What Blood Tests are Done for Headaches?

Headaches can disrupt your day and severely impact your quality of life. If you’re suffering from frequent or severe headaches, understanding the causes and treatments is key to getting relief. This guide covers the common types of headaches, diagnosis, and both medical and natural treatments for headache and migraine relief.

What Causes Headaches?

Headaches can stem from many sources. Some key causes include:

1. Tension Headaches: Tension headaches are characterized by constant, dull pain or pressure around the head and neck. They are often triggered by stress, poor posture, jaw clenching, or eye strain.🤕
2. Migraines: Migraines cause moderate to severe throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head. Nausea, light and sound sensitivity are common migraine symptoms. Migraines may be preceded by visual auras. 🤕🤒
3. Cluster Headaches: Cluster headaches cause intense, piercing pain around one eye and side of the face in recurring attack cycles. They are less common but more severe.🌡️
4. Sinus Headaches: Sinus headaches feel like pressure and tenderness in the face and brow area. They result from inflammation in the sinus cavities.🤒
5. Medication Overuse Headaches: Overusing analgesics for headache relief can lead to rebound headaches from medication overuse. Limit painkiller use to avoid this.💊
6. Underlying Conditions: Headaches may also arise from underlying health issues like concussion, hypertension, meningitis, aneurysms, eye problems and more. See a doctor if new severe headaches develop.🩺

Diagnosing Your Headache

To determine the type of headache you have, doctors consider your symptoms, medical history, and response to treatments. Tests that may help diagnose headache cause:

• Physical and neurological exam to check nerves, coordination, reflexes, and senses. 🧑‍⚕️
• Blood tests to check for potential infections, anaemia and other issues. 🩸
• Brain imaging like CT or MRI scans to rule out tumours or structural issues if needed. 🧠
• Vision exam to uncover eye strain or other concerns contributing to headaches. 👁️

Keeping a headache journal noting symptoms, triggers, diet, and family history helps your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.

Treatments for Headache Relief

The right treatments can help you prevent and stop headache pain fast:

1. Over-the-Counter Medication: For mild headaches, OTC analgesics like ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen bring relief. Follow dosage limits. 💊
2. Prescription Medication: For moderate to severe migraines, triptans, ergots and painkillers treat acute attacks. Preventive medications may be prescribed. 🗳️
3. Migraine Injections: Injectable sumatriptan, ketorolac, magnesium and more can stop migraines after oral meds fail. 💉
4. Nerve Blocks: Anaesthetic nerve block injections can temporarily numb headache trigger points and nerves to the brain. 💉
5. Biofeedback: Biofeedback helps you gain control of physical processes like muscle tension that contribute to headaches.🧘‍♀️
6. Physical Therapy: PT helps correct poor posture, neck pain and jaw problems that lead to tension headaches.🦾
7. Trigger Avoidance: Identifying and avoiding environmental headache triggers like strong scents can prevent attacks.🤢
8. Alternative Therapies: Relaxation techniques, acupuncture, and supplements like feverfew or magnesium may help prevent headaches.💆‍♂️

Talk to your doctor to build a headache treatment plan tailored to your specific symptoms and needs.

What Blood Tests are Done for Headaches?

Here are some of the key lab tests that may be used to diagnose and treat headaches and migraines:

Blood Tests

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): Checks for anaemia, infections, blood cell abnormalities.
• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR): Can detect inflammation associated with chronic headaches.
• Thyroid Function Tests: Headaches can be a symptom of hyper/hypothyroidism.
• Vitamin D, B12, and electrolyte tests: Deficiencies can cause headaches.
• Hormone Tests: Headaches in women may be linked to estrogen levels.
• C-Reactive Protein: Elevated levels may indicate headaches due to inflammation.
• Food allergy testing: Allergies can trigger migraines.

Imaging Tests

• CT scan: Helps rule out tumours, haemorrhage, stroke or head trauma.
• MRI: Provides detailed images to detect possible causes like aneurysm, sinusitis.
• MRA (magnetic resonance angiography): Evaluates blood vessels and flow in the brain.
• PET scan: Shows brain cell activity and function.
• X-rays: Can reveal sinus issues contributing to headaches.

Other Diagnostic Tests

• Lumbar puncture: Analyses cerebrospinal fluid to diagnose infections, bleeding.
• EEG: Checks for neurological conditions like epilepsy.
• Vision exam: Headaches can stem from eye problems like astigmatism.

These tests help identify underlying conditions, like infections, hormonal imbalances, or nutritional deficiencies causing headaches, so proper treatment can be administered.

How to Manage Migraine Symptoms at Home?

When migraine strikes, you can take steps at home to ease symptoms:

• Rest in a cool, dark, quiet room. Limit sensory input to reduce stimulation.🛏️
• Apply a cold compress or ice pack to the head or neck to alleviate pain. 🧊
• Stay hydrated to avoid dehydration, which can worsen migraine. 🥤
• Use essential oils like peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus. 💐
• Relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing may help when practised regularly. 🧘‍♀️

Avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugary foods, and skipped meals, as these can trigger migraine attacks. OTC meds can help stop migraine pain. See your doctor if headaches are frequent or severe.

How to Identify and Prevent Migraine Triggers?

Identifying and avoiding triggers is key to controlling migraines. Track symptoms and activities in a headache journal to pinpoint your triggers. Common migraine triggers include:

• Stress and high emotions: Manage stress with exercise, meditation, therapy. 🧘‍♀️
• Hormonal changes: Women may experience migraine pre-menstruation. Birth control can help.👩
• Sleep issues: Stick to consistent sleep-wake times. Treat sleep apnoea if present. 🛌
• Weather changes: Stay hydrated and minimize temperature fluctuations. 🌡️
• Alcohol and caffeine: Limit intake to avoid withdrawal headaches. 🍺☕
• Strong scents: Avoid perfumes, cleaning products, smoke. 🧴
• Bright, flashing lights: Wear sunglasses and limit screen use. 🕶️
• Certain foods: Cheese, chocolate, cured meats, citrus, MSG, onions, nuts. 🧀🍫

Making healthy lifestyle choices like staying active, limiting stress, and eating regular nutritious meals can prevent migraine attacks before they start.

What's the difference between a migraine and a regular headache?

Migraines cause moderate to severe throbbing head pain, often on one side. Nausea, vomiting, light/sound sensitivity are common with migraines but not typical with tension headaches. Migraines may be preceded by visual disturbances.

What headache symptoms should I see a doctor for?

See your doctor urgently if you have a sudden severe headache along with fever, neck stiffness, confusion, seizures, loss of consciousness, or head injury. Also see a doctor for new onset chronic headaches.

Can headaches be cured?

There is no cure for primary headaches, but the right treatments can effectively prevent and stop headache attacks. Avoiding triggers and managing underlying conditions can eliminate secondary headaches.

Are headaches hereditary?

Yes, migraine and cluster headaches typically run in families. Genetics play a role in episodic and chronic migraine. Having a first-degree relative with migraine raises your risk.

Get Relief at healthcare nt sickcare

If you’re struggling with frequent migraines or tension headaches, your doctor can help diagnose the cause and create a tailored treatment plan. Diagnostic tests like blood counts, vision checks, and imaging may be needed. healthcare nt sickcare provides convenient access to these tests at our Pune labs. Get checked to uncover any underlying issues causing your headaches. Our experts will explain your test results and work with your doctor to find solutions to your headache problems. Visit healthcarentsickcare.com to book your tests and find relief!

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