Vegetovascular dystonia (VVD) is a collective concept to denote a complex of symptoms that arise when the tone of the autonomic nervous system changes. The innervation of arterioles and capillaries is impaired, the internal organs do not receive sufficient blood flow. Lack of oxygen and nutrients, the accumulation of metabolic by-products lead to disruption of their functions.
Osteochondrosis is a pathology of the spinal column due to overload. First, the intervertebral discs undergo changes (their width decreases), and then the edges of the articular surfaces (processes of bone tissue grow). Osteophytes injure nearby vessels and nerves.
This leads to the fact that some of the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and VSD are similar clinically.
Relationship between osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and VSD
The causes of vegetative-vascular dystonia are extensive: from the characteristics of the psychological type of personality and overwork to brain injury. spinal osteochondrosis also applies.
In the body of the vertebrae of the cervical spine there are holes that make up a channel for one of the arteries that feed the brain. The appearance of additional growths on the articular surfaces of the bones deforms the walls of the cavity, narrowing the lumen of the vessel lying there. Chronic hypoxia occurs, which progresses. Due to collaterals, symptoms do not appear immediately, but after the action of a provoking factor (this can be a jump in blood pressure, an unusual load, prolonged sitting in a non-physiological position).
Panic attacks and cervical osteochondrosis are associated anatomically: outgrowths of bone tissue and pathologically spasmodic muscles pinch the arteries that carry blood to the brain. An acute attack of hypoxia triggers the release of stress hormones that make a person feel anxious.
Nerves run alongside the vertebrae. Overgrowing osteophytes damage thin fibers, which leads to impaired conduction of excitation. The following functions suffer:
- Sensitive (feeling of numbness, paresthesia - crawling creeps).
- Motor (irritation of the nerve causes a painful point muscle spasm, a trigger point occurs).
- Vegetative (increased impulses from the trigger point causes a violation of the innervation of the internal organs, subject to the same segment of the spinal cord. For example, a prolonged local spasm of the intercostal muscles can provoke the development of pain in the heart).
These are the reasons for the onset of symptoms of VSD in the presence of cervical osteochondrosis.
How to diagnose the cause of symptoms correctly?
Common complaints are:
cardialgia;
- a feeling of dizziness (due to dysfunction of the vestibular apparatus);
- trouble breathing;
- tinnitus (occurs with sharp turns of the head);
- panic attacks.
Since osteochondrosis and vegetative-vascular dystonia are often a cause and effect, you need to pay attention to the accompanying complaints and living conditions of a person.
For osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the following features are characteristic:
- periodic aching pains in the back of the neck caused by an unusual load;
- decrease in human growth;
- spending most of the time sitting;
- lack of exercise;
Similar symptoms are aggravated by headache, dizziness, cardialgia, and panic attacks.
Vegetative vascular dystonia is characterized by:
the presence of character accentuations (tendency to hypochondria, anxiety);
- asthenic manifestations (weakness, apathy);
- feeling hot flashes;
- bowel disorders (diarrhea, constipation);
- changes in the functions of the pelvic organs (urinary incontinence, nocturia);
- increased blood pressure.
The symptoms of VSD and osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are similar, but they arise on a different background.
Lack of training of the back muscles leads to degeneration of the fibrous rings of the intervertebral discs. An increase in the load on the vertebral bodies leads to the proliferation of osteophytes (acute outgrowths of bone tissue). Osteochondrosis is irreversible. However, gymnastic exercises can help strengthen your back muscles and stop the disease from progressing.
With VSD, gymnastics is ineffective, although it can contribute to a short-term improvement in the condition. Symptoms are often caused by neuroses, for the treatment of which more specific methods and means are required.
Instrumental research
Symptoms of osteochondrosis and VSD are similar. To clarify the etiology, it is advisable to first identify the presence of pathology of the spine. There can be many causes of vegetative-vascular dystonia, and not all of them lend themselves to visualization.
To detect signs of osteochondrosis, the most informative are:
- X-ray of the spine. The picture shows:
- reducing the distance between the vertebrae (due to thinning of the fibrous rings of the intervertebral discs);
- osteophytes (uneven edges of the articular surfaces overgrown to the sides).
- Magnetic resonance imaging. Visualized:
- edema of the capsules of the intervertebral joints (due to injury by osteophytes);
- protrusion (atony of the fibrous ring);
- dislocations and subluxations of the vertebrae;
- herniated intervertebral discs (displacement of the nucleus pulposus into the zone of rupture of the annulus fibrosus);
- edema and detachment of the posterior longitudinal ligament.
Conclusions
Symptoms of vascular dystonia occur as a result of a violation of the activity of the autonomic nervous system at the functional level. A clear anatomical defect is often absent.
With osteochondrosis, symptoms occur due to a violation of the spatial configuration of the vertebrae. Pathological outgrowths touch and injure the vessels and nerves passing nearby, which determines the clinical picture.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is one of the possible causes of vegetative vascular dystonia.
