How to describe a headache to your doctor
Headaches come and go, which makes them hard to describe later. Notes made on the day keep the details that matter.
Where exactly
Say where you feel it. It can be in more than one place.
- forehead
- temples
- one side of the head
- behind the eyes
- back of the head or neck
- all over
What it feels like
Pick the words that fit, or use your own:
- throbbing or pulsing
- pressing or tight, like a band
- sharp or stabbing
- dull ache
How long it lasts, and what was going on
Write down what you were doing when you noticed it. These are the details that tend to get forgotten:
- when it began and when it eased
- sleep the night before
- screens, meals, water, caffeine
- light, noise or smells around you
- anything you took, and what happened afterwards
When it started
Write when you first noticed it, even as a range, or "not sure". The day you first wrote it down can be later, so keep that date separate. If they come and go, note each one with its own date.
A note to take with you
Copy the prompts that matter to you:
- Where it is:
- What it feels like:
- When it is worse:
- When I first noticed it, or "not sure":
- What I want to ask:
To put your notes on one printable page, use the free visit summary.
Related guidance: NHS: preparing for an appointment
Keep dated notes in Ever Since
A symptom entry can include where it is, how strong it feels, and your own words. Each entry keeps the date it was logged. Symptom logging is included in the free plan.
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