Dependence of ICP on the pulsation of the third ventricle. How to reduce intracranial pressure at home

Date: 19.10.2019

An increase in intracranial pressure may indicate the development of neoplasms in the brain, its infectious lesion, or be the result of a cerebral hemorrhage.

For the diagnosis of many diseases, a procedure such as measuring intracranial pressure is necessary. The technique is carried out only in medical institution qualified specialist. How to check intracranial pressure, and why is it necessary?

The level of intracranial pressure is diagnosed for preventive purposes: in patients with diseases that can cause it to increase. In addition, ICP should be measured when indicated, that is, if there are certain symptoms.

For this procedure, you will have to contact a neurologist. Only he has the right to measure ICP. The neurologist reveals the anamnesis of the disease, evaluates the dynamics of complaints. In addition, the doctor will examine the patient and, if necessary, prescribe an additional examination.

How is intracranial pressure measured?

You can assess the level of ICP using several examinations and consultations of narrow specialists:

examination by an ophthalmologist with measurement of intraocular pressure;
ultrasonography in newborns and children under the age of one year ( ultrasonography brain);
electroencephalography to assess the electrical activity of the brain;
neuroimaging methods - computer and magnetic resonance imaging - for a more accurate assessment of the state of the brain ventricles;
spinal puncture followed by microscopic examination of the cerebrospinal fluid is the most accurate and complete technique.

Now we should consider in more detail each technique: how it is carried out and what results can be obtained.

Measurement of intraocular pressure

expansion of retinal vessels;
edematous disc optic nerve.

Identified suspicious symptoms are an indication for measuring intraocular pressure with a Maklakov tonometer. If it exceeds the norm, there is a high probability that ICP is also elevated.

Ultrasonography

This technique is carried out only in children under one year old. What is connected with age limit? The bones of the skull in an adult and even in a child are quite dense and do not transmit ultrasonic waves. However, in children under one year old, fontanelles have not yet closed - empty spaces between the bones of the skull. It is in this area that the sensors of the device are superimposed.

The result, indicating an increase in intracranial pressure, is an increase in the volume of the cerebral ventricles. This technique is indirect, since it does not give exact figures for the level of ICP.

Electroencephalography

The technique is carried out similarly to electrocardiography. Electrodes are placed on the patient's skull and brain biopotentials are recorded. Certain changes in electrical activity indicate an increase in intracranial pressure. These include the following:

the emergence of high-frequency rhythms;
chaotic excitation of brain structures;
diffuse changes.

CT and MRI

This type of examination can be carried out at any age, there are practically no contraindications to it. Such a study allows you to see the structure of the brain in layers and diagnose any, even the smallest, pathological changes.

However, this diagnosis is also indirect, because you can only see the signs that high ICP can manifest. Most often, this is an increase in the ventricles of the brain and its other cavities or the detection of a tumor in the brain tissue.

other signs possible increase ICP can be such conditions:

change in the density of the medulla;
the presence of blood clots in the venous sinuses;
swelling of the brain substance;
hemorrhage into the substance of the brain or into the ventricles.

Spinal puncture

The method allows not only to assess the level of intracranial pressure, but also to identify possible cause his rise. The puncture is carried out certain rules in the treatment room.

Already by the way the cerebrospinal fluid flows out of the puncture needle, you can find out the level of ICP:

if it drains in rare drops, then the pressure is within normal limits;
if the cerebrospinal fluid falls in frequent drops or a jet, this is a sign of an increase in ICP.

To accurately know its level, a pressure gauge is connected to the needle - the pressure is from 80 to 170 mm of water column.

If the cerebrospinal fluid is transparent, the cause of the increase in ICP may be the presence of a tumor formation in the brain. When it contains blood impurities, the cause should be associated with a hemorrhage in the ventricles of the brain. If the liquid is cloudy, this is a sign infection membranes of the brain.

The exact cause is diagnosed after biochemical and bacteriological research liquor.

Rarely used is a method such as inserting a catheter into the ventricles of the brain and connecting a manometer to it. This definition of ICP is the most accurate. However, the method is associated with a high risk of side effects.

What are the signs of elevated ICP

There are certain manifestations that suggest an increase in intracranial pressure and receive medical attention in time. How to determine that ICP has increased, on my own?

First of all, these are intense headaches that do not go away after taking painkillers. Pain radiates to the eyeballs, heaviness and pressure are felt in the eyes, flies appear, light spots and stripes appear.

In addition, with increased ICP, the patient is worried about tinnitus, hearing loss, nausea, periodically turning into vomiting.

With long-term elevated ICP, suffer intellectual ability, character changes, vision gradually worsens.

Children can also develop increased intracranial pressure, which is usually a congenital condition. In this case, hydrocephalus or dropsy of the brain is formed. The head of such children looks disproportionately large in relation to the body. The child is restless, often screams, he has poor appetite. The fontanelles close much later than in a healthy child.

Missing or untimely treatment can lead to the formation of an aneurysm of the brain, the development of a stroke.

CSF pressure can increase due to various diseases:

brain tumors, benign and malignant;
congenital vascular pathologies;
infectious meningitis and encephalitis;
closed craniocerebral injury.

Treatment of such pathologies is possible only in conditions of neurological or infectious hospital. When a patient with high ICP is identified, urgent hospitalization. Treatment can be conservative or surgical.

For conservative treatment are used medical preparations: diuretics, colloidal solutions for intravenous administration, glucocorticoids. With the ineffectiveness of such therapy, surgical intervention is prescribed. In children, the most commonly used shunt is from the ventricles of the brain to abdominal cavity. Adults undergo craniotomy to reduce pressure on the brain.

Intracranial pressure (ICP) is a value that characterizes the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the cranial cavity. Normal pressure is approximately uniform throughout the cranial cavity and varies from 3 to 15 mm Hg. Art. In children, it is different: 1.5-6 mm Hg. Art. in newborns and 3-7 mm Hg. Art. in children after one year.

Intracranial pressure can increase significantly during coughing, sneezing, but these rises are short-lived and do not affect the functioning of the body. A long-term increase in these indicators is a pathology that affects the well-being of a person and the quality of his life. Therefore, it is necessary to start treatment on time, otherwise it can lead to serious complications and even death. To know how to lower intracranial pressure, it is necessary to establish what caused its increase.

Causes of deviations from the norm

When the bones of the skull stop growing and finally fuse with each other, the brain and all the tissues surrounding it occupy a certain volume, limited by the bones of the skull. Simply put, the entire contents of the cranium can be divided into three parts: the medulla itself, the cerebrospinal fluid and the blood in the vessels, both arterial and venous.

In some pathologies, a fourth component may also join them: a tumor or hematoma. Since the bones of the skull cannot be moved apart, a change in the volume of one of the components invariably leads to compression of the others and an increase in pressure.

Increased intracranial pressure can occur for various reasons.

One of the most common causes are traumatic brain injuries. When hitting the head, blood vessels can be injured, and blood accumulates in the cranial cavity. It puts pressure on the brain, which causes an increase in pressure. Especially dangerous are open injuries in which a fracture of the bones of the skull occurs, the fragments of which can wedged into the brain.
Inflammatory processes and other causes leading to cerebral edema.
Some types of poisoning and intoxication, in which the volume of blood in the vessels of the brain greatly increases. Often this leads to poisoning with methanol, ethyl alcohol, salts of heavy metals.
High intracranial pressure can cause a number of infectious diseases, such as malaria, as well as some forms of hepatitis.
Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke - in this case, there is a violation of the blood supply to the brain.
Inflammation of the membranes of the brain (meningitis, encephalitis).
Tumors of the brain.
Thrombosis of cerebral vessels.
Benign intracranial hypertension.
Intracranial pressure in children is most often increased due to birth trauma.

Separately, it should be noted that the cause of increased intracranial pressure in young children can be hydrocephalus, in which too much cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the child's skull. It may occur due to advanced education liquor, due to an obstacle in the way of its outflow or inflammatory processes in brain tissues.

Since the bones of a child's skull have not yet fused and may move apart under pressure, the most striking sign of hydrocephalus is the rapid growth of the head during the first two years of a child's life. You can notice this already in the first month after birth. Moreover, the head grows unevenly: it increases greatly medulla skull, while the facial remains almost normal. Other symptoms include protrusion of the eyeballs, severe violation vision, poor hair growth on the head. Without proper treatment, the child begins to lag behind in development. It is imperative to remove excess fluid from the skull.

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 problems with health. Let's take a closer look at the norms of intracranial pressure, the reasons for the violation of this indicator and other nuances that also have 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 head 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 ICP (ICD code 10 of 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

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 complex of studies carried out does not allow us to determine why the this indicator, 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

Exactly the same as with the increase 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 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 others that are rare, but no less important signs, namely:

Sudden Manifesto 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

Disturbed ICP in adults is a fairly common pathology that requires without fail appropriate 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 brain neurons and has a shock-absorbing effect that prevents organic damage. With normal ICP levels, a person feels good and has increased working capacity, otherwise a sharp deterioration must be noted. general condition.

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 there is a higher risk in the early period 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.

Not less than importance for diagnosis, it also has encephalography, which helps to detect violations of the activity of various parts of the brain tissues characteristic of increased 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 give more full information, and allow 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 establish the value of ICP at home, since it can only be established with the help of a specialized medical technology and is performed only in the 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 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 CSF 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 medicine that will quickly cure low or high level ICP and permanently 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.

Achieving the set goals allows the implementation 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, minor operation(lumbar puncture) is performed only for diagnostic purposes, 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 recommended as part complex therapy to maintain the main treatment. Most healers agree that the greatest efficiency will have a phytopreparation obtained by boiling lemon balm, chamomile, mint in boiling water, lime flowers, valerian and motherwort, taken in equal proportions. 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, depressive states 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 an exclusively auxiliary value, it is fundamentally important to understand that treating a patient even folk medicine should only be taken after consultation with your doctor.

This is quite logical, because the wrong choice of methods and herbal remedies 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 first symptoms, it is necessary to get to the doctor as soon as possible and go through the whole complex. additional surveys 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.

People quite often do not pay attention to headaches. In a sense, this is facilitated by modern medicines to mitigate discomfort.

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 of 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 depend quite strongly 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 the blood vessels, as well as sedatives and diuretics.

In addition, assigned manual therapy and gymnastics.

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,

An important role in self-treatment is played by diuretics, such as tincture of hawthorn, rosehip, lavender, etc. 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 has negatively affected the patient's optic nerve, then he is prescribed corticosteroid tablets for intracranial pressure, such as 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. Actually cure intracranial pressure with folk remedies almost impossible. 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 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 can proceed to standard procedures treatment.

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.

The most frequent choice of doctors is Nootropil, Pirocetam and Phenotropil. Their main goal is to normalize the patient's thought process 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.

Most effective method to find out existence of a problem is a puncture. The doctor takes a needle connected to a pressure gauge and then inserts it into dorsal 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, it is possible to detect changes in the picture of brain activity, which is also evidence of an increased level of 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 of congenital pathologies and with the most various inflammations such as meningitis and encephalitis.

At risk are people who have excess weight. Such a useful vitamin A at the same time 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 the normal functioning of the 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, oversensitivity, v individual cases even squint. 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 detected 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 also general 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.

"Intracranial pressure" - this term can be found quite often, especially in children's clinics. Usually, it is understood as a pathological condition - increased intracranial pressure. It can be quite unpleasant and dangerous, but not everyone understands what it means.

What is increased intracranial pressure?

Brain- the body is extremely delicate and fragile. Even minor damage to it can cause severe pathologies and disorders. Therefore, nature took care of its reliable protection. It is located inside a strong cranium, which protects it from external mechanical damage.

Increased intracranial pressure in medicine is also called intracranial hypertension.

And as additional protection the brain is surrounded by a layer of a special liquid - cerebrospinal fluid. In fact, he is "suspended" in it, without touching the walls of the cranium.

There is a strictly defined amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the cranium. Since its volume is stable, as well as the size of the brain is normal, then intracranial pressure depends on the amount of cerebrospinal fluid.

Liquor, also known as cerebrospinal or cerebrovascular fluid, is formed in several ways: by sweating (leakage) of plasma through certain areas blood vessels in the brain, as well as from the secretions of special glands. It circulates in the subarachnoid space, washing the brain, after which it is reabsorbed by other vessels.

Causes of increased intracranial pressure

Since the volume of the cranium is constant, intracranial pressure depends on two indicators - the volume of the brain and the amount of cerebrospinal fluid. If these indicators are within the normal range, then the pressure has normal indicators.

Thus, several mechanisms of increased intracranial pressure can be identified:

Enlargement of the brain: the formation of a tumor, benign or malignant.
Strengthening the production of liquor.
Deterioration of CSF reabsorption.
Violation of the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid.

Theoretically, there is a fifth factor - a decrease in the volume of the cranium, but this is only possible for newborns whose skull bones have not yet fused. But about this - separately.
Such factors cannot arise on their own, they are the result of a number of diseases.

Diseases that cause increased intracranial pressure

It must be understood that increased intracranial pressure is not independent disease, but only a symptom of severe and dangerous conditions.

There are several diseases that most often cause increased intracranial pressure. First of all, they include:
Volumetric brain tumors, both malignant and benign.

Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the brain and its membranes: meningitis, encephalitis.

Thrombosis of the venous sinuses, due to which the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid is disturbed.

Traumatic brain injury that caused the formation of large hematomas.

Hydrocephalus is a congenital condition, a violation of the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid, which manifests itself already in the first days or months of a child's life. The cause can be various factors, for example, infectious diseases suffered by the mother during pregnancy.

Eclampsia and preeclampsia are forms of late toxicosis of pregnant women, in which blood pressure in a short time reaches critical values.

Ischemic stroke can also cause increased intracranial pressure.

These diseases are extremely severe. They have many health consequences, and increased intracranial pressure against their background is not the most a big problem. However, it can also be their first manifestation, so the symptoms of increased intracranial pressure should be known.

How does increased intracranial pressure manifest itself?

It should be noted that there are many manifestations of high intracranial pressure. They are quite diverse and can relate to different systems:

Severe, prolonged and frequent headaches. A characteristic feature may be their appearance after sleep or even during the night. It is easy to explain this: in a horizontal position and during sleep, the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid slows down, the liquid is absorbed worse, accumulating in the subarachnoid space.

Cyanosis around the eyes, in some cases it can be seen venous pattern.

Nausea, and also vomiting, especially in the morning.

Weakness, fatigue, constant feeling of tiredness.

Weather sensitivity. People suffering from high blood pressure are often more sensitive to changes in the weather, especially pressure.

Visual impairment, which is a consequence of edema of the optic nerve.

Increased nervousness, anxiety, excitability.

The severity of symptoms may vary, depending on the degree of pressure increase.
To the symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, others can be added if the underlying disease has already had time to give consequences.

Methods for diagnosing intracranial pressure

Measuring intracranial pressure is associated with a number of difficulties. The cranium that protects the brain also prevents it from being studied.
To date, there are only a few methods for directly measuring intracranial pressure. This can be a spinal puncture, in which the inserted needle is connected to a conventional pressure gauge and the pressure that the outflowing cerebrospinal fluid creates is used to determine intracranial pressure.

Another method is to insert a transducer directly into the subarachnoid space.

Of course, such diagnostics is associated with a number of difficulties and poses a potential threat to the health of the patient, so they resort to it quite rarely.
Even the measured intracranial pressure is not very informative. Doctors post-Soviet space consider a value in the range of 100-200 units to be the norm, their American colleagues recognize even wider limits.

Therefore, in the diagnosis of increased intracranial pressure, one has to rely on indirect diagnostic methods:

Ultrasound of the brain. This method allows you to study the structure of the brain, as well as quite roughly, but to determine the amount of increased intracranial pressure. But it can be carried out only for children with an ungrown fontanel.

The study of the fundus. One of the consequences of increased intracranial pressure is swelling of the optic nerve. An indirect sign is the absence of pulsation of the fundus vessels and characteristic hematomas.

Magnetic resonance imaging. With the help of MRI, you can study in detail the structure of all parts of the brain. This allows you to detect their deformation, which is characteristic of an increase in intracranial pressure. Also, this diagnostic method helps to see tumors, determine their volume and location.

Electroencephalography. This method allows you to get only indirect data, but if you have characteristic features intracranial hypertension, the data obtained give greater confidence in the provisional diagnosis.

Blood test. Inflammatory diseases brain, which cause an increase in CSF, is also manifested by characteristic changes in the composition of the blood, in particular, an increase in the number of leukocytes.

The listed methods give only an indirect result, but if the obtained data are consistent with clinical picture, the diagnosis can be considered confirmed.
Treatment of increased intracranial pressure

If intracranial pressure is out of range, it can lead to serious consequences, and headaches are the least of the problems.

Due to the fact that some parts of the brain are displaced, dislocation syndromes arise - a number of conditions, each of which threatens the health and life of a person. With a further increase, cerebral circulation may be disturbed, convulsions, confusion of consciousness may begin - up to coma and death.

A number of methods are used to treat increased intracranial pressure:
Diuretics. Diuretic drugs contribute to the outflow of fluid from the body, partially solving the problem of increased intracranial pressure, but its effectiveness is not too high.

Manual therapy. With venous congestion, the problem can be solved by therapeutic massage and other methods of manual therapy.

Shunting. At emergency conditions and a significant amount of CSF, the only option is to remove some of the liquid. This can be done through spinal puncture or by insertion of a shunt.

It is worth noting that such measures do not eliminate the root cause of increased intracranial pressure, so it is important to choose the right therapy for the case.

Increased intracranial pressure in children

A huge amount of material is devoted to this topic today, so increased intracranial pressure in children should be discussed separately. V last years pediatric neuropathologists and pediatricians make this diagnosis in almost half of newborns.

In the USA, Europe and many other countries, the diagnosis of "increased intracranial pressure in children" is made in isolated cases.
This problem is quite voluminous, and it is necessary to understand it carefully. On the one hand, in children after birth, intracranial pressure may indeed be somewhat elevated. This is due to the deformation of the bones of the skull after passing birth canal, the stress of moving from one environment to another, rapid growth brain. This condition is a physiological norm and no specific treatment does not require enough good night and walks.