With the constant use of fatty foods, a person independently provokes an excess of cholesterol in his body. In turn, this leads to the formation of so-called atherosclerotic plaques. From this pathology, the largest human artery, the aorta, is most affected.
Most of all, older people are affected by this disease. That is why aortic atherosclerosis is also often called an old-age disease. However, it is worth noting that malnutrition has become the scourge of a younger generation. Therefore, it is not surprising that younger people began to suffer from this ailment.
Due to clogged arteries, blood begins to circulate more slowly, which, in turn, can lead to irreversible consequences. Therefore, it is very important to understand in more detail what it is - atherosclerosis of the aorta of the heart. If a person experiences pain in the chest area, fatigue and dizziness, then this becomes an occasion to think about the state of his health. In this case, it is recommended to pass the examination as soon as possible and consult with a specialist. If you start therapy at the first stages of the manifestation of the disease, then this can extend the life of a person by several tens of years. Therefore, this topic is very important for both young people and those who have already retired.
general information
To quickly understand what it is - atherosclerosis of the aorta of the heart, you must have at least minimal knowledge in the field of anatomy. The aorta is the largest and most important vessel in the human body. It starts from the left heart ventricle and is divided into numerous smaller arteries, thanks to which the internal organs located in the abdominal cavity and sternum of a person are nourished.
In turn, the aorta is divided into the main departments: thoracic (responsible for blood supply to the head, neck, arms and chest organs) and abdominal (supplies blood to the inside of the peritoneum). If we talk about the nutrition of the pelvic organs and legs, then the iliac arteries coming from the abdominal aorta are responsible for them.
It is also worth highlighting the coronary arteries, which also come from the main aorta. They are responsible for the saturation of human blood with oxygen and are closest to the heart. Thus, atherosclerosis of the aorta of the coronary arteries or others is isolated, depending on the location of the disease.
It is worth noting that this disease and all its varieties, as a rule, affect organs only partially. Thus, it is not difficult to conclude that this pathology does not affect the entire aorta, but only its specific segment. Depending on its location, a more detailed clinical picture will be drawn up and therapeutic measures will be prescribed.
If we talk about what it is - atherosclerosis of the aorta of the heart, what kind of symptoms should patients expect, then in this case it is worth considering this topic in more detail.
Fat (lipid) stain
This is the first stage of the development of the disease, during which microscopic damage to the vessels occurs. In addition, when a lipid spot appears, blood flow slows down and fat deposits appear. Most often, these lesions are noticeable in those parts of the vessels where they branch. Their inner walls become more loose and swollen.
At the initial stage of development of aortic atherosclerosis, the protective systems of the human body cease to work normally, and gradually their functionality decreases. A little later on the walls of blood vessels appear more complex deposits, which are protein and cholesterol.
If we talk about the duration of the first stage of the disease, then everything depends on the individual characteristics of the patient. However, the diagnosis of aortic atherosclerosis is possible even in newborns. Therefore, it is possible to exclude the further development of the disease, if a timely examination is completed.
Liposclerosis
This is the second stage of atherosclerosis of the aortic arteries, during which fat deposits grow in large areas. In this case, an increase in connective tissue also occurs. As a result of this, atherosclerotic plaques form.
Treatment of aortic atherosclerosis at this stage also gives a positive result. After the use of specialized drugs, plaques dissolve. However, during therapy, there is a small risk that they can come off and completely clog the vessel. In addition, it is better not to reach liposclerosis, since in the advanced stage this can lead to the fact that the walls of the arteries begin to lose their elasticity, ulcers and cracks will appear on them. This is very dangerous, since such conditions become ideal for the formation of thrombosis.
Atherocalcinosis
In the third stage of the disease, plaque is condensed, in which salt deposits also begin to appear. However, some patients may not even observe symptoms of aortic atherosclerosis. This is because the deformation of the vessels and their narrowing occurs gradually. However, in this case, the disease flows into the chronic stage, the blood supply to the internal organs is disrupted. In this case, there is a big risk of developing blood clots. In the third stage, the patient may have a heart attack or gangrene in one of the internal organs, which receives the least oxygen.
At this stage, the treatment of atherosclerosis of the aortic heart becomes the most difficult. Therefore, it is better to stop the pathology in the first stages of its development.
If we talk about the causes of the onset of the disease, many believe that this pathology appears solely due to cholesterol deposits. However, the conditions that lead to such consequences are much greater.
Malnutrition
This is the most common reason. The appearance of aortic atherosclerosis is most often due to an excess of animal fats in the human diet. Also, digestible carbohydrates, which are filled with foods belonging to the category of fast food, can lead to negative consequences.
In addition, the human diet should have a sufficient amount of vitamins, dietary fiber and natural fatty acids derived from plant foods. If a deficiency of useful microelements is observed in the human body, then this becomes a favorable background for the formation of pathologies.
Excess weight
In this case, it is not about obesity, but about fullness. People in the body are more prone to atherosclerosis, as they are inadequate physical activity. With a sedentary lifestyle and the consumption of large amounts of food in the body, stagnation can begin. All this leads to a violation of metabolic processes, slowing down energy production. In this case, there is an accumulation of cholesterol in the blood, which subsequently leads to an ailment.
Gender
It is worth noting that the representatives of the stronger sex are more prone to the appearance of aortic atherosclerosis. This is because the disease develops faster, because of which men begin to suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular system 5-10 years earlier than the fair half.
Also, women are less likely to suffer from an ailment due to certain sex hormones that can only be found in their bodies. These components perform a protective function. In addition, female sex hormones perfectly resist cholesterol deposits.
Age
Of course, the fundamental factor in such diseases is how old a person is. With age, the body's defense systems begin to work more slowly and cannot cope with the tasks. If you add the wrong diet and fullness, you get ideal conditions for the development of atherosclerosis.
Women after menopause become more vulnerable to this disease, since in this case the production of the necessary sex hormones stops.
Smoking and alcohol
This is not only about active smokers, but also those who are in close proximity to people with cigarettes. In this case, the vessels and heart are equally affected. This is due to the fact that cigarette smoke contains very harmful components that significantly reduce the stability of blood vessels, thinning their walls. This becomes a favorable factor for the formation of cholesterol and harmful lipids.
Alcohol has the same destructive properties. This is because ethyl alcohol is a toxin that destroys the liver. At high doses of alcohol, harmful lipids are produced that prevent the formation of the necessary fats.
Symptoms of the disease
If we talk about the manifestation of an ailment, then everything depends on in which particular area cholesterol plaques began to form. Most often, the disease manifests itself in the area of the aortic valve. In this case, patients complain of increased heart rate, which is especially noticeable in the supine position. In addition, the symptoms of this ailment may be sensations of pulsation in the neck and head. Also, patients often complain of constricting or constricting pain in the heart. Additionally, there may be tinnitus, headaches, shortness of breath, sweating, fatigue, and even fainting.
If we are talking about the development of an ailment in the zone where the root or arch of the artery is located, then in this case there is even a risk of death even before the pathology is identified. If we talk about symptoms, then in this case it will be the same as with angina pectoris. In this case, the patient may suffer from a heart attack or coronary artery disease. Also, many complain of burning and pressing pains in the chest, increased shortness of breath, vomiting, nausea, frequent dizziness, loss of consciousness and pressure surges.
When atherosclerosis is detected in an arc, patients usually complain of a rather severe pain syndrome. In this case, unpleasant sensations are also transmitted to the left hand, shoulder blade and shoulder region. Pain syndrome increases significantly with physical exertion.
Speaking about the fact that this is atherosclerosis of the aorta, how to treat this disease is also worth knowing.
Treatment
To increase the chances of getting rid of this pathology, it is necessary to identify the disease as soon as possible. If we are talking about the first stages, then, as a rule, doctors prescribe conservative treatment. In this case, an individual course of medications is selected, which may have to be taken for more than one year. In this case, patients should undergo periodic examinations and take the necessary tests.
If a patient is diagnosed with diabetes mellitus or arterial hypertension, then in this case atherosclerosis can quickly turn into a more aggressive form. In this case, medicines with a stronger effect are prescribed.
In order for the treatment to be successful, it is very important to have a proper diet. First of all, the patient should exclude broths from meat, fish and mushrooms from his diet. It is also necessary to abandon sausages, smoked meats, pork and lard. A negative effect during the treatment period will have alcohol, sweets and spices.