If you are worried about neck pain, and have not yet gone to the doctor, you need to find out what is the risk of cervical osteochondrosis, what fatal consequences it can lead to. Risk awareness should motivate you to take action.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix is considered one of the most dangerous lesions of the spine, as a large number of vital vessels and arteries and capillaries are concentrated in the cervical area. This is why among the unpleasant consequences of this disease is vegetative-vascular dystonia, hypertension, oxygen starvation, etc.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix can not go unnoticed, because in most cases it is accompanied by severe pain, vivid symptoms. Pain syndrome is an indication that the work of the whole organism has been interrupted. If you ignore these signs, then the result can be catastrophic, ranging from irreversible spinal cord injury 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 complete complex treatment.
General clinical picture
Violations in the spine of the cervix mainly affect its lower segments, which is associated with physiological characteristics and lifestyle. If you feel severe pain in the neck, shoulders, head, this indicates degenerative changes in this area, tight nerves, muscle spasms or compression of the vertebral artery.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix affects the segments of the spine responsible for the functioning of the joints of the shoulders and elbows, the thyroid gland, the hands, the esophagus and the trachea. The most common symptoms include pain in these areas of the body, hypothyroidism, seizures, numbness in the face and hands, coughing, and difficulty swallowing.
At the onset of the disease, there are complaints of persistent headaches, fatigue, hearing and vision impairment, dizziness, pallor. Of course, in parallel with this, there is always a sharp or tingling pain in the neck and shoulders. It is important at this stage of the disease to visit a doctor, make a diagnosis and start a course of treatment, which includes taking special medications and physiotherapy, manual therapy for cervical osteochondrosis.
Otherwise, the disease will pass to the next level, the complications of cervical osteochondrosis will begin, which are very difficult, if not impossible, to defeat.
Spinal lesions
If a nerve is crushed by the vertebral discs in the spine at any site, then hernias and extensions occur.These pathologies are chronic, sometimes worsening, then disappearing.If the attacks of sharp pain pass and do not bother even for a few weeks, it does not mean that the disease is withdrawn and everything goes away on its own. "Self" can not pass, the treatment of extensions, and then hernia, requires complex treatment for several months, or even years.
A disc herniation immediately involves the growth of the bones of the vertebral bodies, the deposition of salt, and the sclerotic plaques in the vessels. In addition, the danger comes from transmitted vertebral arteries, which cannot fully transport oxygen and nutrients to the brain, inner ear, and upper spinal cord. Oxygen starvation occurs, which leads to dizziness, loss of consciousness and constant fatigue. The pituitary gland suffers, there are disturbances in the work of the hypothalamus, the process of breathing and swallowing becomes difficult.
The work of the heart becomes harder, it starts working faster, increasing the rhythm, the blood pressure rises automatically, and this, in turn, affects the vessels.
Violations of the vegetative-vascular system
Medicines - analgesics, antispasmodics, ointments for pain relief, etc. - without parallel physical activity, therapeutic massage will relieve pain and other symptoms, but only for a short period of 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 from time to time.
This threatens vegetative-vascular dystonia - what is most dangerous for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. As a result of compression of the vertebral artery, which provides a third of the nourishment to the brain and other vital organs, the whole body suffers.
By the way, many doctors do not consider vegetative-vascular dystonia an independent disease. Experts are confident that this is only a consequence of violations of other systems. And osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is often the main "provocateur" of cardiovascular disease.
First of all, 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 numbness in his hands, notices difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Deterioration of motor skills, possible disorientation in space, frequent fading, "cotton" in the head.
Due to poor blood flow, the heart is trying to compensate for the "lack", and therefore begins to work faster and faster.Because of this, blood pressure rises, heart rate rises and tachycardia begins.After a time of such accelerated work, the heart muscle stretches.
Compression of blood vessels and the spread of complications in the spine adjacent to the neck causes dysfunction of many internal organs. In particular, the adrenal glands work hard and release the hormone cortisol above the norm.
Over time, the disease will progress. Tachycardia, nervous disorders, as well as hypertension and hypotension will bother a person who has started osteochondrosis of the cervix.
Hypertension and hypotension
Another dangerous thing about cervical osteochondrosis is the provocation of hypertension, one of the most terrible diseases. Initially, it passes completely unnoticed by a person, with no obvious 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 caused by cardiovascular disease ranks first in the world.
As for hypotension, it is not able to directly deprive the patient of her life, but brings extremely unpleasant symptoms.
Hypotension is oxygen starvation caused by inadequate nutrition of the brain, cerebellum and inner ear. Due to the fact that the brain receives little oxygen and other nutrients, it can not ensure the full functioning of the body.A person lacks vital energy, he feels weakness, chronic fatigue, mixed periods, drowsiness.Of course, he is constantly in a bad mood, his performance decreases. In the long run, there is a deterioration of memory, sight and hearing, loss of concentration.
One of the most striking consequences of cervical osteochondrosis and the hypotension caused by it is the so-called fall syndrome - sudden pallor and one of the most common - headaches and disorders of the nervous system.
Headaches and nervous system disorders
What if you do not have the flu, acute respiratory infections, blood pressure is normal, but you still suffer from constant headaches? These are likely to be the consequences of cervical osteochondrosis. Nerves are constricted, blood vessels are constricted, blood is not supplied to the brain in the required volumes, the result is pain and dizziness, throbbing in the temples, oppression in the occupational region.
In such a state, it is difficult to continue to do your job with high quality, to be in a good mood, to concentrate and to play sports. If you prefer to swallow pills from the head, painkillers and do not go to the doctor and do a thorough examination, then you run the risk of managing the disease and assuring yourself of serious disorders of all body systems, including the nervous system.
Depression, panic, apathy, nervousness, aggression - all these are indicators of dysfunction of the human nervous system.
If the disease has progressed to later stages, restricts your movements, restricts life activity, causes constant constant pain, and you have endured all this time, then the appearance of neuroses 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 -system syndrome - disrupts a person's life and causes a great deal of anxiety. The main symptoms include spatial disorientation, hearing and vision loss and fainting. The hands can be inadvertently clenched, weakness in the legs will appear.
- Due to the fact that the vestibular apparatus can not function normally, cochlear syndrome can occur - it will make noise in the ears, will darken the eyes.
- Sometimes laryngeal syndrome occurs. Then it is difficult for the patient to swallow, there seems to be a lump in the throat, the voice becomes quieter and thicker.
The list of consequences of cervical osteochondrosis does not end here. The above is the main thing to which this insidious disease leads. Remember that at the first complaints and suspicions that you have a spinal disease, contact a specialist.
He will perform an examination, will design 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, then do not forget the preventive measures in order to stay healthy in the future.