Keeping a Headache Diary

One thing that may help you beat headaches is keeping a headache diary. This may sound silly but researchers have shown that a headache diary can help the headache sufferer establish what at least some of their triggers are and learn to avoid them.

In your headache diary you’ll want to keep track of all the facts that may be even remotely connected to your headache.  That includes when the pain starts, how long it lasts, what it makes you feel like and what you did to alleviate it. When you note what the headache makes you feel like that includes where the pain is, and if you suffer any other symptoms with it like nausea.  You should also note your overall health at the time. If you are a woman you should jot down whether you had your period or not. For anyone, a flu or cold should also be noted. These things can influence headaches. You should also note the weather as certain weather conditions are known to be headache causing.

Your headache diary should also make note of what you eat. Foods are definite triggers. If you can identify yours than once you cut those foods out you’ll hopefully be able to at least lessen your headaches. Some common food triggers are red wine, chocolate, MSG and processed meats.

There are more headache triggers than merely food or weather changes.  Stress is known to cause headaches in many people.  Bright lights may be a trigger, as can strong odors, like someone’s perfume. You must keep clear and concise notes or you may wind up missing the things that are making you suffer. It is possible that some of your headaches may be caused by a combination of more than one thing.

You must also note your sleep habits.  Too much sleep, or not enough is definitely a headache trigger for some people. It would be worth noting the number of hours you sleep nightly.  If you wake up with headaches it can also be because your body hasn’t enough sugar, experiment and have a piece of fruit just before you go to sleep.  If you no longer have that headache when you wake up, note that in your dairy. Perhaps you’ll have made the first step towards learning how to control your headaches.

The beauty of a headache diary is that after you have kept it for a while you can start correlating all the facts that you have and begin to find some hints to your triggers. But, it could take months, depending on how often you get headaches, before you come to any major conclusions. Even once you do there will still be experimentation to see if removing certain things actually makes a difference Even if you don’t immediately find what your triggers are don’t give up. Doctors will tell you that the headache diary is one of their most useful tools in helping headache sufferers begin to take control of their lives once again.

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