Patient education: Keeping track of your headaches (The Basics)
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Why should I keep track of my headaches? —
If you get headaches, it can help to keep track of when they happen. It also helps to write down:
●How severe the headache was
●Which parts of your head hurt
●Any other symptoms you had
●What you were doing when you got the headache
●What you ate or drank before you got the headache
●What you did and/or what medicine you took to treat the headache, and whether or not these things helped
Keeping track of this information can help you and your doctor figure out what triggers your headaches and how best to treat them.
How do I keep track of my headaches? —
There are different ways. Some people use smartphone apps. Others use a paper chart.
You can print out this chart (table 1), and fill in the information each time you have a headache. Bring the chart with you when you see your doctor or nurse.
More on this topic
Patient education: Headaches in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Headaches in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Tension headache (The Basics)
Patient education: Cluster headache (The Basics)
Patient education: Headache causes and diagnosis in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Headache treatment in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Headache in children (Beyond the Basics)
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: May 11, 2025.
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