Headache Diaries: Keeping Track of Your Attacks
By: Brooklyn A. Bradley, BS; Medically edited by Dr. Deena Kuruvilla, MD
Maintaining a headache diary can be beneficial for people with migraine for several reasons. A headache diary can be a useful tool to better understand and manage your headaches. In today’s blog post, we will discuss the tips and benefits of keeping a headache diary.
A headache diary helps you track and identify potential triggers for your headache attacks. By recording information about your daily activities, food intake, sleep patterns, stress levels, and environmental factors, you can pinpoint specific triggers that may contribute to your headache [1]. Over time, a headache diary can reveal patterns in your headache attacks. For example, you may notice that your headache tends to occur at specific times of the day, during certain days of the month, or in response to particular stimuli (i.e. weather changes, changes in lighting, etc.). This information can be valuable for both you and your headache specialist in developing effective management strategies and pinpointing not only the type of headache, but also potential causes.
Another purpose a headache diary can serve is to track the effectiveness of medications. If you are taking medications to prevent or alleviate your headache, you can record when you take the medication, the exact dosage, and how well it alleviates your symptoms [1]. Thus, you and your headache specialist will be able to identify whether the particular treatment regimen works for you, and if there are any adjustments that need to be made. In addition, your headache diary can track lifestyle factors that may have a role in your headache, such as exercise, dietary habits, sleep quality, and stress. Documenting this information can help you identify whether you need to make changes to these areas, and whether they have a role in your headache frequency and severity.
There are many ways to keep a headache diary. First, we recommend finding a notebook or using a digital app for the diary. At the beginning of each entry, record the date and time the headache begins and ends. You will want to describe the headache as best as you can, including details such as the location of the pain, pain level, pain type (i.e., throbbing, dull, sharp), and how long the headache lasts [2]. It is also important to write down any potential triggers or factors that may have contributed to the headache. These factors may include stress, lack of sleep, and hormonal changes. Further, record your associated symptoms (i.e., nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light), medications, treatments, and additional notes [2]. All of this information will be relevant to share with your headache specialist – the more details, the better! Lastly, it is key to be consistent as best you can with the headache diary, even when a headache episode seems minor.
Remember, your headache diary isn’t just a record; it can serve as your roadmap to relief. Start writing, start healing, and let your headache-free days begin! – Dr. K
References:
- Headache journals: tracking your migraine | amf. In: American Migraine Foundation. https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/headache-journals/. Accessed 24 Oct 2023
- Headache Diary. https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/brain-and-nerves/headache/diagnosis/headache-diary.html. Accessed 24 Oct 2023