Which Values Should Migraine Patients Monitor During a Check-Up?

migraine patients check up There is no single, standard blood test panel that must be followed during pregnancy. Migraine diagnosis is usually made based on the characteristics of the person's headache, accompanying symptoms, health history and neurological evaluation. People with typical migraines and normal neurological examinations do not need to routinely undergo extensive laboratory or imaging tests solely to confirm a migraine diagnosis.

However, rather than directly diagnosing migraine, blood tests performed during the check-up can help evaluate other health problems that may be contributing to the headache or may be confused with migraine symptoms. Complete blood count, iron and ferritin, thyroid functions, blood sugar, kidney functions and electrolytes are among the tests that can be evaluated according to the person's symptoms and risk factors.

It cannot be said that values such as vitamin B12, vitamin D or magnesium should be measured routinely in every migraine patient. The necessity of these tests should be determined according to the diet, medications used, existing diseases and accompanying symptoms.

Why is Check-Up Important for Migraine Patients?

Check-up is not a special examination to diagnose migraine. However, it can help evaluate the general health status of the person with migraine and recognize some health problems that may affect the headache.

For example, for headache:

• Marked malaise

• dizziness

• palpitations

• extreme fatigue

• menstrual irregularity

• weight change

• Numbness or tingling

• muscle cramps

• blood sugar fluctuations

If it is accompanied by migraine, instead of focusing only on migraine treatment, it can be investigated whether these symptoms are related to other reasons.

Check-up results can also be helpful in evaluating the safe use of some medications used to treat migraine. Depending on the drug used, monitoring of kidney, liver or metabolic values ​​may be necessary.

What Blood Values Should Migraine Patients Check During Check-Up?

The same tests do not need to be performed for every migraine patient. However, depending on the person's symptoms and health history, some basic blood values ​​may be included in the evaluation.

Complete Blood Count

Complete blood count; It includes different values ​​such as hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

In particular, anemia can cause complaints such as headache, weakness, palpitations, dizziness and shortness of breath. Since these symptoms can also be felt during migraine attacks, a complete blood count can be useful in the general evaluation of the person.

Changes in complete blood count alone do not explain the cause of migraine. If anemia is detected, the underlying cause should be further investigated.

Ferritin and Iron Values

Ferritin is one of the tests used to evaluate the body's iron stores.

In particular:

• Those with heavy menstrual bleeding

• Those who have limited meat consumption

• Those with a history of iron deficiency

• Those who experience weakness or dizziness

• In those diagnosed with anemia

ferritin and other necessary iron tests may be evaluated.

It cannot be said that low ferritin value alone is the cause of migraine. However, correcting iron deficiency is important for the general health of the person.

Should Vitamin B12 be Measured in Migraine Patients?

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause fatigue, numbness, tingling, balance problems and some neurological complaints.

For this reason, the test may be evaluated in people who have neurological symptoms in addition to migraine, consume very little animal products, have malabsorption, or are at risk for B12 deficiency.

B12 test is not a test that should be done automatically in every migraine patient.

If the result is low, it should be further investigated whether the deficiency is related to nutrition, malabsorption or another health problem.

Is Vitamin D Related to Migraine?

The relationship between vitamin D and migraine is being investigated in scientific studies. Although some studies have reported a relationship between low vitamin D levels and migraine, the vitamin D test is not a test used to diagnose migraine.

Vitamin D measurement can be considered as part of a general health assessment, especially in people at risk of deficiency.

When vitamin D deficiency is detected, the supplement dose should be determined according to the person's test result and health condition. Uncontrolled high doses of vitamin D should not be used with the thought that it will reduce migraine.

Is Magnesium Value Important in Migraine Patients?

Magnesium is one of the important minerals that play a role in the nervous system and muscle functions. The relationship between magnesium and migraine has been investigated for a long time, and magnesium supplementation may be considered in some migraine treatment approaches.

However, serum magnesium test is not a test that should be performed routinely in every migraine patient.

Who May Benefit Most from Magnesium Testing?

Magnesium evaluation specifically:

• Those who experience long-lasting diarrhea or vomiting

• Those with muscle cramps

• Those who use certain diuretic drugs

• Those who use stomach acid suppressant drugs for a long time

• People with kidney disease

• In those with other electrolyte disorders

It might be more meaningful.

A normal serum magnesium level does not mean that all magnesium stores in the body are directly measured.

Why May Thyroid Tests Be Requested in Migraine Patients?

Slow or fast functioning of the thyroid gland may cause fatigue, palpitations, weight changes, menstrual irregularities and changes in general health status. In some people, headache may also accompany this picture.

If a migraine patient has symptoms that may suggest thyroid disease, thyroid function tests such as TSH and, when necessary, free T4 can be evaluated.

In particular:

• Unexplained weight change

• Constant fatigue

• Chills or excessive sweating

• palpitations

• constipation

• menstrual irregularity

• swelling in the neck

• Skin and hair changes

If present, thyroid evaluation may become more meaningful.

Should Blood Sugar and HbA1c Values Be Checked?

Blood sugar is not a value that directly diagnoses migraine. However, tests such as fasting blood sugar and HbA1c are among the tests frequently used to evaluate metabolic health within the scope of check-up.

Staying hungry for a long time or disrupting the meal schedule may trigger a migraine attack in some people. However, it cannot be said that everyone who experiences a post-meal headache or a hunger headache has a blood sugar disease.

Especially in people at risk of diabetes:

• fasting blood sugar

• HbA1c

It may be useful to evaluate values such as these within the scope of general check-up.

Why Are Electrolytes Important in Migraine Patients?

Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium are important in maintaining nerve and muscle functions.

Severe vomiting, prolonged diarrhea, excessive fluid loss or the use of certain medications may disrupt the electrolyte balance. Fluid and electrolyte loss may also become important in people who experience recurrent vomiting during a migraine attack.

Electrolyte disturbances can cause symptoms such as headache, weakness, muscle cramps, palpitations, or altered consciousness.

However, it should not be assumed that all electrolytes are included in every check-up package. Package contents should be checked individually.

Why Can Kidney and Liver Functions Be Evaluated?

Kidney and liver tests are not performed to diagnose migraine. However, it may be part of an overall health assessment and monitoring the safety of medications used.

Depending on the type of medication used in migraine treatment and the person's other diseases:

• creatinine

• eGFR

• BOTTOM

• AST

Values such as may need to be evaluated.

Especially people who frequently use painkillers or have different chronic diseases should share all the medications they use with their physicians.

Should Blood Pressure Monitoring Be Done in Migraine Patients?

Blood pressure measurement is one of the important parts of the overall check-up evaluation.

In migraine patients, blood pressure may rise temporarily during the headache. However, it should not be thought that every headache is caused by high blood pressure.

If recurrent high blood pressure values are detected, the person should be evaluated separately for hypertension.

Routine check-up evaluation should not be sufficient, especially if there are very high blood pressure values ​​along with a headache that has just started and has a different course than normal.

Should Brain MRI Be Included in the Check-Up for Migraine?

Routine brain MRI or computed tomography is not recommended in people with a typical migraine history and normal neurological examination.

The need for imaging is evaluated according to the characteristics of the headache and the presence of alarm symptoms.

In Which Situations May Imaging Be Required?

The physician may request further examination or neurological evaluation in the following cases:

• The onset of a new headache that was not present before

• Significant change in the character of the headache

• Increasingly severe headache

• Abnormal findings on neurological examination

• New weakness in an arm or leg

• speech disorder

• change of consciousness

• Unusual aura symptoms

• History of cancer or immune system disease

• New onset of headache after age 50

The imaging decision should not be based solely on whether the person is a "migraine patient" or not.

Which Values Should Migraine Patients Follow Regularly?

Not every migraine patient needs to have vitamin and mineral tests constantly. It would be better to plan the follow-up according to the person's health condition.

Among the topics that can be evaluated during a general check-up:

• complete blood count

• fasting blood sugar

• HbA1c

• kidney functions

• Liver functions

• blood fats

• blood pressure

may take place.

If there are symptoms or risk factors, these include:

• Ferritin and iron

• vitamin B12

• vitamin D

• magnesium

• TSH and thyroid functions

• Other electrolytes

can be added.

The important thing here is not to increase the number of tests, but to choose tests appropriate to the person's health history.

Is a Migraine Diary As Important as Check-Up Results?

In addition to laboratory results, a headache diary can also provide important information in migraine follow-up.

The person regularly:

• Date the headache started

• How long did the attack last?

• severity of pain

• Whether there is aura

• Medicines used

• Relationship with menstrual period

• sleep patterns

• Whether you skip meals

• Possible triggers

can note.

This information can facilitate assessment of migraine frequency, response to treatment, and possible triggers.

For Which Symptoms Should You Not Wait for a Check-Up Appointment?

Even in people with known migraine, not every new headache should automatically be considered a migraine attack.

A routine check-up appointment should not be expected if you have the following symptoms:

• Headache that starts suddenly and becomes very severe within seconds or minutes

• New pain described as the worst headache in life

• change of consciousness

• fainting

• seizure

• newly developing speech disorder

• Loss of strength in the face, arm or leg

• High fever and neck stiffness

• Newly developing severe vision loss

• Marked balance disorder with headache

• New headache that is markedly different from the usual migraine

In case of severe and sudden headache, change of consciousness, seizure or new neurological symptom, check-up or online consultation should not be waited and emergency health services should be sought.

This content is for general information purposes. Migraine diagnosis, examination requirements and treatment plan should be determined according to the person's headache characteristics, health history and physician evaluation.

How to Choose a Check-Up Package for Migraine Patients?

It cannot be said that a check-up package that includes more tests is automatically more suitable for migraine patients. The important thing is to evaluate the person's general health risks and any additional symptoms.

When choosing a package:

• Finding a complete blood count

• Including blood sugar and HbA1c evaluation

• Presence of kidney and liver function tests

• Evaluation of lipid profile

• Measuring blood pressure

• Vitamin, mineral or thyroid tests can be added when necessary

• Interpretation of the results by the physician

Features such as can be examined.

Ferritin, B12, vitamin D, magnesium or thyroid tests may not be automatically included in every package, so if a person needs these tests, it is important to check the contents of the package before purchasing.

Plan Your Check-Up Process with Happ Health

In migraine patients, check-up helps evaluate general health status and health problems that may accompany headaches, rather than a specific test that confirms migraine. In addition to basic tests such as complete blood count, blood sugar, kidney and liver functions, the need for ferritin, B12, vitamin D, magnesium or thyroid tests may vary depending on the person's symptoms.

Different services offered by Medical Park and Liv Hospital via Happ Health check-up packages You can review, compare laboratory contents and plan the evaluation process appropriate to your health condition. Especially if there are fatigue, dizziness, heavy menstrual bleeding, numbness, muscle cramps or metabolic problems accompanying migraine, you can check before purchasing whether the tests you need are included in the package you have chosen.

With the approach of "Health Everywhere, For Everyone, Always", we believe that the check-up process is not only about getting as many tests as possible, but also about choosing evaluations appropriate to the person's health history and risk factors. If a health problem other than migraine is suspected as a result of the check-up, referral to the relevant branch may be made.

If there is a sudden and very severe headache, change of consciousness, seizure, new loss of strength, speech disorder or serious vision change, a check-up appointment should not be waited and an urgent health evaluation should be obtained.