Half of World's People Suffer From Headaches

If you suffer from headaches, you have plenty of company.

Headaches afflict half of the world's population, and women are more likely to get them than men, a new paper says.

"We found that the prevalence of headache disorders remains high worldwide and the burden of different types may impact many. We should endeavor to reduce this burden through prevention and better treatment," says study lead author Lars Jacob Stovner, of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Headaches are increasing worldwide

The researchers reviewed 357 studies published between 1961 and the end of 2020. They found that 52% of people have a headache within a given year, including 14% with migraine, 26% with a tension-type headache and about 5% with a headache for 15 or more days a month.

On any given day, almost 16% of people worldwide have a headache and nearly half (7%) have a migraine, according to the findings. The results were published April 12 in the Journal of Headache and Pain.

All types of headache are more common in women than men, especially migraines (17% in females vs. about 9% in males) and headaches on 15 or more days a month (6% in females vs. less than 3% in males).

"Compared to our previous report and global estimates, the data does suggest that headaches and migraines rates may be increasing. However, given that we could explain only 30% or less of the variation in headache estimates with the measures we looked at, it would be premature to conclude headaches are definitively increasing," Stovner said in a journal news release.

"What is clear is that overall, headache disorders are highly prevalent worldwide and can be a high burden. It may also be of interest in future to analyze the different causes of headaches that varied across groups to target prevention and treatment more effectively," he adds.

Most of the studies in the analysis included adults ages 20-65, but some also included adults older than 65 and children as young as age 5.

Types of Headaches: Which Type Do You Have?

What causes headaches?

Headaches, especially migraines, can run in families. Children who have migraines usually have at least one parent who also suffers from them. Children whose parents have migraines are up to four times more likely to develop them too.

Headaches can also be triggered by environmental factors in a family’s household, such as:

Eating certain foods or ingredients, like caffeine, alcohol, fermented foods, chocolate and cheese.
Exposure to allergens.
Secondhand smoke.
Strong odors from household chemicals or perfumes.

The following are also triggers of headaches and migraines:

Alcohol use.
Changes in eating or sleeping patterns.
Depression.
Emotional stress related to family and friends, work or school.
Excessive medication use.
Eye, neck or back strain caused by poor posture.
Lighting.
Noise.
Weather changes.

Getting an accurate diagnosis

Studies have shown that the rates of migraine diagnosis and treatment vary significantly between Blacks, Hispanics and whites. Although the prevalence of migraine is similar (14.5%, 14.5% and 15.5% respectively), Blacks and Hispanics utilize health care at a disproportionate rate compared to whites.

Blacks, who suffer from severe headaches, are more likely to get a diagnosis of probable migraine, while whites get a more definitive diagnosis. This makes migraine more severe and more likely to become chronic among Blacks and African Americans, which can lead to increased depression and disability and a lower quality of life. This is why it is so important to get an accurate diagnosis.

Talk with your healthcare provider about what you are experiencing. He or she will complete a physical examination, discuss your medical history and talk to you about your headache symptoms.

During the headache evaluation, your provider will ask you a series of questions about your headache history to get a better understanding of what you are experiencing including:

A description of your headaches.
What the headaches feel like.
How often the headaches happen.
How long the headaches last each time.
How much pain the headaches cause you.
What foods, drinks or events trigger your headaches.
How much caffeine you drink each day.
What your stress level are.
What your sleep habits are like.
If you have any work issues.

Additionally, your headache can be more accurately diagnosed, according to Cleveland Clinic, by knowing:

When the headache started.
How long you have had the headache.
Whether there is a single type of headache or multiple types of headaches.
How often the headache occurs.
What causes the headache, if known (for example, do certain situations, foods, or medications usually trigger the headache?).
If physical activity aggravates the headache pain.
What events are associated with the headache.
Who else in your family has headaches.
What symptoms, if any, occur between headaches.

Once you are diagnosed, your doctor will be able to efficiently treat you. There are a range of treatments available depending on your headache type, frequency and cause. You may also benefit from treating any health problems that may be causing your headaches, such as high blood pressure.