Intracranial pressure symptoms and treatment in adults

Sometimes the diagnosis of increased intracranial pressure seems to patients a terrible and almost fatal disease. But this pathology is not the final verdict, since several conditions can manifest themselves in its etiology. Only a timely examination by qualified specialists can reveal the cause of the painful symptoms caused by painful processes in the cranium.

Concept definition

High intracranial pressure in medical practice is defined as the penetration of cerebrospinal fluid into the free parts of the skull. Inside the head, such a liquid is called cerebrospinal fluid, which is constantly moving and renewing. Due to the difficulty of its circulation, it penetrates and lingers in special cavities of the brain.

Liquor is important and necessary for a person as an excellent shock-absorbing agent for possible injuries and concussions. By nature, it is so arranged that the brain tissues exert significant pressure on this fluid, a change in which provokes the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in any part of the brain. This is how high pressure arises inside the skull, or rather, in one of its departments. The localization of such a focus directly determines the symptoms of the pathology, which are caused by the primary disease.

The diagnosis of ICP differs for children and adults in a number of ways.

Therapists distinguish between acute and chronic pathology in their patients:

• Acute disease usually has a recent history and is associated with direct brain damage or hemorrhage in its cavity. This is observed in strokes or ruptures of undiagnosed aneurysms. The absence of an ambulance for a long time leads to death or irreparable consequences for the quality of life of patients. Tablets in such cases are not able to help, an emergency solution to the problem is craniotomy. Such an intervention instantly removes high blood pressure along with damaged brain tissue or outflowing blood.
• Symptoms of chronic pathology are somewhat different. Most often, the basis for it are diseases of a neurological nature. Any infectious process can damage the brain of adults, as well as drugs due to their side effects.

In clinical practice, intracranial pressure increases against the background of the following diseases:

1. Pathological states of metabolism, when there are prerequisites for a difficult transition of fluid into the bloodstream.
2. Frequent narrowing and spasm of blood vessels due to somatic pathology of the cardiovascular system.
3. Hemorrhages in the brain, its hypoxic state.
4. Infectious and intoxication damage to the brain.
5. Morbid obesity is the formation of fatty deposits in the upper body, and the head, neck and chest areas, mainly in women.

Based on the polyetiological list of diseases, various signs testify to the pathology of intracranial pressure. First of all, these are headaches of a paroxysmal nature, starting at night or in the morning.

The pain is localized in one area, and patients also complain of "heavy head" symptoms. The cervical vertebrae and the entire spine as a whole can also hurt along the passage of the spinal canal.

Often patients feel sluggish and powerless, their pulse is slowed down, and vascular pressure is reduced. Even a full and long sleep in adults does not bring a feeling of rest and filling with strength.

Often, a pathology in the head is found when men turn to signs of a decrease in sexual desire. Increased pressure in some parts of the skull can displace and crowd important brain centers, including hormone-producing and regulatory links responsible for libido and potency. After successfully treating the primary disease, a full sexual life is restored.

Persons with increased ICP also have high weather sensitivity. Weather changes, heavy rains, squally winds and magnetic storms affect patients in the form of headache attacks, symptoms of heaviness of the head and signs of lack of vascular tone increase.

The appearance of patients with high pressure in the head also changes. There may be dark circles under the lower eyelids that are almost impossible to disguise. The upper eyelid may swell and the eyes may become narrow. Edema can go to the entire face, which must be treated immediately to avoid swelling of the larynx.

A short increase in intracranial pressure can be observed in adults during the day. This happens during a sharp change in body position at home or at work and quickly disappears with the coordinated actions of adaptive systems.

Causes and symptoms of increased pressure in the skull in children are somewhat different from adults. This pathology requires special attention in newborns. Traumatic brain injuries during labor, pregnancy anomalies, or entanglement with the umbilical cord at birth provoke a hypoxic state in the child, which the spinal cord and brain try to cope with by increasing the cerebrospinal fluid.

This causes high ICP in newborn babies, which normalizes over time. In the presence of hydrocephalus, the pressure is not optimized. This pathology in newborns is extremely rare and is usually diagnosed during pregnancy and in the early stages of child development, which makes it possible to successfully treat it.

Diagnostic procedures

In medical practice, pressure inside the head is measured in several ways, depending on age:

1. The most accurate method of research is the introduction of a catheter into the cavity of the cerebral ventricle. The reliability of the method determines its pain and the need for precise control using ultrasound. Such diagnostics are carried out only by qualified clinicians with extensive experience.
2. The setting of the subdural screw also requires the most precise skills. Usually, the procedure is carried out according to strict indications in adults and consists in placing a sensor between the bone base and the dural tissue. The patient is made a trepanation hole, through which the measuring mechanism is installed.
3. Non-invasive methods for measuring ICP are not highly accurate, but they allow assessing the patient's condition even on an outpatient basis. Usually, various types of dopplerography are used: transcranial, duplex, periorbital.

The method for determining this intracranial parameter is chosen only by the doctor, taking into account individual characteristics and risks for the patient.

Drug therapy

Reducing intracranial pressure effectively occurs with the appointment of diuretics. Diuretics have proven themselves in this pathology both in therapy and in pediatrics. Excess fluid in the body thus does not accumulate, but is actively excreted by the increased work of the kidneys. The cerebrospinal fluid also decreases somewhat in volume, and the symptoms of high ICP go away.

Tablets "Diakarb" usually become the drug of choice due to the convenient dosage and the absence of adverse reactions from the whole body. In combination with it, nootopes and vitamin complexes are usually prescribed. Normalize blood circulation in the brain means of vascular appointment: "Sermion", "Cinnarizine", "Cavinton". An infectious process in the pathology of the brain requires antibiotic therapy, and any neoplasm requires surgical intervention.

High cranial pressure treatment with folk remedies does not exclude, but it should not be a priority. Its healing effect should not be tested in children and adolescents.

At home, for adults with symptoms of ICP, they prepare various decoctions, fees, and resort to other means:

1. Recommended for such patients lemon juice with honey. A whole lemon is squeezed and boiled water is added to it, after which a few tablespoons of natural honey. Such a "cocktail" is a storehouse of vitamins for blood vessels and the brain.
2. Honey is also great for head massage at home. For the accompanying effect of aromatherapy, it is mixed with pollen and massaged on the back of the head or neck.
3. Massage can be performed using acupuncture techniques using various cereals. The activating effect of such a massage was noticed by the Chinese sages a very long time ago. A handful of buckwheat or other groats are rolled out in the hand, while relaxing and leaving negative thoughts.
4. Plantain is also used at home. Its dry matter is brewed with boiling water and drunk in small portions. Symptoms of ICP go away, as the microcomposition of this plant perfectly removes excess fluid, which creates additional pressure on the brain.
5. Chamomile tincture not only calms the nervous system, but also behaves like a nootropic. The activation of thought processes occurs within a week of taking a tablespoon of tincture in a glass of water daily, and intracranial pressure is effectively reduced.

Only complex therapy of folk methods and drug treatment normalizes intracranial pressure. Not always the desired level of this parameter is achieved at lightning speed. Even if at home “and the walls help” to eliminate the painful symptoms of high blood pressure, it may take unlimited time in the head, which a qualified doctor will always help to reduce.