Know When They Strike
Write down when you get headaches. This means the specific time of day as well as day of the week. Noting an exact time (such as 3:30 pm) may end up being more informative than a general time (like mid-morning). Take particular notice of specific activities or events that seem to occur along with your headaches. You may get migraines around mealtime or during menstruation. Record any even you can remember, no matter how seemingly insignificant, as you can never be sure what information will end up being most useful.Pay Attention to Diet
What you eat may very well be what is causing many of your headaches. Foods containing tyramine and nitrates are common offenders. Keep a record of your meals and snacks, looking for patterns and repeat offenders. Aged cheeses, alcohol, and processed meats are frequent headache triggers. You may notice something completely unexpected as you analyze your meals.What Are You Feeling?
Write down your symptoms in as much detail as possible. You can use the following list to guide you:- Character: What does it feel like? Sharp or dull? Aching or stabbing?
- Onset: Did it start suddenly or did it creep up on you? When did it occur?
- Location: Where do you feel the headache most? On which side do they occur? Where on your head?
- Duration: How long do the headaches last?
- Exacerbation/Remission: What makes your headaches worse or better?
- Radiation: Does the pain “travel” anywhere else?
- Associated Symptoms: What else do you experience when you get a headache? Do you get nausea or photophobia?
Treatments: Successful or Not
Don’t change anything about how you treat your headaches. Just be sure to record what you do to treat them. Include both prescription and non-prescription medications, as well as non drug treatments like heat applications or lying in a darkened room. Note what works well and which treatments you’d sooner do without.Make a Daily Record
It is important that you make a record of your symptoms every day, at least in the beginning. Daily tracking is the only way to be sure you get a complete picture of how your headaches work. You want to make sure that you catch every headache, and making your diary a daily habit will ensure this happens.Bring your diary with you when you speak with your physician. Organize it in a way that you can relay the information both effectively and efficiently. Try to identify trends you can share with your health care provider. Like it or not, many physician encounters are shorter than patients would like, so finding ways to make the
