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Migraine Headache (cont.)

Exams and Tests

The diagnosis of migraine headache rests solely on what a patient describes to a doctor. A doctor's physical examination of a migraineur typically reveals nothing out of the ordinary; however, a neurological examination will be performed to rule out other causes of headache.

Other causes include stroke, tumor, inflammation of a blood vessel, and infection of the brain's coverings (meningitis) or of the sinuses. In such cases, the following tests may also be performed:

  • Blood tests

  • X-rays

  • CT scan or MRI of the head to look for bleeding, stroke, or tumor

  • A spinal tap (also called a lumbar puncture) to look for evidence of infection or bleeding



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Migraine Headache »

Migraines are severe, throbbing headaches frequently located in the temples or frontal head regions.

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