That said, a migraine diagnosis can take time; while your symptoms and medical history are the key to diagnosis, medical tests or imaging may confirm whether your recurrent episodes are actually migraines and not the result of another health condition.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
Diagnostic Tools for Migraines
Migraines are diagnosed based on a person’s medical history and physical exam. In some cases, addition testing may be needed to help rule out other health conditions.
Medical History
When diagnosing a migraine, your healthcare provider will take a detailed medical history that includes information about your symptoms.
Migraines can progress through four phases (which may present with various symptoms):
To help determine whether you meet the criteria for a migraine, your healthcare provider may also ask about the frequency and duration of your symptoms.
A migraine can be suspected if you experience:Recurring headaches that are moderate to severe in intensityVisual auraFamily history of migraineOnset of symptoms around puberty
A migraine can be suspected if you experience:
Physical Exam
Your physical examination, which will include a neurological exam, is a vital part of your migraine evaluation. Your healthcare provider will want to perform several tests to be sure that you don’t have a neurological defect along with your symptoms. Reflex changes, sensory loss, or weakness are all signs of a problem such as a stroke or multiple sclerosis (MS).
Your healthcare provider will also check your eyes with an ophthalmoscope to see if you have swelling of your optic nerve (the nerve that controls vision). This can indicate a serious problem such as a brain tumor or a brain aneurysm.
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Your healthcare provider may decide to run some tests to rule out other conditions besides migraines if your symptoms are new, changing, or if they don’t completely fit into what would be expected to accompany a migraine.
Blood Tests
There are a variety of blood tests your healthcare provider may perform to help rule out other conditions aside from a migraine, including:
Imaging
You may need diagnostic imaging tests to rule out problems such as stroke, a brain aneurysm, or a brain tumor, especially if your physical examination is not completely normal.
Imaging tests that you may need include:
Can a medical test detect a migraine?Medical tests, including imaging and blood tests, can’t detect a migraine, but your healthcare provider may order these tests to help rule out other causes for your headaches. Your healthcare provider will diagnose your migraine based on your medical history as well as a physical examination and testing to look for any other problems.
Can a medical test detect a migraine?
Medical tests, including imaging and blood tests, can’t detect a migraine, but your healthcare provider may order these tests to help rule out other causes for your headaches. Your healthcare provider will diagnose your migraine based on your medical history as well as a physical examination and testing to look for any other problems.
Differential Diagnoses
Migraine symptoms are similar to symptoms of several other conditions, and your healthcare provider will need to confirm whether you have migraines—the treatment for migraines differs from that of other neurological problems.
There are many common illnesses that are similar to migraines.
Migraine Variants
There are several variants of migraine, including:
Non-Migraine Illnesses
Other non-migraine illnesses are often confused with migraines as well. They include:
It can be difficult to know the difference between a complicated migraine and a stroke, and your healthcare provider may need imaging tests to verify which one you are having.
Self-Management
If you have already been diagnosed with migraines, recognizing your episodes right when they start—or even before they start—is important. This can give you ample opportunity to take your treatment when it will be most effective.
Some people experience a migraine prodrome, which can begin several days before a migraine reaches its peak intensity. A prodrome can manifest with symptoms such as light sensitivity, irritability, and fatigue.
Common signs of an impending migraine include:
Triggers, such as the timing of your menstrual cycle or sleep deprivation, can also be a huge tip that you are having a migraine.
If your symptoms are consistent every time you have an episode, you can learn to recognize whether you are experiencing a migraine, an impending migraine, or a migraine aura.
Recognizing Non-Migraine Episodes
When you have already had migraines, recurrent episodes usually feel familiar. However, changes in your migraine pattern or new signs and symptoms can be concerning, and they may not be true migraines.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may be having a serious medical emergency that requires urgent medical attention:
All of these symptoms suggest the possibility that you could be experiencing another condition that is not a migraine. Get prompt medical attention if the signs and symptoms that you notice at home are not typical of your usual migraines.
Summary
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Migraine.Eigenbrodt AK, Ashina H, Khan S, et al.Diagnosis and management of migraine in ten steps.Nat Rev Neurol. 2021;17(8):501-514. doi:10.1038/s41582-021-00509-5Weatherall M.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine.Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015;6(3):115-123. doi:10.1177/2040622315579627Barbosa F, Villa TR.Vestibular migraine: diagnosis challenges and need for targeted treatment.Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(5):416-22. doi:10.1590/0004-282X20160037Kahriman A, Zhu S.Migraine and Tension-Type Headache. Semin Neurol. 2018 Dec;38(6):608-618. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1673683Weatherall MW.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015;6(3):115-23. doi:10.1177/2040622315579627
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Migraine.Eigenbrodt AK, Ashina H, Khan S, et al.Diagnosis and management of migraine in ten steps.Nat Rev Neurol. 2021;17(8):501-514. doi:10.1038/s41582-021-00509-5Weatherall M.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine.Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015;6(3):115-123. doi:10.1177/2040622315579627Barbosa F, Villa TR.Vestibular migraine: diagnosis challenges and need for targeted treatment.Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(5):416-22. doi:10.1590/0004-282X20160037Kahriman A, Zhu S.Migraine and Tension-Type Headache. Semin Neurol. 2018 Dec;38(6):608-618. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1673683Weatherall MW.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015;6(3):115-23. doi:10.1177/2040622315579627
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Migraine.Eigenbrodt AK, Ashina H, Khan S, et al.Diagnosis and management of migraine in ten steps.Nat Rev Neurol. 2021;17(8):501-514. doi:10.1038/s41582-021-00509-5Weatherall M.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine.Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015;6(3):115-123. doi:10.1177/2040622315579627Barbosa F, Villa TR.Vestibular migraine: diagnosis challenges and need for targeted treatment.Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(5):416-22. doi:10.1590/0004-282X20160037Kahriman A, Zhu S.Migraine and Tension-Type Headache. Semin Neurol. 2018 Dec;38(6):608-618. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1673683Weatherall MW.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015;6(3):115-23. doi:10.1177/2040622315579627
MedlinePlus.Migraine.
Eigenbrodt AK, Ashina H, Khan S, et al.Diagnosis and management of migraine in ten steps.Nat Rev Neurol. 2021;17(8):501-514. doi:10.1038/s41582-021-00509-5
Weatherall M.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine.Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015;6(3):115-123. doi:10.1177/2040622315579627
Barbosa F, Villa TR.Vestibular migraine: diagnosis challenges and need for targeted treatment.Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(5):416-22. doi:10.1590/0004-282X20160037
Kahriman A, Zhu S.Migraine and Tension-Type Headache. Semin Neurol. 2018 Dec;38(6):608-618. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1673683
Weatherall MW.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015;6(3):115-23. doi:10.1177/2040622315579627
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