Secondary Cough Headache Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

What Is Secondary Cough Headache ?

To start with cough headache, it is a rare form of headache that occurs due to coughing. Cough headache can also be caused by some other types of straining for example by:

• Blowing nose.
• Sneezing.
• Laughing.
• Having a bowel movement.
• Bending over.
• Singing.

Health care providers have categorized cough headaches into primary and secondary cough headaches. Secondary cough headache is intense, while it is sourced by the problem within your brain. Indeed, the category needs to be treated, thus, surgery is usually needed.

What Are The Symptoms Of Secondary Cough Headache ?

Usually, the signs of secondary cough headaches mimic the ones of primary cough headaches. That is, soon after coughing or with some other type of straining, the headache starts to occur. In addition to this, the pain of headache can be stabbing or sharp. Usually, the headache affects both the right and left side of the head, whilst can be worse in the back of the head.

Though, headaches associated with secondary cough headache tend to persist longer.  One may also develop the following signs:

• Unsteadiness.
• Dizziness.
• Fainting.

When Is The Right Time To Seek Medical Assistance ?

Contact a health care provider in case of the following situations:

• You have developed intense headache soon after coughing.
• In case the headaches tend to be recurrent.
• You are also experiencing other distressing signs for example double, blurred or imbalance vision.

What Causes Secondary Cough Headaches ?

These can be triggered by:

• The defect in cerebellum or shape of skull.
• Brain tumor.
• Weakness in a blood vessel of the brain.
• Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak.

What Are The Risk Factors Of Secondary Cough Headaches ?

Contrary to the risk factors of primary cough headache, secondary cough headache commonly occurs in adults younger than the age of forty.

How Is Secondary Cough Headache Diagnosed ?

The health care provider will conduct a thorough physical evaluation and would need details regarding the symptoms. The doctor will ask certain questions related to the signs in order to determine as to when and why the onset of headaches tend to occur. After which, the doctor can suggest imaging tests of the brain, for example CT scan or MRI, that will help him exclude the other potential reasons of headaches.

How Is Secondary Cough Headache Treatment ?

The treatment of secondary cough headache normally consists of surgery to treat the causal condition. Often, the headaches associated with secondary cough headache fail to respond medications.

How Is Secondary Cough Headache Preventable ?

Yes, to a greater extent. You can reduce the occurrence of headaches at least by trying to avoid the specific actions that serve to cause headaches for example, straining during the bowel movements, sneezing or coughing. Some drugs tend to source cough as a side effect, therefore avoid them.  Besides, avoid lifting heavy weight as much as possible and use stool softeners.

By : Natural Health News