Aiding Migraine's analytics dashboard gives you a clear picture of your migraine patterns, based only on what you logged. This guide explains each chart, what to look for, and how to discuss what you see with your doctor.
A Note Before You Start
These charts are a summary of your own diary entries — they don’t diagnose anything, and they aren’t medical advice. The measurements here are the same ones clinicians often use when talking about migraine (the International Classification of Headache Disorders, ICHD-3, groups migraine frequency this way). If a pattern worries you, or you’re thinking about changing treatment or medication, talk it through with your clinician.
Chart 1: Frequency Trend
What It Shows
A line chart displaying the number of migraine days per month over time. Each point represents one month's total migraine days.
Why It Matters
This is the single most useful number for spotting how your migraines are trending — and it’s usually the first one clinicians ask about:
- Episodic Migraine: < 15 migraine days per month
- Chronic Migraine: ≥ 15 migraine days per month (for 3+ consecutive months)
Clinicians use the episodic / chronic distinction when talking about treatment options, insurance coverage, and medication choices — that’s a conversation to have with your doctor, not something this app decides.
What to Look For
Positive Trends
- Declining line: Fewer migraine days over time = treatment is working
- Dropping below 15 days: Transition from chronic to episodic
- Stable low numbers: Good migraine control maintained
Concerning Trends
- Rising line: Increasing migraine frequency - discuss with doctor
- Crossing above 15 days: May indicate transformation to chronic migraine
- Sudden spikes: Could indicate triggers or medication overuse
Discussing with Your Doctor
Share this chart when:
- Requesting preventive medication (often prescribed at 4+ migraines/month)
- Evaluating current treatment effectiveness
- Considering specialty referral (neurologist, headache specialist)
- Applying for FMLA or disability documentation
Chart 2: Pain Level Distribution
What It Shows
A doughnut chart breaking down your migraines by severity: mild, moderate, and severe.
Why It Matters
Severity distribution helps assess:
- Medication effectiveness: Are preventive meds reducing severity?
- Treatment escalation needs: High percentage of severe attacks may warrant stronger treatments
- Quality of life impact: Severe migraines cause more disability
What Good Control Looks Like
| Severity | Good Control | Poor Control |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | 40-60% | < 20% |
| Moderate | 30-50% | 20-30% |
| Severe | < 20% | > 50% |
What to Look For
Positive Patterns
- Mostly mild or moderate migraines
- Severe attacks make up less than 20% of total
- Severity decreasing over time (compare month-to-month)
Red Flags
- More than 50% severe attacks - treatment adjustment needed
- Very few mild attacks - may indicate medication overuse
- Increasing severity despite treatment - discuss with doctor
Discussing with Your Doctor
This chart helps when:
- Evaluating rescue medication effectiveness
- Discussing need for ER-level medications (DHE, infusions)
- Determining if preventive medication dosage should increase
Chart 3: Time of Day Patterns
What It Shows
A bar chart showing when your migraines typically start, grouped into 4-hour blocks:
- Night (12 AM - 4 AM)
- Early Morning (4 AM - 8 AM)
- Morning (8 AM - 12 PM)
- Afternoon (12 PM - 4 PM)
- Evening (4 PM - 8 PM)
- Night (8 PM - 12 AM)
Why It Matters
Time-of-day patterns can reveal important triggers and inform treatment timing:
- Morning migraines: Often linked to sleep issues, caffeine dependency, or medication timing
- Afternoon/evening: May indicate stress, dehydration, or skipped meals
- Night/early morning: Can suggest sleep apnea, teeth grinding, or hormonal factors
Common Patterns and Implications
Morning Peaks (4 AM - 10 AM)
Possible causes:
- Sleep disorders (sleep apnea, insomnia)
- Caffeine withdrawal (if you usually drink coffee)
- Blood sugar drops overnight (try bedtime snack)
- Medication wearing off overnight
Solutions to discuss: Sleep study, extended-release preventive meds, bedtime routine changes
Afternoon Peaks (12 PM - 4 PM)
Possible causes:
- Skipped lunch or dehydration
- Screen time/eye strain
- Stress accumulation during workday
- Fluorescent lighting at work
Solutions to discuss: Regular meal schedule, blue light glasses, workplace accommodations
Evening/Night Peaks (8 PM - 12 AM)
Possible causes:
- "Let-down" effect after stressful day
- Delayed food triggers from earlier meals
- Eye strain from screens all day
- Muscle tension from poor posture
Solutions to discuss: Stress management, earlier dinner, screen breaks, ergonomics
Discussing with Your Doctor
Share this chart when:
- Determining optimal timing for preventive medications
- Discussing sleep study referral
- Identifying lifestyle triggers
- Planning medication dosing schedule
Chart 4: Day of Week Patterns
What It Shows
A bar chart displaying which days of the week you're most likely to experience migraines.
Why It Matters
Weekly patterns often reveal lifestyle and environmental triggers that might not be obvious:
- Weekday peaks: Work-related stress, commute, office environment
- Weekend peaks: "Let-down" migraines, sleep schedule changes, caffeine timing shifts
- Specific day patterns: May correlate with activities, meetings, or routines
Common Patterns and Implications
Monday/Tuesday Peaks
Possible causes:
- Weekend sleep schedule changes
- Return-to-work stress
- Caffeine timing differences (later coffee on weekends)
- "Let-down" migraine after stressful week ending
Weekend (Saturday/Sunday) Peaks
Possible causes:
- Sleeping in (changes in sleep schedule trigger migraines)
- Skipping morning coffee or having it later
- Missed meals due to relaxed schedule
- Stress relief after intense week
Key insight: Weekend migraines often improve with consistent wake time and meal schedule
Wednesday/Thursday Peaks
Possible causes:
- Mid-week stress accumulation
- Sleep debt building up
- Recurring stressful meetings or events
What to Look For
Uniform distribution: Migraines spread evenly across the week suggest physiological (not lifestyle) triggers
Clear peaks: Concentrated on specific days suggest modifiable triggers
Weekday vs. weekend: Big differences indicate lifestyle factors you can potentially control
Discussing with Your Doctor
This chart helps when:
- Identifying trigger patterns for elimination trials
- Planning preventive medication around high-risk days
- Requesting workplace accommodations (if weekday peaks)
- Developing behavioral interventions (consistent schedule, stress management)
Using Analytics with Your Doctor
Preparing for Appointments
-
Export Your PDF Report
Go to Settings → Export PDF Report. This generates a comprehensive clinical summary with all your analytics. -
Review Trends Before the Visit
Look for patterns in your charts. Note anything surprising or concerning. -
Prepare Questions
Based on your charts, what do you want to discuss? Treatment changes? New symptoms? Trigger identification? -
Bring the PDF
Email it to yourself, print it, or have it ready on your phone. Doctors appreciate visual data.
Key Metrics Doctors Care About
| Metric | Why Doctors Need It |
|---|---|
| Migraine days/month | Determines episodic vs. chronic classification; insurance approval for certain medications |
| Severity distribution | Assesses rescue medication effectiveness and need for preventive treatment |
| Frequency trend | Shows if current treatment is working or needs adjustment |
| Patterns (time/day) | Identifies triggers and optimal medication timing |
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Based on your analytics, consider asking:
- "My frequency trend shows I'm averaging [X] migraine days per month. Does this qualify me for preventive medication?"
- "I notice most of my migraines are severe. Should we consider changing my rescue medication?"
- "There's a clear pattern of morning migraines. Could this be related to sleep issues?"
- "My migraine days increased after starting [treatment]. Is this expected or should we try something else?"
- "I'm seeing weekend peaks. What lifestyle changes would you recommend?"
Tracking Tips for Better Data
Log Consistently
Track every day - even migraine-free days. Gaps in data make patterns harder to identify. Set up daily reminders in Settings.
Be Honest About Severity
Don't minimize or exaggerate. Use these guidelines:
- Mild: Noticeable but not disabling; you can function normally
- Moderate: Significantly impairs activity; you can push through but it's difficult
- Severe: Disabling; cannot perform normal activities
Track for at Least 3 Months
Migraine patterns usually take 3+ months to show up clearly, which is also why clinicians look at that timeframe.
Log Multi-Day Migraines Accurately
If your migraine lasts from Monday through Wednesday, enter the start time on Monday and the total duration. The app will correctly count this as 3 migraine days.
Reference Numbers Clinicians Often Mention
These are reference numbers clinicians often mention when discussing migraine frequency. They’re shown here so you can talk about them with your doctor — the app doesn’t use them to label or diagnose you:
| Threshold | Significance |
|---|---|
| 4 migraine days/month | Often the point where clinicians start talking about preventive medication |
| 8 migraine days/month | Moderate frequency; clinicians often discuss preventive treatment at this level |
| 15 migraine days/month | The frequency clinicians use when describing chronic migraine (if sustained for 3+ months) |
| 10+ medication days/month (triptans, combination analgesics, opioids) | Risk zone for medication overuse headache (MOH) |
| 15+ medication days/month (simple analgesics/NSAIDs like ibuprofen) | Risk zone for medication overuse headache (MOH) |
Medication Overuse Headache (MOH)
If you're taking triptans, combination analgesics, or opioids on 10 or more days per month — or simple analgesics/NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) on 15 or more days per month — discuss this with your doctor. Medication overuse can paradoxically increase migraine frequency.