Cough Headache: Why Does My Head Hurt When I Cough?

Primary cough headaches are not dangerous and subside after a few minutes. Secondary headaches usually have underlying causes and can be dangerous if not treated in time. 

Getting your cough treated and avoiding activities like bending, stooping, and lifting weights can prevent cough headaches. Indomethacin is the preferred drug for headache prevention. 

Primary cough headaches are usually posterior and affect the backside of the head. 

Primary cough headaches are usually short-lived and harmless thus they were previously called benign cough headaches. 

Primary cough headaches typically last from a second up to two hours, whereas secondary cough headaches have been found to last from 10 seconds up to 30 minutes. 

No. Coughing in general, may lead to a cough headache.  

Yes, children can experience cough headaches, both primary and secondary cough headaches. 

Anxiety and depression are psycho-morbidities and may trigger a cough. Coughing may further lead to a cough headache.