What is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)?

Your brain has small open spaces called ventricles. These spaces are filled with a clear liquid known as cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF. This fluid acts as a cushion, helping protect your brain and spinal cord from injury.

Normally, your body produces just the right amount of this fluid each day and absorbs the same amount. This balance is important. Sometimes, though, too much fluid builds up in the ventricles. When this happens, it is called normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH.

What are the symptoms of normal pressure hydrocephalus?

The Symptoms of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus are given Below:

• Finding it hard to walk (it might feel like your feet are glued to the floor)
• Having a bad balance or feeling unsteady
• Falling down frequently
• Noticeable changes in the way you walk
• Being forgetful or feeling confused
• Having shifts in your mood
• Feeling depressed
• Having a hard time answering simple questions
• Losing control of your bladder (not making it to the bathroom in time)

What causes normal pressure hydrocephalus?

NPH happens when something blocks or disturbs the normal flow of the fluid through your brain and spinal cord. This blockage can happen because of a past head injury, bleeding in the brain, an infection, a brain tumor, or a past brain surgery. In many cases, though, doctors cannot find the exact cause.

When extra fluid pools in the brain's ventricles, these spaces expand and stretch nearby nerve pathways. Even though the actual pressure of the fluid often remains within a normal range, this physical stretching and compression of brain tissue alters blood flow and cause neurological damage.

NPH is a rare condition that mostly affects older adults. Its symptoms can look a lot like the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease. Because they look so similar, a doctor who knows a lot about these conditions will need to run specialized tests to distinguish NPH from other diseases.

Who is at risk of normal pressure hydrocephalus?

You have a higher chance of developing NPH if you:

• Are older than 60 years of age.
• Have had an infection in your brain.
• Have had a head injury.
• Have a brain tumor.
• Have had brain surgery in the past.

How is normal pressure hydrocephalus diagnosed?

To be sure that you have NPH, your medical team will need to do a few different checks and tests, which may include:

• A physical exam where the doctor looks closely at your symptoms.
• A careful check of how you walk to see your movement patterns.
• Taking pictures of your brain using a CT scan or an MRI scan.
• Doing a spinal tap, which means the doctor uses a needle to take a small sample of the fluid from your lower back.
• Placing a temporary drain to see if removing some of the excess spinal fluid improves your symptoms.

How is normal pressure hydrocephalus treated?

The most common way to treat NPH is with surgery. The doctor places a small, flexible tube called a shunt into the brain to drain excess fluid. The doctor places one end of the tube into the swollen space in your brain. Then, they run the tube completely under your skin from your head, down your neck and chest, and straight into your belly.

The extra fluid in your brain flows down through this tube into your belly, where your body can safely absorb it. Once the fluid drains, the open spaces in your brain can shrink back to their normal size. This tube stays inside your body for as long as your brain continues to make too much fluid.

This surgery does not work for everyone, but it does help many people get better. Finding the problem early and getting treatment right away gives you the best chance of a good recovery.

What are the potential problems of normal pressure hydrocephalus?

If NPH is left untreated or does not improve, it can lead to lasting problems, such as:

• Ongoing trouble with walking and moving around
• Constant difficulty with thinking, memory, and clear focus
• A permanent loss of control over your bladder

When should I contact my doctor?

If you or an older family member starts having trouble walking, changes in thinking, sudden mood shifts, or a loss of bladder control, you should contact your doctor right away. Be sure to tell the doctor exactly when these changes started happening and how they are affecting your daily physical movements and mental health.

Why choose Tender Palm Super Speciality Hospital for Normal pressure hydrocephalus treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, and rehabilitation specialists who provide accurate diagnosis, personalized neurological care, and advanced treatment for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. Our neurosciences team has extensive experience in successfully treating Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) in Lucknow, India.

To seek an Expert Consultation for Normal pressure hydrocephalus treatment in Lucknow, India:

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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