How common is chronic tension headache?
Lots of people get tension headaches from time to time. They're the most common type of headache.
If you have chronic tension headache, you get these headaches a lot. The condition counts as chronic if you get tension headaches more than 15 days a month for at least three months.
Only about 1 in 50 people get chronic tension headaches.1 2 3 4
Sources for the information on this page:
- Schwartz BS, Stewart WF, Simon D, et al. Epidemiology of tension-type headache. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1998; 279: 381-383. 9459472
- Rokicki LA, Semenchuk EM, Bruehl S, et al. An examination of the validity of the HIS classification system for migraine and tension-type headache in the college student population. Headache. 1999; 39: 720-727. 11279948
- Rasmussen BK, Jensen R, Olesen J. A population-based analysis of the diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society. Cephalalgia. 1991; 11: 129-134. 1889068
- Ho KH, Ong BK. A community-based study of headache diagnosis and prevalence in Singapore. Cephalalgia. 2003; 23: 6-13. 12534573
This information was last updated in May 01, 2008
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This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved. |
