Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that is becoming younger and younger. If earlier it appeared mainly after 40 years, now people aged 25-26 years are at risk.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are more pronounced in women than in men. This is due to the structural features of the body. In the stronger sex, this part of the body is better developed, which supports the entire vertebral structure, preventing its deformation and overload.
Types of osteochondrosis and the dangers that the disease entails
There are several types of osteochondrosis, differing in the degree of dangerousness of the consequences.
- Thorax. It is considered the safest type of disease. This type of osteochondrosis almost never leads to such unpleasant consequences as protrusions or hernias. This is explained by the low mobility of the chest region. Because of this, its deformation does not cause serious discomfort to the patient.
- lumbar spine. It occurs most often due to the high mobility of this part of the body. In addition, the main load falls on the vertebral section. Without timely treatment, this disease can lead to serious complications: herniated and herniated disc, as well as radicular syndrome, which is often the main cause of paralysis. The main danger of this type of osteochondrosis is late manifestation, which is why the time for intensive treatment is often missed.
- Cervical. It occurs predominantly in the female half. This prevalence is associated with high activity of the cervical spine, the presence in this part of the body of a significant number of nerve fibers that serve as conductors between the brain and other organs. The consequences of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are the most serious - from dangerous complications to death. That is why the treatment of this disease must be timely and effective.
Factors affecting the development of the disease
Scientists identify many reasons that lead to the occurrence of osteochondrosis in women. The most important is menopause and the changes that occur at this stage. The amount of progesterone that enters the body, which is extremely important for women, decreases. In addition, over the years, the size of the muscles in this area of the body decreases, which leads to a weakening of the spinal support.
There are also other causes of osteochondrosis in women that are not related to age:
- circulatory failure;
- weakening of the immune system;
- hormonal imbalance;
- heredity;
- any injury to the spine;
- excessive physical activity;
- hypothermia;
- passive lifestyle;
- overweight.
Such a number of disease-causing factors contributes to a rapid increase in the number of women suffering from cervical osteochondrosis.
signs of illness
In order not to miss the onset of the development of the disease, you should know the main symptoms of osteochondrosis in women:
- pain in the neck area;
- recurring headaches;
- feeling of stiffness in the neck area;
- lancinating pain radiating to the neck region;
- finger and shoulder discomfort;
- numbness of the limbs or tongue;
- sudden snoring while sleeping.
Depending on the sensitivity of the body, other signs of cervical osteochondrosis in women may also appear:
- nausea sometimes leading to vomiting;
- a sharp increase or decrease in pressure;
- bluish skin tone.
It is important to consider that these signs of osteochondrosis are quite serious, although at first glance they are not associated with the development of the disease. Therefore, with these symptoms, you should immediately contact a specialist to exclude the development of the disease.
Due to the fact that the intervertebral discs of this spine are close enough to each other and do not differ in height, the symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis in women can be detected even at the initial stage of the disease.
The deterioration in general well-being is explained by the fact that the deformation of the intervertebral discs creates an immediate pressure on the roots of the fibers of the nerve endings. It depends on the degree of their defeat, how painful the sensations will be and how long the attack can last.
- If the pain is of a short-term nature, which is replaced by a short rest, it is back pain.
- If you feel aching pain, you need to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- The headache is due to excessive pressure on the occipital nerve as well as the vertebrae of the highest row.
- Unpleasant sensations in the hands, elbows and forearms are characteristic of the deformation of the middle vertebral region.
Also, the patient may feel weakness in the hands and loss of skin sensitivity. This happens when the spinal cord is compressed. This symptom is typical for women after 40 years. They also often feel a lack of energy when walking.
If the disease is not treated in a timely manner, the following complications may develop:
- squeezing of blood vessels in the brain;
- Central nervous system dysfunctions characterized by behavioral, coordination, and speech disorders;
- Violation of the process of blood circulation in the brain.
In the latter case, accompanying symptoms can occur, such as:
- groundless anxiety and fear;
- a sharp deterioration in memory;
- frequent mood swings.
Circulatory disorders in the brain can also cause sudden loss of consciousness, regular headaches and dizziness. All these problems are very serious and require immediate hospitalization. Cervical osteochondrosis can also cause difficulties in swallowing, hearing and vision disorders and a regular feeling of tinnitus.
principles of therapy
The treatment of this disease is complex. Various forms of therapy are used at different stages of the development of the disease.
- In the initial stages, vasodilating drugs are highly effective. They contribute to normal blood flow in the brain. Cartilage tissue is restored with the help of chondroprotectors.
- Manual treatment has high effectiveness. A skilled professional will easily return the swivels to their place.
- Physiotherapy is another effective treatment option. It consists of a massage course, laser therapy and electrophoresis.
- Acupuncture is very popular among women. This method has a high percentage of effectiveness with a low pain rate.
- Sporting activities are of great importance for the right treatment. Depending on the nature of the disease and its severity, the specialist prescribes a complex of physiotherapeutic exercises or a load scheme for the cervical region.
- Lifestyle changes are particularly important. When you start exercising and eating properly, you will greatly speed up the recovery process. It is very important to provide the body with useful and nutritious substances in sufficient quantities.
It is believed that women pay more attention to their health, which means that the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, which increases the chances of a full recovery.
folk methods
Folk recipes are highly effective in the treatment of this disease.
- Fresh horseradish leaves should be carefully washed and applied to the neck region. It is necessary to fix the compress with a soft bandage and leave it overnight. As a rule, there is a clear improvement in the condition in the morning. To consolidate the effect, the procedure should be repeated at least 3 days in a row.
- Potatoes need to be peeled and grated on the fine side of the grater. Add a little honey to the resulting mass and mix thoroughly. You will be given a mushy remedy that should be applied to a sore spot. You can make such a compress no more than once a week.
Such methods will relieve your condition without the use of drugs. In addition, it is extremely useful to perform special therapeutic exercises. It will noticeably strengthen the muscles, thanks to which the mobility of the spinal region will return. When choosing exercises, you should consider your level of physical fitness and general health. To achieve the effect, gymnastics should be carried out regularly.
disease prevention
Given the mass prevalence of the disease, special attention should be paid to the prevention of osteochondrosis. First, you need to rethink your lifestyle. If you spend most of your time in a sitting position, this needs to be corrected. For office workers there are special exercises that are carried out directly at the table during work. With high efficiency, they do not require much time or special conditions for training.
Also, you have to walk a lot. If there is no free time, try to walk every part of the way to work. The more you increase it, the more obvious your efforts will be.
It is also useful to regularly undergo preventive massage. In addition to the general strengthening of the body, this allows you to catch the disease from the very beginning and receive effective treatment.
Therefore, every woman must carefully monitor her health and, at the slightest sign of the development of osteochondrosis, immediately take therapeutic measures. If carried out in a timely manner, you can achieve a full recovery without complications.