Symptom Journal: How To Track & Manage Your Symptoms

Symptoms are changes in your body that signal the presence of an underlying medical condition. A symptom journal is a record of your symptoms and how they change over time. Maintaining a symptom journal can help you and your doctor identify patterns, monitor your condition, and make treatment decisions.

What are the benefits of maintaining a symptom journal?

There are many benefits to maintaining a symptom journal, including:

Improved communication with your healthcare team

A symptom journal can help you and your doctor identify patterns and better understand your condition. Monitoring your condition: Tracking your symptoms over time can help you and your doctor see how your condition is progressing and make necessary changes to your treatment plan. Making treatment decisions: A symptom journal can help you and your doctor decide which treatments are working and which are not.

Identifying patterns in your symptoms

For conditions such as migraines, arthritis, or irritable bowel syndrome, a symptom journal can help you identify patterns in your symptoms. This information can be used to trigger a preventative treatment plan or avoid potential triggers. An example of a trigger for migraines might be certain foods, bright lights, or stress.

Tracking the effectiveness of treatments

A symptom journal can help you see how well treatments are working. This information can be used to choose the most effective treatments and make lifestyle changes that can improve your quality of life. For example, you can track the effectiveness of medications, physical therapies, or relaxation techniques and see if there are any improvements over time.

Monitoring your condition over time

Maintaining a symptom journal is an excellent way to keep track of your condition. For example, if you are managing diabetes with diet and exercise, your journal can help you see if your blood sugar levels are improving. If they aren’t, you and your doctor could potentially make changes to your diet or exercise routine.^[1]

How to start a symptom journal

You may want to use a notebook, an app, or an online tool. Whichever method you choose, be sure to include the following information and why:

What should I track?

What is the date?
What time did the symptom start?
What is the symptom? (e.g., headache, fatigue, nausea)
What is the severity of the symptom? (e.g., mild, moderate, severe)
What are the associated symptoms? (e.g., aura, light sensitivity, dizziness)
What did you eat that day?
What medications did you take that day?
What was your stress level that day?
What was your activity level that day?

You may also want to include other information that you think might be relevant. The important thing is to be as detailed as possible so that you can identify patterns. If you are unsure about what information to include, talk to your doctor. They will be able to help you determine what is most important for tracking your symptoms.

Symptom Diary for Outpatient Care

If you are seeking medical care from an outpatient provider, it is important to bring a symptom diary with you to your appointment. This will help your doctor or other healthcare provider understand what symptoms you have been experiencing and how often they occur.^[2]

The best time to keep a symptom journal

It is important to be as consistent as possible when tracking your symptoms. Try to journal every day, or at least every time you experience a symptom. It is also helpful to track your symptoms at the same time each day. This will make it easier to identify patterns. The reason for this is that our bodies have natural rhythms, and symptoms often follow these patterns.

Some people find it helpful to set a reminder on their phone or calendar to journal their symptoms. Others find it helpful to keep their journal in a visible spot so they remember to fill it out. Choose whatever method will work best for you.^[3][4]

Journaling with CareClinic

If you have a chronic illness or condition, you may find it helpful to journal your symptoms using the CareClinic app. This app allows you to track your symptoms, medications, appointments, and more in one place. It also provides you with tools to help you identify patterns and trends in your symptoms.

To get started, download the app and create an account (for storing backup and syncing between devices). Then, you can begin adding entries to your journal. You can track as many or as few symptoms as you like. You can also add photos, videos, and other files to your journal entries.

Once you have been journaling for a while, you can use the app’s analytics tools to look for patterns in your data. For example, you may be able to see that your symptoms are worse on days when you don’t get enough sleep. Or, you may notice that your symptoms tend to improve after you take a certain medication.

Identifying patterns in your data can help you and your healthcare provider develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. It can also help you take a more active role in managing your health.

You can also record your mood and pain using standardized pain scales. Other measurements, such as your vitals, can be recorded using the measurements tracker. In addition to using the diary to record information about your symptoms, you can just as easily use the built-in quantitative symptom tracker with severity scales built in.

If you are interested in trying CareClinic, you can download the app for free from the App Store or Google Play.^[5]

How do you track symptoms during flare ups?

When you are experiencing a flare-up, it is especially important to track your symptoms. This will help you and your healthcare provider identify the triggers for your flare-ups and develop a plan to manage them. A flare-up is defined as a period when your symptoms become worse than usual for a period of time (potentially 3 days).^[6][7][8]

When you are experiencing a flare up, it is especially important to track your symptoms. This will help you and your healthcare provider identify the triggers for your flare-ups and develop a plan to manage them. A flare-up is defined as a period when your symptoms become worse than usual for a period of time (potentially 3 days).

What is active and passive symptom tracking?

There are two main ways to track your symptoms: active and passive. Active symptom tracking requires you to regularly fill out a journal or app. Passive symptom tracking uses sensors to automatically track your symptoms. For example, wearable fitness tracker devices can often track heart rate, sleep, and activity levels. Some devices can also track other health data, such as blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Which method is best for me?

The best method for tracking your symptoms is the one that you will actually use. If you are likely to forget to fill out a journal or if you find the process too time-consuming, passive tracking may be a better option for you. However, if you are comfortable with journaling and you want to be more hands-on with your health data, active tracking may be a better option.

What if I don’t have any symptoms?

If you don’t have any symptoms, you can still journal about your day-to-day life and how you are feeling. This information can be helpful in identifying stressors or triggers that may be causing your symptoms. It can also help track your overall health and well-being.

Which conditions require symptom tracking?

Some chronic illnesses require more extensive symptom tracking than others. Some conditions that may benefit from a symptom journal include, but are not limited to:

• Asthma
• Cancer
• Chronic Pain
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Digestive disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches/migraines
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Lupus
• Menopause
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Pregnancy
• PMDD
• Thyroid disorders
• View all

If you have any questions about whether or not a symptom tracker diary is right for you, talk to your doctor. They will be able to help you determine if this type of journaling would be helpful in managing your condition.

What are the most common symptoms patients need to track?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the symptoms that need to be tracked will vary from person to person. However, some of the most common symptoms that patients track include:

• Anxiety
• Energy levels
• Fatigue
• Pain
• Sleep Quality
• Bowel movements
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Weight changes
• Mood swings
• Memory changes
• Muscle weakness
• Tingling or numbness in the extremities
• View All Trackable Symptoms

Your doctor will be able to help you identify the most important symptoms to track for your individual condition.

What are some tips for tracking my symptoms?

There are a few things to keep in mind when you are tracking your symptoms:

1. Be consistent. Try to track your symptoms at the same time each day, or on a regular schedule that you can stick to.
2. Be specific. Include as much detail as possible in your entries. This will help you and your doctor identify patterns and triggers for your symptoms.
3. Be honest, it is important to be truthful in your entries. This journal is for your personal use and will be used to help you manage your condition.

Can CareClinic be used as a food diary?

Yes! You can use CareClinic to track your diet and nutrition, in addition to your symptoms or chronic conditions. This can help identify food triggers for your symptoms. You can also use the app to set goals and track your progress over time. You can track any diet or nutrition-related information in CareClinic, including:

• Food intake
• Calorie counts
• Nutrient information
• Meal times
• Eating habits

All diets are supported, including vegetarian, vegan, keto, and more. You can also use the app to track your water intake and set goals for other healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercise.

How does CareClinic’s symptom journal differ from a bullet journal?

A bullet journal is a type of diary that can be used for any purpose, including tracking symptoms. However, a bullet journal is not specifically designed for tracking symptoms or chronic conditions. CareClinic is a health tracking app that includes a symptom tracker feature, as well as trackers for other aspects of your health, such as diet, exercise, and sleep. This makes CareClinic a more comprehensive solution for tracking your health.

Should I start tracking symptoms after I have a diagnosis, or after?

You may find it helpful to start tracking your symptoms before you receive a diagnosis, to identify patterns or triggers for your symptoms. However, you can also start tracking after you have received a diagnosis.

What does the American Journal of Managed Care say about Symptom Journals?

The American Journal of Managed Care has published several articles on the use of symptom journals in managing chronic conditions. In one article, Dr. Scott Weisenberg, from NYU Langone Medical Center, discusses the use of symptom journals in managing conditions like migraines, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. He states that “symptom journals can be a useful tool for patients with chronic illnesses, providing them with a way to track their symptoms and identify patterns or triggers for their condition.”

Another article from the American Journal of Managed Care discusses the use of symptom journals in managing cancer. In this article, Dr. Carolyn Draznin, from the City of Hope Cancer Center, states that “symptom journals can be a valuable tool for cancer patients, helping them to track their symptoms and identify any patterns or triggers for their condition.”

Should I keep a printable symptom journal?

A printable symptom journal can be a helpful way to track your symptoms, especially if you are not comfortable using a digital app. You can find printable symptom journals online in xlsx or PDF format, or you can create your own. If you choose to create your own, include all the important information you would want to track, such as dates, symptoms, and possible triggers. You may also want to include space for notes or comments.

Other similar journals

The CareClinic app is highly versatile and can help manage the following journals as well.

The reason for this is that the App is highly modular and customizable. If you are looking to learn more, see additional information on our daily symptom tracker.

1. Wellness journal
2. Health journal
3. Diet journal
4. Fitness journal
5. Exercise journal
6. Weight loss journal
7. Nutrition journal
8. Sleep journal
9. Mood tracker diary
10. Productivity journal

Get Started with Journaling

Symptom logging can be an important tool in managing your chronic illness. It can help you identify triggers for flare-ups and manage your symptoms more effectively. There are two main ways to track your symptoms: active and passive. Active symptom tracking requires you to regularly fill out a journal or app, while passive symptom tracking uses sensors to automatically track your symptoms.

The best method for tracking your symptoms is the one that you will use. If you don’t have any symptoms, you can still journal about your day-to-day life and how you are feeling. This information can be helpful in identifying stressors or triggers that may be causing your symptoms.

Some conditions that may benefit from a symptom journal include, but are not limited to, asthma, cancer, chronic pain, depression, diabetes, digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, headaches/migraines, heart disease, high blood pressure, menopause, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and thyroid disorders.

CareClinic ‘s app has a symptom tracker that can be used to track your symptoms. Download the app today to get started!

Alexandra V.

Medically Reviewed

Alexandra V., BPT is a licensed physiotherapist (Carol Davila University of Medicine & Pharmacy) with additional pre-clinical training in Medicine. Holding a Journalism degree, she merges seven years' musculoskeletal-rehab experience with plain-language writing to deliver evidence-based prevention and pain-management guidance for CareClinic readers. Fluent in English, German and Romanian, Alexandra's goal is to turn clinical science into clear, actionable tips, information meant to educate, not replace individual medical advice.