Record the following data to share with your doc, whether the pain is new or not—it could lead to lasting pain management.Headache’s duration, day of week, and time of day: You may find a pattern related to work stress, diet, or something else.Headache location: One side versus both matters to your doctor, as does upper neck versus scalp (the former could be muscle tension).OTC and Rx treatments you’ve tried: Note how much you took, when, and how well it worked.Other meds or food ingested prior to onset: Many drugs can cause headaches as a side effect; alcohol, aged cheese, and other foods can trigger migraines. More from Prevention: Your Top 5 Pain Problems, Solved
