Aortic sclerosis (atherosclerosis) is a chronically occurring disease, manifested by the penetration of lipids into the inner membranes of the aorta and the proliferation of connective tissue in the affected areas. It causes a narrowing of the lumen of the blood vessel, an increase in the density of its wall, and in some cases arterial aneurysms.
Aortic sclerosis usually occurs from a violation of the proportion of the content in the blood plasma of various classes of lipoproteins. Some of them contribute to the transfer of cholesterol into the vascular wall, while others impede this process. As a rule, the imbalance of lipoproteins is hereditary, transmitted from generation to generation. Perhaps the appearance of acquired atherosclerosis from eating large amounts of food with high cholesterol, such as animal fats. Aortic sclerosis very often develops in people with high blood pressure, obese, smokers and lack of movement.
In the initial stage of the disease, yellow flat spots of various sizes appear under the inner wall of the aorta, especially in its thoracic part. Stains contain cholesterol, which gives them color. After a certain time, many lipid spots dissolve and disappear, but some, on the contrary, grow, occupying a large space.
The growth of lipid mass occurs in all directions. In
this case, the aorta is sealed. The predominant growth of the focus in the cavity of the vessel causes the appearance on the inner wall of cholesterol plaques. After some time, they sprout with connective tissue, lose elasticity and cause a narrowing of the lumen of the blood-conducting organ.
Irreversible processes also occur inside the plaque itself. Overgrowth of the overlay entails squeezing the blood vessels that feed the aorta itself, causing the formation of necrotic sites and the decomposition of tissues inside the plaque. Multiple fusion of small necrotic foci leads to the appearance of extensive atheromatosis. The defeat of the middle layer of a blood vessel reduces the strength and elasticity of its wall, which is the cause of the aneurysm, at the site of which aortic rupture is not excluded.
Clinically, the disease manifests itself in a very diverse manner, while the symptoms vary depending on the localization of the process. Damage to the coronary arteries is expressed as a violation of the heart, the appearance of coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia and myocardial infarction. Long-running ischemia, like multiple heart attacks of a heart muscle, can cause it to rupture. In place of them, connective tissue scars (cardiosclerosis) are formed. The ejection of blood in this course becomes minimal, heart failure develops.
Aortic sclerosis can cause its aneurysm, which is characterized by a sharp expansion of this blood vessel. As a result, other nearby organs are compressed, their functionality is impaired. In some cases, with aneurysm, delamination and rupture of the affected area of the aorta occurs.
Sclerosis of the arteries supplying blood to the brain is manifested by a decrease in the memory of a sick person, especially for events that have occurred recently. This disease is accompanied by dizziness, a change in the patient's personality. It is noted that a thrifty person with this disease turns into a miser, a sensual person becomes weak-hearted.
Involvement of the abdominal arteries in the process is accompanied by abdominal pain (abdominal toad). The defeat of atherosclerosis of the mesenteric vascular trunks ends with the necrosis of the intestinal tract. Clinically, this is manifested by severe pain in the abdomen and obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract.
This is only a small part of the pathological manifestations caused by aortic sclerosis. Due to the fact that it is difficult and expensive to treat most of these diseases, the main attention should be paid to the prevention of this serious ailment.