Describing Headache Symptoms to the Doctor: what to say in English

Health看诊症状

Describing Symptoms

I've been having really bad headaches for the past week. It's mostly on the right side, behind my eye.

Explain the location and duration of pain.

bad headachesright sidebehind my eye

The pain comes and goes, but when it hits, it's like a throbbing feeling. Sometimes I feel nauseous too.

Describe the pain type and additional symptoms.

comes and goesthrobbingnauseous

I've tried taking Tylenol but it barely helps. It usually gets worse in the afternoon.

Mention ineffective treatments and timing of pain.

Tylenolbarely helpsgets worse

Doctor's Questions and Examination

How would you rate the pain on a scale of 1 to 10? And have you noticed anything that triggers it?

Rate pain and identify possible triggers.

rate the painscaletriggers

Are you getting enough sleep? Have you been under a lot of stress lately?

Discuss sleep and stress levels.

enough sleepstress

Treatment Advice and Follow-up

I'm going to prescribe something stronger. Take it as soon as you feel a headache coming on.

Doctor prescribes stronger medication.

prescribestrongercoming on

If it doesn't improve in two weeks, we should run some tests. I'll refer you to a specialist.

Plan tests if no improvement in two weeks.

doesn't improverun some testsreferspecialist

Should I avoid screen time? I work on a computer all day and I'm wondering if that's making it worse.

Ask about reducing screen time impact.

screen timecomputer all daymaking it worse

Key words

symptom

a sign of illness

throbbing

pulsing pain

prescription

doctor's medicine order

referral

sending to a specialist

trigger

something that causes a reaction

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