central nervous system).

Primary cough headaches they are more common in men over 40 years of age. They are characterized by sudden, sharp pain when coughing, usually lasting seconds or minutes, and may be followed by a dull headache for several hours. Primary headache most often affects both hemispheres of the brain and is most common in the frontal area.

Secondary headaches may mimic primary headaches that last longer and also have symptoms such as spinning sensation, instability, fainting, and abnormal sensations (paraesthesia) in the face and hands. Consult your doctor if any sudden headache after coughing, especially if they are frequent or severe or if there are other disturbing symptoms, e.g. gait disturbance, visual disturbances.

Do causes of secondary cough headaches belongs:

  1. skull shape defect,
  2. cerebellar defect,
  3. weakening of the wall of cerebral vessels – aneurysm of the cerebral arteries,
  4. a tumor of the central nervous system,
  5. cerebrospinal fluid leak.

Primary cough headache can be prevented by implementing treatment for pneumonia, bronchitis, avoiding cough medication as a side effect, annual flu vaccination, diet rich in fiber to prevent constipation.

The doctor will conduct a thorough interview and perform a physical examination. On this basis, he may order an MRI or CT of the brain to rule out secondary background of cough headache.

Both primary and cough headache can be treated. Primary by pharmacological treatment and secondary depending on the cause.

– Lek. Katarzyna Darecka

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