Do you have a Symptom Journal?
Not to state the obvious, A Symptom Journal is a chronicle of symptoms you experience, usually on a daily basis.
A symptom journal helps you:
1)Have a sense of control and autonomy over your body and treatment plan.
2)Research has shown that keeping a symptom journal can even lengthen your life.
3)It enables effective doctor-patient interactions because it gives you a straightforward reply to your health personnel.
A symptom journal could be in a book or on your phone. However, an app doesn’t create it in a detailed manner. You will find some apps on the google playstore like Moodflow, symptomate, gracehealth etc.
How to Create A Symptom Journal
•The date or time (if your symptoms change by the hour).
Your temperature.
•Current medication. “If you’re taking any medications, write down the name, doses and how often you’re taking them,” Dr. Nissola says.
Include over-the-counter medications and any supplements.
Note the time you’re taking any medication as well — and any notes around how that can affect you.
•Adverse reactions to medications.
Sleep quality.
•Pain levels, on a zero to five scale. You should include your pain level each time you log an entry.
•Moods and stress levels, with a rating from zero to five.
•Stressful events that might be affecting your wellness.
•Daily exercise.
•Diet (this is especially important for diabetics).
Your Health Coach,
Olalekan Sekinah.
