Ocular Compression Maneuver Aborts Benign Cough‐Induced Headache

Abstract

Benign cough-induced headache is a short-lasting cranial discomfort. The therapeutic role of lumbar puncture (LP) or indomethacin in benign patients with benign cough-induced headache patients is debatable. Transient ocular compression (OC) raises intraocular pressure (IOP) and can limit the impact of cough-induced choroidal venous congestion. A self-applied maneuver that instantaneously aborts cough-induced headache is described in two patients. The effect of this maneuver supports a recent hypothesis that cough-induced headache may be due to ocular choroidal venous congestion and mechanical antidromic trigeminal nerve activation. The OC maneuver has several potential complications and its self-application in benign cough-induced headache should be regarded as an experimental procedure until more data regarding its efficacy and safety become available.