Vegeto-vascular dystonia at menopause

VSD during menopause is a very common occurrence, especially in women who are prone to changes in blood pressure and instability of the nervous system. Vegetative-vascular dystonia is a functional disease that is difficult to diagnose and treat. The appearance of VSD for the first time during menopause indicates mild manifestations of menopause, which can not only be successfully treated, but also prevented. To know some of the features of menopause correction with VSD, it is necessary to know the features of the pathogenesis and causes of this pathology, as well as the main clinical manifestations.

Causes Menopausal IBS

There is no need to worry if VSD develops for the first time during menopause, because in this case, such a condition is as easy to treat as it arose.

Menopause is a physiological process of changes in the female reproductive system, during which involutionary processes occur in the body. These changes occur primarily with the reproductive system, but since it is continuously connected with the normal functioning of other organs, these changes affect the entire body. The hormonal background of the female body is very diverse and ensures not only the functioning of the female genital organs, but also affects metabolism, the tone of the vascular muscles, blood pressure, and the regulation of nervous activity. Due to this phenomenon, the female nervous system is very labile, and any hormonal disorders contribute to changes in nervous regulation. This affects the development of VSD precisely during menopause, because then the hormonal background is very labile. The climacteric period is conventionally divided into:

• premenopause – the period from 45 years to the onset of menopause;
• menopause – the period of the last menstruation, average age is about fifty years;
• postmenopause – the period from the last menstruation until the end of a woman’s life.

All these periods are characterized by successive changes in the body and if there are no violations, then the nervous system works normally and gradually adapts to the change in hormonal levels. Therefore, the process of a woman's transition to menopause should be gradual with the change of these periods.

Premenopause is a period characterized by hormonal disorders, which are primarily of a central nature. There is an involution of the highest regulatory center - the hypothalamus, which is characterized by a gradual decrease in the sensitivity of the hypothalamus to the influence of estrogens, which disrupts its regulatory function according to the principle of feedback regulation. As a consequence of all these processes - there is not enough concentration of hormones and their alternation for normal regulation of the nervous system. As is known, progesterone and estrogens ensure normal conduction of nerve impulses through the cell, and in a broader sense they regulate the tone of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems according to the principle of action. The sympathetic nervous system ensures active processes in the body, which are accompanied by energy expenditure, and the parasympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system ensures the accumulation of energy. Such regulation occurs at the level of all internal organs and ensures their normal functioning. Normally, these two parts of the autonomic nervous system are balanced, which ensures a normal level of hormones in the body. Therefore, the main reason for the development of VSD during menopause is hormonal imbalance, which naturally develops in this condition. As for the pathogenesis of the development of these changes, it is very simple.

Hormonal imbalance during menopause entails an imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which leads to disruption of the normal functioning of internal organs. Also, an additional pathogenetic mechanism for the development of VSD is the central principle, which consists in disruption of the processes of inhibition and excitation in the main brain, and this also disrupts conduction along nerve fibers and further deepens the changes. At the same time, the normal functioning of the heart is disrupted due to disruption of its innervation with the development of the cardialgic type of VSD. Nervous regulation of vascular activity and muscle tone of the vessels of internal organs are also disrupted, which leads to disruption of blood pressure. During menopause, extraovarian foci of hormone synthesis are activated as a protective mechanism, and this contributes to the release of a large number of catecholamines, which significantly aggravate and stimulate the development of VSD during menopause, since they significantly disrupt the hormonal regulation of vascular tone.

Thus, we can say that the causes of VSD during menopause are hormonal imbalances in the female body, which naturally occur during this period.

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Symptoms Menopausal IBS

Vegetative-vascular dystonia is a functional disease, but its symptoms can often be very serious and provoke the development of serious complications. Symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia develop gradually, but they can also be sudden and can hide other pathologies. Also, the danger of VSD is that the development of the clinical picture is sometimes so pronounced that one can think of a serious disease on the part of one or another organ, but these are just functional changes. This also indicates that it is necessary to urgently treat such a pathology, since it disrupts the normal life of a woman.

The first signs of VSD during menopause are often vasomotor and emotional-psychological in nature. The woman is concerned about irritability, mood swings, depression, decreased sexual desire, fatigue. Also, vegetative manifestations can often be attacks of sweating, fever, headache and palpitations, increased fatigue, sleep disorders such as insomnia or drowsiness, impaired performance and daily activity. A decrease in sexual desire and vasomotor manifestations are expressed. These are, as a rule, the first clinical signs of the onset of premenopause, and later more serious symptoms of VSD can manifest.

The main complaints of a woman with VSD during menopause are heart pain. Such pain occurs after anxiety, is very long-lasting, is not associated with physical activity and has no clear localization. When the stress factor is removed, such pain goes away or disappears after taking sedatives. Considering the state of menopause, such heart pains can occur suddenly and be accompanied by hot flashes to the face, a feeling of palpitations or interruptions in the work of the heart. These are the main symptoms of the cardialgic type of vegetative-vascular dystonia. The cardiovascular system also suffers due to hypercatecholaminemia, which is characterized by arrhythmias in the form of interruptions in the work of the heart, paroxysmal tachycardia, which accompanies such vegetative changes.

A more common type of vegetative-vascular dystonia during menopause is the dystonic type, which is characterized by pressure lability. In this case, symptoms of low blood pressure occur in the form of headache, dizziness, nausea. In this case, blood pressure decreases and we are talking about the hypotonic type of vegetative-vascular dystonia. The hypertonic type of vegetative-vascular dystonia is more common, which is explained not only by functional changes in vascular tone against the background of hormonal imbalance, but also by some organic changes. The processes of vascular tone regulation are disrupted, which contributes to periods of spasm of peripheral vessels, increased peripheral resistance and increased blood pressure. Also, arterial hypertension is facilitated by sodium and water retention and an increase in circulating blood volume. This is accompanied by the appearance of symptoms of arterial hypertension in the form of bursting headaches, nausea, palpitations, dizziness, flickering spots before the eyes. All these symptoms are characteristic of the hypertensive type of VSD.

If the symptoms are combined and it is difficult to identify any one symptom of the disease, then they speak of a mixed type of vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Also, VSD during menopause can often be accompanied by other symptoms from other organs. This can be a violation of the nervous regulation of the act of breathing, which leads to a violation of the contraction of the diaphragm. Then there are symptoms of respiratory failure in the form of frequent breathing, a feeling of lack of air, deep breathing, which has a panic character. That is, there are some fears that the patient may suffocate, which once again confirms the functional nature of such a problem.

There may be manifestations from other organs in the form of peripheral circulation disorders due to spasm of small vessels with a violation of the regulation of their tone, which will be accompanied by marbling of the skin of the hands and feet, as well as excessive coldness. Such symptoms are often accompanied by increased sweating of both the hands and feet.

During menopause, VSD symptoms may also appear in the gastrointestinal tract, which will manifest itself as "stress" diarrhea, flatulence, bloating, and intestinal motility disorders. All this also occurs against the background of impaired nervous activity and regulation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms of VSD during menopause can be quite diverse, which is associated with the pathogenetic features of the disorder of nervous regulation of all organs. In this case, symptoms from the cardiovascular system are most often observed, which require immediate correction, since they disrupt the normal life of a woman. Manifestations can also be less significant in the form of hyperhidrosis, sweating, emotional instability.

Forms

There are several types of VSD during menopause, which is determined by the characteristics of the symptoms.

1. According to the cardialgic type.
2. According to the hypertensive type.
3. According to the hypotonic type.
4. By mixed type.

This classification is based on the severity of clinical symptoms. The system that suffers most from such a violation of vegetative innervation is the cardiovascular system. In this case, the normal functioning of not only the heart is disrupted, but also the blood vessels with a violation of arterial pressure.

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Complications and consequences

Complications of VSD during menopause do not occur often, since it is a functional disease. But ignoring the symptoms and untimely correction of hormonal imbalance can cause serious clinical manifestations. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a thorough diagnosis of the condition with determination of the level of sex hormones. Complications of directly climacteric changes may also appear in the form of pathology from the cardiovascular system - ischemic heart disease, pathology from the skeletal system - osteoporosis, as well as metabolic disorders.

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Diagnostics Menopausal IBS

Menopause is a special condition of the female body, which requires correction of any of its manifestations if it brings discomfort to the woman. Therefore, it is necessary to correctly diagnose any conditions during menopause for timely treatment. At the same time, it is very important to diagnose vegetative-vascular dystonia in time, because this is a functional disease that can be treated by correcting the hormonal background during menopause.

First of all, it is necessary to begin diagnostics with a thorough anamnesis. It is necessary to find out when the first delay in menstruation occurred, what their nature is now, how the symptoms changed during menopause, and also to detail the patient's complaints. It is necessary to clarify the nature of the headache, the nature of the pain in the heart, their occurrence and connection with stress, the reaction to sedatives. It is also necessary to measure blood pressure and find out its fluctuations over the past period. It is also important to find out the genetic anamnesis, because vegetative-vascular dystonia has a clear connection with a genetic predisposition.

Next, it is necessary to examine the woman with heart rate measurement, it is advisable to do this several times to assess its change. It is necessary to listen to the heart tones, count the pulse and find out its main characteristics. It is also necessary to count the respiratory rate. All these studies must be carried out for the purpose of differential diagnostics to exclude all possible organic pathologies.

The tests that are carried out in case of suspected VSD during menopause have a very wide range. Firstly, they determine the level of the main female hormones in the blood, which is necessary to know for further correction and treatment of menopause symptoms, in this case for the treatment of VSD. They also carry out general tests - blood tests, biochemical blood tests with lipidogram, urine tests.

Instrumental diagnostics of VSD during menopause is widely used not only for diagnostics, but also for differential diagnostics. In case of prevalence of dystonia symptoms, daily blood pressure monitoring is performed, which allows to identify the difference in pressure during the day and at night, as well as its fluctuations during the day. Electrocardiography is a mandatory diagnostic method. This method allows to identify possible changes in heart rhythm, conductivity, which is important in the cardialgic variant of vegetative-vascular dystonia. Also, if necessary, an ultrasound examination of the heart is performed to exclude organic lesions of the valves and myocardium.

If respiratory symptoms predominate in the clinical picture of VSD, then X-ray examination and spirography are mandatory. In this case, possible changes in the pulmonary pattern are determined, and spirography determines the respiratory volume and its characteristics. This allows you to exclude organic problems with the lungs and bronchi. If the genesis of the changes is unclear, more serious research methods may be needed in the form of computed tomography.

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Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics of VSD during menopause should be carried out primarily with organic diseases - ischemic heart disease, angina pectoris, myalgia, hypertension, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

If the cardialgic variant of vegetative-vascular dystonia is accompanied by symptoms that are characteristic of ischemic heart disease and angina, then it is necessary to clearly differentiate the complaints. With VSD, heart pain is associated with stress, and with organic diseases, heart pain is associated with physical exertion, it is localized, uniform and can radiate. Also, with organic pathology, characteristic changes will be detected on the ECG and ultrasound of the heart.

It is very difficult to carry out differential diagnostics of the hypertensive type of VSD and hypertension. Here it is also necessary to pay attention to the daily fluctuation of blood pressure in VSD and its connection with stress. It is also necessary to conduct a thorough examination, which in hypertension allows detecting damage to target organs. Hypertension does not have a sharp onset with the onset of menopause, whereas in VSD there is a clear connection between the appearance of symptoms and the onset of menopause.

Differentiating bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with respiratory manifestations of vegetative-vascular dystonia can be done very easily by performing spirography. Spirometry allows identifying functional disorders if they are present or normal respiratory volume values in the case of VVD.

Clear diagnostic tactics and careful differential diagnostics allow timely detection of VSD manifestations during menopause and differentiation of this pathology from organic diseases.

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Treatment Menopausal IBS

Considering the fact that VSD is a functional disease, the issue of treating this pathology seems very doubtful. But sometimes the severity of symptoms is so strong that it is simply necessary to carry out treatment, especially since during menopause the symptoms can be very strong and require correction. A feature of the treatment of this pathology is that the use of non-drug remedies prevails in comparison with drug methods. Traditional medicine, homeopathy, as well as correction of the daily routine are used.

Non-drug methods of treating VSD during menopause include the following:

• Correction of the daily routine with normalization of the period of rest and work. It is necessary to establish a regime not only of rest after each work, but also of proper nutrition. This will help the body to distribute forces correctly.
• Normalizing sleep through a routine of rest – you need to go to bed at about the same time, sleep at least 8-9 hours a day, and also ventilate the room before going to bed.
• Eliminate stress and tension that lead to the symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia. It is better to find an activity that will distract you from such experiences - embroidery, knitting, weaving, playing sports.
• It is necessary to train the respiratory and cardiovascular systems through dosed physical activity. Swimming is very useful, as it helps to strengthen the back muscles and regulate vascular tone.
• It is important to organize proper nutrition with dietary elements. It is necessary to exclude fatty foods, which burden the internal organs and contribute to the disruption of the metabolism of essential nutrients. It is also necessary to organize frequent fractional meals in small portions with the exclusion of simple carbohydrates and with a predominance of vegetable protein. You need to eat at least 300 grams of fruits and vegetables per day. Also, do not forget about the drinking regime and drink clean water at least 1.5 liters. Such dietary recommendations will unload the digestive organs and then there will be a feeling of lightness. Also, such a diet helps to normalize blood pressure, which often bothers during menopause, and can also be one of the manifestations of VSD.

Drug therapy for VSD during menopause is aimed primarily at correcting hormonal imbalance and at the same time at normalizing the conductivity of nerve impulses. This is achieved by hormone replacement therapy, which is combined with magnesium, potassium, and sedatives.

Hormonal drugs used in the treatment of VSD during menopause help to normalize the level of estrogens and thus the processes of excitation and inhibition in the nervous system are normalized, which leads to a decrease in the severity of clinical symptoms of VSD. They use drugs that contain both progesterone and estrogens, that is, biphasic.

1. Logest is a drug containing estradiol and gestagen, is a highly dosed drug, due to which its preventive role is manifested not only in the correction of hormonal levels, but also in the prevention of oncological diseases of the female reproductive system. The drug helps to level out hormonal imbalance and due to this, the symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia are reduced. Logest is available in the pharmacological form of capsules, containing 21 pieces per package. It is necessary to start taking it from the first day of the cycle. It is possible to start taking it from the fifth day of the menstrual cycle in case of menopause in a woman. The course of taking the drug is one capsule per day for three weeks, then a break of seven days, then you need to resume taking it. Side effects are possible from the gastrointestinal tract in the form of stool disorders, nausea, a feeling of bitterness in the mouth, vomiting. There may also be asthenovegetative reactions, manifestations of hormonal treatment from the chest in the form of engorgement of the mammary gland, pain, discharge, and an increase in the secretion of vaginal secretions. Contraindications to the use of the drug for treatment are problems with blood clotting and a history of heart attack or stroke, malignant neoplasms, liver dysfunction, pancreatic damage and diabetes.
2. Magnefar is a drug that contains magnesium and pyridoxine, which helps normalize the conduction of nerve impulses along fibers and regulates vascular tone. Due to this effect, the drug has calming properties and helps normalize the sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic nervous system. In addition, magnesium takes part in the metabolism of cellular elements and promotes energy synthesis. Magnesium also takes part in the metabolism of hormones, which is of priority importance during menopause. Pyridoxine takes part in protein and carbon metabolism and improves the absorption of magnesium in cells. The combined effect of the two substances improves neuromuscular conductivity and improves the act of breathing in respiratory manifestations of VSD.

The drug is available in the pharmacological form of 500-milligram tablets and is taken in a dose of one tablet three times a day. The course of treatment is usually seven days, then you can take a prophylactic dose. Side effects are possible in the form of allergic reactions, as well as changes in the gastrointestinal tract. Manifestations from the cardiovascular system in the form of heart rhythm disturbances, decreased blood pressure are possible. Contraindications to taking the drug are pathology of the muscular system, arterial hypotension, and increased levels of magnesium in the blood.

Surgical treatment of VSD during menopause is not used, since there are no special indications for such intervention.

It is important to conduct physiotherapy along with medications. Therapeutic physical exercises in the form of swimming or therapeutic gymnastics are used. Magnetic therapy, laser therapy, electrophoresis with medicinal solutions give a very good effect. A contrast shower is very useful due to its tonic effect, which is recommended to be taken in the morning and can be done even at home.

As a complex therapy, it is recommended to use vitamins of group B, C, A, preferably in combination in complex vitamin preparations.

Traditional treatment of VSD during menopause

Traditional methods of treating VSD during menopause are of priority importance, since this is a functional disease that responds well to correction with herbal preparations. They use drugs that are aimed at correcting hormonal homeostasis and at the same time normalizing the balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

The main folk remedies that are used are:

1. Honey, as a natural source of nutrients and microelements that increase local immunity and stimulate regeneration, is widely used to treat pathologies of the female genital organs, including menopause. To create a medicine from honey, you need to make a solution of three tablespoons of honey, five drops of flaxseed oil and three tablespoons of boiled water and take a teaspoon twice a day, the course is 10 days. This remedy helps to normalize hormonal levels, and also has the ability to calm the nervous system.
2. Honey can be combined with herbs and taken as medicinal decoctions. To prepare such a decoction, you need to take chamomile leaves, mint, lemon balm and rose hips, then pour all this with two glasses of hot boiled water and leave in a dark place for three hours. You need to add a tablespoon of honey to such a decoction and take a tablespoon twice a day: in the morning on an empty stomach, and in the evening after dinner before bed.
3. Viburnum tea can be taken several times a day instead of liquid drinks, you can add a spoonful of honey. This tea calms the nervous system and prevents the manifestations of VSD.
4. To normalize nervous excitement, it is necessary to take an infusion of motherwort and hawthorn herbs; honey can also be added for taste.
5. Hop cones, valerian, linden, coriander, motherwort and oregano should be poured with a liter of hot water and after infusion, drink 2 teaspoons in the morning and evening. This solution calms the nervous system and improves neuromuscular conductivity in the ganglia.
6. Sprigs of raspberry, currant and hawthorn are boiled for ten minutes in hot water, infused, and then drunk half a glass of this decoction in the morning and evening, the course of treatment is about three weeks.

Homeopathic methods are widely used to treat VSD during menopause. Homeopathic remedies are capable of not only correcting hormonal imbalance, but they also restore the normal state and balance of the nervous system. The following drugs can be used:

• Dysmenorm is a combined homeopathic remedy that affects hormonal imbalances during menopause, as well as the activity of other organs and systems, primarily the neurovegetative system. Dysmenorm is available in the pharmacological form of tablets and is dosed one tablet three times a day twenty minutes before meals or an hour after. Side effects are rare, but stool disorders, dyspeptic symptoms and allergic reactions may occur. The drug is poorly tolerated by patients who do not digest gluten, so their intake is limited.
• Lycopodium is a combined homeopathic remedy that has an effect on menopause disorders by normalizing the synthesis of estrogen and progesterone by both the ovaries and the adrenal glands. Lycopodium is available in the pharmacological form of special homeopathic granules in the amount of ten grams, as well as in the form of a tincture in a 15 ml container. The granules are taken between meals, while they need to be sucked under the tongue until completely dissolved, but not washed down with water. Dosage - one granule 4 times a day. Take with caution during pregnancy. Side effects have not been detected.
• Atarax is a drug for oral and parenteral use, which has a pronounced effect on the nervous system and helps to normalize tone by improving the psychophysiological state. It has a pronounced effect on the sympathetic nervous system, which in the case of VSD during menopause allows to reduce hyperhidrosis, hot flashes, heartbeat, and normalizes the act of breathing.
• Grandaxin is a drug that has properties of both a tonic and a sedative. It has a good effect on the psychosomatic manifestations of menopause, as well as on the respiratory symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia during menopause.
• Sigetin is a drug that is a synthetic analogue of the natural hormone estrogen, and allows you to replenish its supply during menopause. It corrects the symptoms of VSD precisely by normalizing the level of estrogen and improving nerve conduction, as well as normalizing the tone of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
• Cyclodinone is a combined homeopathic remedy that affects hormonal imbalances and restores estrogen deficiency. This drug is available in the pharmacological form of drops and tablets. You need to take one tablet per day, preferably in the morning, or 40 drops with the same frequency. The duration of treatment is about three months. Contraindications to taking the drug are acute infectious processes in the body.
• Klimaktoplan is one of the homeopathic remedies that are an analogue of phytoestrogenic substances and help normalize hormonal levels during menopause. The drug normalizes the normal functioning of the autonomic nervous system and cardiovascular system. The drug well corrects the vegetative manifestations of vegetative-vascular dystonia, hot flashes, heartbeat, and normalizes sleep.

The drug is used in the form of tablets, one tablet twenty minutes before meals, three times a day. The course of treatment with the drug is long - about two months. No side effects have been identified. Contraindications to taking Klimaktoplan are hypersensitivity to individual components of the drug.

• Tonginal is a homeopathic complex medicine for the treatment of vegetative tone disorders. It helps to normalize blood pressure, reduces excitation of the parasympathetic nervous system, normalizes the tone of the cerebral vessels, and neutralizes the effects of stress on the nervous system. The drug is available in drops and is prescribed 10 drops three times a day, can be taken unchanged or diluted with water. The course of treatment is also long - about two to three months, then after a break you can repeat the intake.

Side effects of Tonginal have not been identified, if the dose is exceeded, arterial hypotension is possible, which is easily corrected. Contraindications to the use of the drug are allergic hypersensitivity.

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Prevention

Measures for preventing the development of VSD are simple rules for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Since menopause cannot be avoided, it is possible to prevent the appearance of its symptoms and manifestation of VSD during menopause. It is necessary to properly organize your daily routine with alternating periods of rest and work. You need to eat right, excluding all harmful foods and eating fruits and vegetables. Sleep is a necessary measure for health, its duration should be at least 8-9 hours. It is necessary to exclude stress in life and play sports, at least in the mode of walking.

There are no specific measures to prevent the development of VSD during menopause, but only non-specific methods can easily protect you from this unpleasant pathology.

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Forecast

The prognosis for vegetative-vascular dystonia during menopause is very favorable for life, since the pathology responds well to treatment even with non-drug means. It is possible to completely eliminate the symptoms of VSD with the right approach to the treatment of menopause.

VSD during menopause is an unpleasant pathology due to the severity of clinical manifestations and the appearance of symptoms precisely during the premenopause period, when all processes are expressed significantly and hormonal imbalance intensifies the clinical picture. But this pathology is well treated with non-drug means, mainly due to lifestyle changes. It is very important to prevent this pathology by timely and correct correction of hormonal levels during menopause. The main thing in the prevention of any disease is a healthy lifestyle, which helps to maintain health for a long time.

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