If you are worried about neck pain and have not yet seen a doctor, you need to understand the dangers of cervical osteochondrosis, what fatal consequences it can lead to. Awareness of the danger should prompt you to take action.
Cervical osteochondrosis is considered one of the most dangerous lesions of the spine, as a huge number of vessels and vital arteries and capillaries are concentrated in the neck. Therefore, among the unpleasant consequences of this disease is vegetative-vascular dystonia, hypertension, oxygen starvation, etc.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix can not go unnoticed, as in most cases it is accompanied by severe pain, bright symptoms. The pain syndrome is an indicator that the work of the whole organism is disturbed. If you ignore these signs, the result can be devastating, ranging from irreversible damage to the spine to death.
After reviewing the information below, you will see that the consequences of cervical osteochondrosis are really serious, which means that in no case should you delay a full complex treatment.
General clinical picture
Disorders of the cervical spine mainly affect its lower segments, which is associated with physiological characteristics and lifestyle. If you feel pain in the neck, shoulders, head, this indicates degenerative changes in this area, nerve compression, muscle spasms or compression of the spinal artery.
Cervical osteochondrosis affects the segments of the spine responsible for the functioning of the shoulder and elbow joints, the thyroid gland, the arms, the esophagus and the trachea. The most common symptoms include pain in these areas of the body, hypothyroidism, seizures, numbness of the face and hands, cough and difficulty swallowing.
At the very beginning of the disease there are complaints of constant headache, fatigue, hearing and vision impairment, dizziness, fainting. Of course, in parallel, there is always a sharp or pulling pain in the neck and shoulders. It is important at this stage of the disease to visit a doctor, establish a diagnosis and begin treatment, which includes both special drugs and physiotherapy, manual therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Otherwise, the disease will move to the next level, complications from cervical osteochondrosis will begin, which are very difficult, if not impossible, to overcome.
Spinal lesions
If a nerve is pinched by the spinal discs in the spine anywhere, then a hernia and protrusions appear. These pathologies are chronic, sometimes exacerbated, then subside.If the attacks of acute pain pass and do not bother even a few weeks, it does not mean that the disease has receded and everything passes by itself. "By itself" can not pass, the treatment of bulges, and then the hernia, requires a comprehensive treatment for several months or even years.
Herniated disc immediately leads to bone growth of the vertebral bodies, salt deposition and sclerotic plaques in the vessels. In addition, the danger comes from transmitted spinal arteries, which cannot fully transport oxygen and nutrients to the brain, inner ear and upper spinal cord. Oxygen starvation occurs, leading to dizziness, loss of consciousness and constant fatigue. The pituitary gland suffers, there are disorders of the hypothalamus, the process of breathing and swallowing becomes difficult.
The work of the heart becomes difficult, it begins to work faster, increasing the rhythm, blood pressure automatically rises, and this in turn affects the vessels.
Disorders of the autonomic vascular system
Medicines - analgesics, antispasmodics, painkillers, etc. - without parallel physical activity, therapeutic massage will relieve pain and other symptoms, but only for a short time. The body will quickly get used to the active substances, will stop reacting to them, the disease will return, and the symptoms will intensify at times.
This threatens vegetative-vascular dystonia - what is most dangerous for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. As a result of compression of the spinal artery, which provides a third of the nutrition of the brain and other vital organs, the whole body suffers.
By the way, many doctors do not consider vegetative-vascular dystonia as an independent disease. Experts are sure that this is only a consequence of violations of other systems. And osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is often the main "provoker" of cardiovascular disease.
In the first place, the vasomotor center suffers, which is responsible for regulating vital functions, heart function and normal blood pressure. As a result of the lack of normal blood circulation in the upper parts of the body, a person feels tingling in his hands, notices difficulty breathing and swallowing. Deterioration of motor skills, possible disorientation in space, frequent seizures, "cotton" in the head.
Due to poor blood flow, the heart tries to compensate for the "deficiency" and therefore begins to work faster and faster.As a result, blood pressure rises, heart rate increases and tachycardia begins.After some time of such accelerated work, the heart muscle stretches.
Compression of blood vessels and the spread of complications to the spine adjacent to the neck causes dysfunction of many internal organs. In particular, the adrenal glands overload and secrete the hormone cortisol above normal.
Over time, the disease will progress. Tachycardia, nervous disorders, as well as hypertension and hypotension will bother a person who has started cervical osteochondrosis.
Hypertension and hypotension
Another dangerous thing in cervical osteochondrosis is the provocation of hypertension, one of the most terrible diseases. Initially, it passes completely unnoticed by a person, with no visible symptoms. Unfortunately, neck pain is rarely associated with hypertension. Without proper treatment, it can develop into coronary heart disease, cause myocardial infarction and provoke a stroke. As you know, mortality from cardiovascular disease ranks first in the world.
As for hypotension, it is not able to directly deprive the patient of life, but leads to extremely unpleasant symptoms.
Hypotension is oxygen starvation caused by malnutrition of the brain, cerebellum and inner ear. Due to the fact that the brain receives little oxygen and other nutrients, it cannot ensure the proper functioning of the body.The person lacks vital energy, he feels weak, chronic fatigue, bouts of nausea, drowsiness.Naturally, he is constantly in a bad mood, his performance is declining. In the long run there is a deterioration in memory, vision and hearing, loss of concentration.
One of the most striking consequences of cervical osteochondrosis and the hypotension caused by it is the so-called. Drop syndrome - unexpected fainting and one of the most common - headache and nervous system disorders.
Headache and nervous system disorders
What if you don't have the flu, acute respiratory infections, your blood pressure is normal, but you still suffer from constant headaches? It is quite possible that these are the consequences of cervical osteochondrosis. Nerves are compressed, blood vessels are compressed, blood is not supplied to the brain in the required volumes, the result is pain and dizziness, pulsating in the temples, pressing in the occipital region.
In such a state it is difficult to continue to do your job well, to be in a good mood, to concentrate and play sports. If you prefer to swallow pills from the head, painkillers, rather than go to the doctor and perform a full examination, then you risk starting the disease and securing serious disorders of all body systems, including the nervous system.
Depression, panic, apathy, irritability, aggression - all these are indicators of dysfunction of the human nervous system.
If the disease has progressed to later stages, restricts your movements, restricts vital activity, causes constant pain, and you have endured all this time, then the onset of neurosis is a completely natural symptom. In addition, if cervical osteochondrosis is not treated, certain syndromes associated with dysfunction of certain organs may develop.
Syndromes
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can lead to the following unpleasant syndromes:
- Vestibular trunk syndrome - spoils a person's life and causes a huge amount of inconvenience. The main symptoms include disorientation in space, hearing and vision loss and fainting. The arms may involuntarily relax, weakness will appear in the legs.
- Due to the fact that the vestibular apparatus cannot function normally, cochlear syndrome can occur - it will make noise in the ears, darken the eyes.
- Occasionally, laryngeal syndrome occurs. Then the patient has difficulty swallowing, there seems to be a lump in the throat, the voice becomes quieter and rougher.
The list of consequences of cervical osteochondrosis does not end there. The above is the main cause of this insidious disease. Remember that at the first complaints and suspicions that you have a disease of the spine, contact a specialist.
He will conduct an examination, prepare an individual course of treatment.This is the only way to avoid the terrible consequences of cervical osteochondrosis described in the article.And if you are healthy and this disease has not affected you, do not forget about preventive measures to stay healthy in the future.