HEADACHES
Why Does My Head Hurt When I Cough? Causes & Treatment
May 1, 2020
Symptom Guides > Headaches > Why Does My Head Hurt When I Cough? Causes & Treatment

by
Dr. Chris Bodle
Dr. Bodle is a board certified emergency medicine physician. He received his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine, and completed his residency in emergency medicine at Emory University. In addition to K Health, he currently works as an Emergency Medicine physician in an Urban, Level 1 Trauma Center in the south east.
When you think of cough and headache, you might think of illnesses, like influenza. But if you’ve ever experienced a sudden, painful headache when you cough, sneeze, or blow your nose, then you’ve experienced a common condition called a cough headache.
There are two types of cough headaches. Primary cough headaches occur episodically as a direct result of a straining action—including coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, or even singing or laughing—and they go away on their own. Generally, primary cough headaches don’t indicate an underlying medical condition. And since they usually dissipate in a few minutes, primary cough headaches don’t need treatment.
Secondary cough headaches aren’t caused by a cough, but triggered by straining. Secondary cough headaches, which are far less common, can sometimes indicate a structural issue in the brain. If you have any symptoms of a secondary cough headache, it’s important to consult with your doctor, who can help you determine the appropriate course of action.
In this article, I’ll explain:
“Cough headaches are a type of headache that can occur when a person strains while coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose.”
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by
Dr. Chris Bodle
Dr. Bodle is a board certified emergency medicine physician. He received his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine, and completed his residency in emergency medicine at Emory University. In addition to K Health, he currently works as an Emergency Medicine physician in an Urban, Level 1 Trauma Center in the south east.
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