How to understand if there is intracranial pressure. Increased intracranial pressure. Causes, symptoms and signs, diagnosis, treatment

Cranial pressure is one of the vital parameters of any person and can signal the presence of serious pathologies. Normal value parameter is very important in ensuring the operation of all internal organs, and its increase can cause serious disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system. However, increased cranial pressure in a newborn child may not be dangerous; similarly, its temporary change in some cases in adults is considered natural.

The concept of cranial pressure

Cranial pressure (intracranial pressure) is a pressure load that occurs in the sinuses of the membrane, cerebral ventricles, epidural and subarachnoid intracranial space and depends on cerebral pressure, vascular tone, blood flow volume and production of cerebrospinal fluid, blood-brain barrier permeability, cerebral fluid homeostasis. A change in any of these factors generates a compensatory reflex reaction that maintains cranial pressure within certain limits. Normal intracranial pressure is maintained in the range of 7.4-16 mm Hg.

In principle, a violation of intracranial pressure can occur in two directions - an increase (hypertension) or a decrease (hypotension). Hypertension occurs when any of the brain contents increase in volume: cerebrospinal fluid, tissue fluid (as a result of edema), blood flow, or the brain tissue itself in the form of a tumor. Hypotension may occur when the integrity of the membrane of the brain is violated and part of the cerebrospinal fluid leaks. This phenomenon is manifested in open wounds.

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Causes of hypertension

Hypertension can be short-term as a result of excess blood flow during physical overload, stress, exposure to external atmospheric factors, etc. Such a violation of pressure usually disappears when the action of the provoking factor ceases. Another thing is long-term hypertension, which is most often caused by an increase in the volume of cerebrospinal fluid. In adults, this phenomenon can be caused by three main reasons: excessive fluid secretion; incomplete absorption of its brain sections and deterioration of the patency of the duct.

The main causes that give rise to an increase in cranial pressure are: trauma to the skull, meningitis or encephalitis, hereditary genetic disorders of the central nervous system, oxygen deficiency, toxic or alcohol poisoning. Hypertension is sometimes associated pathological disorder blood flow, expressed in the incoming excess blood mass when the self-regulation mechanism is affected by the processes of blood inflow and outflow. The increased volume of the brain mass is due to the presence of tumors of a benign or malignant nature, as well as tissue edema.

In newborns, increased cranial pressure can be caused by hydrocephalus (hydrocephalus), when cerebrospinal fluid does not drain from the skull. In this case, the child sometimes has a deformity of the skull.

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Symptoms of cranial hypertension

An increase in intracranial pressure causes a number of characteristic manifestations due to functional disorders of the central nervous system. The following main symptoms in adults can be distinguished: pain and heaviness in the head, aggravated in the morning or at night, in the early hours; nausea and vomiting after getting up; disorders of the cardiovascular system (palpitations, increased blood pressure, fainting, increased sweating); nervousness; blue circles under the eyes; reduced potency; increased pain symptoms in the supine position; tangible change general condition depending on climatic factors; visual anomalies (swelling ophthalmic nerve, deterioration peripheral vision, change in visual reaction); hearing loss and tinnitus.

Signs of increased pressure in infants are detected by increased anxiety and crying, which increase in the evening and at night. Long stay child in horizontal position increases the volume of cerebral fluid while slowing down venous outflow. As a result, sleep is disturbed, nausea, vomiting, and regurgitation appear. A characteristic sign of infantile intracranial hypertension is the disproportionate size of the head, an increase in the frontal zone, swelling of the fontanelles, the manifestation venous network on the head. With hypertension caused by birth trauma, Graefe's symptom is often observed - an uncontrolled deviation of the eyeball in a downward direction.

In middle-aged and older children, increased cranial pressure is expressed in nausea and vomiting, severe headaches, and sleep disturbance.

The child often complains of eye pain and visual anomalies: double vision, flashes in the eyes, the appearance of flies and ribbons before the eyes.

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Varieties of pathology

There are two main types of intracranial hypertension - acute and chronic. The acute form is most often unexpected and abruptly manifested as a result of a traumatic brain injury or internal hemorrhage. In the severe course of the acute phase, the pressure rises above 25 mm Hg, which requires emergency surgical intervention (usually craniotomy of individual sections).

The chronic type of the disease is neurological in nature, and hypertension is found over a long period with periods of remission and exacerbations. The main symptom of this form of pathology is an almost constant headache, which does not decrease when taking conventional analgesics. The danger of a chronic variety is increased by a high probability of damage to the optic nerve, and its swelling leads to a significant deterioration in vision.

Chronic long-term course of the disease leads to atrophy of brain cells under constant compressive load. With prolonged hypertension, even in one brain area, a dislocation syndrome progresses with such pathologies: hemispheric shift, temporo-tentorial, cerebellar or cerebellar-tentorial displacement. Increasing pressure up to 32 mm Hg. leads to a complete stop of blood flow and blocking of the bioelectric function.

Intracranial pressure is pathological condition, characterized by a violation of the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid from the cerebral ventricles into the spinal canal. The disease manifests itself with many symptoms.

When it becomes chronic, it provokes the development of a stroke, decreased vision, and deformation of the eyeball.
Without timely treatment, fatigue progresses, which means that working capacity in adults and learning in children decrease.

It should be noted right away that intracranial pressure is not independent disease, and is considered a symptom of a number of other ailments. Also, jumps in ICP are considered a physiological norm.

Attention is drawn to this pathology without serious damage to the spinal cord and brain in case of regular jumps or chronic deviations from the norm.

Many of us, as a rule, do not attach much importance to mild ailments, manifested by minor headaches, short-term and mild dizziness, and blurred vision.

But all these signs are characteristic of fluctuations in intracranial pressure and may indicate severe structural damage to the brain.

Increased intracranial pressure - how to understand

How to understand that intracranial pressure is increased and how this condition is felt? In most cases, severe stale head syndrome occurs, bursting pressing pains. This nature of the headache appears as a result of irritation of the receptors of the hard shell of the brain and intracranial vessels. The pressure comes from within on the eyeballs, on the ears.

The feeling is like landing an airplane. Also, the patient experiences constant fatigue, is in a state of increased nervousness. Literally everything annoys him: bright lights, loud sounds, people around him. There is nausea, accompanied by vomiting. But at the same time, the gag reflex does not bring the patient the expected relief. There is a violation of the functions of vision, hearing impairment.

Intracranial pressure increase is a dangerous phenomenon and can cause a lot of harm to human health. It needs attention and help. good specialists in the field of neurology.

Decreased intracranial pressure

In the event of a drop in the level of cerebrospinal fluid, ICP decreases. Primary intracranial hypotension is a rather rare phenomenon.

Most often, the disease occurs due to the loss of cerebrospinal fluid as a result of medical and diagnostic interventions. An overdose of dehydrating drugs can also lead to this condition, as well as arterial hypotension. Most characteristic symptom is a compressive pain in the occipital and parietal regions.

It decreases when pressing the jugular veins or in the supine position with the head down. Pain is accompanied by dizziness, bouts of nausea, tachycardia.

The patient is pale skin, arterial hypotension, lethargy, lethargy. At sharp decline ICP can manifest disorders of consciousness, from mild forms to coma.

Methods for determining intracranial pressure

Assessment of the level of intracranial pressure can be made in the following ways:

the introduction of a catheter into the lumen of the spinal canal or the ventricles of the brain, followed by the attachment of a pressure gauge that works by analogy with mercury thermometer;
the use of methods of both computer and magnetic resonance imaging;
ultrasound examination of the brain (synonym: neurosonography) in children under the age of 1 year;
echoencephaloscopy; examination of the picture of the fundus with the definition of a typical clinic - swelling of the optic nerve head, fuzzy contours, pallor.

Before measuring intracranial pressure, it is important to decide on the research method. In children infancy preference is given to neurosonography and echoencephaloscopy.

Patients who have suffered an acute violation of cerebral circulation are prescribed a tomographic examination, an assessment of the state of the fundus by an ophthalmologist.

Intracranial pressure in a child: signs and symptoms

Children under one year old

Signs of increased intracranial pressure in a newborn and infant:

the fontanel strongly protrudes and pulsates;
intensive growth of the head, disproportionateness of its size, convex forehead;
due to the dynamics of head growth, the sutures of the skull diverge;
downward displacement of the eyeball with a visible strip of sclera on top, also called the "symptom of the setting sun";
clearly visible saphenous veins - « marble skin»;
strabismus, bulging eyes;
decreased muscle tone, weakness in the arms and legs;
convulsions;
chin tremor;
vomiting, profuse regurgitation;
refusal to eat;
weight loss;
lag in the development of motor skills, the child later holds his head, rolls over on his stomach, crawls, sits;
lag in psycho-emotional development;
restlessness, frequent crying;
sleep disorders.

Children over one year old

Signs of intracranial pressure in an older child:

persistent headaches;
complaints of pain in the eyes;
visual impairment: double vision, flashes;
nausea and vomiting;
restless sleep;
capriciousness.

A characteristic sign of increased intracranial pressure in a child of any age is anxiety during a night's sleep.

In the supine position, the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid slows down, ICP rises. It causes headaches and discomfort.

Causes of increased intracranial pressure

Congenital pathologies: hydrocephalus and pathology of the venous sinuses responsible for absorption.

There is a lot of cerebrospinal fluid. It occupies a large volume in the skull: the ventricles increase under the pressure of the fluid and squeeze the surrounding structures of the brain, the size of the head increases significantly, the seams between the bones of the skull diverge.

Unfavorable course of pregnancy:

toxicosis during pregnancy, severe prolonged labor, entanglement of the umbilical cord.

In these cases, the fetus experiences a lack of oxygen. To ensure the breathing of the brain, compensatory mechanisms are activated, and the production of cerebrospinal fluid increases.

Central nervous system infections: meningitis, encephalitis, neurosyphilis

In diseases, edema occurs, and the brain tissue increases in size. This increases the effusion of blood plasma through the walls of blood vessels, which leads to an increase in the amount of CSF.

Infectious diseases: bronchitis, otitis media, gastroenteritis, mastoiditis, malaria.

During infections, blood pressure rises. It provokes excess production of cerebrospinal fluid. The consequence of the transferred diseases is a violation of the absorption of cerebrospinal fluid.

These pathological processes disrupt all three stages of the cerebrospinal fluid cycle: they provoke an increased secretion, disrupt its circulation and absorption. Neoplasms squeeze the holes between the ventricles of the brain. The cavities of the ventricles stretch, increase in volume and squeeze the surrounding tissues, disrupting their nutrition.

Taking medications: corticosteroids, tetracycline antibiotics, biseptol, nitrofurans, retinoids, oral contraceptives

These medicines can cause pseudotumor brain syndrome. This condition is characterized by cerebral edema, impaired circulation of liquor and its absorption.

Endocrine disorders: hyperthyroidism, obesity, adrenal insufficiency, hepatic encephalopathy

Metabolic disorders lead to an increase in blood pressure. Under such conditions, the cerebrospinal fluid is filtered more water. At the same time, absorption is impaired due to high pressure in the veins. It is believed that these changes are triggered by an increase in estrogen levels.

Brain edema caused by its damage: open and closed craniocerebral injuries, neurosurgical operations, stroke

Blood has entered the space between the arachnoid and pia mater of the brain, it damages the villi, which are responsible for the absorption of fluid into the venous system. It happens that this vein becomes clogged with a thrombus or atherosclerotic plaque and stops receiving CSF.

What is hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is an excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the cranial cavity and is accompanied by an increase in intracranial pressure.

The following conditions lead to the occurrence of hydrocephalus:

an increase in the formation of cerebrospinal fluid (fluid that surrounds the brain) with tumors of the vascular plexuses;
the formation of obstacles in the way of the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid;
inflammatory process in the brain tissue.

Symptoms of hydrocephalus in children

The leading symptom characteristic of hydrocephalus in a child is a progressive increase in head size before the age of two years.

The main symptoms of hydrocephalus in newborns due to increased intracranial pressure include:

intensive growth of the head by the end of the first month;
sparse hairline;
disproportionate big forehead;
exophthalmos - protrusion eyeballs;
progressive decrease in visual acuity due to developing atrophy of the optic nerves;

Hydrocephalus in other children age periods accompanied by neuroendocrine disorders, delayed psychomotor development, twitching of the head with a frequency of 2-4 times per second.

Consequences of intracranial pressure

Elevated ICP can be acute or chronic. acute condition usually occurs when severe injuries brain, profuse hemorrhage or stroke. It is important to know that if a person in such a condition is not treated in time, this can lead to the death of the patient.

The chronic form is a pathology that proceeds quite long time. It has a wave-like nature (sometimes it gets aggravated, sometimes it stabilizes). Chronic ICP most often develops as a result of taking medications.

The consequences of chronic intracranial pressure can be:

blurred vision;
depression and mental disorders;
stroke; deafness;
memory impairment;
chronic migraine;
chronic fatigue.

Important! While a person has high ICP, the brain does not receive proper nutrition and oxygen saturation.

Treatment and relief of symptoms of ICP

When suffering from headaches, many of us are accustomed to doing nothing but painkillers. At the same time, forgetting that, without eliminating the root cause pain, it is impossible to get rid of them forever.

The direction of treatment will directly depend on what disease is the root cause. painful symptoms. Used both conservatively and surgery, as well as knowledge and experience of traditional medicine.

In any case, it is necessary to reduce the pressure only under the supervision of a specialist.

The main principle is the simultaneous treatment of the underlying disease and the reduction of ICP different ways and means. In addition to medicines, the patient is prescribed diet therapy, proper drinking regimen, and lifestyle changes.

The following methods of treatment of the disease are used:

diuretics (Veroshpiron, Mannitol, Furosemide, Diakarb, etc.) remove excess fluid from the body, normalize the content of cerebrospinal fluid and improve its absorption;
venotonic drugs that regulate venous outflow (Phlebodia, Troksivazin, Eufilin, etc.);
all preparations containing caffeine tone the veins and promote the outflow venous blood;
preparations containing potassium (Asparkam) improve the balance of electrolytes and tissue metabolism, resulting in improved brain nutrition. They are prescribed for cerebral edema caused by traumatic brain injury or stroke;
corticosteroids (Dexamethasone, Prednisolone) are taken for brain tumors and meningitis. Neutralize swelling caused by intoxication or allergies;
myotropic antispasmodics (No-shpa, Papaverine, Caventon, Cinnarizine, etc.) eliminate spasm of cerebral vessels, thereby improving blood flow and nutrition of the brain;
antibacterial agents used for neuroinfections;
nootropic drugs (Nootropil, Pantogam, Ginkgo biloba, etc.) significantly improve brain function, positively affecting mental processes and the memory mechanism;
sedatives neutralize the effects of stress, act as a vasodilator, relieve irritability, improve sleep quality, mental activity;
vitamin complexes prescribed to improve metabolism, general strengthening organism;
homeopathic remedies(Notta, Nevrochel);
surgical method it is used if a brain tumor has formed and presses on the surrounding intracranial structures. With hydrocephalus, excess cerebrospinal fluid is removed by intracranial penetration using a silicone catheter;
physiotherapy: electrophoresis with aminophylline (the introduction of aminophylline into the collar zone improves brain nutrition and normalizes lymph absorption), a magnet for the collar zone ( magnetic fields normalize blood pressure, relieve swelling), massage, physiotherapy, acupuncture (relieves vasospasm, improves metabolism and the functioning of the nervous system), circular shower (stimulates the vascular system, improves metabolism);
folk treatment is used only if ICP has increased due to excess weight, constant stress, impaired venous outflow or osteochondrosis cervicothoracic spine. Some of these techniques alleviate the symptomatic manifestations of intracranial hypertension, while others eliminate its root cause.

Removing symptoms of intracranial pressure at home

Running can help control blood pressure. The results will appear faster if accompanied by correct breathing. Gymnastic exercises, swimming pool visits, daily walks, any other increase in activity during the day help well.

It is necessary to get rid of excess weight, if any. This will help normalize the pressure. In nutrition, follow healthy principles:

eat less salt and more fresh natural food: vegetables, herbs, fruits.

It will be useful to include ginger in the daily diet, which will strengthen blood vessels, normalize cerebral circulation, increase immunity.

To avoid jumps in ICP at night, a thin and fairly dense pillow should be placed under the head. Thanks to this, the cervical arteries will not be pinched during sleep, and blood circulation in the brain will not be disturbed. In addition, at home, to relieve the symptoms of ICP, they use a heating pad in the lumbar region, do self-massage of the head, collar zone.

It is necessary to stop smoking. Nicotine causes vasospasm and disrupts liquorodynamics. Cut down on alcohol consumption, as it can cause brain swelling. Avoid overheating in the bath or under hot sunbeams.

Limit TV and computer time to one hour a day. Observe the regime of the day, and alternate mental and physical activity. Regularly carry out sanatorium treatment, specializing in diseases of the circulatory system.

Alternative treatment for increased intracranial pressure

Treatment with folk remedies is effective if the CSF pressure has increased due to obesity, osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic spine, impaired venous blood outflow, or chronic stress.

In this case, the purpose of using folk remedies is to normalize the functioning of the nervous system, improve blood circulation and reduce the production of cerebrospinal fluid.

Decoction of mulberry branches

Young mulberry twigs mulberry tree) are harvested in the middle of summer, dried, chopped into pieces with a length of 1.5-2 cm. To prepare a decoction, 2 tbsp. raw materials are poured into an enameled pan, poured with a liter cold water, bring to a boil. Boil on low heat for 20 minutes, insist for an hour. Filter, and take 1 glass 3 times a day before meals. The course of treatment is 21 days. Folic and vitamin C, tocopherol, choline, manganese, zinc and a high concentration of antioxidants can improve performance nerve cells. After 7-10 days, headaches decrease.

A mixture of alcohol tinctures

To prepare this remedy you need:

hawthorn tincture 100ml
motherwort tincture 100ml
Valerian tincture 100ml
peppermint tincture 25ml
eucalyptus tincture 25ml

Tinctures can be bought at the pharmacy. They are poured into a dark glass container, mixed and 10 clove sticks are added and left to infuse for 2 weeks. Take 25 drops on a piece of sugar or in a tablespoon of water, 3 times a day, 20 minutes before meals.

The mixture has a calming effect and eliminates the spasm of the veins responsible for the absorption of CSF.
Decoction of black poplar buds. 2 tbsp. spoons of kidneys pour 2 glasses of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

Cool and take 3 times a day for 0.5 cups on an empty stomach. The duration of treatment is 3 weeks, after 20 days the course is repeated. Due to the diuretic and sedative effect, it is possible to improve overall well-being and reduce the amount of cerebrospinal fluid.

The information in the article is intended for informational purposes and does not call for self-treatment. To establish a diagnosis and receive recommendations for treatment, a consultation with a qualified doctor is necessary.

An increase or decrease in blood pressure are factors known to many people that interfere with a normal, active life, and which also often include the appearance of headaches. However, in this way, symptoms indicating altered intracranial pressure, which are usually thought about much less often, can also appear. This syndrome occurs in a considerable number of people who attribute completely different causes to their symptoms.

What is intracranial pressure

It is known that our head and spinal cord, contains inside special cavities filled with liquid that protects it from impacts. This fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid, and the cavities are called ventricles. The fourth ventricle of the brain opens into the subarachnoid space around the brain, and there, through the vein system, the cerebrospinal fluid is absorbed, goes to the kidneys, and then is excreted. The space has its own dimensions, which are normal in adults - 130-150 ml, and the daily production of cerebrospinal fluid is 450-500 ml. This spinal substrate, in addition to protection, exerts pressure on the brain, which is individual for each person. If there is an increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid, this gives an increased intracranial pressure, and if there is a decrease in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid, a reduced pressure. Pressure count:

normal 10-15 mm Hg. Art.;
at higher (from 15 to 25) treatment is required;
exceeding 25 mm Hg. Art. is critical and requires urgent intervention.

What are the causes of increased intracranial pressure

Unfortunately, intracranial pressure, like arterial pressure, is not constant, and during the day it can rise and fall without affecting our well-being. Fear is caused only by its persistent change, which certainly manifests itself as certain symptoms that should not be ignored, since we are talking about our health and the health of loved ones. This means that you need to carefully monitor your well-being, not attributing a headache only to fatigue, weather or stressful situations, because it can be a signal of increased pressure inside the skull in adults. As a rule, persistent signs of a change in pressure inside the skull, if meningitis, injuries and tumors are not taken into account, cannot appear suddenly if a person has flourishing health. For their occurrence, there must always be some long-term changes in the body that could disrupt metabolic processes flowing in the body. Even ordinary atherosclerosis or posture disorders can become such processes. The physiological causes of pressure changes in adults are an increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid, which occurs due to:

circulatory disorders, when the cerebrospinal fluid is not sufficiently absorbed into the blood;
when there is a lot of fluid in the body, and, accordingly, a lot of cerebrospinal fluid is also released.

As a rule, intracranial pressure in adults can increase gradually, in which case the body adapts to it, and the symptoms are expressed implicitly, mixing with signs of other diseases. In these cases, high hypertension may go unnoticed.

Factors specific to pressure changes

In order not to miss the "hidden" increase in ICP, it is necessary to analyze your condition, while paying attention to the following symptoms:

the gradual onset and buildup of a headache, which, with moderate intensity, “radiates” to the eye area, and upon awakening, there is a “bursting” in the head;
in the supine position, the pain intensifies, as well as when coughing, bending back, that is, when the outflow of venous blood is difficult from the cranial cavity;
in the morning, along with pain, vomiting may appear, which will bring relief;
such manifestations are accompanied by "noise" in the head;
the appearance of swelling of the eyelids, even with bruising of the face;
if you lie down more comfortably, fluffing up the pillow and straightening your neck, the pain in the head disappears, since this improves the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid.

However, over time, compensatory possibilities dry up, and there are fewer and fewer comfortable positions, so a person is forced to take bizarre positions in order to at least partially get rid of pain.

After that, the following symptoms may be added:

agitation or apathy with drowsiness;
rapid heartbeat;
visual impairment (because the abducens nerve is damaged) in the form of strabismus, blurring and loss of lateral and central visual fields;
neurological manifestations, in particular movement and speech disorders, hearing, smell.

Sharply high pressure appears in the following cases:

cerebral hypoxia;
strokes;
meningitis and encephalitis;
tumors;
skull trauma;
poisoning;
high doses of vitamin A.

It must be understood that separately, by itself, each symptom does not mean intracranial hypertension, it can only be indicated by the appearance of several signs at once. But the pressure can also be reduced, which is called hypotension, which occurs due to injuries, vasoconstriction, treatment with diuretic drugs without medical supervision. In this case, it seems to patients that the head is squeezed by a “hoop”, drowsiness and irritability, nausea and vomiting may also appear. Increased intracranial pressure is not a disease, but a set of signs that indicate the appearance in the body pathological processes that need to be identified and treated.

Treatment Methods

If there is a suspicion of an increase in intracranial pressure, it is necessary, without delay, to visit an ophthalmologist, he, when examining the fundus, will determine the condition of the veins, and recommend additional examinations. With the help of tomography, echography and x-rays, it is possible to determine the amount of cerebrospinal fluid, as well as the nature of its location and outflow of venous blood. These studies will help clarify the alleged causes and choose a treatment. At the same time, the doctor will take into account all clinical picture including human well-being. But remember that treatment can only be prescribed by a neurologist, who must correctly interpret the results obtained during the examination. Naturally, it is necessary to treat the underlying disease, but at the same time, additional measures must always be taken to improve well-being. Usually adults are prescribed:

diet and drinking regimen;
diuretics (eg, furosenide), vascular and sedative drugs;
nootropics that will improve brain nutrition;
corticosteroids, in severe cases, such as prednisolone;
B vitamins, drinking regimen;
collar zone massage;
gymnastics;
On the advice of a doctor, folk remedies can also be used. For example, tinctures of mint, parsley, bearberry, clover.

Such drugs, which can be prescribed according to symptoms, will reduce the amount of cerebrospinal fluid inside the brain, as well as improve the outflow of blood through the veins, stabilizing well-being. But all “facilitating” procedures in this case can only be prescribed by a doctor, so it is better to conduct an examination and all treatment in a complex in a hospital.

In the case of intracranial pressure, symptoms and treatment are related. For example, in a serious condition and danger to life, artificial ventilation lungs and even surgical operation. And in case of hypotension, they are treated by stimulating the production of fluid and normalizing the amount of electrolytes in the body. If this does not help, then the CSF leak is surgically eliminated by closing the holes. Remember, if you suspect ICP, you must definitely visit a doctor, as well as listen to his opinion about the methods of treatment and undergo an examination. You can't just heal folk ways, medicines or homeopathy. So you can only expose yourself to the risk of losing time and waiting for irreversible changes in the body, such as hydrocephalus (a decrease in brain volume, replacing it with fluid), blindness, changes in intelligence. If the treatment is done "for the future", then the disease will not develop much, while harm is not done to the body, since side effects drugs will quickly disappear.

To maintain your health, carefully listen to the "signals" that your brain gives. After all, increased intracranial pressure quite seriously disrupts the functioning of the body and creates problems in supplying the brain with oxygen, as well as a threat to life. The well-being of a person directly depends on whether an increase in intracranial pressure has occurred or not. Therefore, when the pressure is normal pressure, everything will be fine with health.

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 can be made, full examination.

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 only be measured by a doctor in a hospital or a specially equipped medical center where there is necessary equipment. 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. Through the hole in cranium a subdural screw is inserted, which measures 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 ways 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. On the this 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 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 increased, then the ophthalmologist will notice the expansion of tortuous vessels, a change in tissue, contours and color of the optic nerve head.
Otoacoustic method. The doctor assesses the position 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 may 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.

People quite often do not pay attention to headaches. In a sense, this is facilitated by modern medicines that allow you to drown out unpleasant sensations.

But everyone should understand that its appearance is a signal from the body, saying that not everything is in order with you. Quite often in such patients, the main cause of discomfort is increased intracranial pressure. Symptoms in adults, treatment methods - read about all this in our review.

What is intracranial pressure

Liquor is a cerebrospinal fluid, the excess of which can put pressure on the human brain. It is formed in clusters of small vessels, which are called "sacs" of the human brain.

And it is the pressure of this fluid that has come to be called intracranial. If there is little cerebrospinal fluid, then the pressure will inevitably decrease, but if there is too much of it, then this is exactly the case when doctors diagnose increased intracranial pressure. Symptoms in adults are extremely unpleasant. And yes, it is a dangerous disease.

A healthy person is distinguished by a stable level of fluid in the body, without obvious predominance in one direction or another.

Increased intracranial pressure: symptoms in adults

In addition to high blood pressure, this problem has a number of accompanying symptoms. How does increased in adults manifest the following:

headache markedly worse in the evening and at night;
constant feeling of nausea, but no vomiting;
a person feels weak and lethargic, he becomes irritable much faster;
the pupil of the eye does not react to light, and the patient himself has “flies” flashing in his eyes;
one side of the body abruptly loses muscle strength, which strongly resembles paralysis.

Headache with intracranial pressure often becomes more pronounced with sneezing and coughing. The same is to be expected from slopes.

In such cases, if the pain zone turns out to be indefinite, one can expect an increase in pain not in the evening, but in the morning.

Pressure has a significant effect on the optic nerve. The consequences of this can be temporary blindness, fog before the eyes and other manifestations that prevent a person from leading a full-fledged lifestyle.

Even mentally stable people experience discomfort during bouts of high blood pressure. They may experience nervous breakdowns, long periods depression. The person becomes lethargic, leads a passive lifestyle and is quickly irritated.

Frequent back pain can also be one of the manifestations of the disease.

How to be treated

If you have increased intracranial pressure, treatment should not be shelved. You need to urgently seek help from a specialist. Methods of therapy are quite strongly dependent on the reasons for the appearance of such high pressure. Much also depends on the age of the patient who consulted a doctor.

The main methods of treatment are taking drugs that affect blood vessels, as well as sedatives and diuretics.

In addition, manual therapy and gymnastics are prescribed.

The patient is put on a specific diet, the essence of which is the use of foods rich in vitamins. Should be avoided a large number liquids and salts.

In especially severe cases, drainage and the introduction of shunts are indicated - this is necessary to reduce the amount of cerebrospinal fluid.

How to reduce intracranial pressure yourself

If the disease caught you at the wrong time, then you can always deal with it at home. You should not count on a complete cure, but it is quite possible to relieve most of the symptoms. So,

Important role diuretic drugs, such as tincture of hawthorn, rosehip, lavender, etc., play in self-medication. They provoke a decrease in intracranial pressure.

It is worth noting that before taking herbal tinctures, it is imperative to consult with your doctor.

Another quite effective massage of two points on the back of the head. To use it, you need to grab your head with your hands so that thumbs were right on the back of the head. After that, it is necessary to make circular movements for several minutes.

Tablets from intracranial pressure

Of course, in the treatment of intracranial pressure, it is also used drug therapy. It should be noted that the treatment medicines must be under the supervision of a physician. Otherwise, negative and even fatal consequences should be expected.

The usual practice in such cases is the appointment of diuretic drugs like Furosemide or Veroshpiron. If the condition adversely affected optic nerve patient, then in this case he is prescribed corticosteroid tablets for intracranial pressure, for example, Prednisolone or Dexamethasone.

Alternative treatment

Is it possible to treat alternative intracranial pressure? Alternative medicine is quite effective, but its main disadvantage is that it only weakens the symptoms that have manifested. In fact, it is almost impossible to cure intracranial pressure with the help of folk remedies. They should be used in cases where it is not possible to get an appointment with the attending physician.

The main weapon against all ailments is herbal infusions and decoctions. Valerian, sage and St. John's wort are mainly used.

Having selected medicinal herbs, they should be poured with boiling water. You need to make sure that the herbs were taken no more than one tablespoon. You need to drink the infusion for one month, drinking a quarter cup three times a day. After a course of herbs, you should take a break from them for a significant period of time.

There are other options. Alcohol tincture- This is a very popular remedy among the people. It is necessary to take dry clover flowers as a basis, fill them with exactly half of the jar, and fill to the very top with alcohol or vodka. After that, the tincture should be placed in a dark and cool place for two weeks.

When it is ready, it can be taken twice a day, one teaspoon, previously diluted with water.

And finally, tincture of garlic is good for headaches. To make it, you need to take three lemons and pass them through a meat grinder along with the skin. Add three chopped cloves of garlic to the resulting mixture.

After that, the drug should be allowed to settle, and only then you can start taking the medicine in small doses and several times a day.

Intracranial pressure. Which doctor should I contact?

What kind of doctor treats this unpleasant and potentially dangerous disease? First you have to go to a therapist to cut off all possible options. After that, they should issue a referral to a neurologist, but he already knows perfectly well what to do with the disease.

You should not expect that the doctor will be able to cure intracranial pressure instantly. To begin with, you will need to undergo many examinations, including an MRI and an encephalogram. After making sure that you do not have other brain pathologies, the doctor will be able to proceed with standard treatment procedures.

The need for examination by the therapist is high, since he needs to cut off many other possible diseases. This is very important, because the sooner you can start proper treatment, the easier it will be to defeat the disease.

Medicines for increased intracranial pressure

Some of the drugs fight the manifestations of intracranial pressure, while the rest are aimed at the root cause of the disease.

Medicines for increased intracranial pressure in adults are primarily diuretics. Their main purpose is to help the body get rid of excess fluid. The smaller it is, the faster the pressure will drop.

For example, the drug "Gricerol" effectively copes with this task.

In addition, drugs that expand vascular system person. For example, one of the most widely used options is magnesia. It also has an antiarrhythmic effect.

Among some doctors, it is common practice to treat internal cranial pressure according to a certain scheme, which includes nootropics and pills that help stabilize the blood circulation process in the brain.

Most frequent choice doctors are "Nootropil", "Pirocetam" and "Phenotropil". Their main goal is to normalize thinking process patient and at the same time help him cope with intellectual stress.

"Sermion" and "Cavinton" are already drugs that affect blood circulation. It is worth recalling once again that only a doctor is able to choose the right pills and determine the dosage. Self-treatment in such a delicate field of medicine can lead to such consequences that none of the doctors can reverse.

When to See a Doctor

It is not the slightest difficulty to measure normal pressure, but when it comes to intracranial pressure, here many fall into a stupor. And there is something from.

The most effective way to find out if there is a problem is a puncture. The doctor takes a needle connected to a pressure gauge and then inserts it into the spinal canal. All this requires careful preparation of the patient, which is available only in a hospital setting.

These are not all options. More expensive - MRI. It costs decent money, but it is no less accurate, and there is no need to insert any needles and other things that can scare the patient. And yet, most often, doctors manage with electroencephalography. With its help, you can detect changes in the picture brain activity, which is also evidence advanced level pressure in the brain.

If you once found yourself with an unreasonable headache and nausea, do not delay, consult a doctor. It may be possible to prevent the disease before it passes into more serious phases.

Causes of the disease

Intracranial pressure, the symptoms and treatment of which we examined, can be triggered by many factors, but most often this condition is observed in cases congenital pathologies and at the most various inflammations such as meningitis and encephalitis.

At risk are people who are overweight. So useful vitamin And at the same time, it is a substance that can significantly increase your pressure, but this is possible only with an excess of retinol in the body.

Intoxication is another reason for the onset of the disease. Exposure to toxic substances adversely affects normal work brain. As a result, serious organic damage can be obtained.

Intracranial pressure in children

Children, no less than adults, are at risk of getting this unpleasant disease, which in the end can have the most negative impact on their level of development and further success in life. Apathy, drowsiness, excessive sensitivity, in some cases even strabismus. All this does not contribute to the learning process, prevents the child from being active and inquisitive.

The consequences of intracranial pressure for a child

The child is at risk of depression, he inevitably lags behind in his studies, does not want to go out with his peers, avoids new acquaintances and even locks himself in his room, because he does not want to participate in any of the activities.

Increased intracranial pressure (symptoms and treatment of the disease depend on the presence of concomitant diseases) can be found even in infants. Because of him, children learn late to hold their heads, walk and even talk. Therefore, a scheduled examination by specialists, including a neurologist, is not recommended to be skipped and ignored.

To prevent such a disaster from happening to your child, you should carefully listen to their complaints (of course, we are talking about older children, not babies) and, if necessary, take them to the doctor in a timely manner.

Symptoms of intracranial pressure in children

In children, the disease manifests itself in its own way, but there are common symptoms. Anxiety and fatigue, severe headache, nausea and vomiting, strabismus - all this is what you should pay attention to during the period of growth of the child.

In absolutely crumbs, the shape of the head can be deformed and the volume of the head can increase, too frequent regurgitation is observed, and this does not even depend on meals. The child as a whole behaves more restlessly than all other children. And finally, a monotonous cry is another evidence that a small organism suffers from increased intracranial pressure.