A Natural Approach To Health

Living With Intracranial Hypertension

I had a question the other day about intracranial hypertension.

Intracranial hypertension is characterized by increased pressure inside your skull.

Intracranial means inside your skull and hypertension means high fluid pressure.

Intracranial hypertension means the pressure of the fluid surrounding your brain (cerebrospinal fluid) is too high.

Elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure often causes severe headaches with visual difficulties, which, if left untreated can result in permanent loss of vision or blindness.

Pseudotumor cerebri and benign intracranial hypertension are both former names for intracranial hypertension, which are now considered inaccurate.

These names don’t accurately describe the disorder and downplay the seriousness of it.

There are two categories of intracranial hypertension: primary intracranial hypertension and secondary intracranial hypertension.

Primary intracranial hypertension, now known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension, happens without a known cause.

This form most often happens in young, overweight, females between the ages of 20 and 45.

Secondary intracranial hypertension has an identifiable cause, including drugs, sleep apnea and certain systemic diseases like lupus, leukemia, kidney failure, and meningitis.

There’s an association between intracranial hypertension and Chiari type I malformation.

Many other causes have been suggested in the medical literature but haven’t yet been confirmed as true causes.

It’s critical to rule out an intracranial mass by CT or MRI.

Although many factors are known to trigger the disease, the mechanism by which intracranial hypertension occurs, in either primary or secondary forms, isn’t known.

In many cases, either type of intracranial hypertension may be chronic.

To deal with intracranial hypertension it’s beneficial to:

*Drink 6-8 cups of purified water daily to hydrate and flush toxins.

*Increase exercise and movement as much as possible.

*Increase stress and relaxation techniques:  yoga, meditation, prayer, deep breathing, etc.  Consider energy medicine.

*Address emotional connections.

*Increase fresh air, sunshine, connect with nature.

*Increase essential fats (flax oil, olive oil, Omega-3 oils).

*Increase fresh, raw fruits and veggies (organic when possible).

*Consider fresh juicing; consume fresh garlic and onions.

*Increase fiber intake; ensure good bowel function; avoid constipation; consider liver and/or colon cleanse.

*Consider an arterial cleansing program.

*Investigate use of herbs (hawthorn, valerian).

*Monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride and homocysteine levels.

*Decrease toxic exposures of all kinds (food and environmental).

*Decrease “hidden allergies”.

*Decrease any and all hydrogenated, trans fats, deep-fried foods, margarine, fast foods, etc.

*Decrease sugar, sweets, white flour products, processed foods.

*Avoid tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, soda pop.

*Decrease stress.

*Decrease excess weight, particularly around your mid-section.

*Understand your medications and possible side effects.

*Understand your family history and address any concerns.  Practice preventive measures.

*Investigate possible connection to dental procedures; consult a holistic dentist.

*Eliminate MSG and all artificial sweeteners as they are neurotoxins.

*Decrease processed meats, deli meats (nitrates).

Recommendations:

It’s essential to use:  VitaLea, Protein, VitalMag, Garlic, B-Complex, Stress Relief Complex, Vivix.

It’s important to use:  CoQHeart, OmegaGuard, Lecithin, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Alfalfa, DTX, Herb-Lax, Fiber.

It’s beneficial to use:  Mental Acuity, CarotoMax and/or FlavoMax, Optiflora, Performance.

email:  lenay@dickandlenay.com

PS:  If you have any questions about intracranial hypertension, and would like to know how supplements can help, give us a call at 715-431-0657.  We’re here to help.