Increased intracranial pressure symptoms. intracranial hypertension. Infusion of nettle and succession

Content

Frequent headache, dizziness, loss of consciousness are symptoms of serious problems. In some cases, they occur due to increased intracranial pressure. If all these problems are bothering you at the same time, you need to urgently go to the hospital for advice and treatment.

How to check intracranial pressure

Intracranial pressure occurs when cerebrospinal fluid or cerebrospinal fluid acts on the brain. The main part of the substance is formed as a result of the work of the vascular plexuses of glandular cells. If the amount of cerebrospinal fluid formed exceeds 1 liter per day, increased pressure appears inside the cranium. In addition, cerebral hypertension is caused by structures such as blood in the vessels and an enlarged brain. Doctors believe that the reasons for which this condition occurs may be:

traumatic brain injury;
hydrocephalus;
brain tumors;
hypertension;
stroke;
meningitis.

However, in order to confirm or refute the presence of these diseases, it is necessary to measure intracranial pressure using one of the existing diagnostic methods. The first thing a person who has felt such an ailment should do is to contact the clinic. Before an accurate diagnosis is made, a complete examination will have to be completed.

Which doctor measures intracranial pressure

Before you contact a specialist for advice, you need to find out who measures intracranial pressure. This direction is carried out by a neuropathologist and an oculist. The first of the doctors conducts an initial examination and interview, assesses the symptoms that bother the patient. After that, he decides whether visits to other doctors and additional examinations with the help of equipment are required. The ophthalmologist has the opportunity to examine the fundus, take measurements and diagnose whether ICP is elevated or not.

Methods for measuring intracranial pressure

The degree of pressure increase inside the skull can be measured only by a doctor in a hospital or a specially equipped medical center where the necessary equipment is available. All methods by which the diagnosis of intracranial pressure is carried out are divided into invasive (based on penetration to the organ) and non-invasive (superficial examination).

Invasive diagnostic methods

Now the invasive method has been used only when it is impossible to do it in another way. These methods pose a danger to the life of the patient and are used only in adults. There are several types of invasive examination:

epidural. Hair is removed on the head, the skin at the site of trepanation is anesthetized, and a small incision is made. A hole is drilled in the skull, through which a special sensor is inserted between the skull and the shell of the brain. The device should reach the lateral part of the ventricle.
Subdural. A subdural screw is inserted through a hole in the skull to measure the level of ICP in the patient.
Use of an intraventricular catheter. It is considered the most effective of the proposed invasive methods. The catheter is inserted through a burr hole in the skull. It helps not only to evaluate data on the level of increased intracranial pressure, but also to pump out the intracerebral fluid with a drainage tube.

Non-invasive diagnostics

An indirect or non-invasive diagnostic method allows you to examine the brain and measure the pressure of the fluid inside it. Unlike direct invasive methods, they are safe and painless. These techniques are suitable for patients with a satisfactory condition, because their accuracy is questionable. The methods by which non-invasive diagnostics are carried out include:

Magnetic resonance imaging. The person is placed inside the capsule during the study, which takes 30-40 minutes. At the moment, doctors regard MRI as an auxiliary diagnostic method, because it does not give accurate results.
Transcranial dopplerography. It is based on the measurement of blood flow velocity inside the basal veins and venous sinus. The level of blood resistance in the jugular veins is also taken into account. The examination is carried out on an outpatient basis.
Duplex scanning of arteries. The doctor can use this study to diagnose the state of blood flow and blood vessels. Takes about 10 minutes.
Examination of the fundus. Before measuring intracranial pressure, the ophthalmologist instills a few drops of a 1% homatropin solution into each eye of the patient to dilate the pupils. Inspection is carried out using a special mirror at a distance of 8 cm or an electric ophthalmoscope. If ICP is elevated, then the ophthalmologist will notice an expansion of tortuous vessels, a change in tissue, contours and color of the optic nerve head.
Otoacoustic method. The doctor evaluates the position of the eardrum in the ear. If the pressure in the cranium is higher than normal, then it also rises in the cochlea.
Spinal puncture. A needle is inserted into the spine between the 3rd and 4th vertebrae. A manometer is attached to it, so they measure the volume of liquid and the degree of pressure. The patient must stay in the hospital during this method.
Rheoencephalography. The method consists in the fact that a high-frequency discharge of a weak current is passed through the tissues of the skull. A device with wires is fixed on the head, a person is seated on a chair and light pulses are directed at him. The device must diagnose the level of ICP by converting the readings into a graph of pulse fluctuations.

How is intracranial pressure measured in adults?

After a visual examination of the patient and an assessment of the symptoms that disturb him, the neuropathologist sends him for an additional examination. The diagnostic method is chosen at the discretion of the specialist and depends on the degree of the patient's condition. In most cases, intracranial pressure in adults is measured non-invasively, but in the case of a serious head injury, direct examination methods are used.

How to check intracranial pressure in a child

Intracranial hypertension can also occur in children. ICP is often diagnosed in newborns based on the following symptoms:

frequent causeless crying;
protruding and tense fontanel;
head size is larger than normal;
strabismus.

Intracranial pressure in older children manifests itself as:

vomit;
headache;
fatigue;
increased excitability;
convulsions.

These signs do not always indicate cerebral hypertension, but if they are disturbing at the same time, then the child should be examined immediately. The doctor will tell you how to measure intracranial pressure in childhood and by what method. Children who have not yet overgrown the fontanel are prescribed neurosonography or ultrasound of the brain. The procedure is completely safe and is indicated for newborns from birth. Children from one year old are sent for echoencephalography. The device will help to track the level of pulsation of the brain vessels.

How to determine intracranial pressure at home

It is very difficult to check intracranial pressure at home. So far, no such devices have been invented that measure this type of pressure. However, it is possible to guess about the disease by indirect signs. Often, due to an increase in ICP, the patient feels the following symptoms.

This article describes the symptoms and treatment of intracranial pressure, signs of increased ICP in children and adults, how to identify and complications of increased ICP.

To date, almost every person has encountered such phenomena as pain in the head, occipital region, dizziness, visual impairment. Moreover, the above symptoms are signs of increased intracranial pressure (ICP), changes in which can have a number of complications. Let us consider in more detail the nature of ICP, its signs, causes of occurrence and ways of its treatment.

What is intracranial pressure?

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a fluid that circulates in the ventricles of the brain. It “washes” our brain and carries useful microelements through the brain cells.

Intracranial pressure is the force with which CSF acts on the soft parts of the brain. Difficulty in the movement of CSF occurs due to the appearance of problems in the venous outflow. As a result, cerebrospinal fluid begins to accumulate and exert excessive pressure on the brain, which manifests itself in the form of headaches and other symptoms. Normal is ICP in the range of 10-17 mm Hg.

Symptoms of intracranial pressure

The main symptom of increased intracranial pressure is pain in the head, which is present at the moment of awakening a person and does not go away during the day. This pain appears due to irritation of the vascular receptors inside the skull and the lining of the brain.

The following signs may be:

Constant fatigue, lethargy.
A state of nervous tension and irritation: to light, noise, other people.
There may be bouts of nausea along with vomiting.
Deterioration of vision and hearing, memory.
Jumps in blood pressure.
Increased sweating.

There are many reasons for an increase in ICP, leading to the onset of symptoms of the disease. In children and adults, they can differ significantly.

Symptoms of ICP in children can appear from birth and lead to complex consequences. Therefore, knowing the main signs of this disease, it is possible to diagnose increased ICP in the early stages and provide the necessary assistance.

Elevated ICP can lead to two cases:

gradual onset of symptoms.
Spontaneous onset of symptoms, in which consciousness is disturbed and falling into a coma. Death occurs in 92% of cases.

What doctors say about hypertension

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Emelyanov G.V.:

I have been treating hypertension for many years. According to statistics, in 89% of cases, hypertension ends with a heart attack or stroke and the death of a person. Approximately two-thirds of patients now die within the first 5 years of disease progression.

The next fact is that it is possible and necessary to bring down the pressure, but this does not cure the disease itself. The only medicine that is officially recommended by the Ministry of Health for the treatment of hypertension and is also used by cardiologists in their work is this. The drug acts on the cause of the disease, making it possible to completely get rid of hypertension. In addition, within the framework of the federal program, every resident of the Russian Federation can receive it IS FREE.

Hydrocephalus in children and its symptoms

Hydrocephalus is an excessive accumulation of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) in the skull, accompanied by an increase in intracranial pressure.

The main symptom of hydrocephalus in children is a pronounced increase in head circumference before the age of 2 years.

Other symptoms:

Violation of the proportion of the forehead in relation to the rest of the head.
Severely bulging eyeballs.
Inflammation of the brain tissue.
Visual impairment, development of optic nerve atrophy.

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Signs of increased ICP in adults

In adults, the symptoms of increased pressure appear gradually. Initially, there is a headache that presses and there is a feeling of fullness.

It manifests itself during awakening, its cause is:

The horizontal position of the body.
Tension of the head when coughing, sneezing.
Nausea, bouts of vomiting, noises.
Reception of analgesics does not remove these symptoms.

The second regular sign of an increase in IRR can be vegetative disorders, which are characterized by:

Changes in blood pressure, pulse.
Intestinal disorders (diarrhea, constipation).
Increased salivation, increased sweating, especially of the upper and lower extremities.
Dizziness.
Short temper.
Apathy.
Anxiety.
Weakness, lethargy.
Heart pain and pain in the abdomen.

The third sign that accompanies an increase in ICP, but extremely rare, may be a stroke-like condition that threatens the life of the patient.

Signs of such cases may be:

Falling into a coma.
Dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system.
Weakened limbs.
Speech disorder.
Continuous vomiting.
Incontinence / retention of urine and feces.
Violation of the cardiovascular system.

Methods for determining and measuring ICP

If blood pressure can be measured using a tonometer on its own, then in the case of intracranial pressure, this procedure is more complicated.

To determine the approximate indicators of ICP use:

Computed tomography.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is not recommended for women in the first trimester of pregnancy, people with decompensated heart failure, suffering from claustrophobia. It is absolutely contraindicated to do MRI for people with magnetic metal implants, pacemakers, in the presence of metal fragments in the body.
Electroencephalography.
Ultrasound of the brain (children under 1 year).
Analysis of the fundus by an ophthalmologist.

The above methods for determining the level of ICP do not give a 100% accurate result. Therefore, in order to timely identify the problem, it is recommended to measure intracranial pressure in the Department of Neurology with the help of medical staff in the following ways:

subdural method. Used in emergencies. An opening is made in the skull and a subdural screw is inserted to determine the level of pressure.
epidural method. Insertion of an epidural sensor into the burr hole of the skull. The disadvantage of this method is the inability to pump out excess accumulated cerebrospinal fluid.
using an intraventricular catheter. A safe method for measuring ICP levels. A catheter inserted into the lateral ventricle of the brain makes this method the most effective and allows you to pump out excess cerebrospinal fluid.

Causes of increased intracranial pressure

High pressure inside the skull occurs as a result of the following conditions:

Inflammation or swelling of the brain, leading to an increase in its volume.
Increased amount of CSF (cerebral fluid) due to hydrocephalus.
Infectious diseases.
Prolonged use of glucocorticosteroid and psychotropic drugs.
Pathologies (anomalies).
Stroke.
Hypoxia.
Vasospasm.
An increase in the volume of blood in the vessels.
Migraine.
Overweight.
Disturbed metabolism.
Too much vitamin A.

Elevated ICP can be considered as a separate disease or as a cause that accompanies other ailments, namely:

Infants suffer from increased ICP due to complications during a woman's pregnancy or birth trauma.

A sharply increased intracranial pressure that has not received the necessary emergency assistance can lead to a fatal outcome.

Also, characteristic complications of increased ICP can be:

epileptic seizures.
Mental disorders.
Stroke.
Visual impairment, blindness.
Pinching of the cerebellum, leading to respiratory failure, muscle weakness.

Ways to lower intracranial pressure

To get rid of the symptoms of increased pressure inside the skull, you can use many techniques. But only the attending physician can determine the desired treatment regimen for the disease.

Non-surgical treatment- prescribing and using diuretic drugs and eating foods low in salt (salt retains fluid in the body).
Surgical therapy. In cases where medication is ineffective, the resulting excess CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) is pumped out using an inserted catheter or a structural neoplasm is removed.
Ethnoscience. Reception of renal diuretic teas, which contribute to the removal of excess fluid from the body; also herbal medicine based on soothing and dilating herbal vessels, they relieve spasms of blood vessels and expand the distance between the walls of blood vessels, improve blood circulation in the brain.
Alternative Methods- this is the appointment of massages, special therapeutic exercises. Such techniques are effective in case of obstructed venous outflow, which provokes an increase in pressure, it appears due to spasms of the muscles of the neck or cervical vertebrae, which compress the veins, preventing normal blood flow.

An increase in intracranial pressure can be situational, single in nature in cases of physical activity or due to changes in weather conditions (meteorological dependence).

Ways and methods of treatment of increased intracranial pressure

In order to choose a method of therapy for increased ICP, it is necessary to establish the root cause of its occurrence. It does not matter which method of treatment is chosen, the main thing is under the supervision of a doctor. It is desirable to combine the treatment of the underlying disease, the difference of which is increased ICP, and the treatment of symptoms of increased ICP. Comprehensive treatment is more effective than separate sequential treatment.

The following treatments can be prescribed and applied:

Diuretic drugs - Mannitol - contribute to the removal of excess fluid from the body.
Drugs aimed at eliminating venous stasis of blood.
Caffeinated drugs that also have a venotonic effect.
Potassium-containing drugs that increase brain nutrition by improving electrolyte balance and tissue metabolism.
Corticosteroid hormones that neutralize cerebral edema after a traumatic brain injury or stroke.
Myotropic antihypertensive drugs have a vasodilating, antispasmodic effect.
Antibacterial agents to avoid various neuroinfections.
Neurodynamic drugs are used to improve brain function, promote the activation of mental processes and the memory mechanism.
Sedative drugs calm the central nervous system, have a vasodilating effect, improve the quality of sleep, brain function.
Complexes of vitamins improve metabolism, strengthen the body.
The surgical method is used by inserting a catheter into the skull to pump out excess cerebrospinal fluid.
Physiotherapy: electrophoresis using substances of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor group is used to improve brain nutrition; massage, exercise therapy, etc.
Alternative medicine.

Therapy for increased intracranial pressure occurs in stages, depending on from the level of neglect of the disease:

І stage- the cause of the disease is eliminated. If the cause is a tumor, a hematoma, then the patient undergoes an operation to remove it. If the reason is an excess of CSF, then a bypass operation is performed, the essence of which is to create an additional channel for the removal of cerebrospinal fluid
II stage- influence on the level of ICP with the help of medications. Osmotic diuretics are used to control the level of cerebral fluid, hormonal agents, nootropic drugs of mixed action.
III stage- Surgical procedures. Insertion of a catheter for pumping out excess cerebral fluid (liquor).
IV stage- Compliance with the diet. Limiting the amount of salt consumed, observing the prescribed diet.
Stage V- manual therapy.

Foods for ICP

In rare cases, after treatment, ICP drops to a critical level. In such cases, you need to know the accompanying symptoms:

Weakness, lethargy.
Dizziness.
Nausea.

What should I know if I have symptoms of elevated ICP?

How to relieve the symptoms of increased ICP at home?

Running helps bring blood pressure back to normal. It is important to even out breathing while running. Gymnastics, swimming, outdoor walks and other increased activity will also help.
Excess weight is the cause of increased ICP, which must be eliminated. You need to start leading a healthy lifestyle, instill in yourself the habits of proper nutrition. Eat less fried, fatty and salty foods and more fruits and vegetables.

It is recommended to put a thin pillow under your head before going to bed, which will not press down on the neck veins and impair blood flow to the brain.
Massages of the head and collar area help to improve well-being and blood circulation.
You need to quit bad habits. Nicotine has a vasoconstrictive effect, which impairs blood flow.

Treatment of increased ICP with folk remedies

Regarding alternative medicine, there is also a sufficient amount ways to normalize intracranial pressure.

Proven methods: combining honey and lemon juice, decoctions of wild rose, plantain, motherwort.
Tea to improve the functioning of the kidneys, adrenal glands, which have a diuretic effect.
Peppermint oil: 10 drops diluted in 1 glass of water and taken 2 times a day after meals. Maintains blood vessels in good shape, maintains elasticity.
Mustard foot baths. Stimulates blood circulation. Soak your feet for 10-20 minutes in a solution of powdered mustard with warm water.
Self-massage of the head with a mixture of honey and pollen. The mixture prepared in advance should be infused in a dark place, then applied with massage movements to the back of the head and wrapped with a towel.
Alcohol tinctures. Mix tinctures of eucalyptus, valerian, hawthorn, motherwort and mint. Eucalyptus and mint are taken in 0.25 parts, everything else in one part. Add cloves and place in a dark container. Take this mixture 3 times a day, 25 drops. This method helps to improve the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid and has an antispasmodic effect on the veins.

It is worth remembering that only a doctor can determine the necessary treatment. Traditional medicine techniques will help remove symptoms for a while until you go to the doctor, who will select the necessary drug.

Myths and truth about increased intracranial pressure

MYTH	TRUTH
Patients with increased ICP with age notice an improvement, and then completely, recovery.	The constant influence of the accumulated cerebrospinal fluid provokes exacerbations listed earlier.
Increased ICP is a disease that cannot be cured.	Today, there are many ways to cure increased ICP, both with medication and with the help of surgery.
Increased ICP is a hereditary disease.	No study confirms such a link.
Children with elevated ICP are mentally retarded.	The level of intracranial pressure does not affect the development of the child.
ICP can only be stabilized with the help of medications.	Some cases require surgical intervention (catheter insertion, bypass)

If one or more symptoms of increased intracranial pressure are detected, an urgent need to contact a doctor who will diagnose the patient's condition and refer him for further treatment. Different stages of the disease require different approaches, ranging from taking medications to surgery.

Many do not attach importance to such symptoms as a slight headache, slight dizziness, blurred vision. But all this is a manifestation of an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) and may indicate the presence of a severe structural lesion of the brain tissues, most often in children (hydrocephalus, hematoma, hemorrhage, tumor). That is why neurologists pay great attention to the problem of intracranial hypertension.

What is intracranial pressure?

Intracranial pressure is a quantitative indicator that reflects the strength of the effect of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on brain tissue. The normal value is in the range from 100 to 151 mm. water column, which corresponds to an indicator of 10-17 mm. Hg

Methods for diagnosing and determining the level of intracranial pressure

The assessment of the value of intracranial pressure can be made in the following ways:

insertion of a catheter into the lumen of the ventricles of the brain or spinal canal, followed by the use of a manometer, which works on a principle similar to a mercury thermometer;

use of magnetic resonance and computed tomography techniques;

neurosonography - an ultrasound examination of the brain, which is performed in children under 1 year old;

examination of the fundus with the definition of characteristic clinical signs - pallor, fuzzy contours, swelling of the optic nerve head;

echoencephaloscopy.

Before measuring intracranial pressure, it is important to determine the research method. For infants, neurosonography or echoencephaloscopy is preferred. Patients who have suffered acute circulatory disorders of the brain are prescribed tomography or an assessment of the fundus by an oculist.

Causes of increased intracranial pressure

Such conditions include:

an increase in the amount of blood in the sharply dilated vessels of the brain due to intoxication of the body (in case of poisoning);

the presence of volumetric formations (foreign body, hematoma, tumor) in the cranial cavity;

the formation of an excess amount of cerebrospinal fluid against the background of hydrocephalus;

an increase in brain volume due to inflammation or swelling.

The main diseases for which a characteristic symptom is an increase in intracranial pressure:

hydrocephalus;

benign intracranial hypertension;

developmental anomalies (Dandy-Walker, Arnold-Chiari);

tumors not only of the medulla, but also of the meninges of the brain, epidural and subepidural hematomas;

intoxication with salts of heavy metals, vapors of toxic gases, ethyl alcohol and methanol;

inflammatory changes in the lining of the brain with ventriculitis, encephalitis, meningitis;

traumatic damage to the brain tissue (contusion and concussion);

violation of cerebral circulation (hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes).

It should be noted that an increase in intracranial pressure in infants in 90% of cases is the result of a birth injury.

Common signs that are characteristic of intracranial hypertension

In the case of an increase in pressure, the symptoms are characterized by diversity and polymorphism. In children, the clinical picture is different from that in adults. The leading signs that are characteristic of ICP are:

sweating;

rare pulse - bradycardia;

drop or increase in blood pressure;

dizziness;

violation of thinking, attention, memory;

drowsiness;

vomiting and nausea;

headache, which occurs mainly in the morning after waking up and is localized in the occipital, temporal and frontal parts, which has a bursting and pressing character;

visual impairment as a result of edema of the papilla of the optic nerve, pathology can cause complete blindness.

Symptoms of increased ICP in children

An increase in intracranial pressure in a child can be symptomatic in the first minutes and hours immediately after birth and often leads to the development of serious pathologies. Knowing about the key signs of pathology, it is possible to make a correct diagnosis at an early stage and prescribe an adequate treatment for the child. Symptoms that indicate the presence of increased intracranial pressure in children include:

pulsation and bulging of the small and large fontanel;

divergence of the bones of the skull and an increase in the size of the sutures;

spitting up food when eating;

decrease in strength in the limbs up to complete immobility;

increase in head circumference;

convulsive syndrome;

violation of the level of consciousness, in severe cases, a coma may occur;

oculomotor disorders in the form of limited mobility of the eyeballs, strabismus;

visual impairment;

repeated vomiting that does not bring relief;

chin tremor;

changes in the behavior of the baby: tearfulness, irritability, or vice versa - lethargy, drowsiness.

There are two options for the development of the clinic of intracranial hypertension:

gradual onset and aggravation of symptoms;

a sharp onset of symptoms of a pathology with impaired consciousness up to a deep coma, the probability of death of a child is 92%.

What is hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus is an excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the cranial cavity, which is accompanied by an increase in intracranial pressure. The development of hydrocephalus occurs in such conditions:

inflammatory process in brain tissues;

the formation of obstacles to the natural outflow of cerebrospinal fluid;

increased formation of cerebrospinal fluid (fluid surrounding the brain) with tumors in the choroid plexuses.

Symptoms of hydrocephalus in children

The key sign of hydrocephalus in a child is a progressive increase in head size before the age of 2 years. Among the main symptoms of hydrocephalus in newborns, which are caused by increased intracranial pressure, include:

progressive decrease in the level of vision against the background of developing atrophy of the optic nerve;

exophthalmos or protrusion of the eyeballs;

disproportionately large forehead;

sparse hairline;

intensive growth of the head at the end of the first month of life.

Hydrocephalus in a child of a different age period is accompanied by the development of neuroendocrine disorders, twitches of the head with a frequency of 2-4 twitches per second, and a delay in psychomotor development.

Signs of increased intracranial pressure in an adult

With an increase in ICP in adults, the clinical picture increases gradually. Headaches come to the fore with the following parameters:

not stopped by taking analgesics;

accompanying symptoms - noise in the head, vomiting and nausea;

provoking factors - overextension of the head, straining, sneezing, coughing, horizontal position of the body;

the time of occurrence - after waking up in the morning, is associated with an increase in intracranial pressure;

the nature of the pain is compressive, arching, pressing, occasionally pulsating.

In second place in terms of the frequency of increased intracranial pressure is the syndrome of autonomic dysfunction. It is typical for him:

pain in the abdomen, heart;

feeling of anxiety, fear, drowsiness, irritability, apathy;

dizziness;

asthma attacks;

moisture of the skin, especially the areas of the soles and palms;

hypersalivation - increased salivation;

violation of intestinal motility with characteristic constipation or diarrhea;

fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure throughout the day.

Much less often, increased intracranial pressure can be accompanied by the development of stroke-like conditions, which also seriously threaten the patient's life. In such cases, the following symptoms should be monitored:

dysfunction of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems;

violation of the functioning of the pelvic organs in the form of retention or incontinence of feces and urine;

indomitable vomiting;

decreased speech function;

decreased limb strength;

unsteadiness when walking and severe dizziness;

impaired consciousness up to the development of coma and coma.

Benign intracranial hypertension

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is one of the understudied pathological conditions in modern neurosurgery and neurology. This disease is typical for overweight women and children. Numerous studies have not been able to establish the exact cause of the pathology.

In the presence of benign intracranial hypertension, there are symptoms that are characteristic of increased intracranial pressure. It should be noted that in the case of this disease, a sudden recovery is observed a few months after the onset of the first signs of pathology.

Complications that may result from increased intracranial pressure

A sudden increase in pressure inside the skull is a condition that threatens the life of the patient and can cause death in the absence of adequate and timely treatment. Other complications that are characteristic of increased ICP include:

hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke;

violation of mental functions;

decreased visual acuity up to the development of complete blindness;

epileptic syndrome;

infringement in the large occipital foramen of the cerebellum, respectively, there is a violation of breathing, a disorder of consciousness and a decrease in the strength of the limbs.

Modern methods of treatment of increased intracranial pressure

Therapy begins after determining the cause, which led to the development of pathology. First stage - elimination of the cause of the pathology.

If the cause of the increase in intracranial pressure is a formation inside the brain - an aneurysm, hematoma, tumor, after an appropriate additional examination, an urgent surgical intervention is performed (removal of the formation).

In the case of excessive production of cerebrospinal fluid in the presence of hydrocephalus, bypass operations are performed, which are necessary to create additional pathways for the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid, which ultimately leads to a decrease in the level of intracranial pressure.

Second phase – medical correction of the level of ICP. For these purposes, a number of drugs of the following groups are used:

osmodiuretics (glycerol, mannitol), which have a directed effect on reducing the amount of cerebrospinal fluid;

neuroprotectors;

hormonal agents ("Dexamethasone");

loop diuretics (Furosemide).

Third stage - medical manipulation. Decompression craniotomy, ventricular puncture are indicated to reduce the volume of cerebrospinal fluid in the cranial cavity.

Fourth stage - Diet therapy. Reduce or restrict salt and fluid intake, consistent with diet #10a and #10.

Fifth stage - the use of manual therapy techniques, controlled hyperventilation, arterial hypotension, hyperbaric oxygenation.

Extremely rarely, in the process of enhanced therapy, a decrease in blood pressure may occur, which is manifested by such symptoms:

nausea and vomiting;

dizziness;

headaches that worsen with head movements;

weakness;

drowsiness.

Treatment of increased intracranial pressure should be comprehensive.

What to do if symptoms of increased intracranial pressure appear?

Below is a plan of action to follow for all patients with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure.

Calm down. It must be remembered that there are many methods that will normalize the level of ICP without endangering the patient's life.

Seek an appointment with a neurologist who will prescribe an examination (examination by an ophthalmologist, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI).

Clearly follow all the doctor's instructions (taking medications, dieting, if necessary, surgery). Failure to comply with the prescribed measures can lead to death.

Five myths about the impact of high ICP

Patients with elevated intracranial pressure recover with age, so there is no need to treat the condition.

This is one of the key misconceptions. Prolonged and persistent exposure of cerebrospinal fluid to brain tissue leads to the formation of the above complications.

Intracranial hypertension is an incurable disease.

The presence of a wide variety of drugs and methods of surgical treatment refutes this fact. Elimination of the cause that provoked ICP leads to the recovery of the patient.

The tendency to increase intracranial pressure is hereditary (genetically determined).

To date, there is no study that would confirm this assumption.

Children who suffer from increased ICP are mentally retarded and show a low IQ score.

Wrong assumption.

You can normalize the level of pressure with the help of special medications and only.

This is not so, in some cases, normalization is possible only by performing surgery.

The brain tissue is very sensitive to mechanical influences. Therefore, nature has placed the human brain in addition to the bone box (skull) in a protective fluid environment (subarachnoid fluid spaces) and provided it with internal fluid cavities (ventricles). Thus, the brain is actually suspended in a liquid - CSF (other names - cerebrospinal fluid or CSF). Liquor is in the cranial cavity under a certain pressure. It is the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid on the brain that is called intracranial pressure .

A normal level of intracranial pressure is very important for a person's well-being. Increased intracranial pressure is not an independent disease, but a symptom of many neurological diseases.

Causes of increased intracranial pressure

All fluid spaces and ventricles are interconnected by ducts. Liquor constantly circulates. In some parts of the brain, it is secreted, and then flows through the liquor ducts to other parts of the brain, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Full renewal of CSF occurs on average 7 times a day.

Excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid causes an increase in its pressure on the substance of the brain. This is called increased intracranial pressure (intracranial hypertension).

Three common causes of chronic increased intracranial pressure:

1. too much liquor is released;
2. CSF is not fully absorbed;
3. the patency of the CSF circulation pathways is impaired.

Increased intracranial pressure and hydrocephalus lead to:

craniocerebral injury (even a very old one, up to a birth injury, concussion, brain bruises);
meningitis or encephalitis;
congenital structural features of the central nervous system (Arnold-Chiari anomaly, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, etc.);
poisoning (including medication and alcohol);
circulatory disorders in the vessels of the brain (for example, ischemia, encephalopathy, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine);
hypoxia;
intracranial volumetric processes (tumors of the brain, meninges, hemorrhages in the brain and intracranial hematomas).

Hydrocephalus

If intracranial pressure is increased significantly and for a sufficiently long time, the fluid cavities of the brain can expand - this expansion is called hydrocephalus . Since the cranial cavity is a closed space, the expansion of the fluid cavities of the brain occurs due to a decrease in the mass of the medulla itself. This process can adversely affect health.

MRI scan of a normal brain. The substance of the brain is shown in gray, the cerebrospinal fluid is shown in white. The normal size of the fluid spaces of the brain (they are slit-like). The ventricles are visible inside the brain. Subarachnoid spaces - a white border around the brain.

MRI scans for intracranial hypertension and hydrocephalus. The result of inadequate treatment of increased intracranial pressure. Excessive accumulation of CSF inside the brain (in the form of a butterfly) and outside the brain (wide white border) is visible. The volume of the medulla is reduced - atrophy of the brain from fluid pressure.

Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure

Increased pressure on the substance of the brain can disrupt the functioning of the central nervous system. Hence the characteristic symptoms:

Heaviness in the head or headaches, increasing in the morning or in the second half of the night;
In severe cases, nausea and / or vomiting in the morning is possible;
· Vegetative-vascular dystonia (sweating, drop or increase in blood pressure, palpitations, pre-syncope states, etc.) is an almost obligatory symptom;
· Fatigue, "stupefaction", easy exhaustion during work or study loads;
· Nervousness;
· "Bruises" under the gases (if you stretch the skin under the eyes in the "bruise" area, dilated small veins are visible);
Possible decrease in sexual desire, potency;
If the human body is in a horizontal position, the cerebrospinal fluid is released more actively, and absorbed more slowly, so intracranial pressure and its symptoms tend to peak in the second half of the night or in the morning;
Intracranial pressure is the higher, the lower the atmospheric pressure, so the deterioration is associated with a change in the weather.

The diagnosis of intracranial hypertension and hydrocephalus is established by doctors on the basis of characteristic symptoms and on the basis of data from special studies, such as brain tomography.

Diagnostics for suspected increased intracranial pressure (intracranial hypertension), hydrocephalus

Direct measurement of intracranial pressure is possible only by inserting a special needle with a manometer connected to it into the fluid cavities of the skull or spinal canal. Therefore, direct measurement of intracranial pressure is not applicable due to the invasiveness of the procedure.

Signs of changes in intracranial pressure in children and adult patients are detected during the following examination procedures:

neurological examination
brain MRI
fundus examination
performing a lumbar puncture
x-ray of the bones of the skull
REG (rheoencephalography)

An increase in intracranial pressure can be said with certainty based on the following data:

Expansion, tortuosity of the fundus veins is an indirect but reliable sign of increased intracranial pressure;
- Expansion of the fluid cavities of the brain and rarefaction of the medulla along the edge of the ventricles of the brain, clearly visible on computed x-ray tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
- Violation of the outflow of venous blood from the cranial cavity, established using ultrasound vascular studies.
- a decrease in the pulse wave on the REG study (on the rheoencephalogram)

How much the brain suffers from an increase in intracranial pressure can be judged by EEG data.

The gold standard for instrumental examination of patients is an assessment of symptoms, brain tomography data and fundus and EEG.

Echoencephalography (Echo-EG) provides indirect and not always reliable data on increased intracranial pressure, it is less reliable than CT and MRI, so this method is rarely used.

intracranial hypertension. Hydrocephalus - treatment

The human brain cannot work normally under the influence of excessive pressure, moreover, a slow atrophy of the white medulla occurs, and this leads to a slow decrease in intellectual abilities, a violation of the nervous regulation of the internal organs (hormonal disorders, arterial hypertension, etc.). Therefore, it is necessary to take all measures for the speedy normalization of intracranial pressure.

In the treatment of increased intracranial pressure, it is important to reduce the excretion and increase the absorption of CSF. Traditionally, it is customary to prescribe diuretics for this purpose. However, the constant use of diuretics is not always acceptable for the patient.

Treatment methods are used to normalize intracranial pressure without drugs. These are special gymnastics to reduce intracranial pressure (used by the patient independently), individual drinking regimen and small changes in nutrition, unloading the venous bed of the head using soft manual therapy methods, acupuncture and physiotherapy.

Thus, a steady decrease in intracranial pressure is achieved without the constant use of diuretics, after which the unpleasant symptoms gradually decrease. The effect is usually noticeable already in the first week of treatment.

Increased intracranial pressure can be cured only if the disease that caused this symptom is treated.

Surgical treatment of hydrocephalus

In very severe cases (for example, CSF block after neurosurgical operations or congenital CSF block), surgical treatment is used. For example, a technology has been developed for implanting tubes (shunts) to drain excess CSF.

PS: Dehydration of the body (vomiting, diarrhea, large blood loss), chronic stress, vegetative-vascular dystonia, depression, neurosis, diseases accompanied by impaired blood circulation in the vessels of the brain (for example, ischemia, encephalopathy, cervical osteochondrosis) lead to a decrease in intracranial pressure (hypotension). ).

Without a doubt, this indicator is very important, but do not forget that intracranial pressure is no less important. Violation of this constant can also lead to the development of unwanted symptoms, as well as indicate the presence of very serious health problems. Let's take a closer look at the norms of intracranial pressure, the reasons for the violation of this indicator and other nuances that are also of great importance.

The problem is very urgent, and untimely provision of qualified medical care can have extremely adverse consequences.

Anatomy of the central nervous system

In order to ensure the work of the brain and spinal cord in the human body, cerebrospinal fluid is produced (otherwise it is also known as cerebral fluid or cerebrospinal fluid). It is she who provides intracranial pressure in principle, and in addition, the following functions are characteristic of her:

protection of the brain from injury against the walls of the skull;
ensuring homeostasis of this system and water and electrolyte balance;
trophic function.

In an adult, the amount of cerebrospinal fluid is 150 ml - this is a multiple of 10% of the cranial cavity.

In order to understand the very mechanism of increased intracranial pressure (ICD code 10 for this disease G93.2), it is fundamentally important to understand the features of the “circulation” of CSF in the body.

So, the cerebrospinal fluid is formed from the blood, runs along certain paths, while washing the spinal cord and brain, and then is absorbed back into the blood. In the event that a failure occurs at any of the above stages, this leads to an increase in intracranial pressure. The fluid compresses the nervous tissue and stretches the sensitive membranes of the brain, which is the cause of pain and many other clinical conditions.

Causes of increased intracranial pressure

The general pathogenetic mechanism of impaired intracranial pressure was discussed above, but it can be implemented for a variety of reasons. Most often, the following pathologies are associated with an increase in ICP:

Swelling or inflammation of the neurotissues of the GM, due to which there is an increase in this organ.
Hydrocephalus - excessively intense synthesis of cerebrospinal fluid.
Tumor, hematoma, or some other body in the tissues of the GM.
Vasodilation of cerebral vessels.
Increase in circulating blood volume.
consequence of intoxication.

All these clinical situations can occur as a component of the following pathologies:

Inflammation of the membranes of the brain, which occurs with neuroinfections.
Intoxication with a variety of poisons.
Intracranial hypertension arising from the growth of tumors of a benign or malignant nature.

Sometimes there is an idiopathic increase or decrease in ICP - spontaneous, as Komarovsky says. In this case, the conducted complex of studies does not allow to determine why this indicator is violated, and this variant of the course of the pathology is the most unfavorable, since it is not supposed to be possible to eliminate its root cause.

Yes, you can measure the level of this constant, you can check all conceivable and inconceivable indicators of homeostasis, but this will not give anything at all, and the only thing left for a person to do is to constantly take drugs that reduce the level of intracranial pressure. Plus - planned operations to remove excess cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricles of the GM and the spinal canal. Again, if that's the case. The only thing that pleases is that this kind of course is extremely rare, approximately 1 out of 1000 cases, and due to the improvement of diagnostic algorithms, the frequency of this phenomenon is becoming less and less.

Symptoms

In the same way as with an increase in blood pressure (hypertension), ICP disorders have their own clinical manifestations. What is most interesting, often these symptoms are quite similar, and it is very difficult to differentiate pathological conditions from each other. So, let's take a closer look at the most common symptoms and clinically significant signs of increased intracranial pressure:

Head (intracranial) pain that does not have a specific localization. Characteristic is its progression with inclinations, manifestations of catarrhal syndrome, turning the head to the right and left, with impaired circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid. The pain is bursting in nature and intensifies many times in the morning. This feature is explained by the fact that in a horizontal position, the intensity of blood flow to the head increases and the production of cerebrospinal fluid accelerates.
Stagnant optic disc, hemorrhages that look like tongues of flame. When performing ophthalmoscopy, tortuous and blood-filled veins of the fundus are visualized, and as a result of stagnation in the venous system, a reduced pulsation of blood in the veins is noted.
Violation of vision, and it can be expressed in a variety of ways. Most often, patients note double vision or short-term blurring of the image, intermittent blindness, various peripheral vision disorders, nystagmus, decreased reaction to light.

The above symptoms are the most common, but there are other, rare, but no less important signs, namely:

Manifesto of sudden panic attacks, which will be accompanied by various dyspeptic manifestations.
Abdominal pain, localized over the entire surface.
With increased ICP, there will be a pronounced increase, which is easily determined by palpation, as well as other neurology.

In adults

Impaired ICP in adults is a fairly common pathology that requires, without fail, correctly selected therapeutic measures. So, at the slightest sign, it will be necessary to visit a general practitioner and a neuropathologist, because neglect of one's own health is fraught with extremely unfavorable, irreversible consequences that can greatly worsen a person's quality of life.

In the same way as in children, in the adult population, SM-fluid provides homeostasis of the internal environment for the neuronal tissues of the brain and has a shock-absorbing effect that prevents organic damage. With normal ICP, a person feels good and has increased efficiency, otherwise, a sharp deterioration in the general condition must be noted.

The normal ICP in adults is 3-15 ml Hg. Art.

In children

Symptoms of increased ICP in a child sometimes occur right from the first minutes of birth, and this is very bad in terms of prognosis, since in the early period there is a higher risk of possible complications. Accordingly, there is a need to take urgent measures to provide honey. help.

The most characteristic signs of increased ICP in varying degrees in babies up to a year are the following:

Swelling of the fontanelles, as well as their excessively intense pulsation.
Changes in behavior: the child becomes either too sleepy or overexcited, confuses day and night.
There is vomiting and regurgitation.
Convulsions occur.
There is a sharp decrease in muscle tone.

All these symptoms are considered early, but in the absence of adequate medical care, an intensive increase in the volume of the head begins - the so-called hydrocephalus is formed. The child may lose consciousness from time to time.

Diagnostics

Non-invasive diagnostic techniques have become more widespread:

As a result of these studies, it becomes possible to identify organic changes in the histological structure of the brain and surrounding neurotissues, directly or indirectly indicating increased intracranial pressure. Those symptoms are the following:

Increase or decrease in the volume of the ventricles of the brain.
Edema, increased space between the soft, arachnoid and hard shells, Present tumors or hematomas.
Changing the configuration of brain structures.
Divergence of the sutures of the skull.

Equally important for diagnosis is encephalography, which helps to detect disturbances in the activity of various parts of the brain tissues characteristic of elevated ICH. Doppler ultrasound of the vessels makes it possible to detect blood flow disorders in the main arteries and veins of the brain, and also allows you to identify congestion and thrombosis.

It is impossible to release the patient without conducting research of the fundus. The above changes in the organ of vision will confirm the diagnosis or cast doubt on its legitimacy.

X-ray is a good study, but the methods listed above provide more complete information and allow you to determine the existing pathological processes at earlier stages. Even if there is a chronic, moderate process, it will still be determined on the tomograph.

How to measure intracranial pressure correctly

It is impossible to determine the value of ICP at home, since it can only be determined using specialized medical equipment and is performed only in a hospital. There are several options to set the value of ICP - the measurement of this constant is carried out in the following ways, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages:

Subdermal. It is carried out only in emergency situations due to technical difficulties.
Intraventricular, which is carried out by introducing a special catheter into the burr hole.
epidural. An epidural sensor is inserted into the burr hole. The disadvantage of this method is that there is no way to remove excess CM fluid.

When to See a Doctor

As soon as the first symptoms appear, you should immediately contact the doctor - he will already determine the tactics of management and the further route of the patient. Timely treatment is the key to successful treatment.

So, the very first (early) sign of an increase in ICP is a headache. In most cases, it occurs in the morning or in the morning. The following factors provoke its appearance:

Stay in a lying position.
Coughing.
Sharp tilts of the head.

In addition, patients note the manifestation of dyspepsia along with a painful attack. Pain with increased ICP cannot be removed honey. drugs.

Treatment of increased intracranial pressure

Therapeutic measures aimed at normalizing ICP can be determined after a series of necessary diagnostic procedures. First of all, etiotropic therapy is carried out, which is aimed at the root cause that “launched” the pathological process, and implies complex measures. In this case, the option of self-treatment is excluded - everything should be under the control of the attending physician and related specialists.

In the event that the cause of the increase in ICP is, shunting is prescribed, thanks to which it is really possible to remove excess fluid from the cranium. Almost all patients are recommended hormonal drugs.

No matter how strange it may sound, a diet that implies the maximum possible restriction of salt in food, as well as the amount of liquid taken, especially coffee and tea, is of great importance in the process of eliminating increased ICP.

Please note that in adolescents, an increase in ICP is very common, so it makes sense for them to check this constant even in the absence of any clinical symptoms.

Physiotherapy

Taking into account the fact that an increase in intracranial pressure is directly or indirectly associated with a violation of the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, doctors recommend performing special exercises. In other words, in addition to drug treatment aimed at eliminating the pathological condition, various physiotherapy procedures (electrophoresis with lidase and bischofite), massage, and a complex of therapeutic exercises are recommended.

In this case, physical therapy is aimed at accelerating circulation, eliminating congestion in the movement of blood and lymph. Gymnastics helps to reduce ICP and pain due to the normalization of blood dynamics and an increase in the rate of metabolic processes. Again, any exercise therapy in this situation can be prescribed by a doctor in addition to medical treatment. drugs.

Medical treatment

Drug correction can be used as monotherapy only if there is no need for surgical intervention. But such situations are extremely rare, therefore, in the vast majority of cases, therapeutic methods are additional.

Treatment begins with the appointment of sedative drugs (Glycine, Novopassita, in severe situations - Gidazepam), which have a calming effect on the nervous system.
In addition, diuretics are recommended, since any fluids from the body are extracted naturally.
The appointment of steroid hormonal drugs is shown.
Vitamin therapy and homeopathic preparations.
Medicines that promote vasodilation (No-shpa, Papaverine).
Sometimes it is recommended Antimigraine - against migraine.
The only thing that can help a person at home is to give a diuretic drug that will reduce ICP.

When determining the tactics of managing a patient who has been found to have hyperproduction of cerebrospinal fluid or any other reason that leads to a violation of intracranial pressure, one should not forget that there is no and by definition cannot be a drug that will quickly cure a low or high level of ICP and forever get rid of the symptoms that occur with this condition. What is most interesting, recognizing and normalizing a low level of ICP is much more difficult than bringing down (lowering, reducing) a high one.

Operation

As noted above, intracranial pressure can be either congenital (impossibility of free outflow of CSF from the cranium) or acquired (in such cases, diseases such as encephalitis and meningitis most often cause hypertension).

Effective therapy for ICP is reduced to the elimination of the causes of these pathologies (in other words, it has an etiotropic orientation), but the elimination of symptoms is also important, since it is they that lead to a significant deterioration in the patient's general condition.

To achieve the set goals allows the implementation of surgical intervention, combined with drug treatment. Please note that in some situations, the operation is aimed at eliminating the root cause of the disease, and in other cases, on the contrary, it only allows you to stop the symptoms.

For example, if hydrocephalus becomes the cause of an increase in ICP, then neurosurgeons remove excess fluid from the cranium by performing surgery. In addition, surgical treatment is indispensable in the situation if the cause of hypertension is a tumor of the brain or spinal cord. In these situations, the operation eliminates the root cause of the disease.

But, for example, in infectious processes - with the same meningitis and encephalitis, a minor operation (lumbar puncture) is performed only for a diagnostic purpose, but at the same time it can alleviate the patient's condition.

Alternative treatment

As monotherapy for increased ICP, treatment with folk remedies cannot be used a priori. Yes, please, as auxiliary methods, but the use of phytopreparations in the fight against ICP disorders is not able to keep this indicator normal, regardless of the nature of its violation.

So, folk recipes are recommended as part of complex therapy to maintain the main treatment. Most healers agree that the herbal remedy obtained by boiling lemon balm, chamomile, mint, lime flowers, valerian and motherwort, taken in equal proportions, will have the greatest effectiveness. Plant raw materials are poured with water based on a ratio of 1 to 5, and boiled over low heat for three hours. It is filtered, cooled and taken in a glass three times a day for a month. The result will not be long in coming.

Please note that this recipe is the best fit for patients who have nervousness, hyperhidrosis, depression and paresthesia. Phytopreparations based on corn stigmas and black poplar buds are recommended for patients who, for one reason or another, are prohibited from taking diuretic medications.

Despite the fact that the use of phytopreparations is of exclusively auxiliary importance, it is fundamentally important to understand that a patient should be treated even with traditional medicine only after consultation with the attending doctor.

This is quite logical, because the wrong selection of methods and herbal remedies is dangerous by repeated deterioration of the patient's condition with intracranial pressure. It is for this reason that it makes sense to exclude the independent appointment and use of certain non-traditional methods.

Consequences

It has been scientifically proven that 20-30% of the adult population suffers from the problem of jumps in blood pressure. With age, the percentage of damage increases and reaches 50-65%. There is even a table of risks for elevated ICP.

The consequences of an increase in ICP can be characterized as follows:

Irreversible organic damage to target organs (heart, brain, kidneys, blood vessels, fundus).
Violation of coordination of movements.
Weakness in arms and legs.
Decreased visual acuity or loss of vision.
Decreased cognitive functions of the brain, tension of the fontanelles, blood from the nose.
The occurrence of stroke (occurs quite rarely, but it happens).
With a significant increase in advanced cases, the likelihood of death is not excluded.

conclusions

In itself, it is an extremely unfavorable moment, but the worst thing is that this condition is an indicator of other ailments, which are characterized by more severe consequences, which often have to be removed in intensive care. That is why, at the very first symptoms, it is necessary to get to the doctor as soon as possible and go through the whole range of additional examinations that allow you to measure this indicator. Only such an approach will make it possible to correctly establish the diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment.

A headache with a cold is a dangerous sign that indicates that you need to urgently go to the doctor and get injections, undergo examinations, drink pills, and not try to be treated at home.