Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck is a serious disease, since it is through these arteries that blood flows from the heart to the brain. Its main cause is the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. As a result, the lumen of the vessels narrows, and the brain ceases to receive the necessary nutrients. If untreated, the likelihood of developing complications increases, up to a fatal outcome. In today's article, we will talk in more detail about the symptoms of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck, treatment and methods of preventing the disease.
Disease Description
Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck is a disease whose development is reflected in the work of all brain structures. It is through this part of the body that the main arteries of the body pass: carotid, vertebral and subclavian. They deliver nutrients and oxygen to the brain along with blood flow. In the event of atherosclerosis, the lumen of the vessels is blocked, the full blood supply to the brain is disrupted. The result of such changes are various pathologies (heart attack, stroke, ischemia).
At the initial stage of development, it is rather difficult to identify atherosclerosis of the neck vessels by the symptoms. Treatment therefore does not start on time, which almost always leads to complications. Even a 50% overlap of the vessel is not accompanied by specific signs. Despite the fact that a decrease in its diameter by 70% or more significantly worsens the quality of human life.
Most often, the disease is diagnosed in men older than 50 years. Recently, there has been a tendency to rejuvenate it. Representatives of the fair sex suffer from the disease much less often. Mostly its symptoms are found in women who have crossed the milestone of 60 years.
Development mechanism
Atherosclerosis occurs against the background of lipid metabolism disorders. It is characterized by an increase in the concentration of cholesterol in the blood. Initially, yellowish spots appear on the walls of the arteries. Over time, they are increasingly deposited cholesterol deposits, calcium salts and platelets. Gradually, the spots transform into plaques, increase in size, blocking the lumen of the vessel. As a result, the walls of the affected arteries lose their elasticity and become brittle.
Main reasons
The main cause of the disease is recognized as elevated cholesterol. This violation, in turn, develops under the influence of the following factors:
- unbalanced diet, in which there is a large amount of spicy and fatty foods, animal fats;
- addictions (alcohol abuse, smoking);
- sedentary lifestyle;
- overweight;
- infectious processes in the body of viral or bacterial origin;
- concomitant health problems (diabetes, hypertension);
- deficiency of vitamins of group B;
- hereditary predisposition.
The appearance of symptoms of atherosclerosis of the neck vessels, as a rule, is influenced not by one, but by a whole group of factors from the list above.
Disease classification
In medical practice, it is customary to distinguish 3 types of atherosclerotic lesions in relation to blood vessels:
- Non-stenosing.
- Stenosing.
- Multifocal.
In the first case, plaque growth is observed along the walls of the arteries; complete overlap does not occur. Only the volume of circulating blood is reduced, which also negatively affects the work of the brain. A stenosing lesion is characterized by germination of the plaque inside the artery. This threatens to completely block the blood flow. The multifocal type implies severe forms of the disease that can only be treated surgically.
Clinical picture
At the initial stage, atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck usually does not manifest itself. As the disease progresses, symptoms begin to appear that most attribute to malaise or fatigue. Gradually, the clinical picture is supplemented by the following symptoms:
- short-term episodes of dizziness;
- pain in the head and neck;
- decreased visual acuity, the appearance of "flies" in front of the eyes;
- sleep disturbance, insomnia.
If these signs of atherosclerosis of the neck vessels appear, you should immediately consult a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination of the body.
Separately, a group of dangerous clinical manifestations of the disease should be highlighted. These are:
- Spontaneous loss of vision in one eye, not associated with traumatic injuries.
- Feeling of numbness or tingling in both upper and lower extremities. In this case, the ability to control the motor activity of the arms and legs is lost.
- Loss of consciousness against the background of increased sweating and pallor of the skin.
- Impaired speech function.
- Loss of orientation in space.
Symptoms of this kind usually indicate serious cerebrovascular disorders. When they occur, a person needs emergency medical care with subsequent hospitalization.
Diagnostic Methods
A neurologist is involved in the study of the symptoms of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck and head, treatment and recommendations for prevention. Diagnosis of the disease begins with a study of the patient's history and complaints. In some cases, the doctor may ask a number of clarifying questions, for example, about the presence of chronic pathologies or a hereditary predisposition, the drugs used.
At the next stage, a comprehensive examination of the body is prescribed, consisting of the following measures:
- Echocardiography.
- USDG.
- Electrocardiography
- A blood test to evaluate lipid balance.
- X-ray angiography.
Diagnostics cannot be neglected. In addition to atherosclerosis, concomitant health problems can be identified during the examination.
Depending on the stage of atherosclerosis and test results, the doctor selects therapy. It, as a rule, is complex and includes medication, diet, lifestyle correction. In especially serious cases, surgery may be required.
Drug therapy
The main goal of drug therapy is to prevent the development of complications. The duration of the course of treatment of atherosclerosis of the neck vessels, drugs, their dosage are selected individually by a neurologist. The degree of vasoconstriction, the presence of concomitant health problems also influence the choice of medical tactics.
During treatment, drugs from the following groups are usually used:
- Antihypertensive agents (beta-blockers, diuretics, ACE inhibitors). Thanks to the use of such medicines, regulation and control of blood pressure indicators are carried out.
- Disaggregants (Aspirin, Clopidogrel, Ticlopidine). The action of these drugs is aimed at preventing blood coagulation, its dilution.
- Statins This group of drugs provides a decrease in the concentration of cholesterol deposits in the blood.
The effectiveness of drug therapy increases significantly if the overlap of the vessel with plaques is not more than 50%. In addition, they resort to her help in cases where the patient intentionally refuses surgical intervention or there are contraindications for surgery.
Power Features
Nutritional changes in atherosclerosis of the neck vessels plays an important role in the treatment process. Its key goal is to limit foods that increase blood cholesterol. Doctors give the following recommendations on this issue:
- The diet should mainly consist of fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals.
- It is necessary to exclude foods rich in animal fats, smoked meats, fried foods and fast food.
- Emphasis should be placed on marine fish and seafood. They contain in their composition substances that help lower cholesterol in the bloodstream and normalize metabolic processes.
Making a daily menu for atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck, guided by these tips, is quite simple. And it should be adhered to regardless of the degree of damage to the body by the disease.
Lifestyle correction
After identifying the symptoms of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck, the treatment is not limited to medicines. All patients, without exception, need to reconsider their lifestyle. It will be necessary to eliminate addictions. In case of excess body weight, you need not only to monitor nutrition, but also under the supervision of a doctor to increase physical activity. Some patients suffering from psycho-emotional overload are shown individual consultations with a psychotherapist.
Help traditional medicine
It is used to eliminate the symptoms of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck and treatment with folk remedies. It is used as a prophylaxis of complications and for cleansing blood vessels. Below are the most popular recipes.
- Hawthorn juice. To prepare it, you need to grind 500 g of berries with a pestle, pour 0.5 cups of water and heat to 50 degrees. The cooled mixture must be passed through a juicer. Take a decoction of a throat three times a day.
- Fresh garlic. In a glass jar of 3 l, you need to put the leaves of cherry and black currant, 1 kg of fresh garlic and pour brine. Then the vessel must be closed with a tight lid and put in a dark place for a week. Take the drug in a tablespoon 5 times a day.
Before treating atherosclerosis of the neck vessels with folk remedies, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Surgical intervention
Surgery is recommended for patients with moderate to high vascular stenosis. Its result is the removal of cholesterol plaques, the expansion of the lumen of the affected vessel.
In modern medicine, the following types of operations are used for this purpose:
- Carotid endarterectomy. An incision is made on the skin in the area of the projection of the carotid artery. The doctor opens the affected vessel, cleans it of plaques. The incision in the arteries is tightened with small sutures.
- Stenting. This is the most common surgical treatment for atherosclerosis of the neck vessels. Symptoms disappear immediately after surgery. It involves the use of a stent or small tube, which is placed in a vessel. The stent holds the lumen of the desired size.
- Arterial prosthetics. The essence of the procedure is to artificially create alternative pathways for the flow of blood to the brain. The saphenous vein of the lower extremity is usually used as the biomaterial. After creating a "workaround" in the patient, blood flow to the brain tissue is normalized.
Most patients with atherosclerosis are elderly people who have comorbidities. Therefore, before performing a surgical intervention, they need to undergo a comprehensive examination of the body and pass a number of tests.
Possible complications
Atherosclerosis is a serious disease that negatively affects a person’s quality of life. Mortality from him is one of the highest in the world. According to statistics, every 125th person dies due to this pathology.
As the disease progresses, patients experience various complications. For example, a cholesterol plaque can come off, together with a blood stream, enter the brain and clog a vessel. As a result of the changes, ischemic stroke occurs.
Another unpleasant complication is carotid artery aneurysm. Under this pathology, it is customary to understand the expansion of the aortic site with the simultaneous thinning of its wall. Artery rupture is possible, as a result of which a large amount of blood enters the brain.
Prevention Methods
Symptoms of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck significantly worsen the quality of life. In order to prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to constantly engage in its prevention. Doctors give the following tips on this issue:
- Eliminate all addictions.
- Change the diet according to the recommendations suggested in the article.
- If you have diabetes, you should constantly monitor your blood sugar.
- If there are concomitant health problems, medications prescribed by your doctor should be taken.
It is important to understand that atherosclerosis is a progressive pathology. If you do not deal with it, the size of the lumen of the vessels will constantly decrease. As a rule, this figure is 13% per year. Early access to a doctor and the right therapy are a guarantee of the prevention of stroke and other dangerous complications.