Ocular compression maneuver aborts benign cough-induced headache
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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Minimally Invasive Surgical Decompression of Occipital Nerves
Published on: September 13, 2024
1Dubai Police Medical Services, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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.
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