There are many different diseases in the world, but vascular diseases seriously claim primacy. The very name "stenosis" came to us from the Greek language. The word translates as "narrowing." We learn about what is vascular stenosis, what types of it happens and what are their features.
Definition
Vascular stenosis is a narrowing of blood vessels due to the deposition of cholesterol formations - plaques - on their walls. For the body, this is noticeable damage, since such deposits impede the free flow of blood through the vessels, as a result of which many components of the human body lack oxygen and various nutrients. Often this state of blood vessels is associated with impaired vasodilation and is dangerous because atherosclerotic plaques can completely block the channel of blood supply to the body over time. In addition, the process of accumulation of plaques, which can at some point come off and become a blood clot, threatening a clogging of the heart vessel with the likelihood of ischemic stroke, is dangerous.
Many people poorly understand what vascular stenosis is and how great the risk of serious consequences of this disease is. In the presence of this disease, timely diagnosis becomes very important, because the initial stage for the most part proceeds without any tangible symptoms, therefore it is extremely difficult to identify it at the initial stage. When symptoms already begin to manifest and become apparent, the risk of ischemic stroke increases many times.
Thus, speaking about what vascular stenosis is, it should be summarized: this is a pathological condition of the arteries when the blood flow paths narrow due to the accumulation of cholesterol plaques in a certain place, narrowing this passage and threatening to block it in the future. Small fragments of plaques can come off and, drawn by the flow of blood, close one of the smaller vessels.
Causes of the disease
This disease is very insidious, because the absence of symptoms does not allow a timely response to this dangerous prospect. In addition, the symptoms of vascular stenosis are different for different types of disease, and they will be described below, with the characteristics of individual types of ailment. Most often, stenosis occurs due to such reasons:
- diabetes;
- atherosclerosis;
- excessive obesity;
- arterial hypertension;
- smoking;
- eating fatty foods and stuff.
Types of Stenosis
Types of stenosis depend on the location of cholesterol deposits. Most often, poor patency of the vessels is found in the aorta, veins, arteries - carotid, mesenteric (celiac) and femoral. To understand what vascular stenosis is, it is necessary to characterize each individual type of this disease. The treatment of vascular stenosis is carried out in most cases with medication, as well as by alternating loads and rest. an anticholesterol diet is also prescribed. In especially difficult cases, surgical treatment is performed.
Stenosis of the vessels of the head and neck
Since the blood supply to the brain occurs through vessels located in the neck, stenosis of the vessels of the neck should be considered in one ligament with the vessels of the brain. The vessels in the head and neck provide access to the brain of oxygen and nutrients, without which it cannot exist. Without oxygen, this organ can last without pathological changes for no longer than 3-4 minutes, after which the death of nerve endings begins.
The stenosis of the cerebral vessels is manifested in this way: the blood circulation of any of the parts of the brain is disturbed. If stenosis develops slowly, cerebrovascular insufficiency is observed, and the severity of the disease is characterized by the degree of vascular damage. The main signs indicating stenosis of the vessels of the brain are impaired motor functions, impaired memory and negative emotional manifestations. Another form of the course of the disease is possible - cerebral infarction.
The first symptoms of cerebral stenosis are manifested in the following reactions of the body:
- periodic severe headaches;
- fatigue;
- noticeable scattering of attention;
- extreme irritability;
- frequent mood swings.
At the first stage, the elasticity of blood vessels decreases, signs of accumulation of cholesterol cells appear, and blood flow slightly deteriorates. In the second stage, the symptoms intensify, and more serious changes in the patient's behavior begin to appear:
- noise in ears;
- noticeable memory problems;
- debilitating migraines;
- short fainting.
At this time, the gait may change, there will be constant urges to urinate frequently. Possible vision problems. If at this stage you do not start intensive treatment of cerebral stenosis, then a serious third stage will come soon, when the motor functions are already seriously impaired, and it is difficult for a person to maintain balance, and each of its actions needs to be considered for a long time. During this period, the embryonic signs of dementia begin to appear, and uncontrolled bowel movements and urination become possible. In addition, the emotional state deteriorates significantly until the loss of control over their actions.
At the same time, stenosis of the vessels of the neck can be inextricably linked with a brain disease, since the cervical arteries and veins completely provide blood supply to the brain. The cervical veins are rarely affected by plaques, for the most part the carotid artery and cerebral vessels are affected. Symptoms of the manifestation of the disease are similar to those manifested in diseases of the brain. Indeed, damage to the vessels of the neck is fraught with a violation of the blood circulation of the vessels of the brain. Sometimes a person does not even suspect that the vessels of the carotid artery are clogged and their blockage begins until a stroke occurs. The primary signs of narrowing of the walls of blood vessels include flashing of the flies and darkening in the eyes, tinnitus, dizziness and weakness in the limbs.
Treatment and diagnosis
Before starting treatment of cerebral stenosis, it is necessary to conduct a qualitative diagnosis. A neuropathologist can provide it after checking reflexes and assessing the degree of patient adequacy. The most informative tools for studying the state of the vessels of the neck and brain are the following methods:
- ECG;
- CT scan;
- dopplerography;
- computer angiography.
For treatment, conservative therapy is used, in which the doctor prescribes drugs such as statins, lecithin, fibrates, papaverine or aminophylline, as well as vitamins with minerals. In this case, you should follow a special diet that excludes both fatty foods and salted, smoked, and caffeine. Seafood, vegetables, fresh herbs, fruits should prevail in the diet. You can additionally engage in the implementation of special exercises, but this can only be done after consulting a doctor, because the risk of separation of a blood clot is too high if there are contraindications. When treating the most advanced forms of stenosis, it is recommended to undergo shunting or even completely replace the vessel closed with cholesterol plaques.
Heart stenosis
There is a large group of coronary vessels responsible for supplying blood to the heart. They, too, are at considerable risk of narrowing the passage using plaques and may be affected by atherosclerosis. This overlap of the arteries develops ischemic disease, and with the gradual accumulation of plaques, chronic heart failure manifests itself. Its symptoms include:
- the appearance of shortness of breath with the slightest physical movement;
- heartache;
- severe swelling in the legs;
- disturbed heart rate.
In the future, stenosis of the vessels of the heart leads to blockage of the heart artery by a fragment detached from the accumulation of cholesterol plaques. In this case, the patient will have complaints of sharp pains in the heart, radiating to the left shoulder blade, as well as to the arm and jaw. There is severe shortness of breath and great weakness, the patient is overcome by a panic fear of death. With this development of the disease, diagnosis should be carried out immediately. To identify the pathology of the heart vessels, ECG, ultrasound of the heart, computed tomography, dopplerography and angiography of the vessels, as well as magnetic resonance angiography are performed. When issuing a referral for a study, the doctor himself decides which of these types of diagnostics will be carried out in each individual case in order to facilitate the diagnosis.
Treatment for this type of stenosis
The treatment of cardiac stenosis is prescribed by one of the medical specialists - a neurologist, cardiologist, surgeon. In the treatment of heart vessels, the following types of surgical intervention are used:
- endarterectomy - removal of a blood clot that causes a narrowing of the vessel;
- stenting - installation of a special, expanding stent wall inside the vessel, as a result of which the blood supply improves and the heart can function normally;
- shunting - laying a new channel to supply blood to the heart, bypassing the problem area.
In addition to the main treatment, it is necessary to reconsider the lifestyle that led to problems with the heart vessels.
Ailment of the lower extremities. Causes of occurrence
Such a serious disease as vascular stenosis of the lower extremities belongs to the list of the most common diseases of the cardiovascular system. It is accompanied by a pathological narrowing of arteries located in the zone of the lower extremities. With this pathology, the arteries begin to narrow and leak blood worse, which significantly impairs oxygen saturation of the tissues and leads to ischemia. In men, stenosis of the vessels of the limbs occurs more often approximately twice than in women, and with age, the risk of clogging of vessels increases significantly. Why such gender discrimination? Because men are much more likely to abuse alcohol and smoking, which is included in the list of provocateurs of limb stenosis.
Dangerous factors that can lead to the formation of plaques on the walls of blood vessels include:
- transferred atherosclerosis;
- smoking, both active and passive;
- alcohol abuse;
- the presence of diabetes;
- injuries to the limbs;
- high degree of obesity;
- high blood pressure
- hereditary predisposition;
- complications after infectious diseases.
Stenosis of the lower extremities. Stages of the development of the disease and its symptoms
At first, stenosis of the lower extremities is asymptomatic. Over time, pain in the calf muscles appears, causing lameness, it is felt as if squeezing at the passage of the arteries. With the further development of the disease, the skin color changes, it becomes dry and rough, leg hair falls out and the nail plates become thicker. In advanced stages, sores and blackening of the skin may appear on the fingers. Further, in the absence of treatment, the subcutaneous fat begins to atrophy, and necrosis of muscles and tissues, up to gangrene and amputation of the extremities, also appears. If the case is very neglected, then blood poisoning may result, followed by a fatal outcome.
For diagnosis, patients are prescribed:
- Doppler ultrasound;
- duplex ultrasound scanning;
- computed axial tomography;
- magnetic resonance angiography with a contrast agent;
- extended biochemical blood test.
Stenosis of the lower extremities. Treatment options
Medication is carried out in the early stages - vasodilating and thrombo-dissolving drugs. In more complex cases, surgical intervention is used - the expansion of the vessel with a special stent, as well as angioplasty or stenting.
Angioplasty is an advanced innovative technology that is performed without tissue incision and anesthesia. A catheter with a balloon is brought into the artery, which, when it enters a damaged vessel, expands by inflation and can expand it to a passage size. A stent with a medicine is inserted into the resulting lumen, which acts as a frame for the vessel. With cryoplasty, instead of air, the balloon is pumped with liquid nitrous oxide, which at extremely low temperatures contributes to the destruction of atherosclerotic plaques.
Shunting is done if there are contraindications for balloon angioplasty. During this operation, blood is sent by a shunt to a new channel, bypassing the site of damage to the vessel.
Conclusion
This material gives the definition and characteristics of the occurrence of stenosis of blood vessels, their types and characteristics. Despite the difference in the symptom and treatment methods, there is still something in common in all these cases - a proper healthy diet and the exclusion of bad habits for the prevention of stenosis.