A low-level lifestyle of a modern person along with an unhealthy diet leads to various failures. The body is especially affected by cholesterol-rich foods. For this reason, atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta most often occurs. What is it, what are the symptoms of the disease and how to properly treat it, you will learn from today's article.
Medical certificate
Aorta is one of the largest vessels in the body, which is divided into thoracic and abdominal branches. According to them, blood and oxygen get to organs located in the corresponding areas.
When the lipid balance is disturbed in the body or a large amount of bad cholesterol circulates in the blood, it begins to settle on the walls of blood vessels in the form of atherosclerotic plaques. Gradually they calcify, clog the lumen, which leads to a deterioration in blood transport. The walls of the vessel become dense and inelastic. If the aorta is completely blocked by calcified plaques, a lethal outcome occurs.
Atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta - what is it?
This is a disease characterized by the accumulation of cholesterol and its derivatives on the inner walls of an artery. This is due to a violation of lipid metabolism. The disease develops rather slowly. At the initial stage, cholesterol plaques are small and practically do not affect patency. As the disease progresses, the risk of a complete blockage of the vessel increases. First of all, the lower half of the body begins to suffer. If untreated, the pelvic organs and legs are expected to have ischemia, sclerosis, and necrosis.
Causes of the disease
Atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta most often occurs in deeply elderly people. Patients are at risk, over age has crossed the line of 55 years. But under certain adverse conditions, young people can also encounter signs of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta.
The main causes of the disease are the following:
- addictions (smoking, drugs, alcohol abuse);
- passive lifestyle;
- lack of physical activity;
- history of hypertension;
- violation of lipid metabolism;
- hormonal imbalance;
- frequent stress and depression;
- overweight;
- malfunctions of the endocrine system;
- malnutrition;
- impaired metabolism of fats.
Atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta is a hereditary disease. If a similar problem has already been diagnosed in close relatives, you should pay special attention to your own health.
Clinical picture
Many patients will learn about the diagnosis of “atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta” (what it is, will be described in detail below) during a routine medical examination. At the initial stage, the pathology does not manifest itself, and characteristic plaques on the walls of blood vessels can be detected only by CT.
As the disease progresses, the following health problems occur:
- heaviness and discomfort in the abdomen;
- digestive disorders, manifested by constipation and diarrhea;
- after eating, nausea, heartburn occurs;
- a sensation of pulsation on the left side of the navel;
- causeless weight loss.
If you do not start therapy in a timely manner, the pathological process begins to spread to the kidneys. This is evidenced by problems with urination, pain in the lumbar region, swelling of the face and limbs.
Other manifestations of the disease
When the area of its separation into the left and right iliac arteries acts as the site of lesion of the aorta, this can negatively affect blood circulation in the legs. In this case, patients complain of:
- decrease in tone in the lower extremities;
- numbness and coldness in the legs;
- severe swelling, lack of pulsation of arteries on the feet;
- problems with erection in men.
Visceral arteries depart from the aorta. They are responsible for the nutrition of internal organs. Due to their thrombosis, severe pain in the intestine appears. They arise due to the death of organ cells. The clinical picture is supplemented by constipation, alternating with diarrhea, fever and disability. Thrombosis results in peritonitis, which is often fatal.
Diagnostic Methods
When symptoms of abdominal aortic atherosclerosis appear, treatment should be started immediately. At the initial visit to the doctor due to pronounced signs of disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, the patient is first referred to a gastroenterologist. In most cases, the specialist does not see a problem. Therefore, the patient is sent for an additional examination. It consists of the following activities:
- Ultrasound of the abdomen;
- FGDS;
- blood test to determine the lipid spectrum;
- aortoangiography;
- blood coagulation assessment;
- duplex scanning.
The last diagnostic option allows you to identify the disease at the initial stage of development. Another informative method of examination is angiography.
Patients of advanced age often do not understand the whole danger of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta, what kind of disease it is. Therefore, they enter a medical institution in the last stages of the disease, when the body has already suffered significant damage. However, regular medical examination allows you to detect the disease at the initial stage of development.
Treatment methods
Atherosclerosis belongs to the category of incurable pathologies. Relieving symptoms with medication is a necessary, but not a priority. A much more important role is played by measures to reduce the amount of harmful lipids in the blood, restore the nutrition of organs and tissues affected by the pathological process. However, their complete disappearance cannot be achieved even in the case of radical intervention.
With atherosclerosis, the leading role in therapy belongs to lifestyle changes and understanding of the situation on the part of the patient. Unfortunately, rejection of the disease in old age happens quite often. Therefore, it is important for the doctor to convey to the patient the need to observe the following measures:
- Change in lifestyle to a more relaxed and measured. Stress and excessive physical exertion can trigger fluctuations in blood pressure, which is undesirable for atherosclerosis.
- Nutrition correction. Fats of animal origin, sugars, refined foods, fast carbohydrates should be excluded from the diet. More details about the diet for atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta will be discussed below.
- Refusal of addictions. The abuse of alcohol and smoking contribute to the destruction of the vascular walls, which provokes the accumulation of cholesterol plaques on them.
The listed recommendations are important for all patients, regardless of the stage of the pathological process.
Drug therapy
Treatment of atherosclerosis of the aortic aorta at the initial stage is carried out medically. The therapy has 2 goals: stopping unpleasant symptoms and pain, lowering blood cholesterol. In the first case, antispasmodics (Duspatalin, Trimedat) are used to relieve spasms, relieve constipation and excessive gas formation. Analgesics relieve pain well, but do not eliminate the root cause of the disease ("Analgin", "Ketoprofen").
In order to lower blood cholesterol, patients are prescribed drugs from the following groups:
- Statins (Atorvastatin, Atoris, Rosart). These are highly effective drugs that are well tolerated by patients. Tablets should be taken once a day, but for a long time.
- Fibrates ("Fenofibrate", "Clofibrate"). They have an effect on the formation of “bad” cholesterol in the liver.
- Sequistrants of bile acids ("Cholestyramine", "Colestipol"). The drugs bind bile acids, and then remove them from the body.
Additionally, vitamin complexes are always prescribed.
Nutrition principles
Treatment of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta always implies a diet. Doctors recommend completely eliminating foods containing animal fats (mayonnaise, eggs, lard, fatty meat) from the diet. Replace them should be vegetable with a high content of omega-3 (avocado, various oils and cereals). This substance helps to dissolve cholesterol plaques in the vessels. The listed products are preferably consumed daily.
Fish deserves special attention. Its fatty varieties (mackerel, herring, trout, salmon) contain a large amount of omega-3. Patients with atherosclerosis should eat fish dishes 3-4 times a week.
Dairy products will have to be completely abandoned or begin to control the fat content of the accepted products. Preference should be given to low-fat options, and it is better to replace milk with a vegetable analogue (soy, hemp, almond).
Surgical intervention
If the medication eliminates the symptoms of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta is not effective, resort to surgical intervention. As a rule, they use abdominal surgery, during which the doctor removes the affected area and replaces it with a prosthesis.
Surgical treatment is carried out exclusively at high risk of aortic obstruction or its destruction.
Help traditional medicine
Treatment of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta with folk remedies is carried out only as an addition to the main course. It enhances the effect of drugs, but is not able to completely eliminate the ailment. Moreover, you must first consult with your doctor about possible contraindications.
How to treat atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta with folk remedies? You can prepare such tinctures:
- Tincture with hawthorn. For cooking, you need 200 g of fresh berries, pour 300 ml of medical alcohol (it is better to choose the option of 70%), leave in a dark place for a week. After the tool should be filtered. Take it in 3 ml in the morning and before bedtime, it is better to do this before eating. The duration of the course of therapy is 3 months, after which a break is required.
- Tincture of garlic. It is recommended to chop the head of medium-sized garlic, place in a dark glass dish and pour a small amount of alcohol. Insist the remedy for about a week, occasionally shaking. After it should be filtered and treatment can begin. Take the medicine 15 drops in the morning and at bedtime for six months.
- Tincture of viburnum. About 200 g of fresh berries should be chopped, add to the resulting mass 50 g of honey. Then pour 400 ml of wine made from red grapes. The tool is recommended to insist for a week. Take it 5 ml three times a day before meals.
For the prevention of atherosclerosis, pumpkin juice helps well. Every day, experts advise drinking 100 ml of the product on an empty stomach. It is better to prepare the product immediately before use.
Possible complications
In the absence of timely treatment of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta, the symptoms of pathology will quickly progress, worsening the quality of human life. In addition, the likelihood of developing complications increases. Among their most dangerous is total obstruction and subsequent aortic rupture. The result is fatal. Other complications are fatal:
- gangrene of the legs;
- heart attack / stroke;
- angina pectoris;
- cardiosclerosis.
The appearance of these health problems in old age leads to death or loss of independence on the part of the patient. The probability of their occurrence can be predicted after analysis of the clinical picture and examination results.
Prevention Methods
It is impossible to completely eliminate the likelihood of a disease. Therefore, preventive measures are aimed at early diagnosis of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta. For this purpose, it is recommended to annually take a blood test for cholesterol and glucose, to control blood pressure indicators. After 55 years, body checks should be performed more often - once every 6 months.
To prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta, it is necessary:
- adhere to the principles of a healthy lifestyle;
- adhere to the principles of proper nutrition;
- eliminate addictions;
- normalize physical activity;
- timely treat all diseases;
- to strengthen immunity;
- get rid of excess body weight.
The disease develops slowly, but its treatment always takes time.