What're the symptoms of brain tumors?
When located in the brain, both benign and malignant tumors are very serious. That is because as a tumor grows, pressure builds up in the brain. This can cause frequent headaches that worsen when you lie down. Other symptoms may include seizures, nausea, blurred vision, sleepiness, mental impairment, personality changes, weakness on one side of the body,
difficulty speaking and loss of hearing in one ear.
Symptoms of brain tumors vary depending on the size and location of tumor. Many symptoms are related to an increase in pressure in or around the brain. There is no spare space in the skull for anything except the delicate tissues of the brain and its fluid. Any tumor, extra tissue, or fluid can cause pressure on the brain and result in increased intracranial pressure (ICP), which may result from one or more of the ventricles that drain cerebral spinal fluid (CSF, the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) becoming blocked and causing the fluid to be trapped in the brain. This increased ICP may cause headache, vomiting (usually in the morning), nausea, personality changes, irritability, drowsiness, depression, decreased cardiac and respiratory function and, eventually, coma if not treated.
Symptoms of brain tumors in the cerebrum (front of brain) may include increased intracranial pressure (ICP), seizures, visual changes, slurred speech, paralysis or weakness on half of the body or face, drowsiness and/or confusion, personality changes. Symptoms of brain tumors in the brainstem (middle of brain) may include increased intracranial pressure (ICP), seizures, endocrine problems (diabetes and/or hormone regulation), visual changes or double vision, headaches, paralysis of nerves/muscles of the face, or half of the body, respiratory changes. Symptoms of brain tumors in the cerebellum (back of brain) may include increased intracranial pressure (ICP), vomiting (usually occurs in the morning without nausea), headache, uncoordinated muscle movements, problems walking (ataxia). The symptoms of a brain tumor may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis. |
