There are no specific tests to test for migraines, unfortunately, but there are numerous nonspecific tests that your doctor can administer to rule out other causes for the symptoms you experience.
Visiting Your Doctor
If you are concerned about whether your symptoms may be due to migraines, you can speak with your doctor and set up an appointment. At this appointment, they will likely run you through a standard physical; checking the various aspects of your nervous system, such as reflexes, visual and sensory sensitivity, as well as coordination. They will ask for details about your headache symptoms such as where the pain is located, whether it moves, pulsates, gets worse with exercise, and whether it is severe enough that it prevents you from participating in daily activities2.
Migraine Diary
Keeping a diary of symptoms is equally useful for personal use and also for diagnostic purposes. Because migraines are unique to each individual, migraine diaries are one of the best tools for people to manage their symptoms. Recording sleeping patterns, foods eaten, hydration levels, etc., that occur in and around your migraines can help you identify patterns and ultimately what triggers your migraines. For the same reasons, identifying these triggers can help you work with your physician to create a better plan to manage symptoms.
MRI
Occasionally, Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans (MRIs) will be used in Migraine diagnosis to rule out underlying conditions such as tumors, abscesses, blockages, or aneurysms. If triggers are proving hard to determine with the diary, the next best step is to first make sure it’s not due to something time-sensitive or operable1.
References
- Diagnosing migraine. Patient Care at NYU Langone Health. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://nyulangone.org/conditions/migraine/diagnosis
- NHS. (2019, May 10). Diagnosis – Migraine. NHS. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/migraine/diagnosis/#:~:text=There’s%20no%20specific%20test%20to,diagnosis%20can%20sometimes%20take%20time.
