 [ Symptoms ] how is a migraine with aura diagnosed [ Disease ] before determining treatment your doctor will want to be sure that there are no other causes for your headache so it is likely the doctor will perform physical and perhaps neurologic exams in addition your doctor will ask you about your health history including questions such as these do other family members have migraines or other kinds of headaches do you have any allergies what is the level of stress in your life do you use medications such as birth control pills or vasodilators that could cause headaches do you exert yourself physically or notice that headaches start after coughing or sneezing your doctor may also request these tests to be sure that the headache is not caused by other factors blood tests imaging such as x ray ct scan or mri checks for infection bleeding or other medical problems that could cause similar symptoms