Are alcohol and VSD compatible? Currently, vegetative-vascular dystonia is not considered an independent disease. This term refers to a violation of the coordination between the work of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Doctors definitely do not recommend drinking alcohol to patients suffering from VVD. However, some patients report an improvement in well-being after taking small doses of alcohol. Is it so? Let's try to figure it out.
What is vegetative-vascular dystonia
To answer the question about the compatibility of VVD and alcohol, it is necessary to understand the mechanism of development of this disorder. In a he althy person, the work of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems is balanced. With vegetative-vascular dystonia, the function of these two parts of the central nervous system is disordered.
This leads to malfunctions in the autonomic nervous system. VSD is accompanied by a variety of symptoms. The most common are cardiac, vascular and neurological manifestations.
In the old days, the diagnosis of "vegetative-vascular dystonia" could very often be found in the patient's medical record. Modern medicine does not consider VVD as a disease. This is a violation of the balance between the work of the two departments of the autonomic nervous system. It is not dangerous to the life and he alth of the patient, but is accompanied by unpleasant sensations and discomfort. Exacerbation of symptoms is often noted after stress.
Causes of pathology
This disorder is most often hereditary. It often develops in children at an early age. Tobacco and alcohol play a significant role in its occurrence. VVD often appears in those children whose mothers smoked and drank alcohol during pregnancy. These bad habits can cause oxygen deficiency in the fetus. In the future, the child develops dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. Currently, doctors believe that insufficient blood supply to the brain is the main cause of VSD.
If vegetative-vascular dystonia develops in adulthood, then it is most often triggered by the following factors:
- viral infections;
- head injuries;
- prolonged and severe stress;
- changes in the functioning of the endocrine glands.
However, these diseases and conditions of the body can only indirectly affect the development of VVD. The main cause of this disorder is hypoxia of the central nervous system and deteriorationvascular tone.
Varieties of vegetative-vascular disorders
Vegetative-vascular dystonia is divided into the following types:
- hypertensive;
- hypotonic;
- mixed.
Hypertensive type of dystonia is also known as VVD with panic attacks. This disorder is accompanied by bouts of uncontrollable fear and severe anxiety, as well as the separation of cold sweat. The cause of this condition is the increased production of adrenaline by the adrenal glands, which leads to an imbalance between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system. Therefore, the hypertensive type of VVD is otherwise called the sympatho-adrenal crisis. Under the influence of hormones, the patient's blood vessels constrict, which leads to headache, increased blood pressure, and increased heart rate.
The hypotonic type of IRR is otherwise called neurocirculatory dystonia. Its cause is a violation of the regulation of vascular tone by the central nervous system. Neurocirculatory dystonia is characterized by increased activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, a drop in blood sugar levels and a sharp decrease in blood pressure. Attacks of VVD of the hypotonic type are called vagoinsular crises. They are accompanied by the following symptoms:
- appearance of red spots on the face;
- heavy sweating;
- weakness;
- dizzy;
- frequent urge to defecate;
- blackout eyes.
When the patient has a mixed type of IRR, theregulation of vascular tone from both the endocrine system and the central nervous system. The patient has panic attacks, sympathetic-adrenal and vagoinsular crises. There are frequent jumps in blood pressure. This type of dystonia is accompanied by weather dependence. Attacks become more frequent with changing weather conditions and magnetic storms.
Features of VVD in women
Women are much more likely to suffer from vegetative-vascular dystonia than men. Pathology is exacerbated during pregnancy or menopause, when hormonal changes occur in the body. This disorder is typical for patients aged 30 to 50 years. Older women do not usually experience VSD.
Symptoms of VVD in women depend on the type of disorder. In patients, dystonia of a hypertensive or mixed type is more common. Often, this pathology manifests itself for the first time during pregnancy.
In patients 30-40 years old, VVD is often accompanied by cardiological and vascular manifestations: pain in the heart, arrhythmia, jumps in blood pressure. At the same time, no changes are noted on the ECG. In middle age, fainting, fatigue, drowsiness, and headaches often occur. Possible depression, mood swings, irritability.
In patients with VVD, the menopause is quite difficult. There is a feeling of heat, rushes of blood to the face, decreased performance. Women between the ages of 50 and 55 may experience fluctuations in body temperature.
Total alcohol exposure
Is it possible to drink alcohol with VSD? Ethanol has two effectseffect on the human body. Alcohol has sedative properties. Under the influence of alcohol, the production of adrenaline by the adrenal glands decreases. This helps to eliminate feelings of anxiety and worry. This often creates a false sense of well-being. However, the improvement in mood is very short-lived and soon gives way to depression and anxiety.
After drinking alcohol, oxidation processes begin in nerve cells. Thus, the body tries to get rid of toxins. At the same time, free radicals accumulate in the tissues. These are harmful substances that reduce the tone and elasticity of blood vessels. As a result, the condition of the patient with VVD worsens.
First, ethanol dilates blood vessels. The patient's blood pressure decreases, anxiety decreases and mental calm sets in. At this point, a person may feel a temporary improvement in well-being. However, this is followed by a sharp vasospasm. This is accompanied by a sharp deterioration in the condition and aggravation of the symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Alcohol and hypertonic type of IRR
Small doses of alcohol can temporarily improve the condition of a patient with a hypertensive type of VVD. This is due to the suppression of adrenaline synthesis by ethanol. However, patients note that the period of improvement in well-being after drinking alcohol is very short. After the imaginary well-being very quickly comes a significant deterioration. Sympatho-adrenal crises become more severe.
If a person systematically abuses alcohol, then he very often has panic attacks whenVSD. Attacks can last for several hours. This is due to the fact that ethanol provokes a sharp release of catecholamines by the endocrine glands. An excess of these substances causes a feeling of uncontrollable fear and anxiety.
Ethanol and neurocirculatory dystonia
Alcohol and hypotonic VSD are categorically incompatible. Patients are prohibited from any dose of alcohol. Ethanol dramatically increases headache and dizziness. In addition, alcohol dilates blood vessels, pressure can drop to critical numbers.
In medical practice, there have been cases when patients with neurocirculatory dystonia experienced fainting after drinking alcohol. Also, ethanol can cause a large gap between upper and lower blood pressure, which often leads to myocardial infarction.
Alcohol and mixed type of dystonia
With a mixed type of IRR, the patient has frequent pressure surges. Ethanol first expands and then sharply narrows the blood vessels. This increases blood pressure drops and leads to a sharp deterioration in well-being.
If the patient systematically consumes alcohol, then this further reduces vascular tone. This can lead to irreversible changes in the functioning of the heart.
Hangover
Hangover syndrome in patients with VVD is especially difficult. Feeling unwell in the morning can appear even if the patient drank a small amount of alcohol the day before. A hangover in vegetative-vascular dystonia is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- high blood pressure;
- feelings of panic and anxiety;
- shortness of breath;
- arrhythmia;
- heartaches.
It is important to remember that patients with VVD tolerate alcohol much worse than he althy people. Recovery after a hangover can take several days.
Possible consequences
The most common consequence of alcohol consumption is an exacerbation of VVD after alcohol. Alcohol leads to an increase in blood pressure by 1.5 times. In addition, ethanol increases the workload on the heart. After taking alcoholic beverages, patients often experience a panic attack or a vagoinsular crisis.
All this speaks of the categorical incompatibility of VVD and alcohol. The consequence of drinking alcohol can be not only an exacerbation of vegetative-vascular dystonia. If, while taking ethanol, the patient is engaged in heavy physical work or experiences emotional stress, then a heart attack or stroke may develop.
In addition, a patient with VSD can become a chronic alcoholic. If a person periodically takes alcohol to relieve anxiety and fear, then drinking becomes a habit. It is important to remember that patients with panic attacks have an increased risk of developing a pathological dependence on ethanol.
Small doses of alcohol
Is it possible to drink small doses of alcohol with VVD? With violations of vascular tone, even a small amount of alcohol can harm the body. Doctors have found that drinking a stack of strong drink leads to serious drops.blood pressure.
Some patients believe that small doses of alcohol improve well-being with VVD. This is an erroneous opinion. Even a small amount of alcohol negatively affects vascular tone and the functioning of the autonomic nervous system. There are many medications available to treat panic attacks. They are much safer than alcohol.
Light drinks
What kind of alcohol can I drink with VVD? Are beer and low-alcohol cocktails allowed? These questions are often of interest to patients.
People often consider beer to be a harmless drink because it contains a small percentage of ethanol. However, this is a profound misunderstanding. It is beer and carbonated alcoholic drinks that are most dangerous for patients with VSD.
To fully feel the relaxing effect of ethanol, you need to drink a fairly large amount of light alcohol. As a result, approximately the same doses of ethyl alcohol enter the body as when taking strong drinks. Beer hangover in patients with VVD is especially severe. This condition is accompanied by severe weakness, weakness and depression. It takes at least 48 hours for the body to fully recover.
How ethanol is excreted from the body
Doctors recommend that patients with VVD completely abandon alcohol. However, many patients cannot eliminate alcohol from their lives. In this case, it is allowed to occasionally drink no more than 50 ml of white wine. Strong drinks (vodka, cognac) should not be consumed under any circumstances.circumstances.
There are cases when patients develop a severe hangover after taking small doses of alcohol. How long does it take for alcohol to leave the body? And when can we expect improvement in well-being? The time of ethanol withdrawal is individual. It depends on the gender and body weight of a person, as well as on the amount and strength of alcohol consumed.
To find out the approximate time of ethanol withdrawal, it is necessary to calculate the concentration of alcohol in the blood. To do this, multiply your body weight by a factor of 0.7 (for men) or 0.6 (for women). Then you need to determine the amount of 100% alcohol drunk in grams and divide it by the resulting number. This is how the concentration of ethanol in the blood is calculated in ppm.
It should be remembered that about 0.1 ppm disappears from the body per hour. However, this figure is approximate. The accuracy of this calculation is about 90%.
Patient testimonials
Most patients note the poor compatibility of VSD and alcohol. In the reviews of people reported on the deterioration of well-being after drinking alcohol. Some have experienced a sense of calm and reduced anxiety after drinking alcohol. This state lasted about 30 - 60 minutes. But later there was depression, depression and a sharp deterioration in mood. In addition, there were pressure surges and tachycardia.
Patients also note severe drowsiness after drinking alcohol. The next day they were tormented by headaches, weakness and a sharp decrease in efficiency. The hangover persisted for quite a long time, and the recovery of the body took from 1 to 3 days. This forced patients with VVD to refuse to take alcohol.
