The term “suprasegmental autonomic dysfunction” refers to a pathological process in which almost all body tissues are involved. The disease is characterized by a large number of clinical manifestations, due to which its diagnosis is complicated. Meanwhile, the timely detection of the disease avoids serious consequences and improves the quality of human life. Not a single person is safe from the development of pathology. According to statistics, the disease is most often detected in young people.
Pathogenesis
The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulating the functioning of organs and endocrine glands. In addition, it controls the constancy of internal environments. The autonomic nervous system is also directly involved in the process of thermoregulation and is responsible for the coordinated functioning of organs.
It is represented by two departments:
- Sympathetic (segmental).
- Parasympathetic (suprasegmental).
The first contributes to the increase in heart rate, it slows down the work of the genitourinary system and gastrointestinal tract and partially suppresses the processes associated with the regulation of hormones.
The parasympathetic department, in contrast, is responsible for enhancing the work of the digestive tract and endocrine glands. At the same time, it contributes to the expansion of blood vessels and a decrease in the number of heart contractions.
Normally, when one department is actively functioning, the second slows down its work. Under the influence of various adverse factors, this process is disrupted. In the absence of a coordinated interaction of organs among themselves, it is customary to talk about autonomic dysfunction of the supra-segmentary level.
Etiology
The occurrence of pathology can be due to many reasons. As a rule, the disease develops in people with a hereditary predisposition.
In addition, the causes of suprasegmental autonomic dysfunction may be the following conditions:
- Long stay in a state of stress of the mother during the period of gestation.
- Different rates of physical and psychological development in a child.
- Diseases of the organs of the endocrine system.
- Pathologies of a chronic nature.
- High-intensity physical activity.
- Improperly organized daily routine.
- A lifestyle that does not imply motor activity.
- Overwork.
- Unbalanced diet.
- Obesity.
- Weakening of the body's defenses.
- Hormonal imbalance (especially in women during pregnancy and during menopause).
- Osteochondrosis.
- Smoking
- Excessive consumption of alcohol-containing drinks.
In addition, people who often suffer from infectious diseases are at risk.
It is important to understand that the dysfunction of the suprasegmental part of the autonomic nervous system is an extremely dangerous pathology. The coherence of the work of internal organs is disturbed, due to which a person may be disturbed by the symptoms of diseases that he actually does not have. In this case, the most important is not only timely, but also competent diagnosis.
In the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) suprasegmental autonomic dysfunction is assigned the code G90.
Clinical manifestations
Pathology has a large number of symptoms. These include the following conditions:
- Pain in the left side of the sternum.
- Frequent episodes of migraine.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea.
- A slight increase in body temperature.
- Inexplicable feeling of anxiety and fear.
- High blood pressure.
- Feeling of lack of air. In such situations, a person seeks rather to open a window or run out into the street. Breathing becomes uneven, noisy, coughing often appears.
- Painful process of swallowing food.
- Constipation.
- Excessive gas formation.
- Stomach ache.
These are common clinical manifestations that occur, as a rule, in all cases. But suprasegmental autonomic dysfunction has several varieties. Each of them has its own symptoms.
Classification
In all cases, the disease negatively affects the cardiovascular system. In this regard, the syndrome of suprasegmental autonomic dysfunction, doctors are divided into several types. There are three of them:
- Cordial. It is characterized by weak discomfort in the left half of the chest. The blood pressure indicator is normal.
- Hypertensive. Amid emotional arousal, blood pressure rises.
- Antihypertensive. The patient has persistent low blood pressure, he is constantly in a tired state. Fainting often occurs.
The suprasegmental dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system is an ailment that occurs in each person in a different way. The disease can have a permanent, paroxysmal and latent form. The first is characterized by severe symptoms, present constantly. In the second case, we are talking about periodic exacerbations. The latent form, respectively, proceeds hidden.
Clinical manifestations and their intensity also depend on which systems are most affected. In this regard, doctors distinguish several syndromes that are characteristic of suprasegmental autonomic dysfunction:
- Psychoneurotic. The patient suffers from insomnia, emotional instability, he is prone to apathy and depressive states. Often a person suddenly begins to feel causeless anxiety. Often combined suprasegmental autonomic dysfunction with panic attacks. This is a rather serious condition that causes pain to patients. It is characterized by the occurrence of intense fear and signs of somatic disorders.
- Astheno-neurotic syndrome. Suprasegmental autonomic dysfunction in this case is manifested by reduced working capacity, weakness, and apathy. In addition, in such patients, an inability to adapt is detected.
- Syndrome of peripheral vascular disorders. It is characterized by: swelling of the limbs, redness of the skin on the legs, pain in the muscles, cramps.
- Suprasegmental autonomic dysfunction with vasomotor cephalgia. In other words, the ailment is accompanied by a headache. It is a mistake to assume that suprasegmental autonomic dysfunction with cephalgia is the easiest variant of the course of the disease. Headache, as a rule, is a constant concern. Its intensity is so strong that it significantly affects the quality of life.
- Cerebrovascular. This syndrome is characterized by: irritability, ischemia, migraine.
- Neurogastric. This is a whole complex of disorders of the digestive system.
- Respiratory. It is characterized by respiratory failure, shortness of breath. Often the patient does not have enough air, and in the throat as if there is a foreign body.
- Cardiovascular. It is characterized by painful sensations in the heart, which do not go away even after taking medication. In this case, the blood pressure indicator constantly “jumps”.
Often, a patient is diagnosed with several syndromes at once. In this case, it is customary to talk about suprasegmental vegetative dysfunction of a mixed type.
Diagnostics
It is very difficult to identify the disease. This is due to the fact that it is characterized by the symptoms of many ailments. In the matter of diagnosis, not only the timeliness of events, but also the literacy and experience of the doctor is of paramount importance. A mistake can cost a patient not only health, but also in some cases of life.
Initially, when diagnosing, it is necessary to confirm or exclude the presence of diseases with similar clinical manifestations. For this, the patient is sent for a comprehensive examination, including:
- ECG. Using an electrocardiogram, it is possible to detect or exclude the presence of heart pathologies. If the muscle works without disturbances, but the patient experiences severe pain and complains of signs of ischemia, it is already possible to suspect the neurotic nature of this condition.
- Dopplerography and electroencephalogram. In the process of research, pathologies of blood vessels and the brain are confirmed or excluded.
- CT Designed for the diagnosis of brain diseases and the timely detection of neoplasms.
- Ultrasound Organs are examined depending on the clinical manifestations of the patient.
At each appointment, the pulse and blood pressure indicator are measured. In addition to instrumental methods, the doctor prescribes laboratory ones. These are standard urine and blood tests.
Treatment
The suprasegmental dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system requires an integrated approach to therapy. It is important to strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations, even in the absence of positive dynamics. The treatment of the disease is very long and requires endurance and patience.
The classical therapy regimen consists of the following items:
- Taking medications. Any drugs are prescribed exclusively on an individual basis. With dysfunction at the initial stage, you can do without medications at all. In other cases, doctors prescribe tranquilizers, antidepressants, and beta blockers. Against the background of their reception, obsessive thoughts recede, an inexplicable fear disappears, the mood rises, the emotional background stabilizes. If necessary, symptomatic therapy is prescribed.
- Lifestyle change. It is important for patients to strictly observe the regimen of the day and follow the principles of a healthy diet. In addition, they need to regularly expose the body to moderate physical exertion and avoid getting into stressful situations.
- Psychotherapy. To stabilize the emotional background, many patients need to undergo treatment with a specialist.
- Physiotherapy. Currently, the following methods have shown the greatest effectiveness in relation to the disease: galvanization, massage, electrophoresis, acupuncture, baths with mineral waters.
If necessary, the doctor can make adjustments to the treatment regimen.
Effects
Untimely detection of the disease can lead to a number of complications. As a rule, to a sympatho-adrenal, vaginal or parasympathetic crisis.
Often, against the background of an ailment, dysfunction of the sinus node develops. He is responsible for generating impulses, which, in turn, lead to regular heart contractions. If the work of this nerve plexus is impaired, arrhythmia occurs.
The neglected form of the disease leads to organic changes. In other words, the innervation of the internal organs is disrupted, they suffer from a lack of nutritional components.
Forecast
The outcome of the disease directly depends on the timeliness of going to the doctor. If the diagnosis was made quickly and accurately, in most cases the prognosis is favorable. More than 90% of all patients recover, and their quality of life returns to its previous level.
With untimely access to a doctor, the work of internal organs deteriorates. At the same time, the intensity of clinical manifestations of suprasegmental dysfunction increases.
Prevention
Measures to prevent the development of the disease should be carried out already in childhood. This is due to the fact that disturbing signs often begin to appear in babies. Parents should remember that the child needs fresh air. It is recommended to walk with the baby for a long time. In addition, the child must eat right and exercise regularly. The daily regimen must also be strictly observed.
As for adults, it is necessary to reconsider the ratio of working time and personal. Organization of the day should be adequate. In other words, each person should rest at least 8 hours a day. In addition, exposure to stressful situations should be avoided. At the first signs of fatigue, it is advisable to rest, at least not for long.
Elderly people are also at risk, because, as mentioned above, no one is safe from a serious illness. All preventive measures should be aimed at maintaining mental, physical and emotional activity.
Finally
Suprasegmental autonomic dysfunction is an extremely serious pathological condition. It is characterized by a violation of the coordinated work of internal organs. As a rule, the disease is caused by a hereditary predisposition, but often acquired forms are also diagnosed.
Suprasegmental dysfunction of the vegetative section is divided into several types, each of which is characterized by a particular symptom complex. The complexity of the diagnosis lies in the fact that the patient has clinical manifestations of many diseases, which actually are not. That is why the prognosis directly depends not only on the timeliness of contacting a doctor, but also on his literacy and experience. It is quite difficult to identify the pathology, for this the patient needs to undergo a comprehensive examination.