Increased Intracranial Pressure
Alternate Names : Intracranial Hypertension, Elevated Intracranial Pressure
Increased intracranial pressure means that the pressure inside the skull is abnormally high, which may cause damage to the brain.
What is going on in the body?
There is normally a small amount of pressure inside the skull. This pressure can become elevated from various conditions. An increased pressure in the skull can put too much pressure on the brain and decrease blood flow to the brain. Increased pressure can also force the brain downward onto the brainstem. This area controls vital functions like breathing, so this is a potentially fatal problem.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Increased intracranial pressure may be caused by:
brain tumors
bleeding inside the skull, such as intracerebral hemorrhage
infection inside the skull, such as encephalitis
blood clots, known as hematomas
certain medications
head injury or trauma
There are other causes, and in some cases the cause is not known.
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