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Primary Cough Headache

  • Uncommon and/or Unusual Headaches and Syndromes (F Cohen, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

In this review article, we summarize the most recent findings and observations in patients experiencing primary cough headache.

Recent Findings

Recent studies draw attention to further characterization of patients with primary cough headache in a pulmonology clinic. There have also been recent case studies describing new therapy considerations, including noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation and lumbar punctures.

Summary

Primary cough headache has been a recognized entity since as early as 1932. Patients generally report a sudden onset, sharp headache lasting a few hours that is precipitated by Valsalva maneuver or coughing. It remains an uncommon diagnosis, and secondary causes are crucial to rule out with imaging studies. Additionally, there can be an overlap with other primary headache disorders such as primary exercise headache and headache associated with sexual activity, thus requiring a detailed history. Many hypotheses exist regarding the pathophysiology including relative pressure gradients and a crowded posterior fossa. Generally, patients are responsive to indomethacin, but more recent case reports have suggested benefits of other medications and procedures that may offer patients an alternative option, including vagus nerve stimulation, lumbar punctures, and beta blockers. Future case series and studies should focus on management of these patients, with a specific focus on individuals who do not tolerate indomethacin.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •  Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Stanford University, 211 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA

    Arathi Nandyala & Niushen Zhang

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  1. Arathi Nandyala
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  2. Niushen Zhang
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Correspondence to Arathi Nandyala.

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Conflict of Interest

Arathi Nandyala has no financial or non-financial interests to disclose that are directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication. Niushen Zhang has no financial or non-financial interests to disclose that are directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication.

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Nandyala, A., Zhang, N. Primary Cough Headache. Curr Pain Headache Rep 27, 679–684 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-023-01171-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-023-01171-w

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