Headache is not the most pleasant feeling. And worst of all, when it takes a person by surprise. This can happen at work, while driving, or while relaxing. But it also happens that discomfort can occur when coughing. Is the pain in the head dangerous in this case? Is it an independent disease, or is it a symptom of a more serious he alth problem?
Pain when coughing: what is it?
The manifestation of pain during coughing or sneezing is a rather rare phenomenon. As a rule, this is a symptom of a not very dangerous pathology, which is benign. Moreover, pain in the head when sneezing and coughing can cause a short-term increase in venous pressure. And that's not good.
As described by patients, coughing headaches are very similar to those experienced by a person with intense physical exertion. Most often, discomfort is felt in the whole head, but there are also cases wherethat the pain is concentrated in the temples, in the forehead or in the back of the head.
Due to the fact that attacks are most often short-lived, it is believed that they are not dangerous to he alth, although this is not always true. Sometimes it happens that unpleasant sensations appear due to a neoplasm in a person’s head.
It is important to remember that any pain should be treated comprehensively and only after talking with your doctor. Unpleasant sensations when sneezing and coughing, which appear every day, are not the norm.
Primary and regular pain in the head when coughing. What is their difference?
First, it is worth noting that the initial headache when coughing or sneezing is usually not dangerous to he alth, but if the attacks recur, then it is worth assuming the presence of some kind of pathology.
Most often, patients complain of primary pain in the head when coughing. The reason for this phenomenon may not be established, because doctors say that, having manifested itself once, such a symptom may no longer appear.
Most often, the primary pain when coughing appears due to low blood pressure and due to colds. Such sensations are not uncommon for weather-dependent patients.
A consultation with a specialist is necessary when the pain constantly radiates to the head when coughing. The reasons for this pathology are completely different. Although in this case they can be completely harmless.
Features of pain
Doctors conducted a study and found that when coughing, a sharp pain in the head occurs more often in males. How to recognizethat the discomfort is due to coughing or sneezing?
- Unpleasant sensations appear immediately after a person coughs or sneezes.
- It is also noted that such pains are short-lived, but very intense and bright. A person may even experience discomfort for some time after an attack.
It is worth noting that most often patients, turning to a doctor, note that the pain is localized only in one half of the head. It is not uncommon for unpleasant sensations to arise unexpectedly and disturb for several years, and then just as suddenly disappear. In severe cases, the whole head hurts, even presses on the eyes.
Causes of pain
Most often, pain in the head when coughing and bending over occurs for the following reasons:
- Tobacco use.
- High pressure in the vessels of the brain.
- Allergy.
- Lung disease (inflammation).
- Cold. This is the most common cause of pain when coughing. Unpleasant sensations appear due to nasal congestion, when a person cannot breathe normally, and pressure increases in the sinuses. Also, the development of pain in the head when sneezing and coughing occurs due to powerful intoxication of the body (the immune system tries to fight the infection).
- Strong physical load on the body.
As you can see, many causes are not at all dangerous for human he alth, some of them are easily eliminated (for example, colds), while others cansignificantly worsen the state of human he alth.
It is worth highlighting the pain in the head when coughing in heavy smokers. A person who smokes often and a lot endangers his blood vessels and the cardiovascular system as a whole. Smokers suffer from a chronic cough, and after smoking a cigarette, as a rule, the pulse quickens and blood pressure rises.
Meteorological dependence as a cause of headache when coughing
If a person is weather dependent, then he is often worried about pain in his head when coughing. Many patients who feel the change in the weather have chronic diseases and experience pain at the back of the head when they cough.
It is worth noting that weather-dependent people should check their he alth, because very often patients of this category are found:
- problems with the heart muscle and blood vessels;
- disturbance of the musculoskeletal system;
- problems in the functioning of the genitourinary system;
- diseases of the nervous system;
- poor immunity.
Very often, patients with a diagnosis of "vegetovascular dystonia" suffer from such pain.
If the patient suffers from chronic diseases of the respiratory system, then he is worse than he althy people endure wet weather, as well as days when the atmospheric pressure is greatly increased.
Pain and asthma
When coughing, pain in the head is noted in the initial stages of the development of bronchial asthma. Simultaneously with this symptom, patients experience sensationschest tightness and difficulty breathing. If you listen to the patient, wheezing and whistling will be clearly audible.
Asthma is dangerous because the patient takes frequent and short breaths. As a result, insufficient oxygen enters the body, which causes high blood pressure.
When the attack comes to an end, the patient begins an intense cough, in which sputum is well discharged. If there is no sputum, but the cough continues and is accompanied by a headache, then we can already talk about blockage of the airways. In this case, the patient must be urgently hospitalized.
How to determine the cause?
If a person is constantly tormented by severe pain in the head when coughing, then this is a reason to consult a doctor for an additional examination. Modern diagnostics make it quick and easy to diagnose.
Basically, for such complaints, the following examinations are prescribed:
- Testing to check for inflammation. As a rule, venous blood is taken from the patient and a detailed biochemical analysis is done.
- Ultrasound.
- Measuring the speed of blood movement in the vessels of the brain.
- If the doctor suspects that the cause of the pain lies in the patient's head, then very often the patient is prescribed an MRI with contrast to rule out a tumor.
Medicated treatment
When coughing, the pain in the head does not go away on its own. After diagnosis and diagnosis, it is necessary to immediatelymove on to treatment.
If it was the cough that caused the pain, then in such cases it is necessary to eliminate the root cause. If the cough does not bother the patient, and the cause of discomfort is not serious, then the pain is easily relieved by drugs, such as painkillers or spasm relievers.
A patient who suffers from high intracranial pressure must take medication to stabilize it.
If, however, during the diagnostic procedures a serious disease was detected, then, depending on its type, the patient is prescribed either conservative treatment or surgery. In any case, it is not recommended to delay this.
It is not recommended to prescribe and take medicines on your own, without consultation. It is important to remember that pain is only a symptom of possibly serious problems in the body.
Folk remedies
The most popular way to relieve headaches when coughing is a vinegar compress. You need to moisten a piece of gauze with table vinegar and put it on your forehead.
Coughing fits perfectly relieves boiled potatoes. It is recommended to crush hot potatoes, add vinegar and apply such a compress at night. The bandage is placed on the neck and chest, but not in the region of the heart. After that, the patient should rest under the covers for a quarter of an hour.
If the pain in the head when coughing is associated with dilated blood vessels, then cold compresses will help alleviate the situation. It should be noted that the colder the water in whichgauze is wetted, the faster relief comes. Once the gauze has reached body temperature, it must be changed. Ice can be used to facilitate the process.
Herbal teas have calming and analgesic properties. Some patients who experience discomfort during coughing and sneezing claim that regular use of herbal infusions has a positive effect on overall he alth.
Decoctions of herbs such as chamomile, lemongrass and St. John's wort help fight headaches. It is worth remembering that it is recommended to brew and infuse them only in porcelain dishes. The drink should be consumed immediately after preparation. Over time, decoctions lose their beneficial properties.
