Types

• Infrequent episodic - <1 day of headache/month
• Frequent episodic - at least 10 episodes on fewer than 15 days/month for more than 3 months
• Chronic tension-type - 15 or more days per month for more than 3 months in the absence of medication overuse

Aetiology

• pericranial muscle tenderness may be involved (frontalis, temporalis, occipitalis)
• CNS excitation - stress, caffeine, disturbed sleep
• susceptibility may be influenced by genetic factors

PC

• Often described as a tight band around the head or a pressure sensation
• Symptoms tend to be bilateral (migraines typically unilateral)
• not associated with aura, nausea/vomiting or aggravated by routine physical activity
• may be related to stress
• may co-exist with migraine

Management