OverviewEvery year, approximately 1 – 2 people in 100,000 are diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH).1 IIH is a disorder in which there is evidence of increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure in the head and spine without an obvious cause. Symptoms can include debilitating headaches and vision problems. Historically, shunting can be a viable treatment for relief from this condition if symptoms are not improved with other treatment options.2 Show Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), is sometimes referred to by an old name, “pseudotumor cerebri” (PTC). It is a disorder in which the intracranial pressure (ICP) within the skull is increased, without mass lesion or enlarged ventricles (the spaces within the brain).3 Anyone can develop IIH regardless of age, gender, weight, or ethnicity, but obesity is a major factor. For overweight/obese women of childbearing age, the incidence is 19 – 21 in 100,000 people.4 In the general population, it occurs in approximately 1 – 2 in 100,000 people.5 The incidence of IIH is increasing most likely due to rising rates of societal obesity, greater patient and physician awareness of the disorder, and improved diagnosis.6 SymptomsMany people with the condition have debilitating symptoms that bring them to their doctors, such as:
As its name suggests, it is not fully understood what causes IIH, but it is thought the symptoms are due to a reduced outflow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF is continually produced within the brain, and there appears to be a resorption difficulty (abnormal neural hydrodynamics).7 DiagnosisIt’s important to keep good notes starting from the first doctor’s visit, because IIH can have a variety of symptoms, and you may see several healthcare practitioners for different symptoms. You may want to have someone accompany you to appointments to help you keep track. The people you might see for diagnosis and treatment include:
Any increase in intracranial pressure is cause for concern, and your physician will rule out other disorders before making the diagnosis and offering treatment. Because IIH diagnosis may be difficult in some patients, a set of criteria, known as the Modified Dandy Criteria, were established to assist physicians. One or more of the following tests are typically used to diagnose IIH and to rule out other conditions:
1 Greenberg Mark S. Handbook of Neurosurgery 7th ed. Thieme Medical Publishers; 2010;713 2 Nadkarni TD, Rekate HL, Wallace D. Concurrent use of a lumboperitoneal shunt with programmable valve and ventricular access device in the treatment of pseudotumor cerebri: review of 40 cases. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2008;2(1):19-24. 3 Brazis PW. Clinical review: The surgical treatment of idiopathic pseudotumour cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension). Cephalalgia. 2008;28(12):1361-1373. 4 Greenberg Mark S. Handbook of Neurosurgery 7th ed. Thieme Medical Publishers; 2010;713 5 Greenberg Mark S. Handbook of Neurosurgery 7th ed. Thieme Medical Publishers; 2010;713 6 Friesner D, et al, Idiopathic intracranial hypertension in the USA: the role of obesity in establishing prevalence and healthcare costs. Obes Rev. 2011 May;12(5):372-80. 7 Levine DN, Ventricular size in pseudotumor cerebri and the theory of impaired CSF absorption. Neurology. 1996 Jan;46(1):198-202. Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information. What does it mean when your vision goes blurry and your ears start ringing?Headache, Seizures, And Blurred Vision Come With Tinnitus Noises. This normally means that your tinnitus symptoms are being caused by high blood pressure. When you have hypertension, the flow of blood to your inner ear is restricted. Your overall health is also in danger with high blood pressure.
Why do I feel pressure in my head and ringing in my ears?Pressure in the head and ears might be a sign of an ear infection, earwax blockage, or dental infection. If you suspect infection, make sure to discuss your symptoms with a doctor, as infections can only be treated with antibiotics.
Why do my ears ring and I feel dizzy?Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. Ménière's disease usually affects only one ear.
Why is my head dizzy and eyes are blurry?There are a number of conditions that may cause blurred vision, a headache, and dizziness to occur simultaneously, these include: Migraine. Inner ear inflammation (labyrinthitis) Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
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