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Table 3 Primary and secondary headache disorders provoked or aggravated by coughing

From: Headache associated with cough: a review

Disorder

Headache quality

Cough as trigger

(Other) triggers

Cough as aggravator

(Other) aggravators

Primary cough headache

sharp/stabbing

++

Valsalva

NA

NA

Symptomatic cough headache

mixed nature

++

Valsalva

NA

NA

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension

non-pulsating

+

Valsalva

+

Valsalva and postural changes

Headache attributed to intracranial hypertension

non-pulsating

+

Valsalva

+

Valsalva

Postictal headache

pressing/pulsating

-

seizure

+

bending and sudden head movements

Headache attributed to Chiari malformation

mixed nature

+

Valsalva

+

NA

High altitude headache

dull/pressing

-

> 2500 m

+

exertion, movement, straining and bending

Migraine

pulsating

-

see text

+

bending forward, exercise, …

Tension type headache

pressing

-

see text

+

fatigue, stress, …

Cluster headache

piercing

+

alcohol

NA

NA

  1. NA: not applicable.