WHAT TO TRACK IN A MIGRAINE DIARY

Time of Day, Duration and Severity: Did the migraine come on shortly after waking up? Were you fast asleep and jolted awake by the headache? Or maybe you tend to get the migraines after lunch. How long did the pain last? Was the pain mild, moderate, or severe? You should also track where you felt the pain and how you treated it.

Diet: A variety of foods may serve as a trigger in some people. Highly processed foods such as hot dogs and lunch meats as well as aged cheeses and soy products may be a trigger for some. Skipping meals and dehydration are other commonly reported migraine triggers. By noting in your diary what you ate that day and how much, you may notice that migraines tend to come on after eating a specific food, which you can then know to avoid in the future.

Stress: As the most common migraine trigger, stress can lead to migraines for some.

Sleep Patterns: If you’ve noticed that migraines tend to come on days where you haven’t gotten enough sleep during the night or days leading up to it, that’s a pattern you’ll want to note in your diary.

Menstrual Cycle: You should note each day you have your period, not just the first day. This can allow you and your doctor to see if your migraines occur at the same or similar time as your period.

Understanding your potential triggers can help you better manage your migraines in the future. Click here to download a headache diary.