Headaches after sneezing?
 

Hey all,

I'm just curious if I should be concerned about this or not.

With the winter approaching I've been sneezing more and more. I notice that sometimes when I sneeze my head will quickly whip forward, and as much as I try, I can't stop it. And even though I'm not hitting anything, I sometimes develop a headache after a sneezing fit.

Is it possible that this is a symptom of brain damage, or could it be due to muscle tension or something similar? The headache is always generalized in my forehead, and I don't experience any other symptoms.

I've so far solved this problem by simply suppressing all my sneezes, but I'd like to know if it's even a problem to begin with.

i'm not sure, but I can tell you it is possible to give your self a concussion from sneezing

Sneezing can momentarily increase pressure to the head. For some of us, that can cause other symptoms to return.

If is possible to change the way your head moves during a sneeze. Rather than fight the sneeze, let you shoulders drop with the sneeze. This slows the head movement and reduces the neck movement.

I am an expert on sneezing until a year ago. I would always sneeze at least 5 times before getting relief. And, I had frequent sneezing fits. Then Oct 7, 2015, I had nasal surgery to correct a deviated septum and reduce the size of the turbinates. I have never breathed better and now I rarely sneeze. The surgery is 45 minutes in an outpatient surgery center. Recovery was quick. I was back to normal in 2 weeks. Anybody will tell you that day 3 is miserable but by day 14, the misery of day 3 is well worth it.

It takes a very violent sneeze to cause anything like a concussion.

If you just need turbinate reduction surgery, the recovery is much easier. Enlarged turbinates create the obstruction to proper air flow and nasal draining. Ask an ENT if you have enlarged turbinates that can be corrected.

Dry winters would cause nose bleeds and all kinds of problems. When I was a child and had my tonsils out, I was told that I needed the turbinate surgery as an adult. I wish i had done it 40 years ago.

Enlarged turbinates create a narrowing of the nasal passage so air flows through faster drying out the tissues and irritating them causing the sneezing reaction.