Health

Learn About Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment

Learn More Intracranial Hypertension Treatment

If you have been diagnosed with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) – an increased pressure inside the skull – then you know it can be a pain in the neck (literally and figuratively). Let’s examine the various options available for intracranial hypertension treatment.

 

Be attentive to medications

While definitive treatment for IIH has yet to be discovered, doctors can employ drug-based treatments to reduce the pressure and help manage the condition. Common medications used for this purpose include diuretics, steroids, medications for weight loss and acetazolamide.

 

Try tapping into dietary solutions

Because IIH is often related to obesity, certain dietary changes may be employed to help reduce the symptoms on the condition. It is important to maintain a healthy diet, consistent with American Heart Association guidelines, and pay special attention to your salt, caffeine and alcohol intake. Some people with IIH have even seen improvements with special diets of low carbohydrate and low fat.

 

Interventional radiology – a valuable treatment for Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Interventional radiology offers a world of possibilities when it comes to treating IIH. These innovative procedures are minimally invasive, meaning less downtime and a quicker recovery compared to traditional surgery.

One weapon in the arsenal of interventional radiologists is called venous sinus stenting. It is like a support beam for your brain’s drainage system, ensuring proper fluid flow and reducing pressure build-up. Think about the procedure like you think about a plumber fixing a clogged drain – as strange as this comparison may seem. By placing a small stent in the affected veins, interventional radiologists can restore harmony to your intracranial world.

But that is not all. Another technique in their repertoire is called optic nerve sheath fenestration. It is like giving your optic nerves a breath of fresh air. By creating small openings in the protective sheath around the optic nerves, pressure is relieved and symptoms are alleviated.

 

Eye on the prize

It is possible to manage the symptoms of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension; however, there is no one “cure” for the disease itself. It is important to remember that, while treating IIH can be a long and daunting journey, there are reasons to remain hopeful. With proper management, the prognosis is generally good, so do not forget to keep an eye on the prize: a healthy, active lifestyle!

 

Regular physician visits are key

It is a sad but undeniable fact of life that idiopathic intracranial hypertension or IIH is on the rise. Many individuals around the world do not even know they have this condition and thus, cannot seek timely medical attention and treatment. To tackle this, it is important to understand the role of prevention.

Though it may be tempting to skip your yearly check-ups, remember that regular visits to your doctor are key to properly managing your condition. Do not wait until the symptoms become unbearable – stay on top of your situation by attending regular check-ups and discussing any concerns you may have.

 

When tackling IIH treatment, you can be your own biggest ally. Do not forget to stay aware and alert of your situation, monitor your medications, and maintain a healthy diet – and you will be well on your way to keeping the heat off your neck (and inside your skull) with idiopathic intracranial hypertension treatment.

Why Consider UFE Procedure for Your Fibroids

Looking to get rid of uterine fibroids? UFE (uterine fibroid embolization) is among the most effective treatments for making sure the problem not only goes away, but that it doesn’t come back either. In the following, we’ll talk about some of the most important benefits of UFE and what to expect from the treatment as well as the recovery period.

A Non-Invasive Treatment

One of the main advantages of UFE is that it’s not invasive. Although this isn’t true in all cases, many patients have extreme difficulties when subjected to heavy sedation and told that they will have to undergo surgery. Some procedures that are used for treating fibroids require anesthesia and surgery, and they can be regarded as quite invasive. However, this isn’t the case for UFE. A single, small injection is  all that will be required along with the use of an X-ray machine to track the location of the uterine blood arteries and of the fibroids.

If you receive your injection in the wrist – as opposed to the groin area – as some patients tend to choose, you’ll even be able to stand up and walk as soon as the procedure is over. While some discomfort might still apply afterwards, and you will still need to go through a short recovery period, it’s typically much less problematic compare to the option of getting a more invasive, traditional treatment process for your uterine fibroids.

UFE procedure in Denver Colorado

The Effectiveness of UFE

The efficiency of UFE is still debated, however with a success rate of up to 90%, very few actual questions arise as to even the long term efficiency of the treatment. Short term, the success rate might be even higher than that. However, it has been discovered that about 20% of the women who get UFE end up having the same issue with uterine fibroids a couple of years later.

Not all studies are conclusive, but in general, you have about an 85-90% chance to get rid of your uterine fibroids completely (without recurrence) with the help of the minimally invasive UFE procedure in Denver Colorado. Those odds are pretty good considering the lower rate of efficiency and the increased number of cases of side effects that are associated with other procedures.

Getting on with Your Life

Ordinarily, you will be able to resume your normal activities shortly after the procedure is completed. Although some patients can still experience discomfort, that level of discomfort is overall mild, and it does not prevent the patient from going about their regular activities on a daily basis.

The recovery time – when compared to most types of surgeries – is far less pronounced for uterine fibroid embolization. You won’t be stuck in a hospital bed, and you will not even have to rest too much at home. Although heavy workouts are not recommended, patients are even encouraged to stay active and continue going on walks and maintaining an overall healthy and active lifestyle throughout the recovery process.

Make sure you keep in touch with your doctor during recovery and report on any side effects or problems you might experience that they hadn’t warned you about. Complications are rare, but they do occur. Fortunately, as long as you consider getting the procedure done at a reliable clinic like ECCO Medical, you should have no actual problems going forward.