Headache Diary: Headaches Migraines
Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
Headache diary
A headache diary can be valuable in helping you and your doctor diagnose and treat your headaches. You can use it to map out the characteristics of your headaches, including their frequency, duration, and intensity. It can help in identifying possible triggers and related symptoms, as well as tracking the dosage and effectiveness of any medications you're taking.
You can use a preprinted form, like the one below, or a regular calendar or notebook to record this information. Your doctor may recommend keeping such a diary every day for a week, a month, or the duration of your treatment. He or she may review the diary with you to assess your progress, weigh the effectiveness of medications, or make adjustments in your treatment plan.
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| First episode | Second episode | Third episode |
| Date/day of the week of headache |
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| Time of onset |
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| Time of resolution |
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| Warning signs |
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| Location(s) of the pain |
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| Characteristics of the pain |
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| Intensity of the pain* |
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| Additional symptoms |
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| Activities/circumstances at time of onset |
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| Time of most recent meal prior to onset |
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| Food/drink most recently consumed prior to onset |
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| Medication(s) taken for headache |
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| Response to medication(s) |
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| Other action(s) taken for relief |
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| Response to action(s) |
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| Last menstrual period** |
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| Medication(s) currently taken for other condition(s) |
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| *on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst pain possible **beginning date and ending date | |||
| Note: Permission is granted to reproduce this page of the report for individual use. | |||
Headache diary: 1 of 1
| Last updated: | September 05, 2008 |
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Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
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