# What Causes My Head Rush?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-my-head-rush/571776>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [February 18, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-my-head-rush/571776 "2011-02-18T03:43:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-my-head-rush/571776/1 "2011-02-18T03:43:55Z")

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Head rushes appear to be triggered by a variety of factors, like experiencing a drop in blood pressure from standing up, hyperventilating, sucking down mass O2 from a mask and other, less legal factors.

What I’m wondering in light of my google-fu failure is which if any of these types of things cause my head rushes (along with squiggly sperm-like wiggles appearing in my peripheral vision momentarily, as well as a “high-head” spinal tingling buzzing feeling) when I hack my brains out in a coughing fit (because I am an ashamed smoker)?

I suspect massive oxygen intake from sucking breaths between coughs during a brief fit, much like a hyperventilation buzz, but I am not sure. I know full well I need to drop the coffin nails sooner or later. I generally get these in the hot shower in the morning when the steam loosens everything up and I go on a coughing jag and uh, expectorate brown lung oysters (which thankfully slither down the drain with nary a touch of encouragement from my big toe).

Bueller?