Diagnosis, epidemiology, and impact of tension-type headache

Abstract

Although tension-type headache is the most prevalent headache and affects 78% of the general population, the substantial societal and individual burden associated with this primary headache has been overlooked. In contrast to migraine headache, there has been limited focus on tension-type headache. Most patients with the chronic form of tension-type headache, which affects 3% of the population, are left virtually without any specific treatment. Chronic tension-type headache differs from the episodic form in frequency, lack of effect to most treatment strategies, more medication overuse, and more loss of quality of life. Daily or near daily headaches also constitute a major diagnostic and therapeutic problem and distinguishing chronic tension-type headache from migraine headache and from medication-induced headache is a substantial diagnostic challenge because management strategies are completely different. Considerable benefits for the society can be gained by specific strategies leading to reductions in the amount of sickness absence and impaired working abilities. The burden on the affected patients' and their families' quality of life also may be improved by a general acceptance of the disorder and by the development of a specific treatment strategy.

Has the prevalence of migraine and tension-type headache changed over a 12-year period? A Danish population survey

“…In contrast to migraine, prevalence data of tensiontype headache are sparse, and the variation of tension-type headache prevalence is wide [7,8], probably reflecting methodological differences. Even though tension-type headache is the most prevalent primary headache and has significant functional impact on society [8], no other known study has repeated a previous prevalence survey to assess any secular trends of tension-type headache.…”

Changes in Clinical Parameters in Patients with Tension-type Headache Following Massage Therapy: A Pilot Study

“…T ension-type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent of the headache disorders, yet research into specifi c treatments is inadequate and lags other headache classifi cations such as migraine 1 . Th e lack of suitable conventional medical options may explain the popularity of non-pharmaceutical therapies for TTH.…”

Headache management for the pain specialist

“…Still, 10% had headache weekly and 2-3% had it daily. In other studies the prevalence of episodic TTH was 32-35% and that of chronic (daily or near daily) TTH -2.2-2.7% [44] . The prevalence of TTH peaks between the ages of 30 and 39 years and, in contrast to migraine, there is only a slight female preponderance (M:F ratio of 4:5).…”

“…It is not worsened by routine physical activity. There is no nausea, but photophobia or phonophobia may be present [6,44]. According to IHS criteria, the pain of TTH lasts 30 minutes to seven days.…”