Vegetovascular dystonia (VSD) is one of the few syndromes in medicine that causes a lot of disagreement among doctors. There are still no uniform criteria for diagnosis and therapy, so patients have to face many difficulties. Treatment of VSD should begin from the moment you seek medical help, and in modern realities a person has to undergo many examinations. As a result, the patient continues to experience painful symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia, and the doctor does not understand how to cure VSD and again sends the patient for further examination. This vicious circle can last from several months to several years.
What is VSD (vegetative-vascular dystonia), NCD?
Vegetative-vascular dystonia, vegetative-vascular dystonia (VSD) is a polyetiological syndrome,
characterized by dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system and functional disorders of almost all body systems. Synonyms for VSD are neurocirculatory dystonia, neurocirculatory asthenia, psychovegetative syndrome, vegetative neurosis, autonomic dysfunction syndrome, vegetative-vascular dystonia, vegetative-vascular dystonia, vegetative-vascular dystonia, NCD. Neurologists and neuropathologists make this diagnosis very often.
Complications
Vegetative-vascular dystonia sometimes leads to the most dangerous exacerbations and complications. The development of vegetative crises is possible, observed in half of the cases. Depending on the part of the autonomic system that is affected, crises can be vagoinsular, sympathoadrenal, or mixed.
A sympathoadrenal crisis is called a panic attack. This condition is accompanied by a sharp release of adrenaline in the blood. The abnormal process occurs under the influence of the autonomic system. As the disorder develops, the patient experiences a sharp headache and increased heart rate. Symptoms of cardialgia may appear. The face turns red or pale.
Vegetative-vascular dystonia is accompanied by the appearance of symptoms of arterial hypertension, increased heart rate, increased temperature to subfebrile levels, chills, loss of sensation in the limbs, a feeling of severe anxiety and fear, which is taken into account in the diagnosis. The crisis ends as suddenly as it begins and lasts for a short period. After its completion, asthenia develops, polyuria occurs, accompanied by the release of urine of low specific gravity.
Vagoinsular crisis is characterized by criteria opposite to sympathetic effects. In this state, there is a release of insulin in the blood, the glucose level drops sharply, and the activity of the digestive organs increases.
A person’s heart stops, arrhythmia develops, dizziness develops, breathing becomes impaired, a feeling of lack of air appears, the pulse slows down, and blood pressure drops. Symptoms of increased sweating, redness of the skin, general weakness, and darkening of the eyes appear.
The crisis is characterized by increased intestinal motility, causing flatulence, diarrhea, and rumbling in the abdomen. After the end of the attack, pronounced post-crisis asthenia is observed. In most cases, mixed types of crises appear, both parts of the autonomic system are activated.
Predisposing factors for the development of VSD (vegetative-vascular dystonia)
Predisposing factors contributing to the occurrence of the disease (syndrome) of VSD are diseases of the nervous system, hereditary and constitutional predisposition; periods of hormonal changes in the body (pre- and puberty, pregnancy, childbirth, dysvariant disorders); personality traits of the patient (anxious, hysterical, suspicious, accentuated personalities); physical inactivity from childhood; focal infection; osteochondrosis; diseases of internal organs; endocrine diseases; allergic diseases.
Causes of VSD
External factors causing the development of VSD are acute and chronic psycho-emotional stress; iatrogeny; infections (tonsillogenic, carious, bacterial, viral); physical and chemical effects (brain injuries, chronic intoxication, hyperinsolation, vibration, ultra-high frequency currents, ionizing radiation), alcohol abuse; overwork.
The interaction of internal and external factors leads to disruption at any level of the complex neurohumoral and metabolic regulation of the cardiovascular system, and the leading link in the pathogenesis of VSD is damage to the hypothalamic structures of the brain, which play a coordinating and integral role in the body. Neurologists, neuropathologists and reflexotherapists believe that the leading role in the development of VSD is given to hereditary-constitutional factors, which manifest themselves in the form of functional insufficiency of the regulatory structures of the brain or their excessive reactivity; features of the course of a number of metabolic processes and altered sensitivity of the peripheral receptor apparatus. Dysregulation manifests itself in the form of dysfunction of the sympathoadrenal and cholinergic systems, histamine-serotonin and kallikrein-kinin systems, disorders of water-salt and acid-base states, oxygen supply to physical activity, and decreased oxygen in tissues. All this leads to the activation of tissue hormones (serotonin, histamine, catecholamines) with subsequent metabolic disorders, microcirculation with the development of degenerative processes in the myocardium.
Treatment
Despite the genetic predisposition to the disease, its development can be prevented, subject to compliance with the regime, dosage time for work and rest, as well as proper nutrition. So, if a patient has high blood pressure, it is worth reducing the amount of salt, confectionery, fatty foods, and fried foods consumed. With low blood pressure, doctors recommend not to indulge in foods containing iodine, sodium and potassium in large quantities, to maintain a sleep schedule, not to overwork, and to avoid stressful conditions.
In the fight against the disease, experts focus on a non-drug method, namely:
- massage;
- acupuncture;
- physiotherapy;
- water procedures.
To reduce and alleviate symptoms, medicinal herbs are used:
- Eleutherococcus;
- ginseng root;
- lure;
- Aralia;
- motherwort;
- valerian;
- hawthorn.
In case of low effectiveness of the described methods, doctors resort to the use of pharmaceuticals, which are selected separately for each patient. In addition, antidepressants, sedatives, vitamin-mineral complexes, and drugs that restore blood supply to the brain can be used.
For successful recovery, regular examination is required - once every 3-6 months. Neurocircular dysfunction, as a rule, intensifies in spring and autumn, so it is better to prescribe all therapeutic measures at this time of year.
In case of untimely or poor-quality treatment, dystonia progresses and leads to the appearance of a variety of pathologies in the body, but if you follow the doctor’s instructions and monitor the course of the disease, the prognosis is favorable.
Symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia (VSD), complaints with VSD, how does it manifest?
Which VSD clinic? The main clinical feature of patients with vegetative-vascular dystonia (VSD) is the presence of numerous complaints in patients, a variety of different symptoms and syndromes , which is due to the characteristics of pathogenesis and the involvement of hypothalamic structures in the process. The most common symptoms of VSD : cardialgia, asthenia, neurotic disorders, headache, sleep disturbances, dizziness, respiratory disorders, palpitations, cold hands and feet, vegetative-vascular paroxysms, hand tremors, internal tremors, cardiophobia, myalgia, joint pain, swelling tissues, heart failure, feeling of heat in the face, low-grade fever, fainting, nausea, lack of air, anxiety, lump in the throat , panic attacks, sweating, weakness, chills. The most consistent signs of the diagnosis of VSD are cardialgia (pain or painful sensations in the heart); heartbeat; vascular dystonia; autonomic dysfunctions; respiratory disorders; systemic neurotic disorders. Dysuric phenomena are possible, which contribute to the occurrence of urolithiasis.
Manifestations
VSD is characterized by many different manifestations. Almost all body systems are affected.
- Cardiovascular. Heart rate and blood pressure change, cardiac-type pain and changes in the ECG are noted.
- Pulmonary. There is a feeling of lack of air, inhalation is impaired, blood oxygen saturation deteriorates, and paresthesia appears.
- Nervous. Worrying headaches, tinnitus, weakness, dizziness, fainting. Thinking slows down. I am tormented by fluctuations in body temperature, hyperkinesis, and episodes of depressive mood.
Table 3. Action of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems
Sympathetic | Parasympathetic | |
Pupil | Extension | Narrowing |
Salivation | Insufficient | Excessive |
Pulse | Increased frequency | Reduction |
Arterial pressure | Promotion | Demotion |
Bronchial lumen | Extension | Narrowing |
Gastric juice | Decreased secretion | Increased secretion |
Intestinal peristalsis | Reduced | Reinforced |
Leather | Pale | Blushed |
Sweating | Decreased | Increased |
Syndromes with vegetative-vascular dystonia VSD
With vegetative-vascular dystonia of VSD, various clinical syndromes are observed.
Autonomic dysfunction syndrome VSD
Autonomic dysfunction syndrome - combines sympathetic, parasympathetic and mixed symptom complexes of a generalized, systemic or local nature, manifesting permanently or in the form of paroxysms (vegetative-vascular crises), with non-infectious low-grade fever, a tendency to temperature asymmetry.
Sympathicotonia with VSD, sympathoadrenal crisis
Sympathicotonia in vegetative-vascular dystonia is characterized by tachycardia, pallor of the skin, increased blood pressure, weakened intestinal motility, chills, and a feeling of fear and anxiety . During a sympathoadrenal crisis , a headache appears or intensifies, numbness and coldness of the extremities, paleness of the face occur, blood pressure rises to 150/90-180/110 mm Hg. Art., the pulse quickens to 110-140 beats per minute, pain is noted in the heart area, agitation and restlessness appear, sometimes the body temperature rises to 38-39 degrees Celsius.
Vagotonia with VSD, vagoinsular crisis
Vagotonia pressure , and gastrointestinal dyskinesia. Vagoinsular crisis is manifested by a feeling of heat in the head and face, suffocation, heaviness in the head, nausea, weakness, sweating, dizziness, the urge to defecate, increased intestinal motility, miosis is noted, a decrease in heart rate to 45-50 beats per minute, and a decrease in blood pressure. up to 80/50 mm Hg. Art, allergic manifestations in the form of urticaria or Quincke's edema are possible.
Mixed crisis with VSD
Mixed crises in vegetative-vascular dystonia are characterized by a combination of symptoms typical of crises, or their alternate manifestation. There may also be red dermographism, zones of hyperalgesia in the precordial region, “spotted” hyperemia of the upper half of the chest, hyperhidrosis and acrocyanosis of the hands, tremor of the hands, non-infectious low-grade fever, a tendency to vegetative-vascular crises and temperature asymmetries.
Syndrome of mental disorders in VSD
The syndrome of mental disorders in VSD is characterized by behavioral and motivational disorders - emotional lability, tearfulness, sleep disturbances, feelings of fear, and cardiophobia. Patients with VSD have a higher level of anxiety, they are prone to self-blame, and experience fear in making decisions. Personal values prevail: great concern for health (hypochondria), activity decreases during illness.
Syndrome of adaptation disorders, asthenic syndrome with vegetative-vascular dystonia VSD
Syndrome of adaptation disorders , asthenic syndrome is characterized by rapid fatigue, weakness, intolerance to physical and mental stress, and weather dependence.
Hyperventilation (respiratory) syndrome with VSD
Hyperventilation (respiratory) syndrome is manifested by a subjective feeling of lack of air, chest compression, difficulty breathing, and the need for deep breaths. In some patients, it occurs in the form of a crisis, the clinical picture of which is close to suffocation. The most common reasons that provoke the development of respiratory syndrome are physical exertion, mental stress, staying in a stuffy room, sudden changes in cold and heat, and poor transport tolerance. Along with the mental factors of shortness of breath, a decrease in the compensatory and adaptive capabilities of the respiratory function to hypoxic loads is of great importance.
Neurogastric syndrome with VSD
Neurogastric syndrome by neurogastric aerophagia, esophageal spasm, duodenostasis, and various disorders of the motor-evacuation and secretory functions of the stomach and intestines. Patients complain of heartburn, flatulence, constipation.
Cardiovascular syndrome in VSD
Cardiovascular syndrome is manifested by cardialgia in the left half of the chest, which occurs during emotional stress, is accompanied by hypochondriacal disorders, is not relieved by coronary lytics, fluctuations in blood pressure, pulse lability, tachycardia, and functional murmurs are noted. ECG and bicycle ergometry most often reveal sinus and extrasystolic arrhythmias; there are no signs of myocardial ischemia.
Syndrome of cerebrovascular disorders in VSD
The syndrome of cerebrovascular disorders is characterized by headaches, dizziness, noise in the head and ears, and a tendency to faint. Their development is based on cerebral angiodystonia, the pathogenetic basis of which is dysregulation of cerebral vascular tone of a hypertonic, hypotonic or mixed nature. In some patients with persistent cephalgic syndrome, there is a violation of the tone of not only arterial, but also venous vessels, the so-called functional venous hypertension.
Syndrome of metabolic tissue and peripheral vascular disorders in vegetative-vascular dystonia
The syndrome of metabolic tissue and peripheral vascular disorders is manifested by tissue edema, myalgia, angiotrophoneurosis, and Raynaud's syndrome. The development of this syndrome is based on changes in vascular tone and vascular permeability, disturbances in transcapillary metabolism and microcirculation.
Cardiac syndrome is the most common in vegetative-vascular dystonia (cardiac cardiac type of VSD)
Cardiac syndrome is the most common form. It is this that causes overdiagnosis of organic heart pathology, which in turn is fraught with serious consequences: excommunication from physical education and sports, warnings regarding pregnancy and childbirth, frivolous removal of tonsils, unnecessary prescription of thyreostatic, anti-inflammatory, antianginal and other drugs. Among the leading cardiac syndromes one should highlight: cardialgic, tachycardial, bradycardic, arrhythmic, hyperkinetic.
Cardialgic syndrome with VSD
Cardialgic syndrome occurs in 85% of patients with neurocirculatory dystonia . Cardialgia is associated with increased susceptibility of the central nervous system to interoceptive stimuli; experts regard it as sympathalgia. Once it occurs, cardialgia is fixed using the mechanism of autosuggestion or a conditioned reflex. The pain can be of a different nature: constant aching or pinching in the area of the apex of the heart, intense prolonged burning in the area of the heart, paroxysmal prolonged cardialgia, paroxysmal short-term pain or pain that occurs in connection with physical activity, but does not interfere with the continuation of the exercise. Stress and drug tests are undoubtedly helpful in making a diagnosis. When the terminal part of the ventricular complex changes on the ECG, a stress test in the case of functional cardialgia leads to a temporary reversion of the T wave, and in patients with coronary artery disease it is aggravated. Drug tests in the first case also lead to temporary reversion, but not in the second. Help is provided by invasive methods, lactate dynamics during atrial pacing.
Tachycardia syndrome
Tachycardia syndrome with vegetative-vascular dystonia is characterized by an increase in the automaticity of the sinoatrial node with an increase in the number of heartbeats to 90 or more per minute. The reasons for the development of this syndrome may be an increase in the tone of the sympathetic nervous system or a decrease in the tone of the vagus nerve. Sinus tachycardia significantly limits the physical performance of patients, as evidenced by testing with dosed physical activity. The heart rate reaches submaximal values for a given age even when performing low-power work of 50 - 75 W. With sinus tachycardia, the number of heart contractions at rest rarely exceeds 140-150 beats per minute.
Bradycardic syndrome
Bradycardia syndrome involves a slowing of heartbeats to 60 per minute or less due to a decrease in the automaticity of the sinoatrial node, caused by an increase in the tone of the vagus nerve. The criterion for sinus bradycardia should be considered a decrease in contraction frequency to 45 - 50 beats per minute or less. The bradycardic variant is less common. With more pronounced bradycardia, there may be complaints of headaches and precordial pain, dizziness with rapid extension of the body or transition to orthostasis, and a tendency to fainting and fainting states. A number of other signs of vagoinsular predominance are also identified: poor cold tolerance, excessive sweating, cold hyperhidrosis of the palms and feet, cyanosis of the hands with a marbled skin pattern, spontaneous dermographism. On the ECG, “giant” (“vagal”) T waves may appear in the precordial leads, more often in leads V 2 - V 4.
Arrhythmic syndrome with VSD
In patients with vegetative-vascular dystonia of VSD, as part of the arrhythmic syndrome , extrasystole is more common, supraventricular forms of paroxysmal tachycardia are less common, and paroxysms of atrial fibrillation or flutter are extremely rare. Experts differentiate rhythm disturbances in functional heart diseases from mild myocarditis (rheumatic and non-rheumatic), myocardial dystrophies, reflex effects on the heart (osteochondrosis, gallbladder pathology), hyperfunction of the thyroid gland.
Hyperkinetic cardiac syndrome VSD
Hyperkinetic cardiac syndrome is an independent clinical type of VSD . Like other cardiac syndromes, it is a centrogenically caused autonomic disorder. The final link in its pathogenesis is an increase in the activity of beta-1 adrenergic receptors of the myocardium against the background and due to sympathadrenal predominance. As a result, a hyperkinetic type of blood circulation is formed with a characteristic hemodynamic triad:
1) an increase in stroke and cardiac output, far exceeding the metabolic needs of tissues; 2) increasing the rate of blood expulsion from the heart; 3) compensatory drop in total peripheral vascular resistance.
Vegetative-vascular dystonia: treatment in Russia (treatment of VSD)
Sarklinik successfully uses complex methods for treating various types of vegetative-vascular dystonia (VSD) in adults, children and adolescents. As a result of therapy, the activity of the sympathoadrenal and cholinergic systems is normalized, the sensitivity of alpha and beta adrenergic receptors, the levels of hormones of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, acid-base balance, autonomic tone are restored, neurohumoral changes, pathological endocrine and neuroallergic reactions are eliminated, permanent autonomic disorders are stopped, correction of neurotic disorders that occur during the course of the disease occurs.
Treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia VSD in Saratov, VSD treatment in Russia
The effectiveness of complex treatment of VSD (vegetative vascular dystonia), which can include a variety of reflexology, acupuncture, microacupuncture, moxibustion, alternative methods, acupuncture, reaches 98% and depends on the characteristics of the disease, the severity of dystonia, the duration of the disease, and associated factors. Treatment of VSD, NCD (nephrocirculatory dystonia, vegetative vascular dystonia) is carried out on an outpatient basis and individually. All methods are safe. Sarclinic has been operating for many years, during which time hundreds of patients have been cured of vegetative-vascular dystonia - men and women, adults and children.
Symptoms
Vegetative-vascular dystonia in adult sick people has different manifestations. Most often, VSD has a hidden course. Under the influence of increased stress or other negative circumstances, attacks occur. They occur suddenly and significantly impair the quality of life. Sympathetic dystonia is worse experienced by older people because they have chronic diseases.
There are manifestations of other diseases that are not directly related to the autonomic nervous system. If there are indicators of damage in the area of the heart and blood vessels, the neurologist diagnoses the presence of VSD.
In accordance with scientific articles, the signs of the diagnosis of VSD are:
- headaches - they always differ in severity and duration;
- dizziness;
- severe sweating (increased sweat secretion from the sebaceous glands);
- weakness and high fatigue;
- increased heart rate;
- noise in ears;
- fluctuations in body temperature;
- increased drowsiness, apathy;
- sudden mood changes;
- severe anxiety;
- panic attacks;
- darkening of the eyes, lightheadedness;
- hypochondria.
Panic attacks
Vascular parasympathetic pathology in patients is accompanied by panic attacks. This term refers to a strong fear of death that grips a person. The patient develops anxiety, turning into real horror.
The body sends impulses about danger, but does not find a way out of the situation. Such an attack lasts on average a quarter of an hour, the state of health is slowly restored.
Inability to fall asleep
Sleep problems are typical for all patients with VSD syndrome. Dysfunction in the nervous system manifests itself in the form of insomnia or increased sleepiness. Such symptoms are caused by various disorders in the function of the autonomic nervous system. This provokes a change in biorhythms.
With this disease, it is difficult for the patient to relax. His sleep is short-term. This causes increased sleepiness during the day. When the nervous system is damaged, memory is impaired, concentration deteriorates, and performance decreases. A long absence of normal sleep leads to the appearance of psycho-emotional abnormalities. The nervous system cannot cope with the stress, breakdowns appear.
Emotional instability
It is a consequence of insomnia. A person feels tired, resulting in sudden mood swings. After rest, the patient is quite cheerful, but after a certain time he begins to feel sad or even aggressive.
Change in skin tone
Caused by damage to vascular tone. The patient experiences a rapid flow of blood to the skin and an equally rapid outflow. The skin turns red and appears pale. Similar problems occur during emotional arousal and after increased physical exertion.
Respiratory disorders
Dyspnea with parasympathetic VSD is caused by changes in the innervation of the bronchi. Under the influence of respiratory infections, stress, increased fatigue, and physical exertion, symptoms of shortness of breath appear. Middle-aged or elderly patients experience suffocation, chest discomfort, and the main complication is bronchial asthma. This symptom is associated with cardiac pathologies, which makes diagnosis difficult.
Weather dependent
The autonomic system helps the patient’s body adapt to any weather conditions. If its work is disrupted, a dependence on the climate occurs. High or low atmospheric pressure, hot weather, wind, and precipitation provoke signs of VSD diagnosis such as weakness, headaches, loss of appetite and decreased ability to work.
Digestive disorders
The autonomic system regulates the function of the digestive organs. If this area does not work properly, excessive appetite or its complete absence is observed. During the period of vegetative-vascular dystonia, manifestations of gastritis or gastric ulcer occur. The symptoms of the disease vary from person to person. Constipation or diarrhea, intestinal spasms, pain, and inflammation of the mucous membranes are observed.
Disorders of the genitourinary system
Autonomic dystonia syndrome is accompanied by increased urination and pain in the area of genital function, but they are not associated with pathologies. This is due to insufficient innervation of the pelvic organs. In women, the course of dystonia occurs with cycle deviations and decreased libido. Men may have problems with potency and the appearance of signals of prostate damage.
Dizziness
The cause of this symptom of the disease is a violation of cerebral vascular tone. Their condition is affected by:
- mental overload;
- stress;
- heredity;
- diabetes;
- nervous system disorders;
- lesions of the thyroid gland.
Headache
Autonomic dystonia syndrome causes other symptoms in the patient. An important indicator of VSD is headache. It manifests itself in people who are susceptible to fear and experience strong emotions after stress.
The headache during the illness is not intense, it increases when the head is tilted. Other signs of VSD are possible - fainting, dizziness, nausea, tinnitus, unsteadiness of gait.