Migraines and other chronic headaches are the most common cause of pain problems in humans. In recent years, extensive studies have therefore been conducted on the impact on quality of life, loss of work capacity, the occurrence of comorbidities, and the socioeconomic effects of headaches.
[Link to the ARD media library article]
[ Link to the MDR article page]

  • Population-based studies that are representative of the total population in Germany have shown that approximately 54 million people in Germany suffer from episodic or chronic headaches.
  • Approximately 21 million people who suffer from migraine-type headaches at some point in their lives endure them on an average of about 34 days per year.
  • Approximately 29 million people suffer from tension-type headaches. On average, these headaches occur on 35 days per year.
  • Approximately 2.3 million people suffer from chronic tension-type headaches on more than 180 days per year.
  • Approximately 4.3 million other people in Germany suffer from other forms of headaches.
  • Approximately 3% of the population suffers from chronic tension headaches on a daily basis.
  • 2-3% of the population suffers from headaches due to medication overuse.

The figures prove that migraines and chronic headaches are significant health problems of our time and represent the number one public health issue.

FAKT , ARD, Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at 9:45 PM, explores the question of why chronic headaches in particular are a kind of stepchild in medicine, even though many patients can be helped.

Prof. Dr. Hartmut Göbel from the Kiel Pain Clinic will be available to answer your questions in the live chat