Atherosclerosis

October 22, 2011

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Atherosclerosis   - Is one of the serious and chronic diseases vessels of the heart   and brain In which form single or multiple foci cholesterol   and lipid deposits , Original atheromatous plaques Consisting of calcium, cholesterol and connective tissue in the intima of arteries.

The artery, which struck the wall becomes less elastic and thereby compacted. Gradually grows connective tissue and calcification leads to deformation and significant narrowing of the gap between the walls of the artery until it is complete blockage, thereby causing the chronic failure of the blood supply and organ ischemia Which is fed through the affected artery. It is also possible acute arterial occlusion thrombi   or contents of the disintegrated substanta atheromatous plaque that causes complications of atherosclerosis, leading to the formation of necrosis ( heart attack ) Or gangrene   in the feeding artery body.

The total defeat of the arteries   organism is quite rare. It is often observed blockage of blood vessels   certain organs: the brain and the heart, the kidneys, or lower limbs. Progression of atherosclerosis is expressed in the fact that the intense functional load on the organ blood flow to it is insufficient. This leads to unpleasant sensations from the body. Clinical disease varies depending on the location and distribution of the affected arteries. Atherosclerosis is a chronic course and causes disability   and even premature death .

It has atherosclerosis hypertension . obesity , Increased neuropsychiatric stress, high cholesterol levels, diabetes , Unhealthy lifestyle, lack of physical activity, smoking, and so forth. The average age at which atherosclerosis most commonly affects the human body from 40 to 45 years. Men are prone to atherosclerosis in 3, and sometimes 4 p. more often than women, due to the fact that prevention of atherosclerosis in the stronger sex more often perceived not serious. In particular, smoking and alcohol intake men continue, despite the threat of the disease.

Symptoms of Atherosclerosis

Like any disease atherosclerosis is their essential characteristics for which the disease can be recognized. The symptoms of atherosclerosis may be various. It depends on the degree and location of the lesion of a vessel. Vascular lesions of the brain lead to insufficient blood supply to it and as a result to the deterioration of its functions. The first symptom in this case is memory impairment in the recent past events . Diagnosis of atherosclerosis in this scenario shows irreversible changes.

Next there emotional instability   and gradual intellectual impairment . Very often, patients complain of a feeling of pulsation and "noise" in the head. All the other symptoms of atherosclerosis depend largely on what kind of brain areas struck. Atherosclerosis, hit vessels of the brain, is very often the main cause of ischemic stroke .

Complications of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerotic aortic   manifested gradually increasing hypertension, noises appear before abdominal aortic ascending. Complication in this case is insufficient blood supply to the brain, and as a consequence - dizziness . fainting . strokes . Threatens the life of the patient is Dissecting aortic hematoma . Disease attack is manifested pain in the chest or abdomen. There are all symptoms of acute blood loss. The most common and life-threatening complication of aortic atherosclerosis is aortic aneurysm Characterized by a sudden rupture with bleeding into the chest cavity or zabryushnoe space, leading to death. An aneurysm of the thoracic aorta appears hoarseness, rough systolic murmurs, dysphagia .

The absence or small number of symptoms abdominal aortic aneurysm are doing the most dangerous division for the patient's life.

Atherosclerotic mesenteric arteries That nourish the intestines manifested by the following symptoms:

• Getting kolikopodobnyh abdominal pain ( intestinal angina ), Often with flatulence and vomiting, which often occur after meals.
• Thrombosis   arterial artery wall with necrosis of the mesentery and intestine.

Atherosclerotic arteries and blood vessels of the lower limbs is characterized by the following symptoms: chilliness legs, pain in the calf, appearing during walking, Changes in skin color of feet   and deformation of the nails, weakening arterial pulsation, development dry gangrene .

Atherosclerosis of renal artery   manifested chronic heart failure (ischemic) kidney, nephrosclerosis, and chronic renal failure. Renal artery thrombosis manifested acute kidney pain, tenderness and rapping the lumbar region from the resultant thrombosis.

Regardless of the location of atherosclerotic lesions are two types of complications. Chronic and acute. Chronic complications include chronic vascular insufficiency, which is accompanied by hypoxia , Atrophic and degenerative changes in the affected organ. Acute complications, mostly due to the appearance of blood clots, emboli   and vasospasm, in such cases, immediate treatment of atherosclerosis and its complications. Acute occlusion Accompanied by acute ischemia, leads to the development of heart attacks.

Diagnosis of atherosclerosis

At the first signs of atherosclerosis should immediately see a doctor and undergo mandatory testing. Very often atherosclerosis develops unnoticed for a long period. The general direction of the diagnosis of atherosclerosis in general, as follows:

• a survey to ascertain the patient's symptoms - coronary heart disease, signs of circulatory disorders of the brain, abdominal toads, intermittent claudication ;
• Examination of the patient. It includes identification of signs of premature aging. Pay attention to the following symptoms: hair loss, and changes the nail plate on the legs, excessive growth of hair in the ears and a number of other signs of internal organ involvement. This is followed by listening to the internal organs and palpation of all accessible arteries. Analysis revealed systolic murmur when listening to the heart, increasing blood pressure.
• Determination of risk factors for atherosclerosis. Identification of hypertension, obesity, diabetes, nervous stress, bad habits or other factors that directly affect the development of atherosclerosis.
• Laboratory and instrumental diagnosis of atherosclerosis. Laboratory evaluation of fat (lipid) changes in the body. ECHO cardiography . UZI Scan   vessels of the head, neck and legs. Electrocardiography .

Treatment of Atherosclerosis

Treatment of atherosclerosis is usually a long process. The treatment regimen, which lasts at least 6 months, includes several components. Receiving gipolidemicheskih drugs Which reduce blood lipid levels, improve tissue oxygenation, improve the rheology and increase elasticity of blood vessel walls. Developing special diet to reduce cholesterol levels in a patient. Quitting smoking, as nicotine impairs blood flow and promotes thrombosis. Intake of drugs that reduce the risk of thrombosis.

The presence of atherosclerotic plaques that interfere with the normal blood supply to organs, causes the application surgical treatment of atherosclerosis . Surgically removed the damaged area of ​​a blood vessel, a blood clot, and made dentures vessels. This method is applied for the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions of arteries of the lower limbs, internal organs and coronary heart arteries.

Prevention of atherosclerosis

Prevention of atherosclerosis is to eliminate the largest number of risk factors and lifestyle changes. The definitive cessation of smoking, the fight against obesity, increasing physical activity, eliminate stressful situations. Studies have shown that removing one factor contributing to the development of atherosclerosis, reducing the risk of developing the disease in half. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle can help prevent diseases such as atherosclerosis.