Very often, the cause of some diseases of the cardiovascular system are plaques in the vessels. They form in the blood stream, and then settle on blood vessels and pose a serious danger to human health. The most common complication in the presence of plaques is a violation of normal blood flow in the body. In advanced cases, blood clots begin to form.
Why do cholesterol plaques occur in blood vessels?
Atherosclerotic plaques are usually formed in people with high blood cholesterol. When viewed, they look like deposits of calcium, fat, and tissue. Of course, plaques in the vessels do not form immediately. At first, their rudiments look like fat strips on the walls.
Plaques are very dangerous for the human body. They have a non-uniform density, which is why there is a high probability of their separation and clogging of blood vessels. The separated part is already called a thrombus. A stuck thrombus increases over time and completely blocks the blood flow.
Also, those people who often drink alcohol or eat fatty and fried foods should also monitor the presence of plaques in the body. There is a high probability of cholesterol deposits in the elderly, as well as those who suffer from diabetes and overweight.
Signs of Atherosclerosis
Groups of potentially sick people with atherosclerosis were listed above. It is important for them to undergo all tests on time, monitor their health and control cholesterol. At first, plaques in the vessels do not pose any danger, and the disease develops asymptomatically.
Small deposits may not develop over the years, but begin to grow only when the body is exposed to stress, high physical exertion, and high pressure. After the plaque has grown to a certain size, it begins to press on the walls of the vessels, and those - burst. There is an active formation of blood clots, which clog the blood vessels, and they narrow. A person already feels this symptom very well.
Most often, plaques appear in the cervical region, in the vessels of the brain and legs.
Plaques in the vessels of the cervical spine
In the neck, the vessels are the most vulnerable. They are thin and constantly pinched when turning the head. Such a weak spot is especially prone to the formation of cholesterol plaques.
As in all other vessels, plaques in the cervical spine gradually begin to increase. True, because of their subtlety, a person earlier feels the symptoms of the disease. The formation of plaque vessels thinns them, making them brittle and stiff.
After deposits have almost completely filled the vessel, it begins to suffocate from a lack of oxygen.
Symptoms of narrowing of the vessels of the brain
If a person's plaque formation has gone out of control, and most of the deposits are in the brain, then the symptoms will not be long in coming. A patient who has plaques in the vessels of the brain is often tormented by migraines, dizziness, and insomnia. It is likely the development of mental disorders.
If this stage is launched, the situation will worsen. Hypertension will appear. The patient will behave inappropriately and will become very suspicious.
In the most severe cases, a person is not able to self-service, poorly remembers and perceives new information, and also requires additional care. In such conditions, treatment practically does not bring results.
Symptoms of narrowing of the vessels of the legs
A person who constantly suffers from a disease in the calf muscles suffers from heaviness in the legs and cramps may suspect the presence of plaques. Cholesterol plaques in the vessels of the legs also cause discoloration of the skin. The limbs are constantly freezing.
If the situation is severely triggered, then the legs begin to hurt even at rest. In a horizontal position, the limbs hurt even more. Relief, on the contrary, comes when lowering the legs down.
A disease is considered to be very neglected if tissue begins to die due to blood clots and plaques. The patient develops trophic ulcers. They are difficult to treat, and drugs cause only temporary relief.
Symptoms of narrowing of the vessels of the cervical spine
It is not worth saying that the vessels in the cervical region are the only source of oxygen for the brain. Their blockage is distinguished by the most striking symptoms. It is interesting that in this case, too, the human brain itself is affected.
Atherosclerotic plaques in the vessels of the neck cause the following symptoms:
- frequent dizziness;
- heaviness in the head and neck;
- loss of strength and weakness;
- memory impairment.
It is worth noting the danger of this ailment. Symptoms of plaques in the cervical region are often mild. A person only pays attention to pain for the first time, and then gets used to it and for a long time does not go to the doctor.
Plaques and blood clots are dangerous not by their symptoms, but by the ability to completely block blood vessels. Sometimes a blood clot enters a very important vessel, and then a person’s life will be in great danger.
Experienced doctors note that recently, most strokes provoke precisely plaques. A stroke, in turn, is very dangerous for its consequences. If a person was not provided with medical assistance on time, then his recovery can take a lot of time, and there can be no question of a full recovery.
Methods for the diagnosis of cervical plaques
Of course, the disease is better to prevent than to treat, but to miss the development of plaques in the body is very simple. As mentioned above, a disease does not manifest itself for a long time and a person does not feel any symptoms.
To understand that a person really suffers from such an ailment as plaques on the walls of the vessels of the neck, the doctor must prescribe him the appropriate diagnosis. Now almost all clinics are equipped with the necessary modern equipment, so the examination should not hamper either the doctor or the patient, however, many procedures are provided only on a fee basis.
The most informative methods that detect the presence of plaques in the cervical region are MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), as well as ultrasound of the vessels. But here there are some nuances. The fact is that in half the cases, clogging of vessels with atherosclerotic plaques can be detected only if the lumen has been completely closed and the disease has already turned into a neglected state.
Because of this, doctors strongly recommend monitoring their diet, lifestyle and giving up bad habits as soon as possible, because sometimes doctors simply cannot provide proper help on time.
How does the presence of plaques affect the patient's face?
A person can understand that he has plaques in the vessels, and looking at his face. Most often they can be seen before our eyes. These plaques are called xanthelasms, and they are usually located on the inner corner of the upper eyelid. If you ignore them, the plaque may increase, and another xanthelasm appears next to it.
A person who has xanthelasma should remember that this defect is a direct symptom of plaques in the body. Some doctors suggest removing this lump, but without treatment of the body and cleansing the vessels, this procedure does not bring any benefit. Xanthelasma appears again, and a small scar forms at the place of its removal.
Treatment of vascular plaques
In the fight against plaques, certain medications will help. However, can only medicines help cope with this ailment? How to clean the vessels of plaques, minimizing the intake of chemical drugs?
In fact, there is a way. But it is impossible to completely overcome plaques without medications. After the doctor has established their presence, the patient should consume vegetables and fruits in large quantities daily.
At the initial stages of the manifestation of cholesterol plaques, the doctor may prescribe physiotherapy to the patient. They perfectly stop the symptoms of the disease and do not allow them to increase.
Special diets will also help reduce the number of plaques in the vessels. As a rule, salt is almost completely eliminated in them. Actively dissolve deposits such products as garlic, walnuts, lemon and olive oil.
In addition, there are more modern treatments. The procedure is called cryoapheresis. It not only removes all deposits, but also perfectly cleanses the blood. A special cleansing diet, which the doctor also prescribes, will help clean the vessels even more.
If the patient was admitted to the hospital in an already neglected state and his vessels are almost completely clogged with plaques, then the doctor can refer him to the operative removal of deposits. Basically, surgery is indicated for cerebral vessels.
If the vessels on the legs are also almost completely clogged, the doctor can also refer the patient to surgical removal of plaques.
Prevention methods
Is it possible to prevent the development of plaques and how to clean the vessels from plaques in the initial stages of the disease? The preventive recommendations of doctors for those people who monitor their health will help to answer this question.
So, to protect yourself from the development of plaques in the vessels, it is important to adhere to proper nutrition throughout life. Here are the basic principles of healthy eating for an adult:
- A person should minimize the consumption of animal fats.
- Every day you need to eat foods that are rich in protein.
- You need to eat often, but the portions should be small.
- Every day you need to consume fermented milk products.
- Most of the diet should consist of plant foods.
However, some people are too fanatical about the diet and begin to exclude any fatty foods. This is not recommended, because in addition to bad cholesterol, there is also good. Good cholesterol is found in vegetable oils, as well as in oily fish.
What medications are prescribed for the detection of atherosclerotic plaques?
This disease also has periods when treatment will not make sense without drug therapy. In this case, the doctor may prescribe pills. Usually they contribute to the destruction of plaques, as well as to strengthen the blood vessels themselves. It can be statins, fibrates, nicotinic acid. If necessary, multivitamins and fish oil are prescribed.
People with cholesterol plaques have poor blood conditions. Certain drugs, such as Cardiomagnyl, are also prescribed to improve it. If cerebral vessels are affected, tranquilizers or antidepressants will be added to the list of drugs.
All medications should be taken only as directed by the doctor and in the order in which he recommended it. Treatment with this disease, as a rule, takes a lot of time, so you need to be patient. If all the recommendations are followed, a person will not only get rid of plaques, but also improve the condition of blood and blood vessels. They will become stronger, more elastic. The mood of a person will increase, vivacity and clarity of mind will appear.