Which Tests Are Performed in a Check-Up for Headache and Migraine?

Headache is a very common complaint in society. Some headaches may occur due to stress, sleeplessness, dehydration, screen use, or irregular eating. Migraine is a special type of headache that often comes in attacks and progresses with light and sound sensitivity, nausea, or throbbing pain.

In headache and migraine complaints, a check-up may help evaluate some underlying general health problems. Conditions such as anemia, thyroid disorders, vitamin deficiencies, high blood pressure, blood sugar irregularities, and inflammation may trigger headaches or increase complaints.

The same tests are not requested for every headache. The test plan should be made by evaluating the duration, frequency, location, character of the pain, accompanying symptoms, and the person’s health history. More urgent evaluation may be required in headaches that start suddenly, are very severe, or occur with neurological symptoms.

What Is The Difference Between Headache And Migraine?

Headache is a general complaint; migraine is a type of headache with certain characteristics. In migraine attacks, the pain may usually be throbbing, may be felt on one side, and may increase with movement. Nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity may accompany.

Not every recurrent headache is migraine. High blood pressure, sinusitis, eye problems, stress, neck muscle tension, anemia, or different causes may also cause headache. Therefore, the type of headache and accompanying findings should be carefully evaluated.

Symptoms that may suggest migraine are:

• Headache coming in attacks
• Throbbing pain sensation
• Light and sound sensitivity
• Nausea or vomiting
• Increase of pain with movement
• One-sided pain
• Visual aura in some people
• Triggering by sleep, stress, or some foods

Which Tests Can Be Evaluated In A Check-Up For Headache?

Check-up tests in headache complaints may help understand possible systemic causes of pain. Blood values and blood pressure monitoring are important especially in recurrent, long-lasting headaches or headaches affecting quality of life.

Tests are not sufficient alone to make a diagnosis. However, they may provide information about anemia, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disorders, or blood sugar imbalances that may increase headache.

Tests that may be evaluated in headache and migraine complaints include:

• Complete blood count: Provides information in terms of anemia or infection.
• Ferritin and iron: Iron deficiency may be related to headache and fatigue.
• Vitamin B12: Important for the nervous system and energy metabolism.
• Vitamin D: Related to general health, muscle, and nervous system functions.
• TSH, Free T3, and Free T4: Enables evaluation of thyroid functions.
• Fasting blood sugar: Blood sugar fluctuations may trigger headache.
• HbA1c: Shows long-term blood sugar balance.
• CRP and sedimentation: May provide insight into inflammation.
• Electrolytes: Sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium balance is important.
• Blood pressure measurement: High blood pressure may cause headache.

Can Anemia Cause Headache?

Anemia may make it difficult to carry enough oxygen to tissues. This condition may lead to complaints such as headache, fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, and getting tired easily. Iron deficiency may be seen more frequently especially in women and people with heavy menstrual bleeding.

If headache is accompanied by fatigue, paleness, shortness of breath, or decreased attention, complete blood count and iron stores may be evaluated. If anemia is present, its cause should also be investigated separately.

Values that may be checked in anemia evaluation are:

• Hemoglobin
• Hematocrit
• Ferritin
• Serum iron
• Vitamin B12
• Folate
• MCV and MCH values

Do Thyroid And Blood Sugar Affect Headache?

Thyroid function disorders may affect metabolic rate and energy level. Both underactive and overactive thyroid may be related to headache, fatigue, palpitations, weight change, or sleep pattern disruption in some people.

Blood sugar fluctuations may also trigger headache. Long fasting, irregular eating, rapid sugar increase, or low blood sugar may create headache in some people.

Therefore, the following values may be evaluated:

• TSH
• Free T3
• Free T4
• Fasting blood sugar
• HbA1c
• Fasting insulin
• Electrolytes
• Magnesium

Are Vitamin And Mineral Values Important In Migraine Complaints?

In migraine and recurrent headaches, some vitamin-mineral levels may contribute to the evaluation process. Deficiency in values such as B12, vitamin D, magnesium, and iron may affect general energy level, nervous system functions, and muscle tension.

These values should not be seen alone as the cause of migraine. However, detecting deficiencies may be useful in supporting the person’s general health status and reducing triggering factors.

Values that may be evaluated in the headache process include:

• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin D
• Magnesium
• Ferritin
• Folate
• Calcium
• Electrolyte balance

Why Is Blood Pressure Monitoring Important In Headache?

High blood pressure may present in some people with headache, pressure sensation in the head, neck pain, palpitations, or dizziness. Not every headache means high blood pressure; however, blood pressure measurement is important especially in recurrent headaches.

Blood pressure values should be evaluated not with a single measurement but with regular follow-up. During a check-up, blood pressure measurement and risk factors may be considered together.

Blood pressure monitoring becomes important in the following situations:

• If headache is felt in the neck area
• If dizziness accompanies
• If palpitations or shortness of breath are present
• If there is a family history of hypertension
• If there is excess weight or inactivity
• If salt consumption is high
• If high blood pressure was previously detected

When Is Emergency Evaluation Required In Headache?

Some headaches should be evaluated without delay. Headaches that start suddenly, are described as the most severe headache in the person’s life, or are seen together with neurological symptoms are important.

A check-up is a planned evaluation method; if there are emergency symptoms, waiting is not correct. Findings such as sudden vision loss, speech disorder, weakness in the arm or leg, and change in consciousness require urgent medical evaluation.

Situations requiring emergency evaluation are:

• Sudden and very severe headache
• Speech disorder with headache
• Weakness in arm or leg
• Confusion
• Vision loss or double vision
• High fever and neck stiffness
• Headache after head trauma
• Pain different in character from previous headaches

Evaluate Your Headache Process More Consciously With Happ Health Check-Up

Headache and migraine may significantly affect quality of life. Under these complaints, sometimes stress and lifestyle factors, and sometimes conditions such as anemia, thyroid disorder, vitamin deficiency, blood sugar irregularity, or high blood pressure may be found.

Happ Health, as a digital health platform, offers a solution that facilitates access to check-up processes. If you have headache and migraine complaints, you can follow your general health status more consciously with evaluations such as blood values, vitamin-mineral levels, thyroid functions, and blood pressure monitoring.

Instead of managing your recurrent headaches only with temporary solutions, you can plan your check-up process through Happ Health and understand your results more accurately with specialist evaluation.