Chronic daily headache (CDH) is a descriptive term rather than a specific diagnosis. It can evolve from any primary headache disorder or can be de novo. Studies in the US and Europe indicate that 4-5% of the general population are affected by CDH. It is becoming more frequent in general practice and is a major reason for consultation in Headache/ Migraine clinics.
Like migraine, CDH can significantly affect an individual's ability to function within the family, in society, and in the workplace.
In general, headache occurring more often than 15 days per month, over at least 6 months and lasting for 4 hours a day can be considered CDH.
The leading cause is chronic tension-type headache followed by chronic migraine.
Chronic Tension Type Headache
People with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) usually have a history of episodic tension-type headache but may have no history of migraine. Many patients use excessive amounts of analgesics, and they may also have concomitant depression.
Read full article
Chronic Migraine
Chronic migraine is diagnosed when a patient has migraine on 15 or more days each month over a period of at least 6 months. Also known as transformed migraine, patients usually have a history of migraine attacks that gradually worsen over a period of months or years.
Read full article
© MAI 2010
