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Migraine After Sneezing: Pathophysiological Considerations, Focused on the Difference With Coughing
Author(s) -
Oosterhout Willebordus P.J.,
Haan Joost
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/head.12060
Subject(s) - migraine , pathophysiology , medicine , psychology , intensive care medicine , psychiatry
In patients reporting acute headache after sneezing or coughing, rupture of an intracranial aneurysm is the first diagnosis to be considered. Sneezing, however, might also be a trigger for migraine attacks, as exemplified in our case. Case Report We describe a patient who suffered 3 headache attacks after sneezing, each fulfilling criteria of migraine without aura. Sneezing as a specific trigger for migraine has not been described before. Discussion The differential diagnosis of acute headache after sneezing (eg, subarachnoid hemorrhage and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction), and the differences between migraine after sneezing and “benign cough headache” are discussed. We conclude that a pathophysiological association between migraine and sneezing might exist and hypothesize on underlying mechanisms.