The most common type of primary headache affecting nearly 90% of adults is which of the following?

The most common type of primary headache affecting nearly 90% of adults is which of the following?

• A. Migraine
• B. Cluster headache
• C. Muscle tension headache
• D. Tension-induced headache

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that tension-type headaches are the most common form of primary headache in adults. They typically present as a bilateral, pressing or tightening pain described as a band around the head, of mild to moderate intensity, and not pulsatile. They’re usually not accompanied by the severe nausea or phonophobia seen with migraines, and they don’t have the same autonomic features as cluster headaches. Because many headaches people experience are of this non-pulsatile, stress-related type, tension-type headaches account for the largest share of primary headaches in the adult population—nearly 90% in some estimates. Migraines, by contrast, tend to be unilateral and throbbing with nausea or light sensitivity, and cluster headaches are rare and extremely painful with distinct autonomic symptoms. So, the muscle tension headache is the best match for the most common primary headache pattern.

The main idea is that tension-type headaches are the most common form of primary headache in adults. They typically present as a bilateral, pressing or tightening pain described as a band around the head, of mild to moderate intensity, and not pulsatile. They’re usually not accompanied by the severe nausea or phonophobia seen with migraines, and they don’t have the same autonomic features as cluster headaches. Because many headaches people experience are of this non-pulsatile, stress-related type, tension-type headaches account for the largest share of primary headaches in the adult population—nearly 90% in some estimates. Migraines, by contrast, tend to be unilateral and throbbing with nausea or light sensitivity, and cluster headaches are rare and extremely painful with distinct autonomic symptoms. So, the muscle tension headache is the best match for the most common primary headache pattern.