{"id":7034,"date":"2019-05-30T20:59:12","date_gmt":"2019-05-30T20:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=7034"},"modified":"2021-04-08T20:04:30","modified_gmt":"2021-04-08T20:04:30","slug":"papilledema-14-causes-of-the-optic-nerve-swelling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/papilledema-14-causes-of-the-optic-nerve-swelling\/","title":{"rendered":"Papilledema: 14 Causes of the Optic Nerve Swelling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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1. Brain Tumors<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A potential brain tumor is one of the most common causes of optic nerve swelling, and it\u2019s one of the first things that you should report to your doctor. If you experience any symptoms of papilledema<\/a>, make an appointment and recall a detailed list of symptoms to your doctor \u2013 these are symptoms like chronic headaches, pain or pressure in the eyes and vomiting or nausea. Other associated symptoms of a brain tumor can include bloodshot eyes, memory loss, seizures, and fainting.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are more symptoms than this, but ideally, you should make an appointment with your doctor when you start to experience the first ones. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Statistics from the American Cancer Society estimates that just under 24, 000 cases of harmful brain tumors are diagnosed in the United States every year, and many of these could have been treated with early diagnosis. If you experience any symptoms, don\u2019t wait to make your appointment. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Brain Injury<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brain injury<\/a> is one of the other most common causes behind optic nerve swelling, and it usually also goes together with a concussion. If you have experienced any kind of recent brain injury, get yourself right to the emergency room \u2013 the injury might be considerably worse than you realized at first, and waiting to get to medical help can only put your health in very serious danger. Brain injuries can happen in a variety of ways, and what you might have only thought of as a slight knock might have caused more internal injury than at first thought.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A medical professional can establish the extent of the brain injury, and recommend the right tests and treatment to treat the cause and reduce the potential of any damage. Memory loss and confusion are commonly associated with symptoms, and a brain injury is likely to trigger temporary papilledema. A change in the response of the pupils can also usually be observed in moderate to severe brain injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. High Blood Pressure<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

High blood pressure<\/a> is one of the most common causes of papilledema and its associated symptoms, but one shouldn\u2019t think that this symptom is any less serious than a brain tumor. High blood pressure can be deadly and should be treated as a standalone medical condition on its own, and it can lead to an increased risk of strokes and heart attacks as well as the potential of death if it\u2019s not taken care of. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

High blood pressure is commonly associated with symptoms such as seeing spots in the vision, feeling weak, experiencing fainting spells and sometimes certain cravings such as magnesium. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take note if you have any risk factors for high blood pressure present in your life and reduce them as much as possible. This can include a genetic history of heart conditions or high blood pressure in your family, following a high-sodium and high-fat diet, being inactive or being overweight. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Abscess in the Brain<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An abscess <\/a>in the brain can sometimes be associated with optic nerve swelling, and this should be considered a very serious health condition which means you should get to the emergency room immediately. There are several conditions and injuries which might cause an abscess to occur in the brain, and these are as varied as including tooth infections which travel up towards the head and closer to the nerves, or a head injury or medical condition (such as a brain tumor) which lead to the abscess occurring. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of an abscess in the brain can include high-grade fever, constant infections, headaches, memory loss, nosebleeds and a range of other serious symptoms which might also include papilledema. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be easy to treat with a course of antibiotics (sometimes including surgery to relieve pressure), though only if caught extremely early on in the process. Here, an appointment could save your life. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Encephalitis<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Encephalitis <\/a>can be one of the most serious causes behind experiencing symptoms of optic nerve swelling, and this condition is described as an inflammation of the brain. There are several things out there that have the potential to trigger cranial infection and inflammation of the brain, including viral infection and untreated tooth abscesses, recent injuries or exposure to pathogens related to the condition. Other factors like a lowered immunity can increase your risk.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usually, encephalitis will manifest with symptoms that mirror the common flu with some associated symptoms such as a headache. This isn\u2019t the kind of condition that will go away by itself, and it warrants an immediate appointment with your doctor or trip to the emergency room \u2013 encephalitis can be treated, but only if the condition is seen early on and subjected to the proper treatment as soon as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If left untreated, encephalitis can lead to an increased risk of strokes and can too often be deadly.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Neck Injuries<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Neck injuries are one of the most common causes for experiencing optic nerve swelling<\/a>, and if you have recently injured your neck (whether or not you realized that you did), you\u2019re likely to experience symptoms such as a headache, the pressure felt in the neck, pain in the neck muscles and sometimes related pain in the eyes. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An injury to the neck can happen suddenly, or it can take place over a long period of time as the neck is subjected to more strain \u2013 for example, while sitting in front of a desk during work hours for five years in a row. Both can cause serious conditions such as arthritis, chronic headaches, and swelling of the optic nerve.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have injured your neck in such a way that it\u2019s causing optic nerve swelling, then it\u2019s likely that the injury goes deeper than just a slight neck injury that will heal on its own. Go straight to the emergency room.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Meningitis<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Other than encephalitis \u2013 more commonly known as direct inflammation or infection of the brain \u2013 there\u2019s also meningitis, which is more commonly known as inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain. The symptoms with meningitis <\/a>and encephalitis can be very similar, and most cases of meningitis will experience slight flu-like symptoms such as a sore throat, runny nose and fever \u2013 and there are plenty of meningitis cases out there which show no symptoms at all.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you suspect that you have been exposed to anything that might have caused meningitis, or if you experience flu that lasts for longer than the expected three to five day period, you should head straight for the emergency room. Meningitis can cause optic nerve swelling in many cases, but that\u2019s only the tip of the iceberg, and suffering from meningitis can be considered dangerously deadly from the start.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be treated, but only if diagnosed early on.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

8. Bleeding<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bleeding <\/a>occurring in or near the brain can be one of the most serious causes for optic nerve swelling, and this kind of injury is very common after a traumatic physical event such as an accident or a fall \u2013 or any other kind of injury that might have seen an impact happen directly to the head. If you experience bleeding, it\u2019s likely that you\u2019ll experience a range of other symptoms together with optic nerve swelling, including confusion and tiredness, headache, slurred speech, and vision distortion.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The eyes might also appear bloodshot, and it\u2019s likely that the pupils will react differently to light at the same time. A concussion may or may not be present at this point.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If bleeding on the brain is at all suspected, a trip to the emergency room is needed as soon as possible, and tests will have to be done immediately to establish the location and extent of the damage.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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