Cervical osteochondrosis is a rapidly rejuvenating disease. If early it happened mostly 40 years later, people who are now 25-26 are at risk.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are more pronounced in women than in men. This is due to the structural characteristics of the body. During stronger sex, this part of the body develops better, and it supports the entire vertebral structure, preventing it from deforming and overloading.
Types of osteochondrosis and the dangers posed by the disease
There are many types of osteochondrosis, with varying degrees of risk of consequences.
- thoracic. It is considered the safest type of disease. This type of osteochondrosis rarely causes unpleasant consequences like protrusions or hernias. This can be explained by low mobility in the chest area. Therefore, its deformation will not cause serious discomfort to the patient.
- lumbar spine. It occurs most often due to high mobility in this part of the body. Furthermore, the main load falls on the vertebral body part. If left untreated, the disease can have serious complications: herniated and herniated discs, and radiculopathy, which is often the main cause of paralysis. The main risk of this type of osteochondrosis is the late presentation, which is why the time for intensive treatment is often missed.
- Cervical spondylosis. It occurs mainly in the female half. This prevalence is associated with high activity in the cervical spine, the part of the body where there are a considerable number of nerve fibers that act as conductors between the brain and other organs. The consequences of cervical osteochondrosis are the most serious -- from dangerous complications to death. This is why treatment of this disease must be timely and effective.
Factors Affecting Disease Development
Scientists have identified many causes of osteochondrosis in women. Mainly menopause and the changes that occur during this stage. The amount of progesterone that enters the body, which is extremely important for women, decreases. In addition, over the years, the muscles in this area of the body have decreased in size, resulting in less support for the spine.
There are other causes of osteochondrosis in women regardless of age:
- circulatory failure;
- weakened immune system;
- hormone imbalance;
- hereditary;
- any injury to the spine;
- excessive physical activity;
- low temperature;
- passive lifestyle;
- excess weight.
So many causative factors have contributed to the rapid increase in the number of women with cervical osteochondrosis.
signs of disease
In order not to miss the progression of the disease, you should know the main symptoms of osteochondrosis in women:
- neck pain;
- recurring headaches;
- A feeling of stiffness in the neck;
- shooting pain radiating to the neck area;
- finger and shoulder discomfort;
- numbness in the limbs or tongue;
- Sudden snoring while sleeping.
Depending on the body's sensitivity, other signs of cervical osteochondrosis in women may also appear:
- nausea, sometimes leading to vomiting;
- a sharp increase or decrease in stress;
- bluish complexion.
It is important to consider that these signs of osteochondrosis are very serious, although at first glance they are not related to the development of the disease. This is why if you have these symptoms, you should contact a specialist immediately to rule out the development of the disease.
Because the discs of this spine are close enough to each other and do not differ in height, symptoms of cervical sternal osteochondrosis in women can be identified in the initial stages of the disease.
The reason for the worsening general health is that the deformation of the intervertebral disc causes immediate pressure on the roots of nerve ending fibers. It depends on how badly they fail, how painful it feels, and how long the attack can last.
- If the pain is short-term, replaced by short breaks, then these are back pains.
- If you experience pain, you will need to take NSAIDs.
- The headache is caused by the compression of the occipital nerve and the highest row of vertebrae.
- Unpleasant sensations in the hand, elbow, and forearm are characteristic of deformations in the mid-vertebral region.
Additionally, patients may experience hand weakness and decreased skin sensitivity. This happens when the spinal cord is compressed. This symptom is typical for women after age 40. They also often feel low energy when walking.
If left untreated, the following complications may occur:
- squeeze blood vessels in the brain;
- functional problems of the central nervous system, characterized by disturbances in behavior, coordination, and speech;
- Violation of the circulatory process of the brain.
In the latter case, accompanying symptoms may occur, such as:
- Unprovoked anxiety and fear;
- a sharp decline in memory;
- Frequent mood swings.
In addition, disruption of blood circulation to the brain can lead to sudden loss of consciousness, frequent headaches, and feelings of dizziness. All of these problems are quite serious and require immediate hospitalization. In addition, cervical osteochondrosis can cause difficulty swallowing, hearing and vision problems, and a frequent feeling of ringing in the ears.
Treatment principles
The treatment of this disease is complex. Various forms of treatment are used at different stages of disease development.
- In the initial stages, vasodilator drugs are very effective. They contribute to normal blood circulation in the brain. Restore cartilage tissue with the help of chondroprotective agents.
- Manual therapy is highly effective. An experienced specialist can easily restore the vertebrae to their original position.
- Physical therapy is another effective treatment option. It includes massage classes, laser therapy and electrophoresis.
- Acupuncture is popular among women. This method is highly effective and has a low pain rate.
- Physical activity is very important for proper treatment. Depending on the type of disease and its severity, specialists may prescribe a range of physical therapy exercises or recharging regimens for the neck area.
- Of particular importance are lifestyle changes. Start exercising and eating right, and you'll speed up the recovery process significantly. It is very important to provide the body with an adequate intake of useful and nutrient substances.
It is thought that women are more concerned with their health, which means that diseases can be diagnosed at an earlier stage, increasing the chances of a full recovery.
folk method
Folk remedies are effective in treating this disease.
- Fresh horseradish leaves should be washed carefully and applied to the neck area. It is necessary to fix the compress with a soft bandage and leave it overnight. As a rule, by the morning things have improved significantly. To consolidate the effect, the procedure should be repeated for at least 3 consecutive days.
- Potatoes need to be peeled and grated on the fine side of a grater. Add a little honey to the resulting mass and mix thoroughly. You will get a paste-like remedy that should be applied to the painful area. You can only do this compression once a week.
These methods will relieve your condition without the use of medication. In addition, it is very useful to perform special healing exercises. It will significantly strengthen the muscles, so mobility in the spinal area will be restored. When choosing an exercise, you should consider your fitness level and overall health. To be effective, gymnastics should be performed regularly.
prevent disease
Given the massive prevalence of the disease, special attention should be paid to preventing osteochondrosis. First, you need to rethink your lifestyle. If you are in a sitting position most of the time, you need to correct it. Office workers can perform special exercises at the dining table during work hours. Due to their high efficiency, they do not require much time or special conditions for training.
Also, you need to walk a lot. If you don't have free time, try walking to overcome any part of the commute to work. The more you add, the more visible your efforts will be.
Regular preventive massage is also useful. In addition to enhancing the overall strength of the body, this allows you to catch the disease and receive effective treatment from the start.
Therefore, every woman needs to monitor her health carefully and take immediate treatment at the slightest signs of osteochondrosis developing. If done in time, you can make a full recovery without any complications.