How to Keep a Headache Diary
How to Keep a Headache Diary
Anyone who sufferers from headaches regularly rather than only sometimes should keep a headache diary. Not all headaches are the same. Noting down details of each headache can help you spot patterns and/or ‘triggers’ so you can take action to avoid headaches.
First, get a small notebook to write down information about each headache you have, or print out one of the blank headache diaries online to carry around with you. https://www.headaches.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/248072334-Headache-Diary-from-the-National-Headache-Foundation.pdf?x92687
Use an online tracker such as https://www.iheadache.com/, or try Smartphone tracker app such as iHeadache or Migraine Buddy.
Collect your data for at least a week or two to help you spot patterns. Then make an appointment with your regular doctor to discuss your findings. They should be able to determine if you have been experiencing migraines and if so, what might be triggering them.
What should you include in your headache diary?
There are lots of different ways to keep one, but here is a useful detailed format to use if you are trying to get to the bottom of your headaches to see if you can improve your overall health.
Date and time the headache started: (approximately)
Location I was at when the symptoms first started_______
What I was doing when the symptoms first started_______
List foods, drinks and/or medicines you consumed before the headache started.
Was it an ordinary headache, or a migraine?
Location of the headache/migraine pain-check off all that apply:
Forehead (the area directly above my eyes, to my hairline)
right
left
entire forehead
Temples
right
left
both
Eyes/around the eyes
right
left
both
The crown or top of my head
right
left
center
all
The back of my head
left
center
all
The base of the skull
right
left
center
all
Jaw
right
left
center
all
Neck
right
left
center
all
Other areas that hurt-specify (example, shoulder, stomach):
1-
2-
3-
The nature of the pain experienced
The best words to describe the pain in each area I had it was:
pounding
throbbing
aching
stabbing
pulsing
other – describe
Write down your chosen word next to each of the areas you listed above.
The level of pain I experienced, on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 the least pain and 10 the most severe pain
__________
The level of disability I experience, on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being minimum impact on my activities of daily living, to 10, impact so severe I could not function
__________
Other symptoms
I had trouble with my vision/sensed an aura or glow:
Yes
No
I felt sensitive to light:
Yes
No
I had trouble with sound/noises
Yes
No
I had trouble with strange smells
Yes
No
I had trouble with strange tastes
Yes
No
Other symptoms
I felt nauseous
Yes
No
I was so nauseous I vomited
Yes
No
I vomited ____ times in total, about
_ minutes apart (example)
I vomited 2 times, about 4 hours apart
I vomited all day for 8 hours
What I did to try to relieve the pain (list them):
1-
2-
3-
etc
These actions worked best to relieve the pain:
List them:
1-
2-
3-
etc
This migraine lasted around ________ hours in total
What I suspect might have triggered this migraine
Food
Weather
monthly cycle (period)
pressure at work
Sunlight/light
Loud noise, such as a concert or club
Other:__________
Other:__________
Try to be as detailed as possible. Once you have a record of all your data, make a few copies to give to your doctor and any practitioner he might refer you to, such as a headache specialist or neurologist. You should soon be able to get to the bottom of your headaches, for effective treatment.
