When I started studying for a medicine at the National Autonomous University of Mexico many years ago, I did so motivated by my passion for medicine, but also by a need – that all human beings have, I think – to serve others, to be useful and to help those who need it.
For the same reason, in this blog I always deal with educational topics that provide valuable information to my patients about health conditions that concern them, but in which I can support them so that they receive an accurate diagnosis and the appropriate treatment.
Today we will delve into the treatment for Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, a condition also known as pseudotumor cerebri.
What is Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension?
We have already talked about this topic before, but it is worth saying that it occurs when the pressure inside the skull (intracranial pressure) increases without any obvious cause, which, with good reason, generates stress, worry and anguish in the people who suffer from it and their families.
What are your symptoms?
- Swelling of the optic nerve with brief episodes of blindness (and can even lead to loss of vision). It also generates double vision or difficulty seeing to one side.
- Intense and frequent headaches, which are perceived as behind the eyes. It looks like a migraine.
- A hissing sound in the head.
- Nausea, vomiting, or dizziness
- Neck, shoulder or back pain
In fact, its symptoms resemble those of a brain tumor.
In statistical terms, this condition is more common among young women with obesity (although the reason for the relationship between idiopathic intracranial hypertension and obesity is unknown) and occurs in about 2 people per hundred thousand inhabitants.
Now, surely you are thinking: If I have Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, what would be the treatment?
Before performing any treatment, it is essential to have an accurate diagnosis since the visual loss can be irreversible, or even some people believe that it is a conventional chronic migraine. For the diagnosis, clinical history and technology support are used through methods such as brain CT, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and cerebral angiography.
After diagnosis, medications may reduce pressure and headache, but in some cases, surgery is needed to place a device in the skull or spine that diverts cerebrospinal fluid to another body cavity, helping to drain the excess.
For this, we insert a long, thin tube into the brain or lower spine, under the skin and into the abdomen, where the shunt releases excess fluid.
Now, I always explain to my patients that a shunt can get clogged and sometimes requires other interventions to keep it working, but it also offers endless possibilities to improve people’s quality of life by eliminating terrible headaches, loss of vision and other symptoms.
If you have questions or need more information, do not hesitate to contact me. It is my greatest vocation to help people like you recover their health.
