Primary And Secondary Cough Headaches
There are different types of cough headaches, and not all are equally severe.
Headaches caused by coughing are generally the result of a previous problem, which is not necessarily serious. Sometimes because the cough is very dry, or because it has been going on for a relatively long time.
From a physical point of view, headaches caused by coughing are easy to explain. They are due to the fact that the cough generates pressure in areas such as the chest, neck and head. Such frequent and repeated pressure facilitates headaches.
However, in cases where the cough causes headaches, it is always advisable to consult a doctor. This makes it possible to minimize negative impacts on the body and / or rule out serious problems that may be associated.
What are primary and secondary cough headaches?
Headaches triggered by coughing are rare episodes. They correspond to a type of headache that occurs when coughing or making similar efforts such as sneezing, singing, blowing the nose, laughing, crying or defecating.
These headaches fall into two categories :
- Primary. They correspond to limited episodes, which usually last a short time and improve spontaneously.
- Secondary. They are caused by problems within the brain. Of course, they are more serious and may require surgery.
Primary cough headaches are a benign headache , very typical in people over 50 years of age. It ranges from moderate to intense and rarely lasts more than two hours. It is located on the entire head, above the nape, or in the middle of the head.
The secondary headache is due to an underlying disease. It could imply the presence of a tumor or vascular disorder in the brain. Usually it does not depend exclusively on the cough, but it worsens when it occurs.
Main causes
The exact reason why coughing causes primary headaches is unknown. However, this is known to happen more frequently in people who smoke or are allergic to environmental factors such as pollen.
Other causes include :
- Asma. Asthma leads to primary cough headaches, especially when the cough is dry. This type of cough causes severe intracranial pressure, which often triggers a headache. Overcome the asthmatic crisis, the pain disappears.
- Sinusitis. Sinusitis causes pressure in the paranasal sinuses, which very frequently leads to headache.
- Inflammations of the larynx or pharynx. They cause coughing and headaches.
The most common cause of secondary cough headaches is the so-called Chiari type I malformation . This is an anatomical abnormality. Other possible causes are a brain tumor, other malformations, weak blood vessels, or spontaneous loss of cerebrospinal fluid.
Symptoms
Primary cough headaches start suddenly with coughing and cause a sharp, sharp, stabbing pain. They generally last short and never more than two hours. Most importantly, they are not accompanied by additional symptoms. If there is nausea, photosensitivity, tearing, etc., it may be a migraine.
Secondary headaches have similar symptoms, but have some distinctive features. They can be accompanied by instability, dizziness, and fainting. Likewise, it has a longer duration.
It is possible to suspect a brain injury when a cough headache occurs in a person under 50 years of age, especially if the discomfort is localized in the neck and nape area.
Diagnosis and prevention
The diagnosis is made basically from the clinical history and the patient’s report. Relevant aspects such as age (older or younger than 50 years), gender (primary headaches are more frequent in men) and the presence of concomitant diseases such as asthma or sinusitis are taken into account.
Your doctor will most likely order tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan. These tests will confirm or rule out other possible causes of the headache.
The best way to prevent primary cough headaches is to properly treat respiratory conditions. The presence of pharyngitis, bronchitis, asthma or sinusitis, among others, give rise to cough, with the consequent headache. It is also important to avoid great efforts and to get the flu vaccine annually.
