Vestibulo-ataxic syndrome - causes and signs of vestibulo-ataxic syndrome

There is a classification of this disease in medicine. Thus, by severity, the disease is divided into mild, severe and moderate. At each stage, coordination deviations manifest themselves differently:

• Mild degree is characterized by minor motor disorganization, which is expressed in deterioration of coordination and gait.
• Moderate is accompanied by concomitant symptoms in the form of disorder (unsteadiness when walking, nausea) and headaches.
• In severe degree, it is very difficult for a person to move and stand, he is not able to walk independently.

Causes

There are many reasons for the occurrence of this deviation. Thus, coordination deficiencies are facilitated by:

• chronic blood flow insufficiency - both congenital and acquired;
• lesions occurring in the frontal-stem lobes of the brain;
• cerebellar dysfunction;
• atrophic changes in the cortex;
• hydrocephalus;
• hypertension;
• atherosclerosis;
• traumatic brain injury;
• stem tumors;
• osteochondrosis.

Symptoms

The disease manifests itself as dizziness, “spots” before the eyes, pain, nausea. Such people have impaired balance, an unsteady gait, they can fall without any apparent reason or be thrown from one side to the other. Concentration is poor. Patients complain of tinnitus, sleep disorders, rapid fatigue and decreased performance.

Symptoms depend on the severity.

Diagnostics

The disease can be detected during a neurological examination and by specific complaints of the patient. To clarify the diagnosis, the specialist may additionally prescribe instrumental studies:

• Rheoencephalography - helps to assess blood circulation. If necessary, it is supplemented with magnetic resonance imaging or vascular angiography.
• Echoencephalography - assesses the state of the cerebrospinal fluid system. When mixed, a formation (hematoma, tumor or abscess) can be suspected, which can provoke vestibular ataxia.
• Electroencephalography - helps to analyze the bioelectrical activity of the brain.
• Computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging - allow you to detect demyelinating processes in the brain and the presence of neoplasms.
• X-ray of the skull and spine - is performed if there is a suspicion of a possible craniovertebral anomaly.

Treatment

It is recommended to take antihypertensive drugs, as well as drugs that help lower cholesterol. The person is given advice on changing their lifestyle, a special diet is prescribed. A mandatory condition is to quit smoking.

To regulate blood supply and the functioning of the nervous system, as well as to relieve symptoms, the use of antioxidants is indicated - actovegin, mildronate, mexidol. Such drugs as cavinton, instenon and trental are recommended.

In case of ischemia, antidepressants are included in symptomatic therapy, usually benzodiazepine type. Among them, grandaxin has the least number of side effects.

Neurologists who deal with patients during the course of rehabilitation procedures usually include physiotherapy procedures in the treatment.

In some cases, specialists resort to surgical intervention for therapy. In this case, the operation is performed on the vertebral artery, at the intersection of vasomotor fibers. This intervention helps to reduce spasms in the artery and improve blood flow.

With physiotherapy, it is necessary to monitor blood pressure daily and take blood tests for cholesterol levels.

Prevention

Preventive measures are aimed at reducing the risk of ischemia. A prerequisite is to give up bad habits.

For prevention, it is necessary to avoid stress, reduce the duration of exposure to the sun. Physical activity should be moderate, but constant. Necessary preventive measures to prevent this pathology include regulating the patient's body weight, because obesity directly affects the development of vestibular ataxia.