7 - Cough Headache

Abstract

Cough headache is a term used to describe headaches triggered by coughing and other activities associated with a Valsalva maneuver, such as laughing, straining at stool, lifting, and bending the head toward the ground (Figure 6.1). Clinicians have identified the following two types of cough headache: (1)Benign primary cough headache; (2) Symptomatic cough headache. Initially, both types of cough headache were thought to be related to sexual and exertional headaches, but they are now considered distinct clinical entities. A strong male predilection is seen for benign cough headache and no gender predilection for symptomatic cough headache.