Sometimes it is disturbing every time my head hurts when I cough or sneeze, however, I try not to distress myself since in my case it is a nuisance usually caused by other types of tensions.
As the doctor explained, a cough headache is categorized within the type of tension headaches, just as it happens when you sneeze, laugh, cry or blow your nose too hard, and even when the intestines are evacuated .
Personally, I remain with my nostrils quite congested, which implies a greater effort in the breathing when sleeping and sometimes it generates a drowning sensation.
As a result, I wake up coughing and often my head hurts.
Before answering the question “why does my head hurts when I cough?”, First let’s see what a cough is and how is it produced?
What is cough and how is it produced?
As I comment in my personal experience, without doubt my head hurts when I cough at night due to drowning and congestion of the nasal passages, but what is a cough?
Cough occurs as a reaction of the organism to certain triggers in order to get rid of such harmful substances.
The mere presence of foreign bodies in the throat or pharynx can cause a uncontrollable coughing attack.
The causes of cough and consequently that our head hurts when we cough, are among others:
- Respiratory tract infections
- Presence of foreign bodies in the throat
- Cigarette smoke
- Pollen
- Chemical vapors
- Dust
- Asthma
- Sinusitis
- Inflammation in the larynx or pharynx
- Any allergic reaction
It should be noted that both acute and chronic cough are the result of a more advanced disease which should be consulted by a medical specialist.
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Diseases more related to cough
- Postnasal drip syndrome
- Asthma
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Chronic bronchitis
- Bronchiectasis
- Postinfectious cough
- Bronchogenic carcinoma
- Chronic interstitial lung disease
Check this video where Roger Knapp M.D., a Cook Children’s pediatrician in Southlake, Texas explains different types of coughs in babies and infants
Types of coughs that cause us to have a headache
- Dry: does not present any expectoration
- Productive: produces expectoration and phlegm
- Asthma: dry cough associated with respiratory problems
- Acute: when the cough starts suddenly
- Chronic: when a cough episode is more than two weeks long
- Convulsive: violent cough with a very rapid repetition of multiple episodes of cough
- Psychosomatics: common in nervous people who talk to others when they talk
Now, let’s solve that question of everyone: why does my head hurts when I cough?
Why does my head hurt when I cough or sneeze?
Due to the constant contractions generated by an uncontrollable coughing attack, whether dry cough or with phlegm, there is a continuous and violent pressure on the back, chest, neck, shoulders and head, which undoubtedly will cause a cough headache due to its continuity.
And, what are the types of cough headache?
Types of cough headaches
Primary cough headache
They are harmless and occur sporadically without presenting major complications for the person.
Primary cough headaches most likely begins after a violent effort in the brain caused by coughing and can commonly last a couple of minutes, perhaps hours.
It manifests with a sharp and intense headache on both sides of the head or even on the back.
Primary cough headaches mostly affects men over the age of 40.
Secondary cough headache
They are harmful because are caused by problems in the brain.
Its symptoms are similar to primary cough headaches, although dizziness, imbalance, fainting and blurred vision may also be experienced.
Secondary cough headaches can be caused by a defect in the skull, cerebellum, cerebral aneurysm or a brain tumor, among others.
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How to get rid of cough headaches?
Without exception coughing does not come by itself; is the reaction to an infection or the presence of a foreign body in the respiratory tract or lungs.
More than preventing our head from hurting, it is preventing the cause of a cough:
- Take care of lung infections such as bronchitis
- Suppress the intake of pills that cause cough as a side effect
- Vaccinate against influenza periodically
- Avoid constipation
- Restrict the lifting of heavy objects
- Avoid the presence of foreign bodies inside the throat
- Protect from extreme temperatures
How to relieve headaches from coughing?
To relieve headaches when coughing the main thing is to attack the cause that causes constant coughing, which surely is in the throat, larynx, pharynx or lungs.
10 effective home remedies for cough headache
If our cough headache is a primary type, we might use home remedies such as:
- Grape juices
- Lemon (suck lemon with salt)
- Honey syrup (one tablespoon of honey every four hours)
- Salt water gargle
- Onion and garlic syrup (expectorant and antiseptic properties)
- Echinacea tea
- Warm bath (softens the airways and loosens phlegm)
- Thyme tea (effective remedy that calms cough)
- Ginger tea (antistaminic and decongestant)
- Drink plenty of water (keeps membranes moist)
If you cough with phlegm, these home remedies are effective to expel it:
- Jamaica flower tea: Diuretic and expectorant
- Tea brush: expectorant
- Star anise tea: expectorant
- Inhalation of eucalyptus vapor: expectorant and antimicrobial
- Pine oil: facilitates breathing and frees phlegm. Apply on the chest.
- Fennel tea: diuretic and expectorant.
- Mauve and guaco tea: causes a calming effect on the bronchi
Once the cause of coughing has been attacked, this bodily reaction will diminish and consequently the headaches will be relieved.
Secondary cough headaches – diagnosis
If you have a headache due to a secondary type of cough, it is necessary that you go to the doctor immediately to be properly diagnosed and choose the treatment to follow, since it will be a bigger problem.
During the appointment with the doctor explains in detail the symptoms you experience. Do not forget to discuss any disease or previous surgical operation, as well as medicines that you take frequently.
When faced with a secondary cough headache, the doctor will probably recommend:
- Magnetic resonances
- Computerized tomography
They are done to rule out the possibility of other causes of headache when coughing.
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Treatment for cough headache with medical prescription
Cetirizine: antihistamine that can be taken for the relief of allergic cough (pollen, dust, mites, animal skin)
Bisolsek: it is an antitussive syrup for dry and irritating cough.
Always keep in mind the side effects of taking medicines when your head hurts. Some are:
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
Also, the restrictions of each medication for cough headache: for example in pregnant women.
Homeopathic remedies for cough headache
Stodal: homeopathic remedy for the treatment of dry cough and sore throat.
Conclusions
Now we know the answer to the typical question “why does my head hurts when I cough” and which usually originates not in the head, but in the throat, lungs, larynx and pharynx.
Dry cough is a common annoyance in people, which if not treated properly will trigger constant cough headaches.
When our head hurts when coughing, this is manifested by being sharp and often intense, and can last between a few minutes and a couple of hours.
Smoking is one of the most common causes for which our head hurts when coughing, as it causes chronic bronchitis in people who smoke cigarettes frequently.
Asthma is another of the biggest responsible for this type of headache, a disease one hundred percent linked to cough.
At an early age I suffered from asthma and uncontrollable cough attacks caused by the lack of oxygen and the sensation of pressure in the lungs were triggers of strong coughing headaches.
The dust, on the other hand, contains particles that provoke a variety of allergies that induce cough and consequently that our head hurts.
Protecting yourself from high cold temperatures is essential to avoid respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia that causes coughing and as a result our head hurts when we touch. Cough and headache are the most common symptom of pneumonia.
To finish, we can not fail to mention tuberculosis, which is a bacterial infection that attacks lungs and whose main characteristic is a severe cough that lasts three weeks or more.
Thanks for reading until the end. And you, tell us!
Does your head hurt when you cough? Is it frequent or were they isolated cases? Did you see the doctor?
Before reading this article did you know what to take for a cough headache?
Thanks for your comments and do not hesitate to share the knowledge in your social networks.
Tags: my head hurts when i cough or sneeze - my brain hurts when i cough
