Cough Headaches

Cough Headaches 

Cough headaches are a type of headaches that are triggered by coughing and other types of straining like from sneezing, laughing, crying, singing, bending over.

Scientists characterize cough headaches into two categories. Primary cough headaches and secondary cough headaches. Primary cough headaches are harm-free. These occur in limited episodes and quickly end on their own. Secondary cough headaches are also called symptomatic cough headaches. These are more serious and caused by problems going on in the brain. 

Symptoms

Primary cough headaches

The symptoms of suddenly begin with or just after coughing or other types of straining

  • This headache lasts a few seconds to a few minutes. But sometimes can last up to 2 hours
  • It causes splitting, sharp, stabbing pain
  • These headaches are felt in the front of the head
  • These Affect both sides of the head
  • Dull, aching pain is also followed that can lasts for hours

Secondary cough headaches

Secondary cough headaches have the same symptoms as that of primary cough headaches. The person experiences:COMPLICATED GRIEF SYMPTOMS CAUSES TREATMENT

  • Long-lasting headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Unsteadiness
  • Fainting
  • Numbness in the face or arms
Causes
Primary cough headaches

The cause of primary cough headaches is still hidden.

Secondary cough headaches

Secondary cough headaches are caused by:

  • If there is a defect in the shape of the skull.
  • If there is a defect in the cerebellum. This occurs when a portion of the brain is forced through the opening at the base of the skull, where only the spinal cord is supposed to be. These types of defects are called Chiari malformations. 
  • If there is a weakness in one of the blood vessels in the brain.
  • brain tumor.
  • cerebrospinal fluid leakage.
Treatment

Treatment depends on which category of headache you have, primary or secondary cough headaches.

Primary cough headache

If a person has a history of primary cough headaches, the doctor may prescribe to take daily medication to help reduce the pain or prevent further attacks. 

Preventive medications include:

  • Indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex),
  • Propranolol (Inderal, Innopran XL, others),

Other medications that are also used to treat primary cough headache, these include: 

  • Naproxen (Naprelan, Naprosyn), 
  • ergonovine (Methergine), 
  • intravenous dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45),
  • phenelzine (Nardil).

Rarely, the lumbar puncture may also be recommended. With this procedure, the doctor will remove some of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This procedure reduces the pressure inside your skull that might be causing the headaches. 

Secondary cough headache

If anybody has secondary cough headaches, surgery is needed to fix the underlying cause. Preventive medications don’t help people who have secondary cough headaches so surgery is effective. However, responding to medication doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a primary cough headache. 

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