How to recognize increased intracranial pressure and not fall into a coma

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Life hacker has collected 10 symptoms with which you need to run to the doctor.

Increased Intracranial hypertension Intracranial pressure, or hypertension, is a condition in which something is pressing hard on the brain tissue. For example, this happens if a person produces a lot of cerebrospinal fluid, a brain tumor forms, or blood accumulates there. And the cranium cannot stretch. Therefore, the pressure increases, the Intracranial Pressure (ICP) of Monitors becomes more than 20-25 mm Hg and causes unpleasant symptoms.

But it must be remembered that the signs of high intracranial pressure are nonspecific and can indicate completely different diseases. Therefore, do not be alarmed if you notice these changes in yourself. Better tell your therapist or neurologist about them, and the doctor will already decide what to do. It is worth paying attention to such symptoms.

1. Headache

This is the most common Headache arising from idiopathic changes in CSF pressure sign of intracranial hypertension. The malaise can manifest itself in different ways Headache in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Findings From the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial. Usually it looks like a migraine: there are pulsations in the head and blurred vision, hearing deteriorates. But unlike migraines, pain and whistling in the ears occur synchronously. In other cases, the headache is squeezing, pressing, gradually getting worse, especially with physical exertion, sneezing or coughing.

Over-the-counter pain relievers do not usually help Headache manage this symptom.

2. Convulsions

Intracranial hypertension can cause abnormal activity in brain cells. They begin to send electrical impulses that lead to seizures. Increased intracranial pressure. Sometimes it is a severe, painful muscle spasm, such as in a leg or arm. And sometimes it is a visible twitching of the limb. In severe cases, a person even loses consciousness, and the seizure resembles an attack of epilepsy.

3. Sleepiness

The urge to sleep that occurs during the day is not always associated with increased intracranial pressure. If you constantly stay up late, sleep less than 7 hours a day, or get very tired, then sleepiness is a consequence of a lack of rest.

But if you sleep for 7-8 hours and still want to take a nap during the day, and also notice other symptoms in yourself, then you need to see a doctor.

4. Vomiting

If a person has digestive ailments or is poisoned with something, then before the onset of vomiting he feels Rare causes of emesis nausea, and there is more saliva in the mouth. But with increased intracranial pressure, the gag reflex occurs suddenly, without prior indisposition. And this symptom can be repeated many times at different times of the day.

5. Numbness

With intracranial hypertension, some parts of the brain that are responsible for the sensitivity of the body do not work properly. Therefore, a person may experience increased intracranial pressure numbness in the limbs, face, or elsewhere. It all depends on which nerve cells are affected.

6. Paresis and decreased muscle strength

If, due to increased intracranial pressure, nerve endings are strongly compressed and impulse conduction is disturbed, then muscle contraction worsens. Then a person, for example, has a weakness in his hand and he cannot raise it above shoulder level or squeeze any object. In severe cases, the limb is generally paralyzed. This often occurs with cerebral hemorrhage and the formation of hematoma Intracranial hematoma.

7. Deterioration of vision

The increased intracranial pressure can compress the optic nerve. Therefore, vision problems appear. Increased intracranial pressure. For example, double vision and darkening in the eyes, sometimes the image becomes indistinct, blurry, and some people even find it difficult to roll their eyes. When coughing or sneezing, these symptoms are usually exacerbated by Intracranial hypertension.

8. Changing the size of the pupil

In a healthy person, the pupils react with the Response anisocoria in the pupillary light and darkness reflex to the degree of illumination at the same time. They narrow if there is a lot of light, and expand in darkness. Even if you shine a flashlight in one eye, the pupil in the other will also immediately become smaller. But in some cases, with increased intracranial pressure, the reaction to light is delayed, due to the fact that the optic nerve is pinched. Sometimes the condition is so neglected that the pupils are constantly of different sizes. It is called Anisocoria Anisocoria.

9. Irritability

If a person has always been balanced, kind, but for no apparent reason has become irritable. Increased intracranial pressure, aggressive, perhaps increased intracranial pressure is to blame. But there must be some other symptoms as well.

10. Loss of consciousness

A pressure surge in the cranial cavity, especially a sudden one, can lead to loss of consciousness. This is what happens with Intracranial hypertension, such as in stroke, head trauma, or brain abscess. In severe cases, a person even falls into a coma.

What to do with increased intracranial pressure

As we said above, if several of the described symptoms appear, it is better to see a doctor. He will determine what led to the increase in intracranial pressure. To do this, the doctor will refer you to an examination. It can be Increased intracranial pressure:

• Checking muscle reflexes.
• Examination of the pupils and the study of their response to light.
• CT or MRI of the brain.
• Lumbar puncture. To do this, a small puncture is made in the spine and the pressure of the fluid that flows out of there is measured.
• Measurement of pressure in the ventricles of the brain. An extremely rare procedure in which a special measuring device is inserted directly into the brain through a hole in the skull.

After the specialist makes a diagnosis, he will prescribe treatment.