Increased intracranial pressure, or intracranial hypertension - a condition that can occur suddenly or develop gradually. High intracranial pressure - a fairly common disorder that can be caused by many reasons.

Intracranial hypertension first described in the 16th century Gerrit de Veer - Dutch navigator and explorer. He discovered the toxic effects of the liver of the polar bear during one of the early trips to the Arctic. Several members of the expedition to taste dishes from the liver of polar predator and almost died from a strong increase in intracranial pressure caused by a lethal dose of vitamin A, which contains a polar bear liver.

Acute intracranial hypertension

This violation of the intracranial pressure rises quickly, for example, as a result of head trauma, stroke or abscess formation in the brain. The basis of the reason for this becomes cerebral edema or brain hemorrhage. Symptoms of depend on what caused the increase in intracranial pressure. Patients with acute intracranial hypertension requires urgent hospitalization; in the absence of timely treatment is a violation can lead to severe health consequences and death of the patient.

Chronic intracranial hypertension

High intracranial pressure may be due to the following violations:

• Infectious diseases of the brain, such as meningitis or encephalitis;
• Brain tumors such as glioma, or meningioma;
• Hydrocephalus - a disorder in which the brain accumulates in the cavities of the liquid;
• Some of the disorders affecting the blood vessels, such as arteriovenous fistula;
• The formation of blood clots in the large veins of the brain - a violation is called thrombosis, venous sinuses and is usually caused by an infection or strong dehydration;
• Consumption of excessive amounts of vitamin A;
• Renal insufficiency;
• Liver failure;
• Sleep apnea;
• Taking certain medications, including - tetracycline, minocycline, isotretinoin (Accutane), amiodarone, lithium;
• Lyme disease;
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV);
• Polio;
• Guillain-Barre syndrome;
• Kissing disease Mononucleosis ;
• Syphilis;
• Malaria;
• Systemic lupus erythematosus;
• Sarcoidosis;
• Hypoparathyroidism;
• Addison's disease;
• Behcet's disease.

If the reason for the high intracranial pressure is known, talk about the secondary intracranial hypertension. There is also an idiopathic intracranial hypertension - a condition where the pressure is raised without an established cause. In most cases, the violation occurs in young women who are overweight, and at the age of twenty to thirty years. Scientists can not yet explain the link between obesity and the intracranial pressure; it is known that weight loss is only sometimes helps reduce pressure How to reduce the pressure at home: self-help . Possible causes of idiopathic intracranial hypertension are:

• Hormonal problems, such as Cushing's syndrome, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism;
• Polycythemia vera;
• Anemia;
• Chronic renal failure;
• Autoimmune disease.

High intracranial pressure in a child is in most cases the result of head trauma and brain damage; more rarely it can be associated with hydrocephalus, brain tumors and infections. Whatever the reason, you need as soon as possible take measures to normalize blood pressure; otherwise possible violations of a child's development, and in the most severe cases, death can occur.

Signs of high intracranial pressure

The most common signs of intracranial hypertension are:

• Severe headaches - often they are constant, worse in the morning, on exertion and cough, and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Some patients have a headache Headache   It becomes weaker when they are in the upright position;
• Changes in vision due to swelling of the optic nerves.

Sometimes, high intracranial pressure also causes drowsiness, confusion, irritability, and nausea. In severe cases, intracranial amnesia can lead to seizures in patients.

Diagnostics

When the above-described character of intracranial hypertension, as soon as possible to see a doctor. During the diagnosis will rule out other disorders that can cause similar symptoms. Typically, to determine the cause of high intracranial pressure, held computer tomography or magnetic reso- nance imaging, blood and, if necessary, a number of other procedures.

Treatment

A method for treating intracranial hypertension depends on its cause. Patients with this disorder who are overweight, it is recommended to lose weight - it helps relieve eye problems. Sometimes facilitates weight reduction and other symptoms, without any additional treatment.

Medication. At high intracranial pressure may be used the following formulations:

• Acetazolamide - a diuretic, if the violation is used to remove excess fluid from the body;
• Small doses of prednisolone - steroid which facilitates headaches. It is particularly useful if the patient has a risk of vision loss.
• Lumbar puncture - a procedure in which remove excess cerebrospinal fluid.

Surgery - a measure of last resort in the treatment of intracranial hypertension. During surgery, the surgeon using the catheter redirects fluid from the brain to other areas - for example, into the abdominal cavity. Many patients surgery permanently removes the symptoms, which causes high intracranial pressure. Since the operation related small risk of complications such as infectious diseases. If intracranial hypertension has led to a breach of view, the patient may also need surgery to repair functioning optic nerve.

Forecast

In most cases, certain treatments for a long time to help alleviate the symptoms of intracranial hypertension, although from time to time of a violation may briefly appear again. Patients should be lifelong monitor the intracranial pressure, because even with successful treatment, doctors can not give a guarantee that it will not begin to rise again.

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