Experts distinguish around 367 different types of headaches. The most common tension headache and migraines occur, followed by the cluster headache. If the headache is not due to an illness, it is called the primary headache, they make up the main part of headache. The tension headache is the most common shape of the headache, usually appears bilaterally and is often described by those affected as dull-pressing or pulling, it is symbolically reminiscent of a too tight hat or a vice. The pain spreads over the entire head, radiates to the forehead or into the neck area. A distinction is made between the episodic and chronic headache from the tension type. If the headache occurs over 3 months for at least 15 days, more than 4 hours a day, it is classified as chronic.

What distinguishes tension headaches from migraines?

In contrast to migraine, the headache is not pulsating, does not increase with physical activity and shows a mild to moderate pain intensity, severe nausea and vomiting are also absent. An additional distinction from migraine is the absence of characteristic sensory disorders and zigzag vision. A quiet walk in the fresh air can actually reduce symptoms, while migraine sufferers need to retreat and the pain increases with movement. In the video, Prof. Dr. Hartmut Göbel diagnostics and therapy.