VSD and contrast shower: how to turn a useful procedure into an enjoyable one

People suffering from panic disorder often live in a state of constant stress, both physical and psychological. Irregular nutrition, lack of sleep and insufficient exercise reduce the body's resistance. And difficulties in relationships and problems at work become the “last straw” that provokes the symptoms of a panic attack.

Soul and body are inextricably linked. By influencing our own body, we change our state of mind. There are several simple rules that help reduce stress levels, improve psychological well-being and reduce the likelihood of developing panic attacks.

How is a contrast shower useful for VSD?

With vegetative-vascular dystonia, due to weakening of the tone of the vascular system and oxygen starvation of tissues, immunity decreases, an imbalance in metabolism occurs, and a deficiency of hormones appears. Frequent companions of VSD are hypertension or hypotension, rapid heartbeat. Typical symptoms of people with dystonia are headaches, shortness of breath, and digestive disorders. Such a person is highly nervous, suffers from insomnia, and gets tired quickly.

A contrast shower is incomparable to taking a bath. Staying in warm water at a constant temperature is just a pleasant hygienic procedure. Contrast shower is a method of treatment. Alternating warm and cool water has a beneficial effect primarily on the vascular system. Regular expansion and contraction of capillaries, arteries, veins is a “physical exercise” that perfectly strengthens them.

In addition, by accelerating blood circulation and metabolism, a contrast shower for vegetative-vascular dystonia:

• increases the body's immune defense;
• stimulates hormonal secretion;
• helps stabilize blood pressure;
• helps reduce excess weight;
• cleanses the skin and improves its condition.

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Muscle relaxation

Relaxation exercises provide a double effect. Firstly, they reduce the level of general tension and help reduce the manifestations of panic disorder. Secondly, after a few weeks the body firmly remembers the feeling of peace and tranquility that appears during muscle relaxation. After this, the exercise can be used when the first symptoms of a panic attack occur in order to prevent an attack.

There are several muscle relaxation techniques. Their detailed descriptions can be easily found on the Internet. Whatever technique you choose, remember that there are two rules.

The exercise should be performed in a calm environment, without distractions and without rushing anywhere. And in this case, a “one-time action” is not enough. Only systematic exercise can provide noticeable results.

How to take a contrast shower correctly

When treating vegetative-vascular dystonia with this water procedure, the body receives a strong shake-up. However, stress is a double-edged sword: instead of benefit, it can cause serious harm. If you periodically plunge the body into a stressful state, languishing either from hot or cold water, instead of strengthening the immune system, it will weaken even more. It is necessary to use water procedures for vegetative-vascular dystonia in such a way that they are comfortable and evoke positive emotions.

Doctors recommend: at any time except the first hour of the morning after waking up and the last two hours before bedtime. First, you should stand under the warm streams for at least 5 minutes so that the body warms up well. Then immediately to a cool temperature. Subsequently, you need to alternate changing the water every 0.5-1 minute. Moreover, you need to stand a little longer under a warm shower. The vascular system will be grateful for this temperature regime.

After 3 switches, the procedure should be completed with cold water (10-15 seconds). An exception is permissible: sometimes at the end you may feel that your body is frozen, then you need to douse yourself with warm water one last time. The water procedure should be repeated daily for no more than 1 month. After a 15-day break, you can take it only once a week.

Important details:

1. The principle of gradualism must be observed. Too cold water can be harmful: with hypertension, heart attacks are possible, and with hypotension, seizures are possible!
2. It is useful to wash your face with cool water first.
3. You should not wet your entire head.
4. The maximum benefit from the procedures is in combination with a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

What are the benefits of the procedure?

A contrast shower is not only a pleasant, but also a useful procedure. It has a beneficial effect on the body:

• 
  Skin cleansing and rejuvenation. Hot water opens the pores, which helps cleanse them, dilates blood vessels, and stimulates the removal of toxins and waste from the body. Switching to cold water closes the pores, which prevents bacteria from entering your skin, so it stays not only clean, but also healthy. Blood circulation improves, the skin becomes more elastic, and its rejuvenation occurs.

• Efficiency increases. The temperature difference helps activate all processes in the body, improves brain activity, improves mood and vitality.
• Vessels are strengthened. The procedure helps cleanse and strengthen the walls of blood vessels, pain in the heart goes away, and signs of varicose veins and cellulite are eliminated.

• 
  Immunity increases. People suffering from symptoms of VSD are more often than others susceptible to viral and infectious diseases. Thanks to the procedure, the body is hardened and becomes immune to many infections. People who regularly take contrast showers practically do not suffer from colds.

• The nervous system is strengthened. The body is less susceptible to stress, the person becomes calmer and more balanced.
• Male strength increases. Strengthening the nervous system and stimulating blood circulation has a beneficial effect on potency.
• Swelling and congestion in the body disappear. Excess weight goes away.

A contrast shower is one of the most effective ways to maintain physical and mental health, get rid of symptoms of VSD and live life to the fullest!

Contraindications

This water procedure should not be performed if a person suffers from:

• significantly increased or decreased blood pressure;
• heart diseases;
• acute cerebral circulatory disorders;
• cystitis;
• advanced arthritis or osteochondrosis;
• thrombophlebitis;
• pathologies of hematopoiesis;
• neuritis;
• prolonged depression;
• cancer.

The water contrast procedure is temporarily contraindicated during periods of exacerbation of chronic illnesses, colds, and flu. Women need to take breaks on menstrual days. You should not take a shower immediately after heavy physical work or sports training, since you can cause serious harm to the muscles - myositis, polyarthritis.

Reviews of people who take such procedures

Elena, 40 years old. I suffered from VSD for many years, took pills, but the symptoms returned. I started taking contrast showers, it really helps! After the first procedure I felt much better! The main thing is to do everything correctly, not to get carried away with too much hot and ice water for the first few weeks.

Andrey, 46 years old. I have been taking contrast showers for many years now and never get sick with colds. I recommend that everyone who suffers from VSD try it, the effect is noticeable the first time!

Vladimir, 56 years old. I suffered from vegetative-vascular dystonia for a long time; I was diagnosed with this in my youth. I didn’t have enough time to play sports, I didn’t want to take pills either, so I decided to try a contrast shower. Since then, I’ve been feeling great for 20 years, I almost never catch a cold, I don’t have headaches, and my blood pressure is always normal!

Effect of cold water on recovery

A huge amount of research has been devoted to studying the effect of cold water on recovery after exercise. The results showed that such procedures effectively relieve fatigue immediately after training and reduce the manifestation of muscle pain. One of the proposed mechanisms leading to this effect is a reduction in blood flow in the muscle and a local decrease in temperature in the tissues, which leads to a decrease in inflammation in them.

Procedures in which athletes are immersed in water at a temperature of
10-20°C for 5-10 minutes . Regular swimming in cold water in winter with increasing duration relieves stress, fatigue, improves mood and memory. Those suffering from rheumatism, fibromyalgia and asthma experience an improvement in overall well-being and an increased pain threshold. Local application of cold reduces tissue metabolism, relieves swelling, reduces muscle spasms and may have an anesthetic effect.

Why is physiotherapy more useful than drugs for vegetative-vascular dystonia?

In fact, it is wrong to talk about VSD as a disease; they want to use this term more conveniently. Dystonia is not a disease. This is a neuropsychiatric disorder expressed in a complex of symptoms. Manifestations of vegetative-vascular dystonia are very diverse. Their number and intensity depend on many factors: age, gender of the patient, general health, personality type and much more.

VSD can be a consequence of other diseases, as a concomitant disorder. Diseases of the endocrine system, consequences of traumatic brain injury and some diseases of the nervous system give symptoms very similar to vegetative dystonia. Therefore, it is always necessary to undergo a thorough diagnosis to identify or exclude somatic diseases.

In most cases, physiological diseases and other somatic factors causing VSD are not detected in people. There are symptoms (and sometimes very strong ones), but there are no causes as such. In such cases, dystonia is of a psychosomatic nature. That is, it arises against the background of psychological problems that a person cannot cope with for a long time. The reason may also be banal overwork, both physical and moral.

Why is VSD poorly treated with medications? Can a pill cure a mental problem or body fatigue? Of course not.

Most medications that are used for VSD and neuroses simply relieve symptoms, but do not get rid of the cause. Medicines are useful and necessary when terrible symptoms simply do not allow you to lead a normal life. But you should understand that various types of antidepressants, sedatives, tranquilizers, and adrenaline blockers themselves do not cure anything. The same cannot be said about physical therapy.

Since VSD is an imbalance of the nervous and vascular systems, they need to be strengthened. You can’t strengthen blood vessels with medications, but sweat exercises, contrast showers, massages can even tone them up.

Fortunately, during my VSD crisis (many years have passed since then), I quickly realized that the pills would not save me and abandoned them, leaving only a mixture of herbs (valerian, hawthorn, motherwort) in therapy.

Reviews

Find out what other people who have used a contrast shower to combat vegetative-vascular dystonia say.

Alexey, 42 years old

“At one time they helped me get rid of vegetative-vascular dystonia: long-term use of valerian, gymnastics (I did it at home using a video, I chose a set of exercises for myself), contrast showers, daily walks. But I realized for myself that the main thing is not to overload yourself, rest on time, and be less nervous. The doctors didn’t help me then, I got out on my own.”

Marina, 38 years old

“I tried everything. I’ve been living with this VSD for 10 years now. Now my head is in a fog, now my heart is pounding, now I feel weak. Medicines are of no use; doctors shrug their shoulders.

I did a contrast shower, but did not feel any obvious improvement. Maybe I should have done it longer, I did it for a week and quit.”

Svetlana, 27 years old

“I got VSD after a tense period at the institute, three years ago. I thought I was sick with something fatal, I felt so bad. But gradually I studied my problem and realized what needed to be done. I started doing yoga, taking contrast showers, going out into nature more often, and listening to meditations before bed. Now my health is completely normal. I think it all works as a whole. Well, the attitude is very important.”

Dmitry, 34 years old

“I decided to start with radical measures right away; I started dousing myself with cold water. But he caught inflammation and only worsened VSD, he was treated for a month, lay in bed. Then I started trying again, adjusted my routine, started doing contrast showers in the morning, changed my diet, and reconsidered my relationships with many things so that I would be less nervous. Gradually he returned to normal. Otherwise they told me that there is no cure for this and that now I will suffer for the rest of my life. We have such doctors in our suburbs.”

Personal experience of treating VSD with a contrast shower

When I decided to try a contrast shower, I still had a severe exacerbation of VSD with panic attacks.

By that time, I already understood well what was happening to me and refused all psychotropic medications. By the way, the diagnostics did not reveal any physiological problems for me. According to all indicators and tests, I was physically healthy.

Not finding any contraindications, I began water procedures.

I did a contrast shower during VSD in the evening. About an hour or two before bedtime. It was really invigorating, but overall had a relaxing effect on me. It was a kind of pleasant, relaxed cheerfulness. When you just feel good, you feel like a healthy person and therefore can easily fall asleep.

I didn’t use this shower for too long, about a month, and not always every day. I have never used alternating too cold and very hot water. Temperatures were moderate.

The procedure itself was very pleasant for me. After it you feel unprecedented freshness and lightness.

I have never experienced any side effects. I tolerated the contrast shower very well during an exacerbation of VSD. He definitely helped. But I also used other methods - yoga, psychological techniques (different moods, meditation), drank herbs and really wanted to get better. Therefore, the benefits of a contrast shower can only be discussed as a technique in complex therapy. Thanks to all these techniques, I managed to quickly recover from the crisis of vegetative-vascular dystonia and restore my health.

What will help during an attack?

A vegetative crisis without any disturbances in the internal organs is often caused by a psychological state. If you feel anxiety, palpitations, numbness in your arms and legs, trembling, headache - take a sedative, drink a warm drink (weak tea, mint or chamomile infusion, warm water with honey and lemon), take a comfortable position and try to relax the muscles of your back and shoulders .

Massaging your hands and fingers will help relieve muscle blocks and normalize breathing and heartbeat. It is better not to use other massage areas during a crisis: if the autonomic regulatory system is overexcited, direct impact on tense muscles can intensify and prolong the tension.

If you lose consciousness, you need to put the person on his side so that the relaxed tongue does not block the airway. Usually, fainting with VSD goes away quickly and on its own. But if within a minute you were unable to bring the person to consciousness, call an ambulance. Sufficient blood flow to the brain and a strong reflex impulse will help you wake up from fainting. Therefore, if a person falls on the floor, there is no need to raise his head and torso; it is better to leave him lying or move him to the couch. Sprinkle your face with cold water, sniff ammonia, press your finger firmly on the area between your nose and upper lip, run the back of a pencil or pen along your foot from heel to toes - these actions will help activate the cortex through autonomic reflexes.

During an attack, take an Eltacin® tablet and two Glycine tablets under the tongue. Amino acids will be quickly absorbed and will help restore the disturbed balance in the autonomic system. Glycine will also work as an inhibitory neurotransmitter and relieve excess excitation. But if you want attacks of dystonia to stop bothering you, take Eltacin® regularly, in courses, on the recommendation of a doctor or according to the instructions for the drug.

The effect of cold water on mental disorders

The most interesting research on the benefits of regular cold water procedures lies in the field of mental disorders. Cold water is known to activate the sympathetic nervous system, which turns on the body's readiness to act. This is a kind of physiological stress that requires the body to use all internal organs and systems to return to normal body temperature, which can be beneficial not only for the central nervous system, but also for the entire body as a whole.

Cold water treatments lead to an increase in the level of beta-endorphin and norepinephrine in the blood. Norepinephrine is one of the most important neurotransmitters (along with serotonin) that many of the existing antidepressants target (these drugs aim to increase the level of norepinephrine in brain cells). This hormone is also able to cross the brain blood barrier and increase cerebral blood flow.

In addition, constant hardening leads to an increase in the production of beta-endorphin - another neurotransmitter responsible for overall well-being - and a decrease in pain through opioid receptors.

To summarize, we can say without a doubt that dousing with cold water is good for health.

However, you should not, under the impression of the positive effects of hardening, run outside without shoes and walk barefoot in the snow or rush to the nearest ice hole - a gradual approach is needed here, as with any kind of training. Sudden changes in temperature are a physiological shock for the body, and you need to approach the issue wisely.

References: 1. The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled TrialGeert A. Buijze, Inger N. Sierevelt, Bas CJM van der Heijden, Marcel G. Dijkgraaf, Monique HW Frings-Dresen. 2. Scientific evidence-based effects of hydrotherapy on various systems of the body. A Mooventhan, L Nivethitha.