Vagoinsular crises: symptoms and treatment

2024 Author: Curtis Blomfield | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 20:44

In critical situations, our body reacts unpredictably. This is due to changes in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system. As a result, acute conditions develop - crises. They are characterized by severe violations of the internal organs. There are several types of crises. All of them are considered dangerous and require urgent treatment. If help is not provided in time, death may occur. Allocate sympathoadrenal, hypertensive, vagoinsular crisis. Symptoms, treatment and diagnosis of such conditions are described in this article.

The concept of vagoinsular crisis

As you know, the autonomic nervous system controls the work of almost all internal organs. Under the influence of strong stimuli, its functioning is disrupted. As a result, failures occur in the body. They are mainly related to stress. Vagoinsular crises are characterized by a sharp release of pancreatic hormone into the blood. This leads to changes in the functioning of the vagus nerve, which is responsible for the functioning of vital systems. The main symptoms of a vagoinsular crisis are: general weakness, decreased blood pressure, red dermographism. Often this condition is observed in people suffering from vegetovascular dystonia.

Crisis is characterized by sudden onset of signs of heart and respiratory failure. There may be pathological changes in the work of the gastrointestinal tract. An acute attack (paroxysm) is diagnosed both in the adult population and in children. More often, vegetative-vascular dystonia is detected in adolescence and young age.

Different from sympathoadrenal crisis

To acute disorders of the autonomic nervous system include sympathetic adrenal and vagoinsular crisis. These pathological conditions differ in the mechanism of development and clinical signs. In both cases, urgent medical attention is required, since each of these conditions can be fatal. Sympathoadrenal crisis is characterized by a sharp increase in the level of hormones of the adrenal cortex. They cause excitation of the central and autonomic nervous system. The release of adrenaline is accompanied by tachycardia, increased blood pressure and a feeling of anxiety and fear. Another name for this pathology is a panic attack.

In contrast to the sympathoadrenal crisis, with an increase in the level of insulin in the blood, the opposite symptoms are observed. The parasympathetic nervous system begins to dominate the sympathetic division. There is a slowdown in the work of the heart, relaxation of blood vessels,bronchial constriction, etc.

Causes for the development of a pathological condition

There are many reasons due to which the development of a vagoinsular crisis is possible. Among them, both endo- and exogenous influences. Most often, the pathological condition develops against the background of nervous strain. Vagoinsular crises are also observed with changes in the endocrine and cardiovascular systems. After all, all organs are interconnected through innervation. Causes of the crisis include:

1. Brain injury.
2. Vascular disorders. Most often they occur against the background of cervical osteochondrosis, increased blood pressure.
3. Neurotic states.
4. Excessive emotional and physical stress.
5. Vegetative-vascular dystonia due to aggravated heredity.
6. Pathologies of the thyroid gland.
7. Diabetes mellitus.
8. Cardiac diseases.
9. Mental disorders.
10. Severe intoxication of the body.

Vagoinsular crisis in childhood develops due to complications of childbirth and pregnancy. People who are exposed to head injuries during infancy are prone to vegetative-vascular dystonia. Paroxysms caused by an increase in the level of insulin in the blood often occur in children whose parents suffer from vagotonia.

Risk factors for a crisis

Despite the fact that they are subjected to nervous and physical strainsalmost all people, vagoinsular crises develop only in a certain part of the population. This is due to hereditary predisposition to this condition, which is of great importance. More often, vegetative-vascular dystonia is diagnosed in young women.

Risk factors include the characteristics of the human psyche, nutrition, the presence of bad habits, concomitant pathological conditions, lifestyle, etc. Crises can occur in the following cases:

1. In the presence of constant nervous strain. For example, due to hard mental work.
2. If a person keeps emotions in himself for a long time, that is, he is an introvert.
3. In people prone to obesity. Hypercholesterolemia is a risk factor for vagotonia.
4. For caffeine abuse.
5. In cases where an anxious or hypochondriacal personality type is formed.

Vagoinsular crisis refers to acute conditions in which it is necessary to provide emergency care to the patient. What therapeutic measures to take to stop an attack, every doctor should know.

Vagoinsular crisis: symptoms of the disease

Due to a sharp release of insulin into the blood, a decrease in sugar levels occurs - a hypoglycemic state. Signs of this pathology include severe weakness, sweating, a feeling of heat and a drop in blood pressure. Due to paroxysm, a person can lose consciousness within a few minutes from the onset of these symptoms. Since the vagus nerveregulates the work of internal organs, the following changes are noted:

1. Bradycardia and hypotension.
2. Shortness of breath.
3. Breach of stool.
4. The occurrence of red dermographism.
5. Irregular heart rhythm.

Vagoinsular vegetative crisis can develop suddenly or gradually. In the first case, the patient instantly loses consciousness. Hemodynamic disturbances are noted. Sometimes the crisis has an undulating course. Gradually, symptoms such as weakness, deterioration, chills, sweating, hunger and nausea increase. These manifestations are replaced by a temporary improvement in well-being. Then they reappear.

Diagnosis of vagoinsular and sympathoadrenal crisis

If a vagoinsular or sympathoadrenal crisis begins, it is urgent to call an ambulance. These conditions are diagnosed by changes in hemodynamic parameters and the clinical picture. An ambulance doctor can determine the level of glucose in the blood thanks to special test strips. To exclude myocardial infarction, electrocardiography is performed. To identify a vagoinsular crisis in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, a special neurological examination is performed. The occurrence of paroxysm may be preceded by fainting, pain when tilting the head, impaired sensitivity.

A sudden increase in blood pressure indicates the development of a sympathoadrenal or hypertensive crisis. These states are differentiated fromacute heart failure and cerebrovascular accidents.

Crisis First Aid

If, due to stress or overwork, a person's condition worsens, emergency care should be urgently called. Before the arrival of doctors, it is necessary to lay the patient on his back and calm him down. The top buttons or zipper on the garment must be unbuttoned. To ensure the flow of oxygen, you should open the window. If the general weakness increases gradually, the patient should be given sweet tea to drink. If vomiting develops, the person is laid on their side to prevent aspiration.

At the pre-hospital stage, doctors inject 40% glucose solution intravenously, as well as sedatives. In case of complications, resuscitation is carried out.

Vagoinsular crisis: treatment of the disease

To stop the paroxysm, symptomatic treatment is prescribed. Drugs are prescribed to restore cardiovascular activity, increase blood pressure, relieve shortness of breath. Symptomatic therapy for a severe crisis is performed in a hospital. To increase the level of sugar in the blood, a 5% glucose solution is administered intravenously. This helps increase blood volume and raise blood pressure. In the case of the development of cardiac arrhythmias, the drug "Cordiamin" is administered. To improve blood circulation in the brain and combat dizziness, the drugs "Vestibo", "Betaserc" are prescribed.

Vagoinsular crisis in young children is most often not accompanied by severe symptoms, unlike paroxysm,observed in adults. In most cases, it goes away on its own. A feature of childhood crises is that the attacks are short-lived. On average, an attack lasts about 5 minutes. The child should be given warm sweet tea and soothed. To prevent paroxysms from recurring, it is necessary to find out the cause of the attack.

Possible complications of the crisis

If vagoinsular crises recur, a full examination should be performed. These conditions are dangerous to he alth. Severe hemodynamic disorders can lead to impaired blood supply to the heart muscle, brain and other organs. The complications of the crisis include pathologies such as heart attack and stroke, cardiogenic shock, acute renal failure, hypoglycemic coma. All of these conditions can lead to death. Therefore, it is important to eliminate the causes of vagotonia.

Prevention of a pathological condition

To prevent the vagoinsular crisis from recurring, preventive measures should be followed. These include:

1. He althy lifestyle.
2. Breathing exercises.
3. Proper nutrition.
4. Alternating loads with rest.
5. Using plant-based sedatives. Among them are an infusion of valerian, motherwort, ginseng.

In some cases, psychotherapy and antidepressants are required to get rid of feelings of fear and anxiety.