Which doctor treats VSD and who to contact?

What is VSD

Vegetovascular dystonia (VSD), or neurocirculatory syndrome, is a functional disorder of the autonomic nervous system, in which a complex of symptoms appears that are not characteristic of a specific disease. Examination of patients with suspected VSD most often does not reveal changes in the structure of internal organs, but may show deviations in their function at the border of normal.

Autonomic dysfunction cannot be called a full-fledged disease; this diagnosis is not included in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). But therapists, cardiologists and neurologists continue to make this diagnosis to patients in whom the examination did not reveal any disorders, and complaints of poor health continue.

It is believed that manifestations of pathology arise due to disturbances in the coordination of the two structures of the autonomic nervous system. It consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, which differ in their effects on the body. The activator of sympathy is the hormone adrenaline, so it performs the following functions:

increases the number of heart contractions;
increases blood pressure;
stimulates the release of glucose into the blood;
dilates the arteries of the brain, lungs and heart;
reduces saliva secretion;
suppresses peristalsis of the digestive tract;
dilates the bronchi and enhances gas exchange;
enlarges pupils;
causes spasm of the sphincters of the bladder and digestive tract.

These reactions are necessary to protect the body in a dangerous situation, to activate it to escape. The parasympathetic nervous system works in the opposite direction. It reduces blood pressure, accelerates peristalsis of the intestines and urinary organs, and constricts the pupils and bronchi. The parasympathetic activator is the substance acetylcholine. It slows down the heartbeat, reduces blood glucose levels and relaxes all the sphincters in the body.

Autonomic dystonia occurs when the sympathetic or parasympathetic system is activated spontaneously, for no apparent reason. Therefore, a person suddenly has an increased heartbeat while at rest, his blood pressure rises, and he is worried about anxiety.

Vision problems with VSD

A regular increase or, on the contrary, a decrease in the tone of blood vessels, characteristic of vegetative-vascular dystonia, leads, among other things, to serious vision problems. But a person with VSD may not even notice this, since vision deteriorates not in one day, but over a fairly long period of time.

However, in addition to general deterioration, the patient may also experience an acute attack of vision loss in the form of severe ripples in the eyes, causing panic. And in this case, patients with VSD often have to take cardiac and sedative medications and even call an ambulance. To protect yourself from a panic attack, you need to have information about why the attack occurs, how it proceeds, and what to do to stabilize your condition.

Ripple in the eyes and features of its course?

Perhaps the most common cause of such an attack is physical fatigue or weakened immunity. The onset of an attack is indicated by the appearance of small ripples in the eyes, which may be uneven - one eye may ripple more than the other or not ripple at all. In this case, the person ceases to distinguish small objects and cannot write or read, as he is unable to focus his eyes on the letters.

The next stage of the attack is the appearance of flies and sparkling sparks. The surrounding space appears blurry, and gradually even large objects lose clarity. In this case, the ripples intensify, up to continuous flickering. As a result, the person stops seeing for some time, practically going blind. Such an attack is extremely dangerous if at this time some important work is being carried out, for which increased attention is extremely necessary. In this regard, it is strongly recommended to stop any work when it appears. It should be noted that severe ripples in the eyes resemble dizziness in their symptoms.

What to do with ripples in the eyes?

Surprisingly, such a symptom of VSD as ripples in the eyes does not require treatment. No medicine will help improve the patient’s well-being.

However, something should still be done. First of all, take a horizontal position - this state will improve blood supply to the brain. It is also advisable to keep your eyes closed - this will help get rid of the panic fear caused by temporary blindness. And, of course, calm down. After about 15-20 minutes, vision will begin to recover. Please note that this process will be gradual and will take several minutes. So there is no need to resort to medications and worry about your health. Such an attack is typical for vegetative-vascular dystonia, and should be treated calmly.

The reason for the appearance of ripples in the eyes?

For a patient with VSD, sudden loss of vision is quite common. Rippling in the eyes is a common symptom of this disease and occurs due to a sudden narrowing (spasm) of the blood vessels in the eye area. As a rule, such a spasm can occur if the concentration of fear hormones in the blood increases, which leads to a lack of oxygen and all sorts of disorders.

It is noteworthy that an attack can occur even in a person who is completely relaxed and calm.
However, doctors cannot explain this phenomenon, citing the fact that each patient has his own characteristic symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia. And if ripples in the eyes were not observed before, it means that the patient’s health condition has deteriorated, and the body has weakened even more. In this case, you should reduce physical activity, increase rest time, and perhaps even start taking sedatives. An attack of vision loss should be treated comprehensively together with the general treatment of VSD and panic disorders. And then, with a favorable course, this symptom will gradually cease to bother the patient. Author: K.M.N., Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences M.A. Bobyr

Causes and symptoms of VSD

Adolescents and women are at risk for developing vegetative-vascular dystonia. In men, VSD rarely occurs as an independent syndrome; dystonia is usually associated with other diseases. The causes of the pathology are most often unknown, but its appearance is associated with the following provoking factors:

stress – constant nervous tension causes the release of stress hormones, which stimulate the autonomic nervous system;
hormonal changes - physiologically in women during the menstrual cycle, with the onset of pregnancy, menopause, the concentration of sex steroids changes, which indirectly affect the functioning of the nervous system;
maturation of the nervous system – in adolescents leads to pronounced signs of VSD;
bad habits - smoking, drinking alcohol, caffeinated drinks cause disturbances in the functioning of blood vessels and the conduction of nerve impulses.

The first symptoms of vegetative dystonia may appear in childhood. They are associated with heredity and characteristics of pregnancy. If the expectant mother suffers from vegetative-vascular dystonia, smokes, and has been diagnosed with arterial hypertension, then the risk of pathology in the child increases significantly. The health of the baby is negatively affected by intrauterine hypoxia, disruption of feto-placental blood flow, as well as the stress experienced by the pregnant woman. Acute fetal hypoxia during childbirth can also lead to the formation of VSD at an early age.

The formation of vegetative-vascular dystonia in adults can be associated with osteochondrosis, head injuries, and poor nutrition. Prolonged life in poor environmental conditions and work in hazardous industries also leads to VSD. Weather-dependent people also often experience dystonia.

Symptoms of autonomic dysfunction are varied; doctors identify more than 40 signs of the disease, but not all of them occur in one patient. Usually this is a combination of 4-5 constant symptoms and several additional ones. Depending on the manifestations of the cardiovascular system, there are three types of vegetative-vascular dystonia:

cardiac - not accompanied by pressure surges, it is characterized by pain in the heart area or interruptions in its work;
hypertensive type - a person suffers from high blood pressure, which is accompanied by panic attacks, chills, and increased physical activity;
hypotensive type – characterized by low blood pressure, which is maintained at 100/50-90/45 mm Hg. Additional concerns include weakness, drowsiness, and dizziness.

Signs of dystonia include periodic shortness of breath, a feeling of shortness of breath, or a sensation of spasm in the throat. Many people complain to the doctor about pain in the heart, a feeling of increased heartbeat, pressure in the chest, interruptions in the heart, but it is rarely possible to record them using an ECG. Symptoms of autonomic dysfunction include decreased appetite, heartburn, flatulence and other digestive disorders. The disease manifests itself in the form of frequent urination or urinary retention, chills and cold extremities, and increased sweating. Many people complain of weather sensitivity, sleep disturbances, mood swings and irritability. In women with VSD, the menstrual cycle may be disrupted or symptoms of premenstrual syndrome may appear 1-2 weeks before menstruation.

The severity of signs of vegetative-vascular dystonia may vary. Depending on the frequency of symptoms, the following types of disease are distinguished:

paroxysmal – attacks of vegetative-vascular dystonia periodically appear;
permanent - the symptoms of dystonia are constant, usually mild, but can intensify under the influence of provoking factors;
mixed - includes characteristics of the two previous types;
latent type - signs of the disease appear only after severe stress, the rest of the time the symptoms do not bother.

Vegetative-vascular dystonia, if prolonged without treatment, can lead to disturbances in the functioning of the heart. People who are overweight, eat poorly, and suffer from physical inactivity have an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease and hypertension. In women aged 45-50 years, VSD aggravates the course of menopause.

Treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia

Treatment of VSD is carried out in three main areas:

combating the cause of the disease;
impact on pathological processes that occur in the body;
general strengthening activities.

There are many causes of vegetative-vascular dystonia, and they are not fully understood, so it is quite difficult to influence them. It is important to lead a healthy lifestyle. You need to eat well, get enough sleep, be in the fresh air, and avoid stress. Sometimes, with mild forms of the disease, this is enough - no other treatment for VSD is needed. Many patients benefit from psychotherapy.

In order to influence the pathological processes that occur in the body during VSD, the doctor can prescribe sedatives (motherwort, valerian), tranquilizers (help cope with fear, anxiety, emotional stress), antidepressants (help fight depression, anxiety), β-blockers (drugs that help reduce the activity of the “stress” part of the autonomic nervous system, cope with increased heartbeat, pain and discomfort in the heart area).

Symptoms of VSD in adults, as well as in children, are very insidious, for the following reasons:

There are a large number of manifestations of vegetative-vascular dystonia; in different patients they are combined differently, each of them can be strongly or weakly expressed.
Often the symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia resemble other diseases, usually of the cardiovascular system.
Usually the patient makes many complaints, and during examination and examination no abnormalities are revealed.

Correctly assessing the signs of vegetative-vascular dystonia and establishing the correct diagnosis, not to miss another, more serious disease, will only help with a full, careful examination by a neurologist, a comprehensive examination.

Diagnostic methods

Vegetative-vascular dystonia is an exception diagnosis. This means that it is placed after a complete examination of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, if no abnormalities are found in them.

For diagnosis, you need to contact a general practitioner, who, if necessary, will refer you to a cardiologist, neurologist or endocrinologist. In order for a doctor to make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to accurately describe the symptoms and the time of their onset. The therapist will definitely clarify whether the patient drinks alcohol, nicotine, how often he drinks coffee and what daily routine he follows. This data is necessary to correctly make recommendations for the treatment of the disease.

To diagnose vegetative-vascular dystonia, the following methods are used:

laboratory diagnostics - general blood and urine analysis without specific changes, in biochemical analysis the lipid ratio may be disturbed;
blood test for hormones - a study of thyroid hormones is indicative; if they increase, tachycardia and weight loss may be observed;
ECG - changes are not typical for VSD, sometimes it is possible to record tachycardia, single extrasystoles, but there are no signs of severe conduction disturbances in the heart;
EEG - electroencephalogram can reveal slight deviations in the conduction of impulses in the brain;
Ultrasound of internal organs - examination of the abdominal cavity in case of complaints of indigestion, examination of the heart, kidneys, and pelvic organs in women.

Dysfunction of the nervous system is not accompanied by damage to internal organs; most indicators are within the normal range, despite complaints of poor health.