If you are someone who suffers from headaches on a regular basis, it is important that you keep track of them. This can be done by using a headache diary. Doctors often recommend keeping a headache diary, as it can help to identify patterns and improve treatment outcomes.
There are many different types of headaches, such as migraines and tension headaches. Each type of headache can have its own set of symptoms. By keeping track of your headaches, you may be able to find a pattern and figure out what is causing them. You can print out a headache diary in pdf format, or create one in Microsoft Excel. Alternatively, there are many headache diary apps available that make tracking your headaches easy!
Different headaches need different care
Migraine can cause throbbing pain, nausea and sensitivity to light or sound. Some people have aura. Tension-type headaches often feel like pressure. Cluster headaches cause severe pain around one eye. Individual cluster attacks usually last 15 minutes to 3 hours, while a bout of repeated attacks can last weeks or months. See the NHS cluster-headache guide.
Hormonal changes can be relevant to migraine. Sinus disease, jaw problems and frequent painkiller use can also be relevant to headache assessment. A diary cannot identify the diagnosis by itself.
Comfort measures and medicine safety
Rest in a comfortable, dim room if light bothers you. Regular meals, fluids and sleep may help. A wrapped cold pack or gentle warmth may provide comfort. Protect your skin and avoid excessive heat. Loosen tight headwear if it causes pressure. Discuss persistent jaw pain or clenching with a dentist.
Use pain medicine according to its label and your clinician’s advice. Ask a pharmacist about suitability, interactions and other health conditions. Frequent painkiller use can cause medication-overuse headache. Do not add ginger supplements or increase caffeine as a substitute for migraine treatment. Keep a record of medication use and discuss repeated need for relief with a clinician.
Is dairy good for headaches?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Some people find that dairy helps to relieve their headaches, while others find that it makes them worse. If you are unsure whether or not dairy is a trigger for your headaches, it may be helpful to keep a headache diary. This way, you can track any changes in your headaches after you eat dairy.
Review possible food patterns carefully
Dairy is not a universal headache trigger. Record meals alongside symptoms if this is relevant to you, and review repeated patterns with your clinician or dietitian before restricting food groups. A single coincidence does not establish a cause.
What should be in a headache diary?
The following are five things that are typically recorded in a headache diary:
- Date and time of the headache
- The location of the pain
- The intensity or severity of the pain (on a scale from 0 to 100)
- What you were doing when the headache started
- Any other symptoms you experienced (such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light)
Migraine Calendar and Headache Diary Tracking
A migraine calendar is a headache diary arranged by date. It can help you record when attacks happen, compare possible triggers, and prepare a clear history for a healthcare appointment. Use the printable migraine calendar below, a notebook, a spreadsheet, or an app. The best format is the one you can update consistently.
Download the free migraine calendar template PDF.
Understand migraine symptoms and possible triggers
Migraine attacks may include throbbing pain, nausea, vomiting, aura, dizziness, fatigue, and sensitivity to light, sound, or smells. Possible triggers differ from person to person. They can include stress, sleep changes, hormonal changes, foods, bright or flickering light, strong smells, and other environmental conditions. A diary does not prove that one factor caused an attack, but repeated records can help you and your clinician decide what deserves closer attention.
Benefits of a migraine calendar
A calendar can show attack frequency, duration, symptoms, suspected triggers, and response to treatment over time. This can make appointments more useful because you do not have to reconstruct several weeks from memory. It may also show patterns connected with sleep, meals, menstrual cycles, weather, medication use, or activity. Some research studies and patient registries accept headache diary data, but sharing is optional and should follow their consent and privacy process.
What to record in a migraine calendar
- Date and time: Record when the attack began and ended.
- Pain: Note the location, intensity, and whether it felt throbbing, pressing, sharp, or different from usual.
- Other symptoms: Include aura, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and sensitivity to light, sound, or smells.
- Possible triggers: Record recent sleep, stress, meals, hydration, hormonal changes, activity, weather, and environmental exposures.
- Treatment: Record each medication name, dose, time taken, days used per month, effect and side effects. Include other remedies too.
- Impact: Note missed work, school, sleep, exercise, or other daily activities.
Describe pain clearly
Use the same pain scale each time, then add a few words about the sensation and location. “7 out of 10, throbbing behind the right eye” is more useful than “bad headache.” Record unusual or changing symptoms separately so they are easy to discuss with a healthcare professional.
Track consistently and interpret patterns carefully
Update the diary during an attack or as soon as you can afterward. Keep it available on paper or on your phone, and use reminders if entries are easy to forget. Review the calendar regularly, but do not change medication or remove major food groups based on one coincidence. Bring the record to a healthcare professional, who can interpret possible patterns alongside your history and treatment plan.
Use the calendar for treatment and lifestyle planning
Compare attacks with medication use, meals, hydration, exercise, and sleep. If a pattern repeats, discuss it with your clinician before making a major treatment change. The CareClinic app can keep the same record digitally: log symptoms and suspected triggers, track medication and side effects, set reminders, review charts, and generate reports to share with your healthcare provider. This preserves the headache diary workflow while adding timestamps and longer-term comparisons.
How long do migraines last?
Migraine headaches can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Some people experience migraines only occasionally, while others have them more often. If you have migraines, it is important to keep track of them in a headache diary. Migraine attacks may mean that you will have to take time off from work or school, as they can be very painful.
How a diary helps a clinical review
A diary records the pattern and impact of headaches and your response to treatment. A clinician combines it with your history and examination. The record cannot rule out other conditions, reliably predict the next attack or prove a suspected trigger.
Using CareClinic for headache tracking
CareClinic can organize symptom and medication records, reminders, charts and reports for a healthcare appointment. Review possible associations with your clinician. An app cannot guarantee a trigger, diagnosis or error-free export. You can view CareClinic to check the available features and plan.
When a headache needs urgent care
Seek emergency care for a sudden, extremely painful headache, or a headache with new weakness, difficulty speaking, loss of vision, marked confusion, seizure, or high fever with a stiff neck. A severe headache after a head injury also needs urgent assessment. Do not wait to complete a diary. The NHS headache guide describes emergency and urgent warning signs.
Arrange prompt clinical review for a new or worsening headache pattern, repeated vomiting, headaches triggered by coughing or exertion, or frequent need for pain medicine. Discuss medication changes with a clinician.
What is a botox headache diary?
A botox headache diary is a way to track your headaches after you have received botox injections. This can help your doctor determine if the botox is effective in treating your headaches.
What’s a pediatric headache diary and who is it for?
A pediatric headache diary is a way to track your child’s headaches. This can help you and your child’s doctor determine the cause of the headaches and find the best treatment.
Printable Headache Diary PDF’s
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| ⬇️ Headache Diary PDF | Get Headache Diary App | ⬇️ Headache Log PDF | Get Headache Log App |
Additional Resources
The National headache foundation is a great resource for information on headaches. They offer a headache diary that can be downloaded and printed (shared above).
The American migraine foundation is a great resource for information about migraines. The American migraine foundation recommends keeping a headache diary to track your migraines. This can help you and your doctor determine the cause of your migraines and find the best treatment.
There are many different types of headache diaries and apps available. If you are someone who suffers from frequent headaches, keeping a headache diary can be a helpful way to track your symptoms and find patterns. There are many different ways to create a headache diary, so find one that works best for you!
Headache diaries can be extremely helpful in identifying the type of headache you are experiencing, as well as the pattern. This information is important for your doctor, who can then prescribe an appropriate treatment. If you suffer from headaches on a regular basis, I recommend downloading and installing the CareClinic App. It’s free and easy to use – plus, it offers many features that can be helpful when tracking your overall well-being.
