Contents
Vegetovascular dystonia, or VVD for short, is a complex disease that is characterized by a number of pathological manifestations on the part of many organs of the human body. However, all these disorders are due to a single reason – a malfunction of the autonomic nervous system.
Dystonia is a term that means an imbalance between the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions. Such situations invariably negatively affect the functioning of the body as a whole. With VVD, a person’s heart rate increases or slows down, urination, defecation, breathing and other life-supporting functions suffer. Therefore, the symptoms of VVD are extremely diverse and can mimic various pathologies. The key word here is precisely “imitate”, since the internal organ itself is able to work normally. Only the mechanisms of control over its functioning are violated. These mechanisms are precisely the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system. As a result, a person makes various complaints and suspects that he has diseases that actually do not exist. All pathological symptoms are provoked by nervous disorders.
Fragments of the vegetative system are present in all structural units of the body. They are responsible for the heart rate, for the level of blood pressure, for sweating, for expanding the lumen of the respiratory tract, for how well the digestive tract organs perform their work, etc. The synthesis of insulin and adrenaline is also controlled by the work of the autonomic nervous system.
Nerve endings pick up signals from various organs and send them to the spinal cord. There, these impulses are automatically processed, and the function of a particular system is corrected. This process is incredibly fast and smooth. It is enough to imagine that every second the spinal cord processes billions of signals. This is what allows the body to work as a whole. Vegetative regulation can be safely called the control base, the most complex mechanism that is responsible for analyzing the parameters of work and giving the necessary orders.
To better understand what this system is, you can consider an example of its work: a person took food, as a result of which his stomach was filled. Nerve endings, or as they are also called, receptors, reacted to this fact and sent the necessary signal to the spinal cord. He processed the received information and gave a command for the production of gastric juice. This will allow the food to be digested.
So, the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the proper functioning of the internal organs, by transmitting nerve impulses containing a command from the spinal cord and back. The functions of the autonomic nervous system provide an automatic “start” of certain processes. For example, it instructs the gastric juice to begin to be produced, the bronchi to expand or contract at the right time, blood pressure to rise or fall, the leg to stand at a certain angle, etc.
Such an automatic regulation system allows you to free the brain from unnecessary work. Thanks to this, a person is able to create, learn, learn about the world around him, and not direct all his potential to regulate the life support processes that occur every second in the body. It is quite logical that doctors and people who understand how the human body works cannot underestimate the importance of the autonomic nervous system for maintaining a normal life support.
Any failure in the operation of this system leads to pathological symptoms. An imbalance in the functioning of the sympathetic and parasympathetic departments entails unmotivated jumps in blood pressure (in this case, they will not be signs of hypertension), a violation of the processes of digestion of food (but not diseases of the digestive tract), increased heart rate, etc. Moreover, dystonia can form on background of pathologies of the nervous, somatic and mental systems.
So, VVD is not a single pathology, but a whole syndrome, which is accompanied by various clinical symptoms and can combine neurological, somatic, psycho-emotional and other disorders. Therefore, if vegetative vascular dystonia is suspected, it is necessary to send the patient for a high-quality and most comprehensive examination. This is the only way to get to the true cause of the disorders occurring in the body. Only a full-fledged study will allow in the future to choose an ethological treatment that will eliminate the root cause of the disorder, and not the symptoms of the disease.
Diagnosis of VVD – what is it in simple terms?
The autonomic nervous system consists of 2 divisions: sympathetic and parasympathetic. If both of them function normally, then there is a balance in the body. So, the sympathetic system helps to increase vascular tone, activate the work of nerves and muscles, which gives the body the ability to successfully cope with stress. At the same time, it has an overwhelming effect on the process of urine formation and on the digestion of food.
The parasympathetic system, in turn, inhibits the functions of the body that it needs to overcome stressful situations. Normally, the two systems control each other’s work, thereby maintaining a balance.
If this balance is disturbed, then a condition develops, which is called vegetative-vascular dystonia. It manifests itself with multiple pathological symptoms. Moreover, they can be present both on an ongoing basis and occur with a certain frequency. The main sign indicating the development of dystonia is a violation of the tone of arteries and veins, and since they penetrate all organs of the human body, accordingly, the clinical picture of VVD is diverse.
Symptoms of VVD in adults
Symptoms of VVD in adults can be distinguished as follows:
Cardiac and vascular disorders. This is expressed in heart pains, in jumps in blood pressure, heart rhythm failures. Disturbances in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system affect heat transfer, which causes frequent hot flashes or cold feet, even in hot weather. A person feels the increase in heart rate quite distinctly. Often, patients compare tachycardia against the background of VVD with heartbeats on the chest. At such moments, a person may experience a panic fear of death, a feeling of suffocation, dizziness, an increase in weakness.
Disorders in the work of the digestive system. These symptoms are diverse and are expressed by pain in the abdomen, problems with normal intestinal motility, increased gas discharge, etc.
Respiratory disorders (Da Costa syndrome, irritable heart syndrome, effort syndrome). The most striking manifestations of respiratory disorders against the background of VVD can be called the appearance of spasms in the larynx. This leads to the fact that a person begins to experience a lack of air. There seems to be a lump in the throat. Sometimes the nose is blocked. To get rid of breathing problems, a person begins to cough, sniff, breathe deeply. Against the background of respiratory disorders, headaches, pre-syncope states and even fainting develop. A veil appears before the eyes, noise appears in the ears. Frequent companions of respiratory disorders are such uncomfortable manifestations as belching, seething in the abdomen, nausea. In addition to spasm of the larynx, a person may experience spasms of the feet, shins, hands. They feel like trembling like chills.
Malfunctions of the genitourinary system. In adults, libido decreases, and men may develop impotence. Orgasms may also disappear, or the erection will be weak. Urgent urinary incontinence is a symptom that occurs in some patients with VVD. In this case, there will be no pathologies of the organs of the urinary system.
Problems with sweating. Increased sweating is observed for a long time or worries a person periodically. Sweat is especially abundant during emotional shock and excitement.
Disorders in the work of muscles and joints. Seals may appear in various parts of the spine, periodically a person is disturbed by pain in the joints and muscles.
Disorders of lacrimation and salivation. Eyes with VVD may be watery, or, on the contrary, may be too dry (the latter condition develops less frequently). As for the violation of salivation, the production of saliva may be either too abundant or insufficient.
Emotional disorders. The person becomes restless, irritable. His performance suffers, he gets tired faster. Most often, people with VVD have a low mood, there is a tendency to tearfulness.
Thermoregulation disorders. Body temperature can remain elevated or lowered for a long time for no apparent reason. Sometimes a person feels chills, which is expressed by trembling in the limbs. Subfebrile temperature with VVD may remain unchanged for several years. Moreover, taking antipyretic drugs does not lead to its decrease. However, during the night’s rest, it returns to normal.
Causes of VSD
Doctors are still not able to accurately name the reasons why a person develops vegetovascular dystonia.
Experts name a number of factors that can influence this pathological process, among them:
A certain set of morphological and functional features of the human body. In this case, dystonia is inherited, and its signs will reveal themselves from an early age.
Pronounced physical, emotional and mental stress on the body. In this case, dystonia can develop at any age.
Any drastic changes in a person’s life. A change of place of residence, or even a change of place of work, can negatively affect.
Violations in the work of the endocrine system. Diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, pheochromocytoma, thyrotoxicosis can have a bad effect on the functioning of the autonomic nervous system.
Malfunctions of the CNS.
Sexual disorders.
Postponed neurotic diseases.
Frequent stress, or a single, but strong emotional shock.
Pathologies of the spinal column (osteochondrosis of the cervical region, subluxation of 1 cervical vertebra).
The period of hormonal surges, which may be due to puberty, childbearing, menopause, etc.
Alcoholism.
The presence of severe chronic pathology in the body.
Past physical trauma.
Body poisoning.
Tendency to allergic reactions.
Somatic pathologies: stomach ulcer, colitis, pancreatitis, bronchial asthma, etc.
Endocrine changes that occur in the body with age.
Panic attacks with VSD
Panic attack and vegetovascular dystonia are two completely different conditions, however, due to the similarity of symptoms, they are often confused. At the time of an attack of dystonia and during a panic attack, adrenaline, norepinephrine and acetylcholine are released into the blood. Therefore, many experts put people prone to panic attacks, the diagnosis of “VVD”. But this is a fundamentally wrong conclusion. To get rid of dystonia, a person must take medications, and to stop panic attacks, you need to seek help from a psychotherapist.
In fact, confusing VSD and a panic attack is quite simple, and in the CIS countries, doctors do not at all recognize such a diagnosis as a panic attack, so all patients are treated for dystonia. Although there is no need to take medication to get rid of panic attacks. A person needs only psychotherapeutic help. It is she who will stabilize blood pressure, get rid of headaches and pain in the heart. Properly built interaction with a specialist will make it possible to gradually completely eliminate panic attacks, since it is a neurosis. While vegetovascular dystonia is a violation in the work of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system. This condition requires medication.
Pain with VSD
Painful sensations can have a variety of manifestations. Most often, people complain of headache, pain in the heart and abdominal pain. Unpleasant symptoms do not tend to increase, but are most often present on an ongoing basis.
Headache with VSD
About 1/3 of all people with VVD suffer from changes in blood pressure. It can be normal, high, low, or unstable. The most pronounced jumps in blood pressure are observed when a person is worried.
The higher the pressure, the stronger the complaints of headaches and heartaches. Sometimes there is even pain in the spinal column.
If the pressure is low, then the pain proceeds like a migraine. In parallel, the person feels dizzy, the gait becomes shaky, and a feeling of suffocation may occur. If the pressure drops too much, then fainting is not ruled out.
Pain in the heart / chest with VVD
A person may notice intermittent pain in the region of the heart. They can be aching, stabbing, pulsating, burning, pressing, pulling. An uncomfortable feeling often appears in the area of the nipple of the left breast.
At the same time, a person is not able to say for sure in which place the pains are localized. Often they have no boundaries and are “blurry”. The pain can radiate to the shoulder, can shoot into the armpit, occur in the hypochondrium, etc.
Sometimes it seems to a person with VVD that his jaw hurts and absolutely healthy teeth ache.
Distinctive features of pain in the heart against the background of dystonia: they are not stopped by taking nitroglycerin, have no connection with physical activity, but noticeably decrease after taking Validol or sedatives.
Against the background of heart pain, patients often note the following symptoms:
Feeling of lack of oxygen;
Feeling of a lump in the throat;
The appearance of goosebumps that “run” on the tongue, the tip of the nose and the skin.
In addition to pain in the heart and chest, patients complain of heart rhythm disturbances. The heart beats faster, blood pressure rises in parallel, the skin turns red or pale, the lips may suddenly turn blue.
Pain in the abdomen with VSD
The intestines with VVD begin to work intermittently, the same applies to the stomach. Therefore, it is not surprising that the symptom complex leads to nausea, abdominal pain, heaviness in the epigastric region, and belching with air.
Constipation is replaced by diarrhea, there is increased intestinal motility. Gases overwhelm him, so patients complain of flatulence.
VSD types
VSD of mixed type
This type of dystonia is characterized by instability of vascular tone. He goes up and down. A symptom such as jumps in blood pressure comes to the fore. With a mixed type of dystonia, a person will alternately be disturbed by the symptoms of VVD of the hypotonic and hypertonic type.
VSD by cardiac type
The leading symptom of VVD by cardiac type is heart pain. It can have different localization and character. In parallel, the patient is disturbed by bouts of increased heartbeat. The clinic tends to intensify during a period of emotional overstrain, or against the background of hormonal surges (during pregnancy, puberty, etc.). Moreover, from time to time a person feels normal, and cardiological examinations do not reveal any pathological changes in the heart. Over time, the condition of people with VVD by cardiac type does not worsen.
IRR for hypertensive type
The main symptom of hypertensive VVD is an increase in blood pressure. Its average indicators are equated to 140/90 mm. rt. Art. During such jumps, the patient experiences severe headaches, an unmotivated feeling of heat appears, the skin in the chest area (next to the heart) becomes very sensitive.
If for a long time to ignore the symptoms of this type of VVD, then this threatens the development of hypertension. In addition, the following symptoms are observed: cold extremities, marble coloration of the skin, flushing of the face and neck. A frequent companion of high blood pressure is elevated body temperature. Moreover, it does not remain consistently high, but has an abrupt range.
VSD by hypotonic type
The main symptom of hypotonic VSD is low blood pressure, which remains at 100/60. Vascular tone will also be lowered, signs of heart failure will join.
The following clinical manifestations indicate the VSD of the hypotonic type:
Dizziness followed by fainting or pre-fainting;
Weakness;
Haze before the eyes;
Cold hands and feet;
Cyanosis of the skin, which is especially noticeable in the face and neck;
Low body temperature for no apparent reason;
Excessive sweating.
The main methods of treating VVD
Treatment of dystonia must be comprehensive. In addition to getting rid of the underlying disease, therapy should be aimed at eliminating the negative symptoms of VVD. Properly selected treatment can significantly improve the quality of life of a person.
If dystonia is accompanied by disorders in the nervous sphere, then a psychotherapist must be involved in the treatment. It is possible to implement such techniques as hypnosis, auto-training, etc.
Methods of non-drug correction of IRR:
special diet;
Light sports with VSD;
Physiotherapy;
Breathing exercise with VVD;
Massage;
Medicinal herbs;
Phototherapy;
Balneotherapy;
Acupuncture reflexology.
Depending on the type of VVD and its clinical manifestations, the following medications may be prescribed:
Sedatives, such as Novopassit or Persen;
Anxiolytic drugs, for example, Mezapam, Relanium, Alprazolam;
List of drugs for VVD;
Eltacin with VVD.
To eliminate heart pain, Verapamil, Atenolol, Propranolol, Valocordin, pepper patch, etc. are prescribed.
Antidepressants are recommended for admission if the pain syndrome cannot be corrected with other drugs. With VVD, it is possible to prescribe Coaxil, Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Imipramine, etc.
To cope with constipation, it is necessary to adjust the diet, including in it a sufficient amount of fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables. It is good to eat fish and lean meats. If changes in the menu do not completely solve the problem of constipation, then it is possible to take laxatives, including Duphalac, Normaze. You can also use Lavacol, Fortrans, Tranzipeg.
With a tendency to diarrhea, on the contrary, it is necessary to abandon the use of foods containing an impressive amount of indigestible fiber. With severe diarrhea, drugs such as Imodium, Lopedium will help. Popular sorbents are Smecta, Filtrum, Polyphepan.
Bad habits with VVD contribute to its progression, so you need to get rid of them.
When a person suffers from excessive sweating, then you need to monitor the sanitation of the skin. They can be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate, tannic acid. Elevated body temperature is brought down by the drug Fentolamine or Pyrroxane.
Nootropics, for example, Cavinton, Vinpocetine, Sermion, Nootropil, etc., allow improving cerebral blood supply.
Vasoket, Detralex, Venoplant – drugs for the treatment of venous insufficiency. They should be taken for 30-60 days.
Preparations with ginkgo biloba help to eliminate headaches with hypotension. It can be Memoplant, Ginkofar and others.
Quickly relieve a person from dizziness allows the drug Betaserk. It also helps to eliminate noise in the head.
Naturally, all medicines should be prescribed by a doctor. Their list is quite extensive, but you need to choose those drugs that allow you to cope with the negative manifestations of VVD.
Which doctor treats VSD?
A neurologist should deal with the treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia.