To Fend Off Migraines, Try Keeping a Headache Diary

Posted on November 9, 2018

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter

SATURDAY, July 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- A migraine diary may help you pinpoint -- and avoid -- headache triggers, a neurologist says.

About 12 percent of people in the United States suffer from migraines, according to the Migraine Research Foundation.

"A migraine can be debilitating and can impact daily activities, your family and social life. Unfortunately, migraine often goes undiagnosed and undertreated," said Dr. Sait Ashina. He's a neurologist and headache specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

While the exact causes of migraines remain unknown, doctors can help patients identify their triggers.

"Triggers are what can set off the symptoms of a migraine headache, which is different than the mechanisms of the head pain," Ashina explained in a hospital news release. "Triggers are usually individualized -- what could bring on a migraine in one person could not be the case in another person."

Keeping a migraine diary can help uncover headache triggers, Ashina said. Common ones include caffeine; fasting, dieting and dehydration; weather changes; lack of sleep; odors; bright or fluorescent light; and hormonal changes, especially for women.

"Your doctor is going to want to know what you did or ate or how you felt right before a migraine attack," Ashina said. "By tracking these occurrences and any details you remember ahead of time, your doctor will be able to find patterns that will guide an individualized treatment plan."

List eachmigraine in the diary, when it happened, how long it lasted and possible triggers.

The American Headache Society offers headache diary resources, as do several mobile apps.

"Your headache diary will be your doctor's best resource for avoiding any of these triggers," Ashina said. "By controlling what you can, you may reduce frequency and severity."

SOURCE: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, news release, June 29, 2018
Copyright © 2018

Here are some question-and-answer threads from MyMigraineTeam:

• What do people use to track their migraines?

• What should I expect from my first neurology appointment?

• Has anyone suffered from memory loss due to a migraine?

Here are some conversations from MyMigraineTeam:

• "Neurologist says it's most likely a form migraine that causes the periodic bouts of nausea, vomiting etc. Frustrating as don't know what the triggers are so don't know what to avoid."

• "I'm new to the migraine world. I'm figuring out this whole food intolerance thing and it seems like I react to everything!!!"

• "Sadly the weather is a huge trigger & stress & scents are my worst enemy."

Do you know your migraine triggers? Or do you find it hard to keep track?
Share in the comments below or directly on MyMigraineTeam.

Are your headaches a symptom of migraine? Get a quick assessment.

Comments
Questions

It helps to keep everything straight

March 3, 2023

We'd love to hear from you! Please share your name and email to post and read comments.

You'll also get the latest articles directly to your inbox.

Not now

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Subscribe now to ask your question, get answers, and stay up to date on the latest articles.

Get updates directly to your inbox.

Not now

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Get trusted articles sent directly to your inbox.

95,326 subscribers

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Connect with others who understand.

To Fend Off Migraines, Try Keeping a Headache Diary

Attach a gif

We'd love to hear from you! Please share your name and email to post and read comments.

Attach a gif

Subscribe now to ask your question, get answers, and stay up to date on the latest articles.

Get trusted articles sent directly to your inbox.

Thank you for subscribing!

Thank you for subscribing!

Your Privacy is Our Priority

Manage Cookies

Connect with others who understand.

To Fend Off Migraines, Try Keeping a Headache Diary

We'd love to hear from you! Please share your name and email to post and read comments.

Subscribe now to ask your question, get answers, and stay up to date on the latest articles.

Related

Get trusted articles sent directly to your inbox.

Thank you for subscribing!

Thank you for subscribing!