Such damage to the spine, more precisely to the intervertebral discs, called osteochondrosis, is becoming more and more common these days.This is one of the diseases that absolutely no one is immune to.The risk increases with age, although young people can also suffer from osteochondrosis.
Particularly unpleasant is the fact that osteochondrosis, without appropriate treatment, quite actively provokes the development of a whole complex of concomitant diseases.These include arterial hypertension, neuralgia, increased intracranial pressure, metabolic disorders, limited head and back mobility and much more.Sometimes the patient's condition reaches a critical level and there is a serious threat to his life.
In representatives of different sexes, the course of osteochondrosis has its own peculiarities.Of the five patients with osteochondrosis, three were women.The weaker sex suffers from more pronounced symptoms and is also much more likely to suffer side effects of the disease.This trend is explained by the peculiarities of the female body.
Characteristics of the disease
According to statistics, osteochondrosis in women mainly affects the cervical spine.This is explained by the fact that the cervical vertebrae are much more fragile compared to others.There are also extremely fragile muscles and a rather thin bone structure in the neck area.As a result, constant pressure and strain on the spine affects this area faster and more severely.
Women often do jobs that are considered risky in terms of neck osteochondrosis: cashier, seamstress, computer operator, accountant.At the same time, the initial stages of the development of the disease are extremely difficult to detect, since the patient may not feel any serious pain or special discomfort.Meanwhile, already at the time of detection of symptoms, osteochondrosis can lead to significant degenerative processes, impairing the functioning of the nervous system and blood circulation, and leading to a deterioration in the nutrition of brain tissue.
It is extremely dangerous if a woman also experiences one or more of the following symptoms.
- Menopause and associated problems with cell metabolism in cartilage and bone tissue;
- genetic predisposition to osteochondrosis and other similar diseases;
- problems with hematopoiesis;
- hormonal imbalances;
- metabolic disorders;
- scoliosis, postural curvature;
- Overweight.
Reasons
There are a number of factors that inevitably lead to illness with prolonged exposure.Based on the characteristics of the body, very specific reasons for the development of osteochondrosis in women can be identified separately.They are based on three stages of disease development in ascending order.
- First stage.It is caused by regular overloading of the neck muscle fibers due to an uncomfortable position.
- Second stage.It is caused by the onset of tissue degeneration in the intervertebral discs and vertebrae themselves.There is a feeling of numbness, worsening of the sensitivity of the limbs and limited mobility of the spine.
- Third stage.Associated with the development of an intervertebral hernia.Motor activity is blocked and the fiber rings are torn.The pain extends to the neck, head and chest region and vertebral artery syndrome develops.
Main factors
The main provocateurs of female osteochondrosis include:
- severe emotional and physical stress;
- forced regular and prolonged stay in a position in which the neck is pinched or the head must be tilted forward;
- spinal injuries;
- increased pressure on the spine (e.g. during pregnancy, being overweight);
- abnormal changes in skeletal structure;
- Scoliosis.
Secondary factors
This is a group of general causes that contribute to the development of the disease, but without the first group of factors are not able to trigger it.
- hormonal disorders;
- age-related degenerative changes;
- autoimmune, autonomic problems;
- Menopause;
- adynamia;
- frequent hypothermia of the body;
- obesity;
- Diabetes mellitus
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur in women in the same way as in men.The most important ones are listed below.
- The main alarm signal is pain.Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by frequent pain or paroxysmal acute pain in the neck (less often in the back of the head and on the face).The feeling increases when you try to move your head.
- There are often restricted movements and cramps in the neck and chest area.
- After 50 years, many patients suffer from tinnitus, reduced vision and hearing, and severe snoring.
- Sometimes the disease causes a strong grinding sound when turning the neck.
- Another common symptom is dizziness, a gradual loss of coordinated movements.
The first signs of the disease should make a woman realize that urgent measures need to be taken.Only a doctor can select a range of diagnostic and therapeutic methods, so the listed symptoms are a reason for urgent medical attention.
The disease is considered particularly dangerous if these symptoms are accompanied by a constant lack of air, a feeling of a lump in the throat, blocked ears and blurred vision.
Treatment
Elimination of the disease or its main symptoms is necessarily preceded by a complete diagnosis.For this purpose, computer tomography, ultrasound and Doppler as well as sometimes X-ray machines are used.A prerequisite is the preventive diagnosis of osteochondrosis in older women;others should resort to it if the disease is suspected.
Effective treatment measures are based on an integrated approach as well as taking into account the individual characteristics of a particular clinical case.Depending on the stage of development of osteochondrosis, one or another approach may be effective.
When treating women, the following points should be taken into account:
- Age;
- presence of diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- Quality of the endocrine system.
Medication
Therapy with classic medications is the simplest but at the same time very effective standard approach.However, drug treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women is only carried out if gentler options have proven ineffective.
Before resorting to medication, a woman is recommended to resort to herbal teas (chamomile, dandelion roots, celandine), natural compresses (from wax, burdock or horseradish leaves, garlic cloves, cottage cheese with vinegar, honey).They also resort to aromatic baths, lifestyle and diet adjustments, and stress relief.
They cover up the lack of effectiveness of these medications with classical medicine.These are analgesics, as well as non-steroidal drugs.Both groups of medications are always taken taking into account the phase of the menstrual cycle.
At the end of the cycle, with an increase in pain sensitivity and a decrease in the body's defenses, the dose of analgesics increases.Higher dosages of analgesics are consistently recommended for postmenopausal women.At the same time, painkillers are reduced to a minimum in pregnant women and at the beginning of the menstrual cycle.
The specific treatment of female osteochondrosis is regular use of sedatives.Mood swings, irritability and stress significantly impair the progress of any therapeutic or preventive measures in the weaker sex.
The most complex cases require additional use of chondroprotectors and corticosteroids.
Movement therapy
Properly selected gymnastics complexes are an integral part of balanced therapy.Treatment of the consequences of cervical osteochondrosis in women focuses, among other things, on restoring the mobility of this part of the body, and the exercise therapy complex is of particular help here.
The doctor always selects specific exercises.Both classic (tilts and rotations of the head, rotation of the shoulders) and specific movements can be involved.Yoga exercises are often used to relieve pain.Such treatment is also permissible at home if the complex is carried out regularly and strictly according to doctor's instructions.
In addition to exercise therapy, cervical massage, manual therapy and a special diet work well against osteochondrosis.These methods can add additional impact to the exercises.The massage program for women is selected taking into account the cycle.Massage techniques for menopausal women are also determined with particular care.
After recovery, it is extremely important to strictly follow preventive measures.This helps to avoid relapses, which often occur with osteochondrosis, mainly due to the repeated influence of causative factors.