The staggering variety of headaches-the International Headache
Society has identified 13 broad categories and 128 distinct
disorders1-and the interpatient variability can make diagnosis
difficult. Fortunately, most headaches can be identified and
treated effectively if you know what to look for. The history
and the pattern of pain often point to the correct diagnosis. In
this article, we focus on 2 of the most common types that
physicians encounter: tension-type headache-both episodic and
chronic-and cervicogenic headache. We examine the diagnostic
features of each, as well as characteristics that may cause
confusion with other types of headache, such as migraine and
chronic daily headache. We then provide management guidelines.
Episodic versus chronic types. Tension-type headache (or simply
tension headache) is the most common type of primary headache
and is widely prevalent in the general population. It ranges
from mild to fairly disabling, with significant socioeconomic
impact. Tension headache has been su