Cardiological diseases in recent decades habitually occupy a leading position among the most common pathologies. The main reason for the development of many diseases of the heart and blood vessels is an increase in blood cholesterol, which leads to the development of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a chronic arterial disease characterized by deposition of lipoproteins and cholesterol on the inner wall, followed by the formation of connective tissue with fibrous plaques, ulcerations, thrombosis and calcification.
Symptoms of atherosclerosis
With atherosclerosis, a predominance of damage to a particular group of vessels is often observed. In accordance with this, atherosclerosis of the own vessels of the heart, atherosclerosis of the thoracic and abdominal aorta, large arteries of the lower extremities, renal arteries , and cerebral arteriosclerosis are clinically distinguished. Symptoms of disease in this case, of course, will be different.
With damage to the coronary vessels, blood circulation of the heart muscle worsens, IHD develops, which manifests itself as angina pectoris or myocardial infarction.
Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the kidneys provokes the development of chronic pyelo- or glomerulonephritis, which is manifested by the appearance of puffiness, increased blood pressure, pathological changes in urinalysis.
Atherosclerotic lesion of the large arterial vessels of the legs leads to the appearance of pain in the legs during walking, passing at rest, numbness, a feeling of coldness in the legs.
If atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels predominates in the clinical picture, the symptoms of the disease are associated with a violation of the blood circulation of the brain tissue. Patients complain of frequent dizziness, memory impairment, insomnia, fatigue, headache, noise in the head.
Differentiating cerebral arteriosclerosis, the symptoms of which can occur with other diseases, can be quite difficult and only an experienced doctor can do it. Cerebral atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels provokes the development of various complications of the disease, the most serious of which is stroke.
Atherosclerosis Treatment
Treatment of patients with manifestations of atherosclerosis must begin with dietary recommendations. The diet is prescribed to reduce the level of atherogenic lipids that cause an increase in cholesterol in the body, which is determined by a blood test.
To do this, it is recommended to sharply reduce the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids with food contained in various animal fats, sour cream, cream, butter, egg yolks, cheese. In addition to these restrictions, you should increase the use of foods that contain polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. It is necessary to replace animal fat with vegetable oils during cooking, to reduce the use of table salt.
The treatment of atherosclerosis with pharmaceuticals should only be used if dietary recommendations are ineffective for several months. If diet therapy is not enough, the appointment of drugs that reduce blood lipids is indicated. Such drugs are called lipid-lowering. This group of drugs includes statins, drugs - derivatives of fibroic acid, sequestrants of acids contained in bile, nicotinic acid.
The best effect in the treatment of atherosclerosis is the use of statins. Patients prone to developing this disease should take lipid-lowering drugs for the treatment of atherosclerosis throughout their lives.
Atherosclerosis of any localization, including atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels, the symptoms of which are prone to gradual progression, is easier to prevent than to treat. Prevention of the disease consists in a balanced rational diet, sufficient physical activity, and the fight against obesity. After the age of thirty, it is mandatory to control the level of lipids and cholesterol in the blood.