The human brain is placed in a protective fluid (cerebrospinal fluid), and inside it there are fluid cavities (ventricles). Intracranial pressure is the pressure that cerebrospinal fluid exerts on the brain. For the brain to work well, it is very important that it is normal.
What causes can lead to increased pressure? The cerebrospinal fluid constantly circulates through the ducts, which are connected between the departments of the brain. Without going into special terminology, let’s say that having stood out in certain parts of the brain and passing its path through the ducts, it is absorbed into the blood. Thus, in about seven days, the cerebrospinal fluid is completely renewed. If, for whatever reason, cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in an amount greater than is required for brain function, increased intracranial pressure arises . Treatment in adults and children depends on the cause of this process.
Traumatic brain injuries, even long-standing ones (including birth injuries), meningitis, encephalitis, oxygen starvation (hypoxia), and impaired venous outflow can lead to increased intracranial pressure in adults. In some cases, the cause may be individual characteristics of the central nervous system.
What are the mechanisms causing high intracranial pressure? After all, treatment in adults and children is prescribed depending on them. The most common reasons why it can increase is the allocation of more cerebrospinal fluid than the body needs, its incomplete absorption into the bloodstream and impaired patency of the ducts through which cerebrospinal fluid circulates.
With the following symptoms, high intracranial pressure can be suspected:
- a feeling of heaviness in the head and a headache that appears in the second half of the night or closer to the morning;
- nausea in the morning (in severe cases, vomiting);
- manifestations of vegetovascular dystonia (unstable blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, fainting conditions);
- Fatigue during exercise (physical and mental);
- deterioration due to weather changes.
It is actually possible to measure intracranial pressure only by introducing a special needle with a manometer into the fluid cavities of the skull. The complexity of this procedure is due to the fact that it is usually not used to directly measure such an indicator as intracranial pressure. Treatment in adults is prescribed on the basis of the following indirect signs:
- when examined by an ophthalmologist, dilated and convoluted veins of the fundus are revealed;
- magnetic resonance imaging shows that the fluid cavities of the brain are expanded and the medulla is sparse along the edge of the ventricles;
- when conducting an ultrasound examination of the vessels of the head and neck, a violation of the venous outflow is detected.
Of course, the quality of life decreases significantly with the manifestation of such a formidable symptom as high intracranial pressure. Treatment in adults and children should be prescribed as soon as possible after diagnosis, otherwise, under the influence of excessive pressure, the white brain substance will gradually atrophy. Over time, this will cause a decrease in intellectual abilities and disruption of the work of internal organs.
It is very important to reduce the discharge and increase the absorption of cerebrospinal fluid in order to reduce high intracranial pressure. Adult treatment includes both medical methods and non-medical methods: light massage, special gymnastics, special drinking regimen. Even these simple measures can significantly improve well-being. But only a doctor can prescribe them, like drug therapy.
If you find yourself with symptoms of high intracranial pressure, be sure to consult a doctor. He will carry out all the necessary studies and after the diagnosis will prescribe treatment.