more than half the world has a headache disorder

headache disorders are among the most common conditions in the world: over 50 per cent of the world’s population has some form of headache disorder, according to a new review published in the journal of headache and pain .

“compared to our previous report and global estimates, the data does suggest that headaches and migraines rates may be increasing,” the study’s co-author lars jacob stovner said in a press release — although he acknowledges that it’s too soon to say that definitively. “what is clear is that overall, headache disorders are highly prevalent worldwide and can be a high burden.”

tension-type headache (tth) disorders were the most common, impacting 27 per cent of women and 23 per cent of men. tension headaches cause a dull, steady ache rather than a throbbing one, and generally affect both sides of the head, according to johns hopkins medicine . the pain involved in a tension headache is typically mild to moderate, rather than severe.

many people get occasional tension headaches, but it can be somewhat complicated to get diagnosed with tension headache disorder. there are both primary tth disorders and secondary ones, where the headache is the result of another condition. and many people suffer from both tension headaches and migraines, so it isn’t always clear which diagnosis is more accurate. generally, tension headaches are considered episodic when they occur for less than 15 days per month, and chronic when they happen more than 15 times a month.

why headache disorders are more common in women

migraines, meanwhile, had a large gender gap: they occurred in nine per cent of men, but 17 per cent of women, with a global average of 14 per cent. a migraine typically occurs on just one side of the head, and usually involves what feels like pulsing or throbbing, according to the mayo clinic . migraines cause pain that’s quite severe, and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. in some cases, they are accompanied by an aura — some kind of warning sign that a migraine is coming on, like a flash of light or tingling in one side of the arm or face. people who are susceptible to migraines generally get them throughout their lives.

“boys before puberty have a higher incidence of migraines than girls,” dr. lauren natbony, director at integrative headache medicine of new york, told nbc news . but after puberty, migraines in girls increase, and “after menopause, once estrogen levels drop, you have stable hormones, and the prevalence actually decreases.”

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