Cervical Dystonia

Overview

Cervical dystonia is a neurological condition (affecting your brain and nerves) that causes involuntary muscle contractions in your neck. When your muscles contract, they tighten and can’t relax. This condition affects your posture. Your head and neck may make abnormal movements that look similar to a spasm or jerk. This condition can cause pain and discomfort, which can affect your day-to-day activities.

Cervical dystonia is a type of focal dystonia. This is a group of conditions that cause muscle spasms in one part of your body.

You may hear your healthcare provider refer to cervical dystonia as spasmodic torticollis.

What are the types of cervical dystonia?

There are two types of cervical dystonia. You can tell them apart by the cause:

Primary: The cause is unknown.
Secondary: The cause is known.

How common is cervical dystonia?

Cervical dystonia is the most common form of focal dystonia. It affects an estimated 60,000 people in the United States.

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Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

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