Headache Diary Template
Track patterns to share with your care team.
Why Keep a Headache Diary?
A headache diary is one of the most valuable tools for understanding and managing your headaches. By recording details about each headache, you can identify triggers, track treatment effectiveness, and provide your doctor with essential information for diagnosis and management.
What to Track
Record these key details for each headache:
Date and time
When did the headache start? What time of day? How long did it last?
Intensity
Rate the pain on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the worst pain imaginable. This helps track severity over time.
Location
Where does it hurt? One side or both? Front, back, temples, or behind the eyes? This helps identify headache type.
Symptoms
Note any associated symptoms: nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound, visual disturbances (aura), dizziness, or neck stiffness.
Medications taken
What did you take? How much? When? Did it help? This is crucial for evaluating treatment effectiveness.
Possible triggers
What did you eat and drink? How did you sleep? What was your stress level? Any weather changes? This helps identify patterns.
Simple Template
Here’s a simple format you can use in a notebook or notes app:
Time started: ______ Time ended: ______
Pain level (1-10): ______
Location: ____________________
Symptoms: ____________________
Medication taken: ____________________
Did it help? Yes / No
Foods/drinks consumed: ____________________
Sleep last night: ______ hours
Stress level (1-10): ______
Printable Resources
Free headache diary resources from reputable organisations:
American Migraine Foundation — Headache Journals: Tracking Your Migraine
A comprehensive guide to keeping a headache diary, with printable templates and tips for effective tracking.
National Migraine Centre — Headache Diary
A free downloadable headache diary with a simple, easy-to-use format designed by headache specialists.
Community Resources (Hong Kong)
Local support for headache management:
Hospital Authority neurology clinics
Specialist assessment for chronic or severe headaches. Bring your headache diary to your appointment.
District Health Centres & DHC Expresses
Offer health talks on stress management and lifestyle factors that can reduce headache frequency.
General out-patient clinics
First point of contact for headache assessment and management. A headache diary helps your doctor provide better care.
- American Migraine Foundation. Headache Journals: Tracking Your Migraine.
- National Migraine Centre. Headache Diary.
- National Headache Foundation. Headache Diary.
- NHS. Headaches — Diagnosis.
This page provides general health information based on published guidelines and resources and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Persistent or severe headaches should be assessed by a qualified healthcare professional.
對你嘅結果有任何疑問？
Your care team can help you understand what this means for you specifically, and can point you to the right local resources.
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