Atherosclerosis is a common disease that has several varieties. Among the whole variety of pathological processes, the stenosing form deserves special attention. Most often, it manifests itself in men older than 50 years. With age, atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels occur in the body of many people. They are not only characterized by the appearance of unpleasant symptoms, but also pose a serious threat to life. In this article, we will consider the main localizations and symptoms of stenosing atherosclerosis, as well as the methods of treatment of the disease offered by doctors.
Description of the disease and development mechanism
Stenosing atherosclerosis is a pathological process that spreads to the main arteries of the body. The mechanism of its occurrence is quite simple. Under the influence of certain factors, free fats (cholesterol) begin to be deposited in the walls of blood vessels and plaques form. The disease goes through several stages of development, the final stage is the narrowing of the artery to a minimum (stenosis). As a result, tissues and organs that are dependent on the site of impaired blood supply are deficient in oxygen and nutrients.
The problem of proliferation of cholesterol plaques and connective tissue between them affects various major arteries. Taking into account the place of development of the pathological process, several varieties of the disease are distinguished. The most vulnerable are the peripheral arteries of the lower extremities, the brain and the coronary aorta of the heart. The lack of timely treatment usually leads to irreversible consequences: myocardial infarction, leg gangrene, stroke, thromboembolism with damage to internal organs.
Main reasons
The development of atherosclerotic lesions of the main arteries is due to the action of three factors:
- Violation of fat metabolism. When the system of cholesterol synthesis and transportation fails in the body, excesses of this substance begin to be deposited on the walls of blood vessels. The trigger mechanism can be somatic diseases, unbalanced nutrition, obesity.
- Hereditary predisposition. If stenosing atherosclerosis has been diagnosed in close relatives, the likelihood of this disease increases several times.
- Decreased elasticity of the vascular walls. Cholesterol plaques cannot form on a smooth and healthy surface. The following disorders contribute to damage to the vascular wall: diabetes mellitus, a sedentary lifestyle, and smoking.
If you have one or more of the factors listed above, you need to pay special attention to your own health, more often undergo preventive examinations.
Manifestations of stenosis of the arteries of the brain
The brachiocephalic arteries are large vessels extending from the aortic arch toward the brain. Their multiple interweaving form the Willis circle. It provides full blood supply to the brain.
When an obstacle in the form of an atherosclerotic plaque is formed in one of the sections of the Willis circle, one speaks of the development of stenosis. This disease affects the functioning of the entire blood supply system of the brain. Lack of timely treatment can lead to hypoxia or stroke. Signs of a pathological process depend on the number of atherosclerotic plaques in the arterial bed.
At the very beginning, the disease is asymptomatic. If the lumen of the vessel is blocked by a plaque by 50% or more, the patient may notice the appearance of uncharacteristic disorders. Among them are:
- periodic dizziness with a decrease in blood pressure;
- emotional lability with a predominance of depressive mood;
- distraction;
- auditory-visual problems (tinnitus, hearing loss, the appearance of flies in front of the eyes);
- chronic fatigue syndrome;
- numbness of the fingers;
- violation of thermoregulation.
The listed symptoms at first practically do not affect the quality of life. Many patients simply ignore them. Progressive stenosing atherosclerosis of the brachiocephalic arteries makes you seek help from a doctor.
Manifestations of stenosis of the vessels of the heart
Oxygen and nutrients enter the heart through the coronary arteries. The defeat of these vessels by atherosclerosis poses a serious threat to the main muscle of the body, affecting its rhythm and completeness of contractions. With this disease, patients usually complain of pain in the sternum. First they appear after physical exertion or stress. Over time, discomfort does not leave a person, even at rest. The duration of the pain attack is about 30 minutes.
An acute manifestation of the pathological process is myocardial infarction. The disease is accompanied by severe pain in the heart, which cannot be stopped with the Nitroglycerin tablet. Blood pressure drops, resulting in severe dizziness, weakness. Atherosclerosis stenosing, affecting the coronary arteries, can lead to serious complications. These include cardiac aneurysm, cardiogenic shock, and rupture of the muscle itself. Most often, doctors diagnose sudden death syndrome.
Manifestations of stenosis of arteries of the lower extremities
Through the femoral artery, blood flows to the most extreme points of the body, located on the feet. Stenosing atherosclerosis of the lower extremities takes third place in frequency of occurrence. The clinical manifestations of this form of the disease are diverse. Therefore, it is advisable to consider the development of the pathological process in stages:
- At the initial stage, the patient is disturbed by a feeling of chilliness, burning or tingling in the feet. The skin on the legs noticeably turns pale.
- The second stage is characterized by the appearance of intermittent claudication. One limb, when walking or playing sports, begins to tire earlier than the other. Gradually, unpleasant sensations develop in the calf muscle area, persistent cyanosis appears.
- At the next stage, the intensity of intermittent claudication noticeably increases. It becomes difficult for the patient to go the usual way without stopping. Often patients complain of pain in the toes, which does not disappear at rest. The skin on the foot acquires a marbled hue, can crack and thin.
- At the fourth stage, lameness becomes so pronounced that a person is forced to make stops every 50 steps of the path. The appearance of trophic ulcers, swelling. Severe leg pain interferes with night rest.
You can not wait for the irreversible consequences of the disease to appear in the form of gangrene. If symptoms of circulatory disorders in the legs (weakness, intermittent claudication) occur, you should immediately consult a doctor. If a specialist confirms stenotic atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities, treatment will be prescribed immediately.
Diagnostic Methods
In order to timely identify the disease and start its therapy, all people after 40 years of age are recommended by doctors to undergo a routine examination once a year. It is enough to take a blood test for the following indicators:
- cholesterol, lipoproteins, triglycerides;
- fibrinogen;
- glucose;
- coagulability.
These parameters may indirectly indicate a violation of protein-lipid metabolism, which provokes the development of pathology.
Stenosing atherosclerosis of the arteries of the brain, heart or lower extremities is easy to diagnose. For this, the patient is prescribed a comprehensive examination, which includes the following procedures:
- intravenous / arterial angiography of blood vessels using contrast;
- rheovasography;
- Doppler study;
- triplex scanning.
Based on the results of the examination, the doctor can confirm the preliminary diagnosis. After this, the patient is prescribed treatment.
Principles of Therapy
Treatment of stenosing atherosclerosis largely depends on at what stage of the development of the disease the patient went to the doctor. At the initial stage, in addition to drug therapy, it is necessary to try to change the lifestyle. It is important to abandon bad habits, try to relax more. Otherwise, taking medication will only slow down the progression of the disease, but will not stop it completely.
Without fail, the doctor prescribes a sick diet (table number 10), rich in plant foods. It is usually recommended for patients with hypertension or heart failure. If you adhere to such a diet, you can not only reduce the amount of cholesterol consumed, but also remove its excess from the body. In this case, you can not go on a diet for weight loss. Nutrition should be balanced and complete. Otherwise, therapy will not bring the desired result.
Patients with a diagnosis of "stenotic atherosclerosis of the lower extremities" treatment should be supplemented with sports. Preference should be given to Nordic walking or swimming. At the first signs of fatigue in the legs, you must immediately rest, without overloading the body.
Drug use
The treatment of atherosclerosis cannot be imagined without the use of medications. Typically, patients with such a diagnosis are prescribed the following groups of drugs:
- Disaggregants. Prevent the formation of blood clots in the bloodstream.
- Antispasmodics. Improve blood circulation throughout the body.
- Medicines to normalize the rheological properties of blood. First, drip administration of the drug is prescribed, then it is replaced by the tablet form.
- Anticoagulants.
All medicines are selected for each patient individually. Be sure the doctor must take into account the stage of the disease and its form.
Surgical intervention
Atherosclerosis stenosing in an advanced stage requires surgery. Surgical intervention allows you to restore normal patency of blood vessels, remove cholesterol plaques. For this purpose, shunting, stenting or angioplasty is performed. The listed manipulations are carried out both endoscopically and openly using general anesthesia.
Consequences of the disease
The consequences of this disease can be very serious and life-threatening. For example, stenotic atherosclerosis of the arteries of the brain often provokes the development of a stroke. Of course, this complication does not appear at all. It all depends on the characteristics of the body, a predisposition to the occurrence of an ailment. Studies show that approximately 70% of the population over 60 complains of various manifestations of atherosclerosis. This pathology is the main cause of brain failure syndrome.
Stenosing atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities also does not always have a favorable prognosis. If the artery is completely blocked, the likelihood of developing ischemic gangrene increases. Especially often, pathology occurs in people with diabetes, since this disease accelerates the process of stenosis.
Preventive measures
It is necessary to begin to engage in the prevention of stenosing atherosclerosis from early childhood. All unhealthy people are at risk for the disease.
Prevention includes:
- hygiene regimen;
- moderate exercise;
- compliance with the regime of work and rest.
Do not forget about proper nutrition. The diet should mainly consist of lean meat and seafood, as well as plant foods.
A healthy lifestyle means giving up addiction. However, it is better not to start smoking and drinking alcohol at all.
The listed recommendations should be observed both during therapy and before it. Such tips can avoid complications of the disease. When the first symptoms appear, indicating stenosing atherosclerosis, you should consult a doctor and check the blood vessels. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment.