Cervical osteochondrosis and VVD, the symptoms of which are familiar to many, often “harmoniously” complement each other. What causes these diseases, and how to deal with them, we will tell below.
How are VVD and spinal osteochondrosis related
Osteochondrosis of the spine is a disease characterized by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the structure of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. As a result, compression of the nerve trunks and blood vessels that feed the brain occurs. VVD against the background of cervical osteochondrosis is not a rare phenomenon. Moreover, it is believed that in 90% of cases it is osteochondrosis that causes the development of such a pathology.
Vegetovascular dystonia is characterized by a variety of disturbances in the processes of excitation and inhibition in the nervous system. In turn, this causes various malfunctions in the work of internal organs. But not only osteochondrosis can cause such a condition. Some experts believe that vegetovascular dystonia, disrupting the work of internal organs and causing an imbalance of metabolicprocesses, can also contribute to the development of dystrophic changes in the spine. However, VSD and cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms, treatment and diagnosis of which often overlap, can develop as two separate pathologies, while having completely different causes. In this regard, taking an anamnesis and correctly diagnosing diseases is of great importance.
Cervical osteochondrosis and VVD: symptoms
VSD can develop latently, have a constant course or manifest itself in the form of seizures (vegetative crises), which can provoke stress, increased physical or mental stress, infectious diseases. In this case, many internal organs and systems suffer. Most often, VVD is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- from the side of the cardiovascular system - chest pain, pressure fluctuations, heart rhythm disturbances;
- from the respiratory system - shortness of breath, suffocation, feeling short of breath, difficulty breathing;
- from the digestive tract, nausea, abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea or constipation are possible;
- genitourinary system - frequent urination, itching, pain in the genital area;
- violations of the vestibular system can be manifested by dizziness and fainting.
In addition to the above, the patient may experience sudden chills or heat waves, sweating. The psycho-emotional sphere also suffers. Depression, sleep disturbance, tearfulness appear. May have seizurespanic attacks.
Cervical osteochondrosis is more often manifested by headaches, aggravated by turning the head and not subsiding after taking painkillers. The pain can be given to the shoulder girdle, arms, chest. Another characteristic symptom is dizziness with sudden movements, "flies" before the eyes, hearing loss, ringing in the ears, loss of sensation, numbness and weakness in the limbs. If cervical osteochondrosis and VVD, the symptoms of which significantly aggravate the picture of the disease, worsen, then the patient's condition deteriorates sharply. This is due to the fact that emotional disorders also join the pain and dizziness.
VSD in cervicothoracic osteochondrosis
Dystonia can develop not only with lesions of the upper spine. Cervical-thoracic osteochondrosis and VVD, the symptoms of which very often complicate the disease, demonstrate a slightly different clinical picture. Here, the leading factor is a violation of the innervation of internal organs (heart, lungs, intestinal tract), which occurs due to compression of the nerve roots extending from the spinal cord by deformed structures of the spine.
At the same time, pain in the chest or between the shoulder blades, characteristic of thoracic osteochondrosis, patients with VVD, due to increased anxiety and a tendency to panic attacks, are perceived as a direct threat to their lives.
VSD - panic attacks
Both cervical osteochondrosis and other diseases often affect emotion althe sphere of the patient, but with dystonia this manifests itself much brighter. Many patients suffering from VVD often experience episodic attacks of unmotivated anxiety, called panic attacks. In fact, during such an attack, the patient experiences uncontrollable fear, despair, while the emotional state is aggravated by physiological manifestations. During attacks, breathing and heart rate increase significantly (it can reach 150-200 beats per minute, while the norm is 60-90), the skin turns pale, sweat appears profusely.
This state can last for minutes or hours, and the frequency of its occurrence cannot be predicted either. Such attacks do not pose a danger to human life, but significantly worsen its quality. Another feature of panic attacks is that under certain circumstances they can develop into phobias. So, if an attack caught a person while climbing in an elevator, it is possible that claustrophobia may develop in the future.
How to stop an attack
According to psychiatrists, anything can provoke a panic attack - from an unexpected meeting to a melody that reminds of an unpleasant incident. At the same time, it is important, no matter how trite it sounds, to remain calm. If a panic attack happened to someone from those around you, you need to help him regain control over his condition. To do this, you can take his hands, in a calm voice, try to convince him that everything is fine, and he only needs to calm down. Toto even out breathing, you can do breathing exercises together with the victim, accompanying them with a loud count. It's important to stay close until the panic subsides.
If the patient is left alone with his misfortune, then the main thing that is required of him is not to wind himself up, but to try to realize that everything that is happening to him now is just a functional disorder that does not threaten life. Medicines in this case do not play any role, since objectively the body is completely he althy, so nothing depends on their intake.
Panic attacks treatment
For complacency in case of a panic attack, you can take up to 50 drops of Corvalol. But do not get carried away with it, because because of the phenobarbital contained in it, this drug has long been banned for sale in Europe. You can most effectively distract yourself from an attack if you focus on breathing, saying aloud or silently memorized texts or prayers. Another technique that has recently been gaining popularity is Sytin's attitudes. VSD (panic attacks), cervical osteochondrosis and more than 40 other diseases are proposed to be corrected with the help of certain texts that give the correct psychological attitude.
As for the treatment itself, it should begin with a visit to such specialists as a cardiologist, neurologist, psychiatrist and therapist. After the necessary examination, they will confirm or refute the diagnosis. As a rule, therapy will consist of several stages:
- awareness that treatment is needed;
- creating motivation for recovery and fighting negative emotions;
- reducing the excessive excitability of the nervous system (as a rule, soothing collections of medicinal herbs - valerian, lemon balm) are perfect for this);
- recognition of the existence of an internal conflict;
- psychological training.
Diagnosis
Cervical osteochondrosis and VVD, the symptoms of which are quite common in everyday life, nevertheless require serious diagnosis, and the further quality of life of the patient will depend on the stage at which an accurate diagnosis was made and treatment started. With cervical osteochondrosis, in most cases, everything is quite simple - a neurologist will make this diagnosis on the basis of an examination and X-ray examination data, CT or MRI. But diagnosing dystonia is more difficult due to the variety of its symptoms and the lack of clear objective criteria. In this case, we can rather talk about the exclusion of organic pathology. To do this, patients undergo consultations with various specialists, and in the event that it was found that no deviations from physiological norms were found, a diagnosis of VVD is made.
Another important aspect of the examination for dystonia is the assessment of autonomic tone. This happens on the basis of complaints, EEG and ECG data, as well as various functional tests.
Treatment
As with other pathologies, the treatment should be comprehensive, includingnot only medicines, but also physiotherapeutic procedures, psychological trainings. The latter are especially important in the treatment of VVD. And cervical osteochondrosis, the treatment of which, it would seem, today presents no difficulties, refers to diseases prone to progression and worsening of symptoms. But if drug therapy is used to eliminate the symptoms of this pathology, which allows you to relieve pain and inflammation in the acute period, as well as physiotherapy procedures (massage, acupuncture and other effects), then the psychological effect is of the greatest importance in the treatment of VVD.
As for drug therapy, in this case it is symptomatic, even if dystonia is complicated by a disease such as cervical osteochondrosis. The VVD forum can give many recommendations on taking various drugs and psychological techniques, but for your own safety, you should remember that only a doctor can prescribe medications. Before you start using any psychological training, it is also better to consult a specialist.
Prevention
Cervical osteochondrosis and VVD, the symptoms of which poison the lives of many, can be completely cured only in the early stages of development. The more important is timely diagnosis and therapy. The implementation of simple rules that are familiar to everyone since childhood will help to avoid or reduce the risk of these pathologies. First of all, you need to lead a he althy lifestyle,optimize physical activity, work and rest, give up bad habits and stressful situations.
