AGGRAVATING OR RELIEVING FACTORS

Determine:

• What makes the symptoms better or worse?
  
  
  
  • Physical/mechanical - change of position; change of place; time of day; eating; using support, and so forth.
    
    
  • Medication - Examples: antacids, anti-flammatories; antihistamines; laxatives.

Examples:

• If I eat small meals during the day — that is, keep something in my stomach — I rarely have the pain.



• The pain down my leg is much worse if I drive for a long period of time.
  
  
• I usually count on having a headache if I read without my glasses.