Cerebral vascular spasms - symptoms and treatment

What leads to vascular spasms

If previously the risk group included mainly elderly people, in recent decades the situation has changed. Air polluted with toxic substances, bad habits and a frantic pace of life do not pass without consequences - toxic microelements penetrate into the lungs and are transported to the brain, negatively affecting blood vessels.

Spasms represent a strong contraction of blood vessels. If left untreated, the pathology persists for a long time, and in advanced cases leads to a stroke.

The main cause of violations is an incorrect lifestyle

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Doctors identify several other factors:

• chronic lack of sleep, combined with nervous and physical stress;
• hypothermia of the head;
• constant stress;
• alcohol and smoking abuse;
• excessive consumption of strong coffee, tea, energy drinks.

Vasoconstriction is observed in the following diseases:

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• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• violation of the integrity of the arteries;
• cervical osteochondrosis;
• vascular aneurysm;
• malfunction of the thyroid gland, heart and kidneys;
• benign or malignant tumors.

If a person has hypertension, dyscircular encephalopathy and diabetes mellitus, he is at risk.

If a person's parents or close relatives have suffered a stroke or heart attack, the likelihood of cerebral vascular spasms increases.

Discirculatory encephalopathy is a brain disease characterized by mental and neurological disorders. At the same time, the disease progresses steadily and can affect both individual parts of the brain and evenly affect the entire brain. Read more in the article: “Discirculatory encephalopathy of the 2nd degree.”

Causes

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a multifactorial disease. It occurs against the background of a whole complex of factors, each of which aggravates the course of the pathology. The list of reasons includes:

• excess body weight;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• sedentary work;
• incorrect posture;
• chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system (scoliosis, flat feet), contributing to uneven distribution of the load on the spine;
• congenital pathologies of the development of the spinal column, as well as injuries;
• excessive, repetitive stress on the spine;
• hereditary predisposition.

Vasospasms: signs and clinical manifestations

Contraction of cerebral vessels is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Headache
  . Localized at any point, are aching in nature, appear immediately after waking up or closer to night;
• Meteor dependence
  . Against the backdrop of changing weather, long-term pain intensifies, nausea and changes in general well-being appear;
• Decreased cognitive (thinking) abilities
  : attention, memory, performance, concentration. The listed processes are a consequence of lack of oxygen;

• Noise in ears
  . Unusual and unpleasant sounds appear during vascular spasms and intensify with significant physical exertion;
• Feeling of pressure on the head
  . The patient will feel as if his head is being “stuck in a vice.” There may be no pain, but the feeling that something is pressing on the head will remain for a long time.

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The listed symptoms may also occur with other diseases. To establish an accurate diagnosis, consult a general practitioner, cardiologist and neurologist.

Diroton and Enalapril are common medications used for hypertension. Doctors recommend them to many patients as alternative treatments, but their effectiveness remains variable. Read more in the article: “Diroton or enalapril in the treatment of hepcinate LP.”

Treatment

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis requires an integrated approach and includes:

• drug effects;
• physiotherapy;
• physical therapy;
• massage;
• surgery.

Drug treatment

The main goal of drug treatment is to relieve pain and dizziness, restore normal functioning of the nerve roots, and, if possible, stop or slow down the destruction of cartilage tissue. Depending on the situation, the following are prescribed:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (meloxicam, diclofenac, nimesulide, etc.): aimed at relieving pain and inflammation; used in the form of tablets, injections, ointments, patches;
• steroid drugs (hydrocortisone, dexamethasone): also used to relieve inflammation when NSAIDs are ineffective;
• muscle relaxants (mydocalm): drugs that eliminate reflex muscle spasms, thereby reducing pain and improving blood circulation;
• B vitamins in the form of injections or tablets (milgamma, neuromultivitis): help improve the conduction of nerve impulses;
• sedatives for severe pain to improve sleep and reduce the emotional component of pain;
• decongestants for pinched nerve roots;
• chondroprotectors: drugs that promote the restoration of cartilage tissue.

Depending on the symptoms, drugs to improve microcirculation in the vessels of the brain, drugs that block nausea and dizziness, etc. may also be prescribed.

Non-drug treatment

Non-drug treatment methods are used outside of exacerbation. Depending on the clinical situation, the following are used:

• physiotherapy: laser therapy;
• magnetic therapy;
• UHF therapy;
• phonophoresis and electrophoresis;

Non-drug treatment helps reduce the severity of symptoms and reduces the frequency and severity of exacerbations. It acts indirectly:

• improves blood supply to the affected area, metabolism and regeneration processes;
• enhances the effect of drugs;
• helps strengthen the muscle frame and stabilize the spinal column;
• reduces the load on the spinal discs;
• eliminates muscle spasms and blocks.

Surgery

The help of surgeons is necessary in advanced cases of the disease, when medical methods are no longer effective. Several operations are currently used:

• surgical removal of a disc herniation (microdiscectomy, endoscopic or transfacet surgery);
• laminectomy: removal of the spinous processes or vertebral arch, thereby reducing the load on the spinal cord root;
• nucleoplasty: repair of a hernia by removing part of the nucleus of the intervertebral disc.

It is important to remember that only a doctor can decide how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. The regimen is drawn up individually, taking into account the stage of the disease, concomitant pathologies and the individual characteristics of the patient’s body.

First aid for vascular spasms

To relieve vasospasm at home, follow a few simple tips:

1. keep your feet in cold water for 3-4 minutes;
2. wash your face with cold water;

3. drink 20 drops of valerian or corvalol, then lie down until the pain subsides;
4. dilute a tablespoon of honey in warm water and drink the mixture;
5. Press on the temples and back of the head and gently massage the area in a circular motion.

If the pain persists for 2 days or more, consult a doctor.

Drug treatment

The main issues of concern to patients diagnosed with cerebral vascular spasms are symptoms, treatment and medications.

The main method of treatment for vascular contraction is a course of taking various medications.

We present to you a table with the main drugs that will help with vascular spasms.

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Before taking medications, be sure to consult your doctor, exclude contraindications and read the instructions.

general information

Intervertebral discs consist of a gel-like core and a dense fibrous ring surrounding it, covered on top with a layer of cartilage tissue. They perform a shock-absorbing function, preventing damage to the vertebrae when running, walking and jumping, and also promote mobility and flexibility of the entire spinal column.

During the process of natural aging, as well as under conditions of increased load, a gradual decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc occurs. The metabolism in its core is disrupted, and cracks appear in the surrounding fibrous ring. Disc protrusions – protrusions and hernias – appear. As the disease progresses, cartilage tissue and bones become involved, and osteophytes appear - bone growths that cause limited mobility and severe pain.

Since pathological changes occur in close proximity to the spinal cord and its roots, this leads to their compression and inflammation, as well as the reflex development of muscle spasm. As a result, a person experiences characteristic symptoms that can be used to suspect the disease.

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Treatment of vascular spasm in a child

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The contraction of blood vessels causes headaches in the child, impaired attention, and in advanced forms leads to mental retardation. Timely treatment will help avoid serious consequences. Therapy is medicinal in nature and is carried out using the following drugs:

• Vinpocetine
  . Normalizes cerebral circulation, eliminates pain, tinnitus and dizziness. Administered intravenously under medical supervision;
• Cavinton
  . Indicated for angiospastic changes in the retina, headaches, hearing impairment and thrombosis associated with vascular disorders;

• Artichoke syrup
  . This is a herbal preparation prescribed to remove toxins from the child’s body. Used for auxiliary treatment in combination with other drugs.

With regular use of these remedies, improvement occurs within 7 days.

Symptoms and syndromes

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis do not appear immediately and are often disguised as other diseases.

The most common signs include:

• dizziness: as a rule, with osteochondrosis it is systemic, i.e. it seems to a person that surrounding objects are rotating before his eyes;
• pain in the back of the head, neck, collar area: its intensity depends on the degree of development of the disease; mild and episodic at an early stage, it spreads to the entire head and becomes permanent; periodically the attacks become unbearable, as a result of which the person cannot even move his head;
• noise or ringing in the ears: occurs when changing position after a long period of immobility, often accompanied by dizziness;
• feeling of lack of air, inability to take a deep breath; in severe cases, severe shortness of breath develops;
• nausea and vomiting: associated with impaired blood circulation in certain areas of the brain, intensified when trying to turn the head;
• decreased visual acuity, flickering spots or fog before the eyes: indicate insufficient blood supply to the brain; occur in advanced stages of the disease;
• fluctuations in blood pressure that are difficult to correct with medications;
• sudden fainting caused by vasospasm;
• sensation of a lump in the throat, soreness, dryness, problems with swallowing: these are often one of the first signs of pathology.
• shoulder pain
• numbness of fingers

In addition to the general signs of cervical osteochondrosis, there are several syndromes characteristic of this disease.

Vertebral syndrome

The complex of symptoms is associated with damage to the bones and cartilage of the spinal column. It includes:

• impaired mobility in the cervical spine;
• pain when turning the head;
• X-ray signs of damage to the vertebrae themselves and the space between them.

Vertebral artery syndrome

Symptoms are caused by narrowing or spasm of the vertebral arteries, which are partially responsible for supplying blood to the brain. Manifests itself with the following symptoms:

• noise in ears;
• dizziness;
• blood pressure surges;
• nausea and vomiting;
• headache;
• visual impairment;
• decreased performance;
• drowsiness;
• fainting.

Cardiac syndrome

Resembles a condition with damage to the heart muscle and includes:

• pain or burning sensation in the chest;
• weakness and fatigue;
• rapid pulse.

Radicular syndrome

The condition is associated with damage (compression or pinching) to the nerve roots emerging from the spinal column in the cervical region. Depending on the level of damage, a person may feel:

• numbness or pain in the back of the head;
• numbness of the tongue;
• collarbone pain, difficulty swallowing, hiccups;
• discomfort in the shoulder area, aggravated by arm movements;
• pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades and forearms;
• numbness of the index and middle fingers;
• numbness of the ring and little fingers.

Most often, several nerve roots are involved in the pathological process at once, as a result of which several characteristic symptoms are observed at once.

Treatment of spasms using traditional methods

Traditional methods of treatment are used for quick relief of symptoms or long-term therapy for vascular spasm. The effectiveness of traditional methods varies - the effect of drugs is individual. A large number of recipes will allow you to choose the best option that is suitable specifically for your body:

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1. Take plantain, dandelion root and St. John's wort flowers. Combine in equal proportions, put in a saucepan and boil for 15 minutes from the moment of boiling. Cool. Dip a bandage into the prepared mixture, tie it around your head and lie down for 15 minutes. The method is suitable for quickly relieving spasms and relieving severe headaches.

2. Take 50 g of rose hips (fresh or dried), pour boiling water over it and keep on the stove for 1 hour. The prepared decoction can be consumed as tea 2 times a day. The composition reduces headaches and lowers blood pressure.
3. Take garlic and thyme leaves (20 g each), brew and drink as tea for 2 months.
4. Buy an aromatic pendant or aroma lamp. Pour jasmine or lavender oil into a special container and use it as aromatherapy.

When using folk remedies, pay attention to their composition.

Prevention of vascular spasms

Prevention of the disease consists of strengthening blood vessels. The latter is facilitated by a diet consisting of foods that maintain the natural elasticity of blood vessels and prevent the formation of blood clots. This includes vegetables, fruits, cereals, lean meats, legumes and cereals.

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In addition to nutrition, preventive measures include:

• physical activity (moderate sports: running, swimming, aerobics and others);
• sufficient fluid intake;
• hardening the body and regularly taking a contrast shower;
• maintaining a stable state of the nervous system, eliminating stressful situations;

• correct daily routine (8-10 hours of sleep per day);
• minimizing the consumption of caffeinated drinks;
• quitting smoking and alcohol.

By following the above tips, you can speed up recovery and prevent relapse. It is not recommended to limit yourself to general measures; at the first symptoms, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor to exclude new spasms.