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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Pain In Head While Laughing And Straining During Bowel Movements?

Sharp stabs of pain when laughing, straining during bowel, etc..
My husband is getting stabbing pains on top of his head every time hey laughed, strains during bowel movement, coughs, etc...hey also says his ears start "thumping", and his face gets red sometimes...Im scared, could he have something wrong? Aneurysm? Shoulda I take him to hospital, we have no insurance..
Fri, 22 Apr 2016
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Neurologist, Surgical,  's  Response

Hi,

I am Dr.Bruno. I have read your question with care and understand your concerns. Let me try to help you

Pain in head while laughing and straining during bowel movements signifies two points

Point 1 ) His venous system is fully functional. Since his venous system is fully competent, the increased intra abdominal pressure is communicated to the Intra cranial compartment

Point 2 ) His Intracranial Pressure (Pressure within skull) is a bit higher than normal. So even when it rises by a bit he gets an headache

Let me explain more : When you or me laugh or strain, the increased pressure inside our abdomen is transmitted to inside the skull, but since the pressure inside the skull is normal, the small rise does not cause headache

Where as in case of your husband, since the "baseline" pressure inside the skull is a bit high, he gets pain during laughing

How to proceed : Please consult a Neurosurgeon. He will do a clinical examination and order some tests to find the cause of increased pressure. Then he will give drugs to reduce it based on the cause

Hope you found the answer helpful.

If you need any clarification / have doubts / have additional questions / have follow up questions, then please do not hesitate in asking again. I will be happy to answer your questions.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care.
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What Causes Pain In Head While Laughing And Straining During Bowel Movements?

Hi, I am Dr.Bruno. I have read your question with care and understand your concerns. Let me try to help you Pain in head while laughing and straining during bowel movements signifies two points Point 1 ) His venous system is fully functional. Since his venous system is fully competent, the increased intra abdominal pressure is communicated to the Intra cranial compartment Point 2 ) His Intracranial Pressure (Pressure within skull) is a bit higher than normal. So even when it rises by a bit he gets an headache Let me explain more : When you or me laugh or strain, the increased pressure inside our abdomen is transmitted to inside the skull, but since the pressure inside the skull is normal, the small rise does not cause headache Where as in case of your husband, since the baseline pressure inside the skull is a bit high, he gets pain during laughing How to proceed : Please consult a Neurosurgeon. He will do a clinical examination and order some tests to find the cause of increased pressure. Then he will give drugs to reduce it based on the cause Hope you found the answer helpful. If you need any clarification / have doubts / have additional questions / have follow up questions, then please do not hesitate in asking again. I will be happy to answer your questions. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care.