what causes swelling of the brain
Jessica Young
Updated on May 16, 2026
Brain swelling is a serious condition that can cause long-term damage to your memory and ability to think. It may also be fatal if treated too late. If you begin to experience side effects after a fall, accident, or while fighting off an infection, visit a doctor immediately.
What is the survival rate of a swollen brain?
Adults with diffuse brain swelling had a mortality rate (46%) similar to that of children, but only slightly higher than that for adults without diffuse brain swelling (39%).
What happens when you have a swollen brain?
Swelling in the Brain
Brain swelling goes by a variety of names – brain edema, cerebral edema, elevated intracranial pressure – but they all involve an increase in pressure inside your skull. Swelling is part of the normal healing process, but if it causes excess pressure or bleeding, serious problems can occur.
Can you recover from brain swelling?
What Is the Treatment for Brain Swelling? Minor cases of brain swelling due to causes such as moderate altitude sickness or a slight concussion often resolve within a few days. In most cases, however, more treatment is needed quickly.
How do you get rid of brain swelling?
Brain Swelling May Be Reduced Naturally With:
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)A Ketogenic Diet of Anti-Inflammatory Foods.Transcranial Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT)Regenerative Therapies.
What drugs can cause brain swelling?
A research collaboration among researchers at Yale, the University of Tennessee and the University of Cincinnati discovered that an opioid overdose may cause a potentially fatal combination of symptoms, including brain swelling and memory loss, when left untreated.
What does brain swelling look like?
Symptoms of brain swelling include headache, dizziness, nausea, numbness or weakness, loss of coordination or balance, loss of the ability to see or speak, seizures, lethargy, memory loss, incontinence, or altered level of consciousness.
What drugs reduce brain inflammation?
There have been a variety of drugs that have been reported to reduce inflammation in the central nervous system, including melatonin, minocycline and statins. Melatonin, derived from the pineal gland, has been shown to provide neuroprotection for brain and spinal cord trauma.
Can brain swelling cause death?
A lack of oxygen in the brain can damage brain cells or cause them to die. Intracranial pressure (ICP) can affect specific regions of the brain or the whole brain depending on the underlying cause. Cerebral edema can cause irreversible damage and, in some cases, be fatal.
How do you know if you have fluid on the brain?
Among adults 60 years of age and older, the more common signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus are: Loss of bladder control or a frequent urge to urinate. Memory loss. Progressive loss of other thinking or reasoning skills.
Does a CT scan show brain swelling?
CT scans can show if there is swelling or bleeding in the brain or a fracture in the skull. If you have signs of a serious injury, a CT scan is usually the best first test to diagnose it.