The main aspects of the development of vegetative dystonia, the main clinical manifestations. Features of diagnosis and approaches to the treatment of neurocirculatory dystonia. Vegeto-vascular dystonia is a disease of the autonomic nervous system, which is caused by an imbalance between its two divisions. The symptoms of this disorder can often mimic other diseases, which is why correct diagnosis is so important at the first stage of helping people with VSD.
Description and mechanism of development of vegetative dystonia
Vegetative dystonia is a disorder that is widespread today. Most of humanity has experienced similar symptoms at least once. More than 35% of appeals to polyclinic health care institutions are based on complaints concerning vegetative-vascular dystonia.
The mechanism of the disorder lies in the physiological aspects of the regulation of the functions of internal organs. It is known that most of the subconscious processes, such as heartbeat, arterial pulse, intestinal motility, are regulated by the autonomic nervous system. It provides an autonomous approach to managing these bodily functions. The autonomic nervous system consists of two divisions - the parasympathetic and the sympathetic. They are directly opposite in action and therefore complement each other. The sympathetic system increases blood pressure, pulse, slows down the motility of the gastrointestinal tract. The parasympathetic system is responsible for lowering the level of blood pressure, heart rate, and also enhances bowel function. Thus, the harmony between these two processes ensures the correct functioning of the internal organs and systems.
When autonomic regulation is disrupted, many organs that were controlled by this part of the nervous system are affected. In most cases, a dominant part of the autonomic nervous system arises, which causes the symptoms of one of the VSD syndromes.
For example, with an increase in the functions of the sympathetic nervous system, the clinical picture will take the form of hypertensive syndrome. In this case, the tone of the parasympathetic department is significantly reduced.
It is a mistake to believe that vegetative dystonia is a problem exclusively in childhood and adolescence. In some cases, it is very difficult to get rid of the symptoms, even for adults. Naturally, hormonal changes during these periods can play a decisive role in the formation of the disease, but they do not at all indicate its obligatory development.
The International Classification of Diseases 10 revision does not include such a nosology as vegetative dystonia, in general. A similar clinical picture is usually attributed to the department of mental disorders of the point of somatoform diseases. It is believed that VSD is a psychogenic problem that can manifest itself with real somatic symptoms, therefore, only a psychiatrist can diagnose ICD-10.
The main causes of vegetative dystonia
In fact, several factors can play a decisive role in the occurrence of vegetative-vascular dystonia. There is currently no consensus regarding the etiology of the disorder.
The set of predisposing conditions creates the necessary background for the formation of vegetative dystonia syndrome:
- Heredity … Most patients often have similar symptoms in close relatives. This does not mean that every generation will necessarily show neurocirculatory dystonia, but the tendency to it can be traced back to the pedigree.
- Personality traits … Each person reacts in his own way to events, stress factors, therefore, the body's response in the form of the development of vegetative dystonia can also be specific. The overwhelming majority among the sick are people with an alarming personality composition and a suspicious character component.
- Periods of hormonal imbalance … Any changes in the body have a significant impact on the nervous system. Regulation can be disrupted during the physiological periods of puberty, pregnancy, menopause.
- Endocrine diseases … Hyper- or hypofunction of the thyroid gland can cause an imbalance in the body's basal metabolic rate, as well as affect the functions of the nervous system and even human behavior. Similar symptoms can also be observed in diseases associated with the pituitary gland.
- Stress … Perhaps one of the most common causes of vegetative-vascular dystonia. A chronic stressful situation in the family or at work, which creates an unfavorable background for the disease, plays a role. There is also an acute reaction to an important unpleasant event that shocks the person.
- Overwork … The cause of vegetative dystonia can be not only physical, but also moral depletion of the body's resources, which allow it to carry out daily activities and do ordinary things.
Symptoms of vegetative dystonia in humans
Symptoms of vegetative dystonia are very diverse, which greatly complicates the diagnosis and correct diagnosis. Very often, the manifestations have similarities with other chronic diseases, the symptoms of which have been bothering for years. Such people turn to many specialists, but it is very difficult to make a specific diagnosis. Most often, neurocirculatory dystonia is manifested by complaints from the cardiovascular system. Such patients are characterized by the formation of a cardiac syndrome with cutting, stabbing pains in the region of the heart. All additional methods of examination do not give results, since the nature of the changes is functional in nature.
Very often, vegetative-vascular dystonia is accompanied by a feeling of interruptions in the work of the heart, an irregular pulse. In such cases, extrasystoles can be recorded on the electrocardiogram. Depending on which of the departments of the autonomic nervous system prevails in the regulation of the functions of organs and systems, one of two main syndromes or types of VSD may develop:
- Hypertensive form of VSD … It is caused by the increased influence of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system on the functioning of blood vessels. There is an increase in blood pressure, increased heart rate, headache, dizziness. This type of vegetative-vascular dystonia can turn into hypertension, if you do not take action in time and do not know how to treat vegetative vascular dystonia.
- Hypotonic form of VSD … It is provoked by the action of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. Blood pressure decreases, heart rate slows down due to the influence of the autonomic component of the vagus nerve. Lethargy, drowsiness can often be observed. Such people even lose consciousness with low blood pressure, complain of impaired thermoregulation of the extremities and cold sweat.
Neurocirculatory dystonia can manifest itself in the form of a variety of dyspeptic phenomena, as well as changes in the motility of the gastrointestinal tract. Under the influence of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system, intestinal peristalsis and its secretory function slow down. People often complain of bloating, constipation, and a feeling of heaviness. The influence of the parasympathetic department enhances intestinal motility, causes rumbling in the abdomen, diarrhea, flatulence.
Also, vegetative-vascular dystonia disrupts the respiratory function, affecting the bronchioles. Most often, there are complaints of shortness of breath, rapid breaths, which cause a feeling of suffocation. Thus, a large amount of oxygen enters the lungs and the concentration of carbon dioxide decreases. This does not have a very good effect on the work of the brain, muscle tissue. Electrolyte changes entail negative consequences from the parenchymal organs.
A separate area of manifestations of neurocirculatory dystonia is emotional and behavioral. Most of the somatic symptoms of VSD are accompanied by one or another psychological change in well-being. So a person can become irritable, whiny, sensitive to many external factors.
Features of the treatment of vegetative dystonia
To date, there is no consensus regarding the treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia. The most common is a comprehensive, integrated approach that will provide support for the autonomic nervous system and effectively eliminate the manifestations of neurocirculatory dystonia.
Correct mode
Practically, the therapy of each disease is accompanied by the choice of a special regimen that a person should adhere to. For vegetative-vascular dystonia, this is of particular importance, since proper sleep and rest are the keys to restoring the activity of the nervous system.
The mode of rest and work is of great importance in the treatment of this disease. A full 8-hour sleep is necessary for both a teenager and an adult with vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Regular walks in the fresh air and moderate exercise will be helpful. They have a general strengthening effect on the human body and reduce the influence of external factors on internal homeostasis.
Mental work also plays an important role in the normalization of the regime. Care should be taken to alternate with exercise and not cause fatigue.
Nutrition
A rational intake of food provides the body with useful substances and energy reserves, which is necessary for completing daily tasks. Of great importance is the human diet, which must contain all the necessary micro- and macroelements, vitamins, essential amino acids, proteins and carbohydrates.
It is important to take food in fractional portions throughout the day. Overeating and long periods of hunger should be avoided. If work forces you to go without eating 5 times a day, you should make sure that you always have a cheese bar or yogurt with you.
Psychotherapy
With the help of a qualified specialist, you can solve emotional-behavioral problems that triggered the process of vegetative manifestations. Be that as it may, the cause of neurocirculatory dystonia does not have any organic changes. The psychogenic component of the factors in the onset of this disease plays an important role.
Chronic or acute stresses at work, in the family, interpersonal conflicts, which remain unresolved for a long time, contribute to the dysregulation of the nervous system and the manifestation of VSD symptoms.
With the help of psychotherapy, you can discover the main problems in responding to external situations and formulate the correct patterns of behavior. Attitudes play an important role in minimizing the chances of a somatoform reaction.
Alternative therapy
If all previous methods of treating vegetative dystonia have not worked, you should seek help from non-traditional methods. The advantage over physiotherapeutic methods of treatment is electrosleep, electrophoresis. Reflexotherapy is also effective for neurocirculatory dystonia. The essence of this technique lies in the targeted impact on the projection points of the skin, which reflect the state of internal organs and systems. Acupuncture and su-jok therapy are the leading alternative medicine methods for managing the symptoms of the disease.
Pharmacotherapy
Medicines for VSD are used last and only when other methods of therapy are ineffective. The selection of a pharmacological preparation must be carried out with an individual approach, taking into account the characteristics of the organism of each person.
First of all, the advantage should be given to herbal medicines, which have a smaller spectrum of side effects. Collection of medicinal herbs in the form of infusions, drops or teas will help relieve irritability, calm the nerves.
Non-herbal sedatives should be used for severe anxiety, sleep disturbances, and persistent anxiety. Also used drugs from the group of antidepressants. The appointment of a treatment regimen and the calculation of the dosage of drugs should be handled by a doctor. Self-medication in this case can be extremely dangerous.
Along with this, vitamins and nutrients should be taken in complex preparations, which have a general strengthening effect on the body.
The abundance of symptoms, their weariness, individuality and similarity with other diseases, the absence of pathognomonic signs and criteria greatly complicates the diagnosis of this disease. Only an experienced specialist will help to establish the correct diagnosis and prescribe an effective therapy regimen. How to treat vegetative dystonia - watch the video:
Neurocirculatory dystonia, despite the fact that such a disease is not recognized by any classification, is quite relevant today. Although the symptoms of VSD do not aggravate a person's condition too much, it should be understood how dangerous vegetative dystonia is. In some cases, it can flow into more complex diseases, for example, hypertension, cause loss of consciousness, ischemic disorders.
