Tension-type headaches are classified as:1
- Infrequent episodic. You may have infrequent episodic
tension headaches if you have had at least 10 headaches that lasted less than 1
day each month (or less than 12 days of headache throughout the year). These
headaches can last from 30 minutes to 7 days. The pain is mild to moderate and
includes pressure or tightening across the forehead (like a "vise grip"),
temples, back of head, or neck. The pain is felt on both sides of the head and
sometimes is accompanied by sensitivity to light or noise (but not both
together). Infrequent episodic tension headaches do not cause nausea or
vomiting, and they do not get worse with physical activity.
- Frequent episodic. You may have frequent episodic
tension headaches if you have had at least 10 headaches that lasted more than 1
day but less than 15 days each month for at least the last 3 months (or greater
than 12 but less than 180 days a year with headache). These headaches can last
from 30 minutes to 7 days. The pain is mild to moderate and includes pressure
of tightening across the forehead (like a "vise grip"), temples, back of head,
or neck. The pain is felt on both sides of the head, and sometimes you are
sensitive to light or noise (but not both together). Frequent episodic tension
headaches do not cause nausea or vomiting, and they do not get worse with
physical activity.
- Chronic. You may have chronic tension headaches if
you have had headaches on more than 15 days each month for at least 3 months
(or more than 180 days a year with headache). The location of pain and pressure
is the same as an episodic tension headache. But with chronic tension
headaches, you may feel nausea (but without vomiting) along with being
sensitive to light or noise. These headaches can sometimes be confused with
migraine headaches. Chronic tension headaches may continue for days at a time
and usually do not get better when you use pain relievers. Although the pain
may be mild to moderate, the continual pain can become disabling. Often chronic
tension headaches are related to an underlying problem with
anxiety or
depression.
Citations
International Headache Society (2004). Tension-type
headache (TTH). Cephalalgia: An International Journal of Headache, 24(Suppl 1): 37-43.
