Mixed-Type VSD: What It Is and What Types of Dystonia Exist

The diagnosis of "mixed-type VSD" often comes as a surprise: a person came in with a headache or blood pressure swings and left with an unfamiliar phrase. It is not a separate disease but a description of how the autonomic nervous system works. Let us calmly sort out what this means and what types of dystonia exist.

What VSD is and why it is divided into types

Vegetovascular dystonia, or autonomic dysfunction syndrome, is a set of symptoms associated with dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. This system controls involuntary actions: the work of the heart, constriction and dilation of blood vessels, and breathing. The term was proposed by Academician N. N. Savitsky in the late 1950s.

Doctors in different countries more often name specific conditions: somatoform autonomic dysfunction (F45.3), anxiety and depressive disorders. Autonomic disturbances are usually secondary — they arise against the background of mental disorders, somatic diseases, and hormonal shifts in adolescence. The name "vegetovascular dystonia" itself is absent from the ICD, and doctors often use it as a general syndromic diagnosis.

Mixed-type VSD: what it means

VSD manifests with various symptoms; they can replace one another, and different functional syndromes often combine; "mixed type" is a descriptive designation for such a varied picture.

What manifestations occur in VSD

Among general autonomic symptoms, increased or decreased sweating, asthenia, restlessness, and irritability are mentioned. Headache is considered the leading symptom of VSD in frequency and significance, often the main manifestation of the disorder. Some patients experience pain in various parts of the body.

Symptoms: thermoregulation disturbance and asthenia

The manifestations of VSD are diverse and imitate the symptoms of various diseases. The nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, and urogenital systems, the gastrointestinal tract, thermoregulation, and sweating are affected. Vegetovascular dystonia with thermoregulation disturbance may manifest as slightly elevated temperature and changes in sweating. Autonomic paroxysms, muscle-tonic disorders, and paresthesias — a sensation of numbness, itching, burning — are possible.

• headache as the leading symptom
• fluctuations in temperature and sweating
• asthenia, anxiety, irritability
• pain in various parts of the body

How diagnosis is carried out and when a doctor is needed

The diagnosis of VSD is often made without an in-depth search for causes, although somatic or mental disorders may underlie the symptoms. The doctor assesses the complaints and history of the condition and, if necessary, refers for examinations to rule out other diseases. The cause of autonomic disturbances determines the doctor's further approach. Names such as vagotonic, asthenic, or cerebral type are encountered in discussions of VSD, but there are no separate diagnoses with such formulations in the ICD.

This condition in itself is not a reason to call an ambulance. Call 103 or 112 if threatening signs appear: serious problems with breathing or heart function, or a sharp deterioration in condition.

The material is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation: if the diagnosis raises questions, consult a specialist who can assess your situation as a whole.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer