In people of advanced age, with the development of certain pathologies, a large amount of calcium begins to accumulate in the body. Naturally remove this substance is not possible. In this case, calcium penetrates the blood. As a result of this, the substance begins to gradually settle on the walls of the vessels and the aorta. Even valves are subject to liming. A similar pathological process is called vascular calcification. With damage to the aorta, the disease threatens the life of a person. After all, layering on the walls of calcium deprives the vessels of elasticity.
What is this ailment?
What is vascular calcification? First of all, this is a pathological process. Everyone knows that calcium is essential for the human body. This substance increases the resistance of bone tissues, protecting them from damage and fractures. Normally, calcium salts in the human body are in a dissolved state.
If the substance penetrates into the blood vessels and the aorta, vascular calcification begins to develop. Treatment of this disease should be carried out immediately. After all, the walls of blood vessels are gradually liming and lose their elasticity. With an increase in blood pressure, tissue rupture can occur. In the worst case, death occurs. The most dangerous pathology is calcification of the vessels of the heart, as well as the brain.
Where are calcium salts stored?
Typically, calcium salts are deposited in places where the integrity of the soft tissues is impaired or a dead infection is present. The body, resorting to liming, is trying to stop the development of pathological processes. If calcium compounds were detected in the vessels, then human health is at risk. You should immediately undergo an examination and begin treatment of the disease.
Damage to the vessels of the brain
Treatment of calcification of cerebral vessels allows you to avoid the development of serious complications. This disease affects both men and women, whose age is more than 50 years. Cerebral vascular calcification is a calcareous calcification. Accumulations of large amounts of calcium affect tissues. In the vessels there are foci of cholesterol fat deposits. Such a disease also has another name: atherosclerosis.
The development of the disease leads to blockage and deformation of blood vessels. As a result, the supply of blood to the brain is deteriorating. Often, calcification leads to the development of dementia. Mental degradation begins as a result of necrosis of brain tissue. And this, in turn, leads to a stroke. Pathological processes can occur for a long time without symptoms. When a disease is detected, therapy is of little use.
Causes of cerebral vascular calcification
Most often, calcification of blood vessels located in the brain is a hereditary pathology. However, there are other reasons for its development:
- constant stress;
- passive lifestyle;
- nervous exhaustion;
- bad habits;
- diabetes mellitus;
- high blood pressure;
- excess weight;
- high cholesterol.
Also, pathology can develop as a result of metabolic disorders in the body, functional and structural disorders of the arterial membranes.
Symptoms of cerebrovascular disease
Symptoms of vascular calcification in the brain depend on the degree of tissue damage. Signs of pathology include:
- death of tissues clogged with calcium salts;
- expansion of arteries and cramps;
- migraine;
- frequent headaches;
- darkening in the eyes;
- fainting
- nervousness and irritability;
- fatigue;
- memory impairment.
Vascular damage
Calcification of the coronary vessels of the heart leads to the compaction and narrowing of the arteries. As a result, the blood circulation in the organ is disturbed. In this case, the deposition of calcium salts affects many structures of the heart. For example, sclerotic parietal thickenings of the endocardium, sash and base of the valves.
The heart is an important organ made up of muscles. Its main function is to supply all body tissues with blood. The main thing is that it contains a large amount of oxygen and beneficial components. Only in this case, all organs and tissues will perform their functions.
What diseases can lead to
Calcification of the vessels of the heart disrupts the functioning of the organ. The accumulation of large amounts of salts leads to the occurrence of certain diseases. These include:
- weakening of the heart muscles;
- heart failure;
- heart rhythm disturbance;
- coronary artery disease.
Varieties of calcification of the arteries of the heart
Calcification of blood vessels in the heart is divided into the following types:
- Primary. This is a complex stage of organ aging. Most often occurs in women in old age.
- Secondary. Often occurs as a result of the inflammatory process. In some cases, the disease is congenital. With such calcification, dystrophy of the valves is noted.
Causes of calcification of the arteries of the heart
Calcification of the walls of blood vessels located in the heart occurs for the following reasons:
- oncological disease;
- heredity;
- metabolic disorders;
- malnutrition;
- overweight;
- an excess of vitamin D;
- rheumatism of the heart;
- disruption of the thyroid gland;
- various injuries;
- hypertension;
- bad habits;
- constant stress;
- diabetes;
- atherosclerosis;
- pathologies associated with the vessels of the heart;
- heart disease.
Symptoms of pathology
Calcification of the vessels of the heart in the early stages can occur with almost no symptoms. At later stages, the following symptoms occur:
- pain in the back and chest;
- memory impairment;
- heart rhythm failures;
- angina pectoris;
- fast fatiguability;
- loss of consciousness;
- dizziness;
- sudden weight loss;
- shortness of breath, disturbing even during sleep;
- discomfort in the heart;
- loss of appetite.
With this disease, a person can feel the change of weather. The patient’s condition worsens significantly after eating and exercising. If you experience symptoms of an illness, you should immediately consult a doctor. After carrying out diagnostic measures, a specialist should prescribe a treatment for vascular calcification.
Diagnosis of the disease
Since vascular calcification should be treated in the initial stages, a thorough examination is carried out if some symptoms of the disease occur. There are plenty of diagnostic methods at the moment. Among them:
- CT
- Ultrasound of the heart;
- radiography;
- ultrasonography;
- Ultrasound densitometry and so on.
How is the disease treated
Therapy of vascular calcification is mainly aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease. Without appropriate treatment, such an ailment can develop into thromboembolism or endocarditis. In this case, drug therapy of calcification exists. Her methods are not so many:
- Antagonists of calcium compounds (Verapamil, Anipamil, Nifedipine, etc.). They can significantly reduce the amount of substance in the vessels and arteries. The composition of such medicines includes magnesium.
- Diuretics ("Furosemide", "Torasemide", 'Mannitol ", etc.). Drugs can save a person from stagnation of blood.
- Medicines aimed at lowering blood pressure.
- Preparations for the prevention of coronary heart disease (Clopidogrel, Metoprolol, etc.).
If the disease is severely neglected, then surgery is performed to treat it. This method is called valvuloplasty. In more severe cases, the damaged aorta is replaced with an artificial one.
General recommendations
In addition to taking medications, experts recommend that you adhere to the following rules:
- need to lose weight;
- it is worth following a diet with calcification of the vessels of the heart and brain;
- need to abandon bad habits;
- a day should drink more than two liters of liquid;
- It is worth leading an active lifestyle;
- monitor the amount of calcium salts in the blood;
- regularly take tests, visit a doctor and so on.
The diet for vascular calcification is sparing. If it is observed, it is necessary to exclude sweet and fatty foods from the diet. There are no particular food restrictions. Also, experts recommend taking alternative medicine for prevention. It is worth noting that such drugs can only be used after consultation with your doctor.
Power Features
The above measures can avoid the development of the disease. However, one should not start when there are disturbances in the body, but much earlier. It will be difficult to achieve a positive result in the treatment of vascular calcification without observing certain nutritional rules. Those at risk should give up not only alcohol and smoking, but also:
- spicy products;
- yeast
- coffee;
- sweets;
- smoked meats;
- various spices;
- some vegetables and herbs, with the exception of peas and Brussels sprouts.
You should include foods such as barley groats, hazelnuts, seaweed, beans, peanuts, millet, cashews, buckwheat, mustard, almonds, pine nuts and so on in your diet. There should be more magnesium-rich foods in your diet.
Herbal harvest
Treatment with folk remedies for vascular calcification should begin only after consultation with specialists. Self-medication with such a disease can lead to undesirable consequences and exacerbate the general condition of the patient.
For therapy, in some cases, an herbal collection is prescribed. To prepare the drug, in equal parts, mix anise seeds, birch buds, elderberry and calendula, medicinal sweet clover, oregano, coriander seeds, nettle grass, peppermint, dandelion rhizome and yarrow.
All plants must first be dried and ground. 300 milliliters of boiling water should pour 20 grams of the finished mixture. The container should be removed for several hours in a warm place. The finished product must be filtered and taken 3 times a day for 50 milliliters. The course of therapy is 2 weeks.
Horsetail with herbs
10 grams of dried and chopped field horsetail should be combined with bearberry, lingonberry, juniper and poultry. A spoonful of the finished mixture should be poured with 300 milliliters of hot boiled water. The product must be infused in a thermos for 2 hours. The finished drug must be filtered. Take the infusion three times a day for 1/4 cup. The course of such therapy is 2 weeks.
Medicinal herbs
In equal proportions, the rhizome of calamus, birch leaves, rhizome of valerian, narrow-leaved fireweed, plantain, heather and chamomile flowers should be mixed. Raw materials must be crushed and mixed. 300 grams of the mixture should be brewed with 200 milliliters of water, preheated to 100 degrees. The drug should be infused. It is recommended to take the drug three times a day. The course of therapy should not exceed 15 days.
Chamomile, motherwort and birch buds
In equal proportions, chamomile flowers, birch buds and motherwort grass should be combined. Each component should be taken in 20 grams, chopped, and then combined in one container. The resulting mixture should be poured with half a liter of boiling water and removed for about an hour in a warm place. The finished drug should be filtered. You need to take an infusion of 100 milliliters three times a day. The course of therapy should not last more than two weeks. To improve the taste, you can add a little natural honey to the finished product.
Herb tincture
To prepare such a medicine, 15 grams of calamus and rhizome of elecampane will be required. Raw materials must be crushed and combined in one container. The finished mixture should be poured with 200 milliliters of medical alcohol. Insist on the drug is recommended for 13 days in a cool place. Shake the medicine container daily. The finished product should be filtered. It is recommended to take 8 drops of tincture three times a day. The course of therapy is no more than 50 days.
Herbal infusion
Before the powdery form, it is necessary to chop the rose hips and junipers, calamus and valerian. The components should be mixed in equal proportions. 15 grams of the collection must be filled with 0.5 liters of boiled water. Insist the drug for half an hour. It is necessary to take the drug according to the following scheme:
- The first and second day. 200 ml of infusion must be diluted in 300 milliliters of pre-boiled and chilled water. You need to take 100 milliliters of the drug three times a day.
- The third day. It is necessary to prepare a fresh infusion of herbs. Starting from this day, the amount of base infusion needs to be increased: instead of 200 milliliters, 400 is required.
The course should not exceed 2 weeks.
Other alternative medicine
Overlapping with calcium plaques of the lumen of the vessels is fraught with serious complications, up to death. For the treatment of such a pathology, many doctors prescribe the use of alternative medicine. For this purpose, you can use the following drugs:
- In equal proportions, you need to mix fresh garlic, chopped lemon, natural honey. It is recommended to take such a mixture 2 times a day, one spoonful.
- From pineapple, carrots and beets should squeeze the juice and mix. In the resulting mixture, add a little garlic. Better use its juice. It is recommended to take 50 milliliters of the mixture three times a day.
In conclusion
Vascular calcification is a serious and dangerous disease. To cure such an ailment is very difficult. Therefore, experts recommend that preventive measures be taken to avoid the development of calcification. This reduces the risk of complications.