How to improve the blood supply to the brain with cervical osteochondrosis

Shoshina Vera Nikolaevna

Therapist, education: Northern Medical University. Work experience 10 years.

Articles written

Treatment of cerebrovascular accident in cervical osteochondrosis is incredibly important, because problems with the spine often cause failure in various body systems. And worst of all, if the blood flow is disturbed. In addition to headaches and other negative symptoms, there is a risk of death. Let's figure it out.

The mechanism of occurrence of pathology and causes

To find out how to improve the blood supply to the brain with cervical osteochondrosis, you need to know that the blood flow of this organ occurs through the bloodstream located near the spinal column. This is the spinal artery, vein and thousands of capillaries.

When this artery is compressed by displaced discs of the spine or a hernia, the pathology begins to progress. Certain areas of the spinal cord and brain are bled, which leads to a decrease in their connections with the central nervous system. Slow blood flow causes thickening of blood vessels, making them brittle and worsening all metabolic processes.

Interesting! 25% of the oxygen supplied with the blood goes to nourish the brain tissues, which, with the slightest failure, threatens with serious disruptions in the functioning of the organ.

Even now, the causes of cerebral circulatory disorders in cervical osteochondrosis are completely unknown. But the main factors are:

• genetic predisposition;
• sedentary work with an uncomfortable body position for a long time;
• lack of physical activity;
• blockage of the spine with salt deposits;
• unbalanced diet, abuse of junk food;
• excess body weight;
• pathology of the ODA of a chronic type;
• hormonal disbalance;
• prolonged exposure to cold, which led to hypothermia.

Stages of pathology

Violation of cerebral circulation in cervical osteochondrosis is divided into 3 stages, which determine the clinical picture of the disease:

1. Initial or characterized by general malaise and frequent headaches. Without therapy, there is a risk of hearing loss and vision loss.
2. Subcompensatory, when neurological manifestations become more pronounced. This is a disorder of the vestibular apparatus, problems with memory and speech.
3. The last stage, in which blood flow problems lead to irreversible negative consequences in the work of the central nervous system, such as paralysis and the inability to exist without outside help.

Main symptoms

With cervical osteochondrosis, the patient is often tormented by vertigo, flies before the eyes, pain when the back is tilted or the neck is turned, the transition of unpleasant sensations to the region of the heart and other organs. Signs of cerebrovascular accident are the following:

• pain of severe intensity in the back of the head;
• problems with coordination;
• violations of the sensory organs;
• sleep disorder;
• urge to vomit and nausea;
• spasm of the bronchi and lungs;
• disorder of respiratory function;
• sudden change of mood;
• memory problems.

Diagnostic methods

Treatment of circulatory disorders of the brain in cervical osteochondrosis is the prerogative of a neurologist or orthopedic doctor. They are the ones who diagnose the problem. It all starts with a survey and palpation of the cervical spine. The doctor will test his motor abilities. To make a diagnosis of "cervical osteochondrosis" will appoint:

• x-ray;

To diagnose the blood supply to the brain, they will assign an assessment of the quality of the vessels of the brain, which will show, and examination of the fundus. Based on the data obtained, damaged discs and how affected they are will be identified. After that, they will immediately begin therapy in order to avoid even more negative consequences.

Therapy

Negative manifestations of vascular lesions of the brain due to osteochondrosis are treated comprehensively with special preparations, exercises and, in extreme cases, surgery.

Medical

The doctor selects a complex of drugs that:

• reduce the intensity of negative symptoms;
• restore hemodynamics of brain tissues;
• eliminate their root cause - osteochondrosis.

To relieve swelling of the soft tissues, diuretics will be prescribed. The course of therapy is impossible without chondroprotectors and analgesics. The list of means of destination will also include:

• anti-inflammatory agent;
• myorlaxant;
• complex of vitamins and microelements.

To restore blood circulation and metabolic processes in the affected brain, apply:

• Tanakan and similar agents related to correctors of cerebral circulation;
• Phezam is a nootropic agent;
• Asniton is a histaminergic drug;
• vitamins A, E, Omega-3 - antioxidants.

Surgery

In cases where spinal dysfunction is pronounced, and drug therapy does not give the desired results, the help of a surgeon will be needed. It is he who will be able to urgently establish a disturbed blood flow.

Important! Indications for surgical intervention in violation of cerebral circulation in cervical osteochondrosis: paresis, sudden loss of vision, high-intensity pain that does not go away even after taking a strong painkiller.

Sometimes, if the intervertebral disc has become severely deformed and caused problems with the blood supply to the brain, the doctor will completely remove it. But most often, it is enough and / or an implant in the artery to normalize blood flow.

Special exercises

At the initial and middle stages, it is necessary to regularly perform a set of certain exercises that will help alleviate the patient's condition and restore blood flow. It is important not to overdo it so that the muscles do not suffer. Therefore, everything must be done with caution, as smoothly as possible. Most often, 3 main exercises are prescribed:

1. From a sitting or standing position with lowered shoulders, slowly rotate your head first in one direction, then in the other direction. The minimum duration is 60 seconds.
2. In the same position, tilt your head. Try to put your ear to your shoulder. No sharpness, do everything smoothly. Start with 3-4 slopes, gradually increasing their number.
3. Standing, tilt the torso down so that the arms and head are as low as possible. Hands should be locked above the head. The torso should sag, as if outweighing the lower part of the body. Don't bend your knees. The tilt duration is 60 seconds. If discomfort or vertigo appears, stop this exercise.

You can not rely only on, even if you do it regularly. It helps to reduce the duration of drug therapy and quickly restore impaired blood circulation.

Effects

Cervical osteochondrosis should not be underestimated, because this pathology can even lead to death, and not only to the above negative symptoms. The entire vascular system of this zone is closely interconnected with various parts of the brain:

• a pinched vessel supplying the cerebellum affects coordination and impairs it;
• the vessel supplying the inner ear will lead to an imbalance of the vestibular apparatus;
• supplying the back of the head and the optic nerves in it, will reduce the visual function of the body.

A failure in the metabolism of brain tissue will provoke. In addition, neck pains become intolerable, and without therapy, they can only be removed with narcotic drugs. When the failure of blood flow becomes global, the patient's upper limbs will fail, and then the whole body.

Prevention measures

In this case, this is the best treatment. There are no special difficulties in prevention, it is enough to adhere to the following recommendations:

• from childhood to teach kids to the correct posture, both when walking and when doing lessons or homework, if necessary, purchase a special corset that corrects the position of the body;
• do not give the spine heavy loads, lifting weights is the main cause of disc displacement and the occurrence of intervertebral hernias;
• dress according to the weather, especially in the winter season, do not allow prolonged hypothermia of the body;
• lead an active lifestyle, it will not necessarily be enhanced sports activities, walk quite often and a lot, do yoga, Pilates or the above exercises;
• give up bad habits or minimize them;
• make the diet complete and balanced, giving preference, exclude food from fast foods;
• minimize stressful situations, at the slightest mental disorder, contact a specialist so as not to start the disease.

Even with one of the symptoms of circulatory disorders in cervical osteochondrosis or the underlying pathology, you should immediately visit a doctor and start therapy. The sooner treatment is started, the lower the risk of serious consequences and the higher the successful recovery from the disease. Advanced forms of pathology are quite difficult to treat, and most often it is surgical intervention and a permanent appointment.