Headaches that occur when you cough can be unsettling, but they are not uncommon. There are a few possible explanations for why this happens:
 
1. Primary Cough Headache
  • Cause: This headache is directly linked to coughing or straining activities such as sneezing, laughing, or bending over. It usually happens due to increased pressure in the head when you cough.
  • Symptoms: Sudden, sharp pain, typically felt on both sides of the head, lasting from a few seconds to several minutes.
  • Benign Nature: Most primary cough headaches are harmless and don't indicate a serious condition.
2. Secondary Cough Headache
  • Cause: Sometimes, headaches from coughing are due to an underlying issue like a structural problem in the brain, such as a Chiari malformation, or other conditions like a brain aneurysm, tumour, or issues with cerebrospinal fluid.
  • Symptoms: These headaches can be more intense and prolonged than primary cough headaches. Other symptoms like dizziness, nausea, or visual disturbances may accompany them.
3. Sinus Pressure
  • Cause: If you're congested or have a sinus infection, coughing can increase the pressure in the sinus cavities, leading to pain that manifests as a headache.
  • Symptoms: You may feel pain or pressure around your eyes, cheeks, or forehead.
4. Tension Headaches
  • Cause: Tension in the neck, shoulders, or scalp muscles can be aggravated by coughing, leading to a headache. Stress or poor posture might contribute to this.
  • Symptoms: Dull, aching pain, often described as a tight band around the head.
5. Increased Intracranial Pressure
  • Cause: Coughing increases the pressure inside the head. In certain people, this increased pressure can lead to a headache. If the pressure is already elevated due to another condition (like a brain tumour), the headache may worsen when coughing.
When to Seek Medical Attention:
  • If your cough headache is severe, persistent, or occurs with other symptoms like balance problems, visual disturbances, or weakness, it’s important to see a doctor.
  • If this is a new type of headache for you, or it’s unusually intense, you should consult a healthcare provider for further evaluation.

Cough headaches are not common. They may be caused due to coughing, sneezing, bending, stooping, or straining, or may have some underlying condition. Coughing increases the intracranial pressure leading to a headache. Other causes of cough headaches include Chiari type I malformation, packed posterior cerebral fossa, and CSF blockage. Primary cough headaches recover spontaneously and need no acute therapy. However, to treat the primary cough headache, Indomethacin is the preferred drug. Now you must have a fair idea about Cough Headache: Why does my head hurt when I cough? Next time you are coughing, check whether you are experiencing a headache, and how long it lasts, and if it is persistent, consult a healthcare provider for a suitable treatment.