How to lower intracranial pressure

Since the increased intracranial pressure is accompanied by pain and discomfort (such as constant headaches Headache: Causes and Complications , Visual impairment), and can result in significant damage to the optic nerve, and even loss of vision, reducing intracranial pressure is very important. To decrease the intracranial pressure are different methods - both medication (taking certain medications) and surgical.

Treatment of increased intracranial pressure

Treatment depends on the causes of increased intracranial pressure. Therefore it conducted primarily cure the underlying disease (e.g., tumors), and in parallel - decrease intracranial pressure. For this purpose, appointed diuretic medications, special diet (salt restriction) and individual drinking regime.

In addition, the reduction in intracranial pressure contribute to the special gymnastic exercises and neck massage (back neck and shoulder).

Drug technique reducing intracranial pressure combines a set of different measures, including:

• Weight loss: in many cases, increased intracranial pressure associated with overweight and obesity, and according to statistics, in five to ten percent of cases observed after the normalization of weight and reduction of intracranial pressure.
• Treat diseases caused by increased intracranial pressure.
• The normalization of intracranial pressure with diuretics: the most effective diuretic, helping to reduce intracranial pressure, is considered to acetazolamide. The recommended dosage of the drug to reduce intracranial pressure - from five milligrams to one gram daily in two stages, if necessary, the dose may be increased. Although the dosage of acetazolamide can be increased to three to four grams per day, large doses cause unpleasant side effects (metallic taste in the mouth, fatigue, paresthesia) and therefore often recommended. If you are hypersensitive acetazolamide to lower intracranial pressure may be appointed furosemide - a less effective drug.
• Decreased intracranial pressure using corticosteroids. Corticosteroids effectively reduce the intracranial pressure when the pressure increase associated with any inflammatory processes. In addition, such drugs can be used in addition to acetazolamide to accelerate the reduction of intracranial pressure when intracranial hypertension caused significant damage to the optic nerve and visual impairment. Due to the high risk of side effects of prolonged use of corticosteroids are usually not recommended.

Lowering the intracranial pressure surgical methods

Surgery to decrease the intracranial pressure is indicated primarily for acute intracranial hypertension - a sharp rise in intracranial pressure resulting in severe injury or stroke Stroke - a serious brain injury . In such cases, to reduce intracranial pressure applied kraniektomiya - surgical removal of individual sections of the skull.

In chronic intracranial hypertension Hypertension - Control your blood pressure When the increased intracranial pressure is observed over a long period of time may be recommended to another method surgical depressurization - via an intraventricular catheter. This procedure involves injecting into the ventricle of the brain (usually the side) of a special catheter through a burr hole is drilled in the skull, followed by pumping excess cerebrospinal fluid.

If increased intracranial pressure Increased intracranial pressure is dangerous for the brain   led to significant visual impairment, it can be simultaneously displayed and optic nerve sheath fenestration - a procedure that reduces the pressure on the optic nerve by pumping cerebrospinal fluid.

What is alcoholism

Alcoholism - a chronic disease, not a behavioral disorder, as many believe. Thus as a result of the toxic effects of alcohol on cells and tissue metabolism varies Improves metabolism and losing weight without dieting And this state remains for ever, return to the metabolic processes in the initial state failed anyone yet. Therefore, a person who formed such a condition (alcohol dependence) has only two options: either to drink more and move into more severe stages of the disease with lesions of the internal organs and the brain, or not drink at all - in this case, if complications do not exist, man remains perfectly normal and socially adapted. But if (even a few years of abstinence) he will use alcohol, all the symptoms of chronic alcoholism immediate return (alcohol in contact with such a person it is always him win).

The Hangover

One sign of a fully formed alcohol dependence Alcohol addiction - for no reason, no reason not arise   a hangover or withdrawal. Abstinence syndrome is that after 8-10 hours after cessation of drinking the patient has sudden sweating, chills, shaking hands (or whole body), headache, nausea, etc. The treatment is simple: you need to drink, because the body needs alcohol. This is a dependency. Hangover - it is an absolute sign of alcoholism.

delirium tremens

Delirium tremens or delirium tremens occurs against a background of hangover after a long binge drinking. Statistics show that of all the people who suffer from chronic alcoholism, 10-12% at least once suffered delirium tremens. Appears delirium gradually, usually 2-3 hours after discontinuation of alcohol, when a person completely sober. Initially, there is anxiety Anxiety - how to distinguish normal from disease? , Restlessness, mood variability. Then joins irrational fear, which gradually increases and becomes permanent. Appear first illusions, such as the shadows begin to move and acquire a strange shape. This state first held only in the evening and night, and the day passes, there is only anxiety, but these symptoms gradually increase. Then there are visual and auditory hallucinations, that is something that is not true. Hallucinations become permanent with possible minor enlightened consciousness. A feature of delirium tremens is that no matter how strange hallucinations in a patient may be, no matter where he traveled, no matter who pursued, he always knows who he really is and what is his name, which means it is always oriented in the self . This tremens differs, for example, psychosis in schizophrenia.

Hallucinations in delirium tremens are very bright, long-lasting, with a certain sense: the persecution of monsters, bandits and so on. The patient sees and hears very real images, talking with them, resist them, sometimes taking as pursuers of their loved ones. The consequences can be the most tragic.

If at this time to talk to patients, for example, about his life, hallucinations at the time of retreat and then come back again. Questions can cause false recognition of a person to get to see that on a clean sheet of paper something written in the silent handset someone says, and so on.

Some patients suffer delirium tremens several times, and then in moments of enlightenment consciousness they understand what is happening and try to get to the hospital.

Delirium lasts 3-4 days and more passes and after many hours of sleep, after which the patient often does not remember anything. Heavy delirium tremens may go into a coma, and result in death of the patient (mortality up to 5%).

Atypical forms

Delirium tremens may proceed for several hours, with no occurrence of hallucinations accompanied by disturbance of orientation in the environment (abortifacient delirium).

When hypnagogic delirium (occurs during sleep) content of dreams Dreams: how to understand our dreams   It resembles delirium tremens (part animal, and adventure themes chase scenes, car chases, salvation). Sometimes this is a precursor of this delirium deployed delirium tremens.

Treatment of delirium tremens is carried out only in the hospital. Psychotropic drugs are used to remove the excitement, anxiety and induce sleep, as in most cases after a long sleep medication recovery occurs (primarily used drugs with a pronounced calming effect).

Remember! If a person has formed a hangover, then the termination of another long binge could begin delirium tremens.

  Galina Romanenko