What is vascular atherosclerosis? Signs, causes and treatments. What causes of atherosclerosis are known to modern medicine? Arterial atherosclerosis

Signs of vascular atherosclerosis have long been no longer associated with old age. A feature of the disease is its gradual and asymptomatic development, so its presence is recognized only in the presence of obvious clinical disorders. Symptoms of atherosclerosis vary greatly depending on which blood vessels are affected by sclerotic changes. Most often, vessels of large and medium diameter are affected. Cholesterol is deposited on their walls in the form of formations or plaques, so the lumen gradually narrows. Violation of the blood supply to certain organs over time leads to the appearance of corresponding symptoms.

How do atherosclerotic plaques form?

Atherosclerosis affects blood vessels containing elastic fibers. It does not affect the vessels of the lymphatic system, veins and capillaries. The formation of atherosclerotic plaques is associated with a disorder of fat metabolism in the body, namely with an excessive amount of low-density lipoproteins (the lipid part is represented by cholesterol). Therefore, when considering the symptoms and treatment of atherosclerosis, special attention is paid to metabolic disorders.

Cholesterol plaque - what is it? The place of its formation is microtrauma of the vascular wall. This damage may occur due to exposure to a virus. The plaque itself is formed in several stages.

First, a fat accumulation (spot) appears in the area of ​​microtrauma of the vessel wall. Gradually, the stain becomes saturated with cholesterol, and then it turns from loose to dense. At this time, it is still possible to influence the formation in order to dissolve it. Later, the plaque becomes very dense and protrudes, deforming the vessel, preventing normal blood flow. After salts are deposited in it, growth stops. The formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which occurs quickly, leads to an acute form of the disease. Otherwise, the disease proceeds chronically, gradually acquiring larger proportions.

What causes the violation?

Symptoms and treatment of vascular atherosclerosis depend on the cause that caused its development. As a rule, factors that provoke the deposition of cholesterol plaques on vascular walls are divided into two types: those that depend on the person himself and those that cannot be influenced.

Causes of atherosclerosis, which depend on human actions.

• Smoking. It is the most significant factor in the development of atherosclerotic changes in the vascular wall. Nicotine, entering the blood, upsets the balance between lipoproteins, shifting it towards compounds with low density, which leads to their deposition.
• High blood pressure. High blood pressure causes low-density lipoproteins to become “stuck” on the vessel wall. This significantly accelerates the process of formation of cholesterol deposits.
• Insufficient physical activity. Provokes the occurrence of stagnation in the blood, depletion of oxygen and nutrients. Helps weaken the muscular framework of the vascular wall.
• Excess body weight. Associated with disruption of metabolic processes in the body, including lipid processes.
• Fatty food. Gradually causes disruption of the liver, leading to the inability of the liver to produce enough enzymes to process cholesterol.
• Diabetes. Leads to lipid metabolism disorders.
• Infectious diseases. Infections have a damaging effect on the vascular walls, provoking the formation of plaques at the site of microtrauma.

Factors causing the development of atherosclerosis that do not depend on the person.

• Genetic predisposition. The likelihood of developing the disease increases if relatives have had strokes, heart attacks, or hypertension.
• Age. Despite the fact that atherosclerosis is rapidly becoming younger, old age still remains the leading factor in its development. This is associated with age-related loss of the body's protective functions.
• Floor. According to statistics, men are more predisposed to developing atherosclerosis. However, after menopause, the likelihood of atherosclerotic changes occurring in both sexes is the same.

How does atherosclerosis manifest?

Since cholesterol is deposited on the vascular wall in the form of formations, plaques, gradually, as a compensatory reaction, this section of the artery protrudes outward. During this period, the clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis do not yet appear clearly. Gradually, as a result of the further influence of negative factors (stress, high blood pressure, excessive physical activity and others), the deposit on the artery wall becomes unstable. Microcracks form on it, and then blood clots, which leads to a significant narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels. During this period of development, the disease begins to manifest itself and the first signs appear.

Most often, atherosclerotic deposits affect large and medium-sized vessels of the circulatory system. First, the disease affects the abdominal and thoracic aorta, vessels of the head, neck, and lower extremities. Atherosclerosis of the coronary, mesenteric, and renal arteries is also common.

Almost each of the listed variants of the disease has a hidden onset and develops gradually and imperceptibly. In this regard, there is an asymptomatic period of development, as well as a clinical one. In the first case, a pathological process can be suspected on the basis of a laboratory blood test, which will show a high content of cholesterol or betalipoproteins. The clinical period is characterized by a sufficient degree of severity of symptoms. Narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels by more than half is manifested by corresponding signs.

The clinical period of the disease can be divided into three stages.

1. Ischemic. It is characterized by impaired blood circulation of any organ with the ensuing symptoms. For example, ischemia of renal tissue due to atherosclerosis of the renal artery.
2. Thrombonecrotic. Vascular thrombosis develops. For example, with atherosclerotic lesions of the mesenteric arteries, thrombosis leads to gangrene.
3. Fibrous. The organs' own tissues, which are insufficiently supplied with blood due to damaged arteries, begin to be replaced by connective tissue cells.

People who suffer from atherosclerosis are characterized by a tired, poor appearance. Most often, they can be given more years than they really are. In addition, with this disease, xanthomas form on the eyelids and elbows. These are yellow or yellow-brown plaques caused by high cholesterol levels.

Depending on the nature of the pathological process and the dynamics of symptoms, three types of pathology are distinguished.

1. Progressive. In this case, the signs of the disease only intensify, and the formation of atherosclerotic deposits on the walls of blood vessels continues.
2. Stabilized. Cholesterol is no longer deposited, the growth of atherosclerotic plaques is inhibited, but the symptoms remain the same.
3. Retrogressive. There is an improvement in all indicators, the intensity of symptoms is noticeably reduced.

Symptoms of aortic damage

Atherosclerosis of the aorta is the most common type of vascular damage caused by cholesterol plaques. Symptoms when this section of the circulatory system is affected will vary due to the fact that the thoracic section of the vessel or its abdominal section may be affected. Moreover, regardless of the affected area, signs of the disease may not manifest themselves for quite a long time.

In the thoracic aorta, atherosclerotic changes are often accompanied by similar disorders in the brain or coronary arteries. Symptoms usually begin to appear at age 60-70. At this time, the disease reaches significant development, the vascular walls are already greatly changed by the pathological process. A person complains of symptoms such as:

• burning sensation, pain behind the sternum;
• it becomes difficult to swallow;
• frequent dizziness is observed;
• breathing problems occur;
• high blood pressure is observed.

Less specific signs include:

• gray hair appears early;
• early aging of the body occurs;
• wen appears on the surface of the face;
• in the area of ​​the ears, hair follicles are activated, which causes the growth of a large volume of hair;
• A stripe of a lighter shade is formed along the iris (along the edge).

Atherosclerotic lesions of the abdominal aorta account for almost half of the total cases of the disease. Vessel pathology in this area provokes the occurrence of abdominal ischemia, which, by analogy with cardiac ischemia, is characterized by impaired blood flow in the relevant organs. Damage to the aorta in this case will manifest itself with the following symptoms.

• Pain syndrome in the abdominal area. Pain characteristic of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta appears after eating. It is aching in nature, manifests itself in the form of attacks, has no specific localization, and goes away after some time without taking medications.
• Digestive disorders. They manifest themselves in the form of increased gas formation, possibly alternating diarrhea and difficult bowel movements.
• Loss of body weight. Caused by digestive dysfunction and lack of appetite. As the disease progresses, weight loss increases.
• Kidney failure. It develops as a result of the replacement of renal tissue with connective structures, which leads to disruption of blood flow in them and the occurrence of necrosis.
• Increased blood pressure. Occurs due to impaired blood flow in the kidney tissue.

In the absence of timely treatment, as a result of atherosclerotic changes in the abdominal aorta, deadly complications develop: aortic aneurysm and thrombosis of the visceral arteries.

Signs of cerebral vascular damage

The vessels of the brain are very sensitive to the lack of nutrition and oxygen, however, manifestations of atherosclerosis in this part of the body are often mistaken for signs of aging of the body. This is due to the fact that the main symptoms characteristic of atherosclerotic changes in the vessels of the head appear over the age of 60 years. In addition, the initial signs of the disease can be interpreted as symptoms of osteochondrosis, hypertensive encephalopathy or another disorder.

Symptoms of atherosclerotic disorders of cerebral vessels do not manifest themselves immediately, but gradually. In addition, some neurological manifestations may appear only for a certain period of time and then disappear. This:

• loss or decrease in sensitivity;
• muscle weakening, which may manifest as paresis;
• paralysis;
• hearing disorders;
• blurred vision;
• problems with speech skills.

In some cases, if atherosclerotic changes are very pronounced, due to loss of blood supply, necrosis of parts of the brain is possible, and a stroke occurs. Then the above-mentioned symptoms become stable and practically cannot be treated.

What other symptoms are characteristic of cerebral vascular damage? Other signs include:

• headache of a bursting nature, which, as a rule, spreads throughout the head;
• high fatigue;
• ringing or noise in the ears;
• anxiety and nervousness;
• lethargy, apathy;
• difficulties with coordination in space;
• sleep disorders (expressed both in its absence and in increased drowsiness, nightmares are typical);
• memory and concentration problems;
• psychological changes in personality (pictiness, touchiness, etc. appear);
• depression.

If therapeutic treatment is not prescribed in a timely manner, senile dementia develops.

Signs of atherosclerotic lesions of the lower extremities

Just like the above-described options for the development of atherosclerosis, impaired blood supply to the extremities is completely asymptomatic for a long period of time. This course of the disease can continue until the blood flow is completely disrupted. Before this, limb pathology can manifest itself as various disorders, which is the reason for a thorough differential diagnosis.

Poor blood circulation in the vessels leads to an acute lack of oxygen and nutrition. Oxygen starvation of muscle tissue, in turn, causes pain. Pain, in this case, is a classic symptom indicating the development of atherosclerotic changes. As the disease progresses, so-called “intermittent claudication” occurs. What does it mean? Over time, pain due to damage to the arteries spreads throughout the muscle tissue of the legs: on the thighs, calves, and annual area. This manifests itself in the form of seizures, and leads to the fact that the person is forced to limp. In addition, paroxysmal pain forces him to stop while moving in order to wait for the pain to subside.

At the initial stage of development of vascular disorders of the extremities, episodic manifestations of other symptoms can be noted.

• The legs and arms periodically become cold, and a feeling of chilliness appears.
• There is a feeling of “pins and needles” crawling along the limbs, exactly the same as in the case of being in one position for a long time, but with atherosclerosis - in the normal state.
• The surface of the skin becomes so pale that the course of the blood vessels begins to show through.

As the disease progresses further (in the final stages), a person develops more severe signs of damage to the blood vessels of the extremities.

• Tissues, due to a lack of oxygen and nutrients, begin to atrophy. However, degeneration occurs not only in the muscles. Thinning of the subcutaneous fatty tissue and nail plates occurs. Hair becomes thin and colorless, and then falls out irrevocably due to atrophy of the hair follicles.
• Trophic lesions – ulcers – appear on the surface of the skin.
• Fluid accumulates in the intercellular space, and persistent swelling of the extremities develops.
• Fingers turn red.
• A characteristic sign indicating atherosclerotic changes in the vessels is the absence of a pulse when pressing on the artery (for example, in the popliteal fossa).
• As the final stage of atherosclerotic changes in the extremities, gangrene and necrosis develop.

Severe pain in the legs gradually increases, and over time begins to appear even in the absence of any movement, which indicates arterial insufficiency. Depending on the intensity of the pain syndrome, four degrees of its development can be distinguished.

1. Functional compensation. The pain begins to bother you as a result of prolonged walking over long distances (more than 1 km) or other equally intense activity. It is localized in the calves and feet. During this period, the patient complains of a feeling of chilliness or loss of sensation in the limbs. Possible manifestations of impaired blood circulation include: burning, tingling; Convulsive attacks may be a concern.
2. Subcompensation. Pain syndrome appears when moving a distance of no more than 0.2 km. External signs of atherosclerosis appear, which are characterized primarily by dry skin. Peeling and loss of elastic properties of the epidermis are caused by ongoing tissue trophic disorders. During this period, changes occur in the nail plate and hair. The lower surface of the feet undergoes increased keratinization due to lack of nutrition. Thinning hair and death of hair follicles lead to the development of bald spots. In addition, gradual atrophy of the muscle tissue of the feet occurs, and the subcutaneous layer of fiber becomes very thin.
3. Decompensation. At the third stage of arterial insufficiency, a person is unable to walk more than 25 m, or the pain bothers him even with a complete absence of movement. Trophic disorders in tissues at this stage are significantly worsened. Thin skin becomes easily vulnerable, causing deep damage even with a minor scratch. The surface of the epidermis when the limb is positioned “down” becomes red.
4. Destructive changes. The fourth and final stage of the disease is characterized by the presence of ulcerative lesions and the development of tissue necrosis. The quality of life is reduced to a minimum due to constant unbearable pain. The presence of trophic ulcers is characteristic, especially on the fingers, which are not amenable to targeted treatment. The tissues of the limbs are swollen. At this stage of the disease, gangrene develops.

With atherosclerotic disorders that develop in the upper extremities, they become chilly and weak. A person experiences high fatigue, decreased performance, and decreased muscle strength in the arms. If the pathological process is unilateral, narrowing of the lumen occurs in the subclavian artery, then an asymmetric pulse is observed. In this case, on the affected limb, the upper pressure can be up to 80 mm Hg. Art.

Manifestations of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries of the heart

It is not easy to detect the beginning of the formation of atherosclerotic changes in the coronary arteries of the heart. Deposits on the vascular walls interfere with the normal nutrition of the heart tissue, as a result of which the activity of the myocardium is disrupted. Diseases such as angina or ischemia develop. As complications, cardiosclerosis and heart attack occur. Therefore, the symptoms of atherosclerosis in this case will manifest themselves as signs of these disorders.

Thus, with angina pectoris, atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries of the heart manifests itself with the following signs.

• Pain syndrome localized in the chest area. The pain can burn, press, and move towards the shoulder, back (on the left side). As a rule, it occurs during physical activity or nervous stress.
• Dyspnea. It can accompany pain, or arise independently during movement or any action. Manifests itself as a feeling of acute lack of air. It gets worse when lying down, so the person has to take a sitting position to avoid suffocation.
• Head pain and dizziness (manifested as a consequence of impaired blood circulation and lack of oxygen).
• Vomiting and/or nausea may also accompany an attack of angina.

If cardiosclerosis develops as a result of atherosclerotic disorders, then an additional sign in addition to shortness of breath will be the occurrence of severe edema. Heart failure appears gradually. Physical performance also decreases as the condition worsens.

Myocardial infarction, as a consequence of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels of the heart, manifests itself with almost the same symptoms as angina pectoris. There is an acute lack of air, shortness of breath, even to the point of fainting. The use of nitroglycerin, unlike an attack of angina, does not bring relief.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis of the mesenteric arteries

With the development of atherosclerosis of the mesenteric arteries, vascular changes occur in the upper abdomen, therefore the blood supply to the digestive organs located in this area of ​​the body is disrupted. The volume of blood required to ensure normal functioning of the digestive tract is insufficient. This is evidenced by the corresponding external and internal manifestations. Symptoms occur most often in the evening after eating. The symptoms in this case of atherosclerotic changes are collectively called “abdominal toad”, and the complex of characteristic signs is a kind of marker of the disease.

• Pain. It is of a moderate nature. It resembles that of a peptic ulcer, but in the latter case it lasts longer. The duration of pain in atherosclerosis of the mesenteric arteries varies, from a couple of minutes to an hour.
• Increased gas formation.
• Moderate muscle tension.
• Hypotension or intestinal atony. As a result of weakened motor skills, difficulties with defecation and bloating appear.
• Belching.

Atherosclerosis of the mesenteric arteries can provoke the occurrence of thrombosis. Typically, this complication develops abruptly and is characterized by severe gas formation, intense vomiting, nausea and pain. Pain during thrombosis is diffuse or wandering, long-lasting, and can be concentrated in the navel area. Vomit may contain blood or bile.

In many cases, the result of thrombosis of the mesenteric arteries is gangrene and peritonitis. Symptoms of vascular atherosclerosis appear, such as: a sharp increase in temperature, a decrease in blood pressure, profuse sweating, sharp severe pain in the abdomen and incessant vomiting.

Manifestations of atherosclerotic vascular lesions of the renal arteries

Atherosclerosis of the renal arteries also has specific symptoms. This variant of the disease over time provokes the occurrence of ischemia, which leads to a persistent increase in blood pressure. Sometimes there may be no specific signs of the disease. However, most often atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels cause obstruction of blood flow and the development of secondary hypertension. In this case, high blood pressure becomes an obvious symptom of atherosclerosis, and indicates that the lumen of the vessel is closed by more than 70%.

A feature of blood pressure in atherosclerosis of the renal artery is an increase in blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic. As a result of the occurring disorders, cerebral pressure also increases, which is expressed in severe pain and heaviness in the head, dizziness, visual disturbances, and tinnitus.

If only one artery is affected by the pathological process, then the disease develops gradually and is characterized by frequent manifestations of hypertension. When the lumen is narrowed by atherosclerotic deposits of both arteries, the development of the disease occurs sharply, quickly, and is accompanied by additional symptoms:

• pain in the abdomen, lumbar region (duration can reach several days);
• vomiting and nausea;
• increased body temperature;
• there is aching pain in the heart area;
• heart rate increases.

A complication such as renal infarction is characterized by severe pain in the lumbar region, as well as the presence of traces of blood in the urine.

As a result, the person’s condition deteriorates sharply.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries

Another part of the circulatory system that can be affected by atherosclerotic deposits is the carotid arteries. Typically, carotid atherosclerosis is discovered after a stroke has occurred. Just like other forms of the disease, disturbances in this area occur gradually and do not reveal themselves in any way. However, with a more careful approach to your well-being, you can identify the following manifestations of the disease:

• itching sensation in legs and arms;
• numbness and/or tingling;
• loss of control over the movement of any limb;
• weakening or loss of vision in one eye;
• problems with speech skills, difficulties in pronunciation.

In addition, atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries is manifested by weakness and numbness of the body.

Diagnosis of the disease

Detecting the development of atherosclerosis at an early stage is quite problematic.

Typically, a specialist is contacted with complaints that correspond to a specific atherosclerotic disorder. In this case, vascular damage has already reached a significant extent. Depending on the nature of the symptoms, in addition to laboratory diagnostics, the doctor may prescribe tests such as:

• electrocardiogram;
• Doppler ultrasound;
• cardiac catheterization;
• magnetic resonance or computed tomography;
• angiography and others.

In each case, a separate set of diagnostic examinations will be compiled, which will make it possible to detect changes in the vessels to the greatest extent and make the correct diagnosis.

Prognosis and prevention

The prognosis of atherosclerosis is considered favorable provided that the patient completely revises his lifestyle, making adjustments to diet, habits, and physical activity.

In addition, strict adherence to the doctor's instructions for taking medications will be required. Only in this case is it possible not only to stabilize the condition and stop further growth and development of atherosclerotic deposits, but also complete regression of the disease. However, the latter is only possible if atherosclerosis was detected at an early stage of development. If the patient refuses to make lifestyle adjustments and also ignores the prescribed therapeutic treatment, then the prognosis for the development of the disease is unfavorable.

Timely taken preventive measures will prevent the occurrence of atherosclerotic vascular lesions, and if present, will make it possible to stop the pathological process and maintain health. Prevention includes simple, accessible lifestyle rules:

• monitor your diet, excluding fatty and fried foods;
• increase stress resistance;
• normalize and maintain body weight;
• say goodbye to bad habits;
• increase physical activity.

In addition, people predisposed to diabetes or high blood pressure should undergo preventive examinations by a specialist in a timely manner.

Atherosclerosis code according to ICD 10 I70. The name is well known among the people, but few people think about the consequences. The name comes from the Greek ἀθέρος - “chaff, gruel” and σκληρός - “hard, dense”. For various reasons, cholesterol is deposited in the intima of blood vessels in the form of a fairly dense paste (plaque).

As a result, the lumen of the vessel narrows to the point of complete blockage (obliteration) with the cessation of blood flow. There is a pathology with similar symptoms - Mönckeberg arteriosclerosis, but in this case the middle lining of the arteries suffers, in which calcium salts are deposited, cholesterol plaques are absent and vascular aneurysms develop (not blockage).

Atherosclerosis affects the walls of blood vessels, reducing their elasticity and creating an obstacle to the flow of blood. As a result, the blood supply to internal organs is disrupted.

Important. The rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque is dangerous due to the development of such serious emergency conditions as myocardial infarction or stroke.

At the moment, vascular atherosclerosis is no longer considered a pathology of older people. An unhealthy lifestyle, little physical activity, smoking, stress, excessive consumption of fatty foods and alcohol lead to the fact that atherosclerosis can develop by the age of 30-35.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic vascular pathology that appears due to an imbalance in the metabolism of fats and proteins in the body and is accompanied by the accumulation of lipids with the subsequent proliferation of connective tissue fibers in the vascular wall.

The progression of atherosclerosis is accompanied by a violation of the elastic properties of the vessel, its deformation, narrowing of the lumen, and, consequently, impaired patency for blood flow.

Attention. The main insidiousness of the disease is that the first stages of vascular atherosclerosis are asymptomatic, and a clear clinical picture develops only after the occurrence of irreversible changes in the vessels and significant disturbances in the blood supply to organs.

It should also be noted that many patients do not pay attention to the first nonspecific signs of atherosclerosis and ischemia, such as:

• decreased performance,
• chronic fatigue,
• dizziness,
• memory impairment,
• shortness of breath,
• heart rhythm disturbance,
• tachycardia, etc.

Most symptoms are attributed to the consequences of hard work and lack of sleep.

Most often, patients first consult a doctor only after the symptoms of the disease arising from vascular atherosclerosis begin to significantly complicate their lives (inability to climb stairs without severe shortness of breath, tachycardia and a feeling of lack of air at rest, inability to move independently due to pain in the legs, etc.).

For reference. In some cases, patients learn that they have severe atherosclerosis after an acute attack of angina, heart attack, or transient ischemic attack (transient cerebral ischemia).

Chronic cerebral ischemia can lead to tinnitus, significant memory loss, mental changes, disturbances in gait and coordination, etc. This symptom complex is most often ignored by older people, attributing the manifestations of cerebral ischemia due to vascular atherosclerosis to senile changes.

Causes of atherosclerosis

For reference. There is currently no unified theory of the occurrence of vascular atherosclerosis.

The development of plaques in the vascular intima can be provoked by:

• autoimmune diseases (primary infiltration of the vascular wall by macrophages and leukocytes occurs);
• infections (viruses, bacteria, etc.);
• disruption of antioxidant systems;
• hormonal imbalances (gonadotropic and adenocorticotropic hormones provoke increased cholesterol synthesis);
• congenital defects of vascular walls;
• imbalance of lipoproteins and accumulation of LDL and VLDL in the walls of blood vessels.

For reference. All these factors can serve as triggers for the development of atherosclerosis, however the leading role in the pathogenesis of damage to the vascular wall remains with lipid imbalance.

Risk factors for the development of vascular atherosclerosis:

Uncontrollable risk factors for the development of vascular atherosclerosis are those that cannot be influenced. They can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, but in the absence of controlled factors, they do not lead to the development of the disease.

For the development of vascular atherosclerosis, a combination of several risk factors is necessary.

This means that, even if you have a hereditary predisposition to the development of atherosclerosis, you can avoid serious complications if:

• lead a healthy lifestyle (sufficient level of physical activity, stopping smoking and drinking alcohol, diet with an increased amount of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean fish and limiting the intake of fatty meats, sweets, etc.);
• see your doctor regularly;
• monitor lipid profile indicators (HDL, LDL, VLDL,);
• take prescribed treatment for underlying pathologies (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, etc.).

Maximum risk factors

Classification of atherosclerosis

As such, there is no classification of atherosclerosis. The disease can be divided into stages and localization.

The most common localizations of atherosclerotic lesions are:

• coronary vessels;
• thoracic aorta;
• cervical and cerebral vessels (cerebral atherosclerosis);
• kidney vessels;
• abdominal aorta;
• arteries of the legs.

Atherosclerosis of the thoracic aorta, in the overwhelming majority of cases, is combined with damage to the coronary vessels of the heart, and atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta is associated with ischemia of the lower extremities.

Atherosclerotic damage to blood vessels is an unpleasant diagnosis that is faced mainly by older people. In official medicine, atherosclerosis of the arteries is called the main cause of the development of life-threatening conditions: ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and internal organ failure.

To date, no methods have been found for the treatment of vascular atherosclerosis that could permanently get rid of the disease. Patients have to take a number of special medications for the rest of their lives. But even this does not guarantee that there is no risk of deadly complications. For treatment of atherosclerosis to be effective, you have to change your lifestyle, follow a diet, and systematically undergo comprehensive diagnostics.

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What is atherosclerosis and can it be cured?

Official medicine classifies vascular atherosclerosis as a complex lesion of large and medium arteries by deposits consisting of cholesterol. Lipids form so-called plaques, which interfere with normal blood flow and, under certain conditions, flake off, clogging the lumen of smaller vascular branches. As the disease progresses, cholesterol deposits thicken and become more rigid due to the presence of connective tissue cells and calcifications in them. It becomes impossible to remove them using conservative methods.

In recent decades, pathology has acquired alarming proportions:

• the disease is diagnosed in every third man over 50 years of age, and in every fifth woman at the same age;
• half of the patients, even despite timely treatment of atherosclerosis, develop serious life-threatening complications;
• Mortality from atherosclerosis exceeded the rates of cancer, injuries and infections.

Such statistics are due to people’s ignorance of what atherosclerosis is, how it manifests itself and how you can protect yourself from this dangerous disease. Moreover, at least 15% of patients experiencing symptoms of the disease deny the need for diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis, do not follow doctor’s recommendations and refuse to take medications.

Contrary to the opinion of many patients who believe that atherosclerosis affects single vessels of individual organs (only the heart or only the brain), experts consider this disease to be systemic. The causes of atherosclerotic changes are multifaceted, so they cannot affect single vessels: the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is based on a complex change in metabolism, metabolism and the functioning of internal organs, which is why pathological changes are observed in all large and medium-sized arteries.

Effective treatment of vascular atherosclerosis requires significant efforts. Doctors and the patient will have to work on nutrition and lifestyle, while simultaneously reducing the level of harmful lipids in the blood with medications. At the same time, there is no question of whether it is possible to cure atherosclerosis once and for all. Today, this disease is considered incurable, requiring lifelong therapy and constant monitoring of the state of the circulatory system and the functioning of the organs affected by the pathology.

Which doctor treats atherosclerosis?

If you suspect problems with blood vessels, you should not choose which specialist is best to contact. To begin with, it is recommended to consult a therapist. He will prescribe a comprehensive examination and, if atherosclerotic changes are detected, will refer you to a specialist. Which organs are affected by the disease will depend on which doctor treats atherosclerosis in an individual patient. This is usually done by several specialists: a cardiologist, a neurologist, a surgeon and other doctors of narrow specializations.

What is dangerous about atherosclerosis - the mechanism of development

The development of atherosclerotic changes occurs very slowly. On average, at least 20-30 years pass from the onset of pathological changes in blood vessels to the appearance of negative consequences of atherosclerosis. The slow progression causes symptoms to increase unnoticed. And this is the first reason why atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels are dangerous. An exacerbation of a disease or its manifestation is always sudden, which is why the patient may not receive timely help - in order to provide it, doctors must first diagnose high cholesterol and atherosclerosis.

For a long time, the patient does not notice the changes occurring in him and the initial signs of atherosclerosis, until the first vascular catastrophe occurs:

• ischemia of organs (brain, heart, kidneys and others);
• hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke;
• formation and rupture of aneurysm.

To prevent this from happening, it is important to know about the first signs of atherosclerosis and understand what exactly leads to the deposition of cholesterol in the arteries. This will allow you to assess risks and suspect problems with blood vessels before changes become irreversible or life-threatening.

The main factors in the development of atherosclerosis are conventionally divided into two groups:

1. Independent of a person, his environment, lifestyle. According to statistics, age is considered the main factor predisposing to the occurrence of cholesterol deposits. The older a person is, the higher the risk of getting sick. There are no known cases in medicine where atherosclerosis was detected in children, although theoretically and in practice there are cases of detection in large arteries in adolescents and children at the initial stage of pathology. It is they who have the second irreducible factor - hereditary predisposition. In such patients, the causes of atherosclerosis most often consist of metabolic disorders in which cholesterol is produced in the body in excessive quantities.
2. Depending on the person, his environment and lifestyle. First of all, this is an unhealthy diet that contains a lot of animal fats. Smoking, alcohol, and limited physical activity complicate the situation with cholesterol deposits. In the presence of these factors, atherosclerosis first affects the walls of blood vessels, and the body tries to restore them by forming a fatty film consisting of cholesterol.

Often, signs of atherosclerosis appear against the background of other diseases that are partially or completely controllable, but cannot be cured: diabetes, dyslipidemia (impaired lipid balance and metabolism in the body), hypertension, and general intoxication of the body. Such conditions lead to damage to arterial walls and prevent the breakdown and removal of harmful fats from the body.

Important! Atherosclerosis does not develop in the presence of one predisposing factor. For the progression of the disease to dangerous diagnosable stages, a combination of removable and non-removable, controllable and uncontrollable factors in various variations is necessary.

If the disease is not detected in a timely manner, or the patient for some reason does not receive treatment, he is at risk of such dangerous conditions as vascular insufficiency of internal organs, acute heart attack or stroke, or ruptured aneurysm.

Stages of atherosclerosis

Regarding the stages of development of atherosclerosis, the classification distinguishes 3 stages of disease progression. Each of them is characterized by varying degrees of arterial damage. The development of atherosclerosis by stages is described in more detail in the table below:

It is noteworthy that in the initial stages, early signs of atherosclerosis are ignored, although in the early stages the disease can be successfully controlled by taking a set of medications. At stages 2 and 3 of the disease, treatment of atherosclerosis is more complex. It requires not only stabilization of cholesterol levels, but also restoration of the functions of internal organs and systems.

Symptoms

There are no specific symptoms of atherosclerosis. Clinical manifestations of pathology are always complex and directly depend on which organs are affected by insufficient blood supply.

When the cerebral arteries are damaged, the following symptoms occur:

• deterioration of short-term memory - the patient remembers what happened in the distant past, but forgets events that took place a few minutes ago;
• sleep disorders - the patient has problems falling asleep, suffers from insomnia, wakes up several times at night;
• neurological disorders - mood swings, exacerbation of character traits, irritability are combined with regular headaches that are not relieved by conventional painkillers.

Symptoms develop gradually, which is why they are not always perceived as something threatening. At the final stage, they acquire particularly acute features: the patient suffers from a constant feeling of fatigue, cannot lead the same lifestyle and take care of himself due to persistent memory impairment. There is a loss of interest in life, apathy. Most people suffering from the disease become depressed.

Symptoms may resemble manifestations of heart and pulmonary diseases, as it causes:

• shortness of breath, shortness of breath;
• general weakness and rapid fatigue during physical activity;
• dull pain in the chest;
• heart rhythm disturbances such as angina pectoris.

Often, taking over-the-counter heart medications (Validol, Nitroglycerin, Corvalol) does not bring relief for such symptoms.

The symptoms resemble tumor processes in the abdominal and pelvic organs. In this case, patients complain of the following unpleasant sensations:

• paroxysmal abdominal pain of unclear localization that is not associated with food intake and stool;
• bloating that is not associated with eating fiber-rich foods;
• frequent tension of the anterior abdominal wall.

As in the case of damage to other vessels, standard medications (antispasmodics, analgesics, enterosorbents, defoamers and others) do not have the desired effect.

Atherosclerosis of the renal arteries is also accompanied by nonspecific symptoms. When this group of vessels is affected, patients suffer from a severe form of arterial hypertension. Against this background, dull pain in the lower back is observed, which persists during activity and at rest.

Patients complain of pain and heaviness in the legs, which at the initial stage of the disease subside at rest. Along with this, the quality of the skin changes: it becomes pale and dry in the area below the narrowing of the vessel. If atherosclerosis is not treated, trophic ulcers and areas of necrosis form on the limbs closer to the foot, which can then develop into gangrene. Similar symptoms are observed with damage to the arteries of the arms.

It is almost impossible to independently differentiate the disease due to the nonspecificity of symptoms. Moreover, specialists also cannot always immediately suspect this pathology, since in clinical practice it is extremely rare that only one group of arteries is affected: the combination of symptoms can be extremely atypical and unexpected, which will complicate diagnosis.

Treatment of vascular atherosclerosis

Treatment for vascular atherosclerosis is aimed at restoring and stimulating metabolism (primarily proteins and lipids), reducing cholesterol synthesis in the body and limiting its intake from food. Positive dynamics are observed only with therapy in the initial stages of the disease, while lipid deposits in the arteries do not contain connective tissue and calcifications. In advanced forms of the disease, complex therapy can only guarantee the absence of further progress.

Medicines

The main direction of therapy is taking several groups of medications. Statins play a major role in atherosclerosis. This group of drugs is designed to reduce cholesterol levels in the body by reducing the synthesis of lipids in the liver and reducing their absorption in the digestive tract. Bile acid sequestrants and fibrates, as well as nicotinic acid derivatives, have similar properties.

In addition to the listed drugs, patients with atherosclerotic changes are prescribed additional drugs:

• preparations containing Omega-3 - they improve lipid metabolism, reduce inflammation in the walls of arteries, and to a certain extent reduce blood viscosity;
• drugs that improve blood circulation in organs and tissues, including those based on medicinal herbs;
• drugs to stabilize blood pressure;
• sedatives and nootropics, including those based on herbal components.

Medicines are selected individually, taking into account the diagnostic results and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Diet

Drug therapy must be accompanied by compliance, since treating vascular atherosclerosis with drugs alone is not effective: without limiting the intake of lipids from food, they will not be able to have a pronounced effect on the body.

The following are excluded from the patient’s menu:

• animal products high in fat, including meat, lard, milk, sour cream and cream, butter;
• solid vegetable and animal fats;
• sweets, baked goods, chocolate and cream cakes, ice cream;
• alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks;
• strong coffee and tea.

The basis of the diet should be vegetables and fruits rich in fiber, cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat, rice), white meat (chicken and turkey breasts), seafood and sea fish, natural low-fat yogurt or kefir, egg whites or quail eggs, skim milk. Bread and pastries can be eaten if they are made from wholemeal flour.

In addition to the selection of certain products, the method of cooking plays a special role. The preferred cooking method is boiling, steaming, baking in parchment and stewing in its own juices. Meals should be fractional: the serving size should not exceed 200 ml, and the number of meals ranges from 5 to 7 times a day.

Surgical intervention

If there is a high risk of arterial blockage and the development of a heart attack or stroke, treatment of atherosclerosis continues using surgical methods. There are 4 effective methods of restoring blood flow:

• - open surgery on the arteries, during which the cholesterol plaque is removed along with part of the inner lining of the vessel;
• endovascular dilatation of arteries- expansion of the lumen using balloon catheters;
• endovascular stenting- expansion of the lumen of the arteries using a spiral or mesh cylinder (stent);
• coronary artery bypass surgery- creation of a new blood supply channel bypassing the damaged section of the artery.

A successful surgical intervention does not mean that the patient is completely free of the problem. After the operation, he will have to take medications and follow a diet.

How to identify atherosclerosis - diagnostic methods

For modern medicine, diagnosing atherosclerosis does not seem to be a difficult task, especially if the patient has clear clinical signs of the disease. Initial conclusions are drawn up based on an oral interview with the patient and a general examination. Evidence in favor of the disease is:

• swelling of soft tissues;
• trophic changes in the skin of the extremities;
• low weight;
• the presence of wen on the body;
• change in arterial pulsation;
• high or unstable blood pressure.

Since it is impossible to diagnose atherosclerosis only on the basis of complaints and history taking, a comprehensive examination is carried out, which includes:

• blood tests for low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides and cholesterol;
• vascular angiography;
• kidneys, carotid and coronary arteries, vessels of the lower extremities and aorta.

Also, the diagnosis of atherosclerosis may include examination using MRI and CT. Using these examination methods, organ damage due to tissue ischemia is diagnosed. Rheovasography of the lower extremities is also of no small importance, making it possible to detect a decrease in the speed of blood flow in them. This type of diagnosis is useful for incipient disease, since it can be difficult to detect atherosclerosis using previously mentioned methods at this stage of progression.

Complications of atherosclerosis

With the disease atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia, patients are threatened with many complications, because almost all organs and systems suffer from insufficient blood circulation. Conventionally, they can be divided into 3 groups:

Vascular insufficiency caused by insufficient nutrition and gas exchange in the tissues of internal organs: such complications of atherosclerosis can be represented by dystrophic and necrotic changes, which inevitably affect the functionality of organs and systems. the consequences of such processes can be progressive dementia, loss of vision, hearing, memory and profound disability. When the heart vessels are damaged, patients develop ischemic disease, which also leads to profound disability. Damage to the arteries supplying internal organs (kidneys, intestines, liver) results in multiple organ failure or organ necrosis. Atherosclerosis in the legs is complicated by gangrene.

Severance of cholesterol plaques or the formation of blood clots with subsequent blockage of blood vessels: Such complications of atherosclerosis arise rapidly and are catastrophic in nature (it is not for nothing that in medicine there are the terms “brain catastrophe” and “heart catastrophe”). As a result of such processes, myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke develop. The result is paralysis and loss of many usual functions. More than 70% die in the first year after plaque detachment occurs.

Thinning of the vessel wall with its subsequent protrusion outward - the development of an aneurysm: this complication can develop over a long period of time and go unnoticed. With stress, physical and emotional stress, which are often accompanied by surges in blood pressure, the artery wall can burst. Rupture of an aneurysm leads to heavy internal bleeding and is fatal in 80% of cases.

The only way to avoid such dangerous consequences of the disease is to consult a doctor if symptoms appear that may indicate vascular atherosclerosis. After diagnosis, it is important to strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations, lead a healthy lifestyle and take medications prescribed by a specialist. If these conditions are met, the patient can live to a ripe old age and maintain a high quality of life.

Video: atherosclerosis

For a long time, atherosclerosis has not been associated with old age. The pathology develops gradually and without the manifestation of any symptoms. For this reason, patients become aware of its presence only when obvious clinical abnormalities appear. Signs of atherosclerosis vary significantly and depend on the type of affected vessels. Medium and large vessels are most often affected by this pathology. Cholesterol accumulates on the inner surfaces of their walls, and the vascular lumen gradually narrows. Improper blood circulation in tissues leads to the appearance of corresponding symptoms over time.

Vessels containing elastic fibers are susceptible to atherosclerotic changes. Cholesterol clots do not form in the vessels of the lymphatic system, veins and capillaries.

The formation of fat accumulations is usually associated with lipid metabolism disorders, leading to excess LDL. For this reason, when considering the signs and methods of treatment of atherosclerosis, you need to pay special attention to metabolic failures.

What causes the violation?

Symptoms and treatment of atherosclerosis depend entirely on the factors that led to its development. Usually they are divided into those that depend on a person and those that cannot be influenced in any way. Factors depending on the person:

1. Smoking– the most important reason for the development of atherosclerosis. Nicotine, when released into the blood, contributes to the imbalance of fat balance. The amount of LDL increases and excess is deposited on the walls of blood vessels.
2. Hypertension– leads to the adhesion of low-density lipoproteins to the vascular walls, which significantly contributes to the acceleration of the formation of cholesterol plaques.
3. Physical inactivity– promotes stagnation of blood, insufficient oxygen and nutrients in it. The muscular framework of the vascular walls weakens.
4. Excess weight– associated with improper metabolic processes.
5. Fatty food– over time, it contributes to a decrease in liver function, and the synthesis of cholesterol-processing enzymes decreases.
6. Diabetes– one of the reasons for improper lipid metabolism.
7. Infectious pathologies– damage the vascular walls, leading to the formation of fatty clots in places where the vascular walls are injured.

Now let's look at the reasons for the development of atherosclerosis, independent of a person:

1. Genetic predisposition– the possibility of pathologies increases if close relatives have had hypertension, strokes, or heart attacks.
2. Age- the main cause of atherosclerosis, although it gets younger, with age the body loses its protective functions.
3. Gender– according to statistical data, representatives of the stronger half of humanity are more predisposed to the appearance of this pathology. With the onset of menopause, the risk of atherosclerosis in women is compared with men.

How does atherosclerosis manifest?

Due to the fact that cholesterol is deposited on the surfaces of the vascular walls, forming plaques, over time the damaged area of ​​the vessel begins to bulge. Signs of atherosclerosis at this time appear slightly. Slowly, the formed plaque loses its stability.

Microcracks begin to form on its surface, followed by blood clots, which significantly interferes with the movement of blood. The first symptoms appear. Medium and large vessels are most often affected.

The areas most susceptible to pathology are the abdominal and thoracic aorta, the vessels supplying the brain, located in the neck and limbs.

Atherosclerosis of cardiac, mesenteric and renal vessels is not uncommon. Almost all of the above-mentioned pathology options develop slowly and imperceptibly at the beginning. There are asymptomatic and clinical periods. In the first case, pathology can be identified through laboratory blood tests, which will indicate an increased concentration of cholesterol.

The clinical period is characterized by fairly pronounced symptoms. Reducing the vascular lumen by more than half contributes to the development of characteristic symptoms.

There are three stages of the clinical period:

• ischemic;
• thromonecrotic;
• fibrous.

Depending on the nature of the disease and the speed at which symptoms appear, it is divided into 3 types:

• progressive – signs of the disease intensify, cholesterol plaques increase;
• stabilized – fat does not accumulate, plaques do not increase, symptoms do not change;
• regressing - indicators improve, there is a noticeable decrease in symptoms.

Symptoms of aortic damage

The most common is atherosclerosis of the aorta. Symptoms of the lesion differ depending on where it occurs: in the thoracic or abdominal aorta. But regardless of where the pathology develops, symptoms of the disease may not appear for a long time.

Atherosclerosis of the thoracic aorta often manifests itself as dysfunction of the brain or arteries of the heart. As a rule, they appear after 60 years.

The pathology at this time is usually already quite developed. The patient complains:

• burning and pain in the chest area;
• difficulty swallowing;
• the appearance of dizziness;
• shortness of breath appears;
• blood pressure rises.

Less specific symptoms include:

• the appearance of gray hair;
• premature aging occurs;
• Wen appear on the skin of the face;
• hair begins to grow in the ears;
• A light stripe appears along the edge of the iris.

The formation of cholesterol plaques in the abdominal aorta occurs in almost 50% of cases of pathology. Vascular disease in this department contributes to the development of abdominal ischemia. With it, there is a violation of blood circulation in the organs, as with ischemic heart disease. The manifestation of pathology is characterized by the appearance of:

• abdominal pain that appears after eating, aching in nature, without localization, goes away on its own;
• disorders of the digestive system with gas formation, alternating constipation with diarrhea;
• loss of body weight due to gastrointestinal dysfunction and lack of appetite. weight loss, which only increases with the development of pathology;
• renal failure manifests itself due to the replacement of renal tissues with connective tissue, which causes improper blood circulation and the development of necrosis;
• Blood pressure increases due to improper blood circulation in the kidneys.

If treatment for this disease is not started in time, complications may develop that can lead to death: thrombosis of the visceral arteries or rupture of an aortic aneurysm.

Signs of cerebral vascular damage

Lack of nutrients and oxygen affects the blood vessels of the brain, but often manifestations of atherosclerosis in this area are considered signs of aging. This is due to the fact that the main symptoms of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the head appear after reaching 60 years of age.

However, the onset of the pathology can be mistaken for osteochondrosis, hypertensive encephalopathy or other diseases. Signs of cerebral atherosclerosis can appear after a long time. Neurological manifestations can appear for a short time and then go away on their own. These include:

• partial reduction or complete loss of sensitivity;
• muscle weakness manifested by paresis;
• decreased hearing or vision;
• speech disorders.

Sometimes, with severe atherosclerosis, due to poor circulation, brain tissue dies, which leads to the development of a stroke. In such a case, the symptoms listed above become stable and almost do not respond to therapy.

Other signs of cerebral vascular damage include:

• the appearance of a headache that is bursting in nature;
• fast fatiguability;
• the appearance of noise or ringing in the ears;
• the patient becomes nervous and anxious;
• apathy and lethargy may also appear;
• coordination of movements is impaired;
• the patient complains of sleep disturbances and nightmares;
• Memory and concentration problems may occur;
• changes in behavior - the patient becomes touchy, picky, etc.
• falls into depression.

Important! If treatment is not timely, senile dementia may develop.

Signs of atherosclerotic lesions of the lower extremities

Improper blood circulation in the extremities occurs completely without any manifestations for quite a long time. This pathology can last until blood circulation completely stops.

When blood flow is disrupted, acute oxygen deficiency occurs in the tissues of the extremities, which leads to pain. In this case, it is a classic sign of atherosclerosis. Over time, intermittent claudication appears. Due to damage to the artery, the pain eventually affects all the muscles of the legs, from the calves, thighs to buttocks. The pain is periodic, the patient limps.

Due to attacks of pain, you have to stop while moving and wait them out.

The initial stage of vascular pathology of the arteries of the legs can be marked by the appearance of episodic signs:

• from time to time chilliness appears, hands and feet become cold;
• “goosebumps” begin to run across the skin for no reason;
• the skin turns pale and blood vessels are visible.

The last stages of the disease are characterized by the appearance of severe symptoms. Due to the lack of nutrients and oxygen, trophic changes in tissue occur, which affect not only muscle tissue. nails and subcutaneous tissue become thinner. Hair loses color and falls out as a result of atrophy of the hair follicles. Ulcers appear. The intercellular space is filled with fluid, which leads to swelling of the limbs. Fingers turn red.

A characteristic symptom of this pathology is the absence of a pulse in the popliteal fossa. Eventually the tissue becomes necrotic and gangrene develops. The pain in the legs gradually increases. Over time, they appear in a state of rest. This indicates arterial insufficiency.

There are 4 degrees of pathology depending on the intensity of pain:

• functional compensation, in which pain occurs due to long walking over long distances. Their localization occurs on the feet and calves. Sometimes there is a burning sensation, tingling, cramps;
• subcompensation - pain occurs when covering a distance not exceeding 200 meters. The skin begins to peel and loses its elasticity. Hair follicles die. Patchy baldness occurs. The muscles of the feet gradually atrophy, the subcutaneous tissue becomes thinner;
• decompensation is the third stage of pathology, which is characterized by the patient’s inability to overcome a distance of 25 meters; pain appears with complete inactivity. Trophic changes are significantly worsening. Thin skin is easily injured, which leads to deep lesions with minor scratches. The skin of the limbs becomes red when they are lowered;
• destructive changes - stage 4 of the pathology, which is characterized by skin ulcers and necrosis. Constant unbearable pain makes the patient's quality of life minimal. Trophic ulcers on the fingers do not respond to targeted therapy. Legs and arms swell. At this stage of the pathology, gangrene can develop.

Atherosclerosis in the arteries of the hands contributes to their weakness and chilliness. The patient suffers from decreased muscle strength in the arms and fatigue.

When pathology develops on one side, pulse asymmetry is noted. On the affected arm, the upper pressure is up to 80 millimeters of mercury.

Manifestations of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries of the heart

It is not easy to determine the onset of the formation of cholesterol clots in the heart vessels. Their accumulation on the walls interferes with the nutrition of myocardial tissue, which causes disruption of its functions. Ischemia or angina pectoris develops - their complications are cardiosclerosis and heart attack. Atherosclerosis is manifested by symptoms of these disorders.

The presence of fatty clots in the heart arteries during angina pectoris is manifested by:

• pain localized behind the sternum. Their character can be pressing or burning, spreading to the left shoulder and part of the back. Usually appears during physical exertion or nervous tension;
• shortness of breath - sometimes appears with pain or spontaneously when moving. It manifests itself as an acute lack of air; if you lie down, it increases; for this reason, in order not to suffocate, it is better to sit down;
• dizziness and headaches - appear when blood flow is disrupted and there is a lack of oxygen;
• nausea and vomiting - sometimes accompany angina attacks.

When cardiosclerosis appears due to atherosclerosis of the heart vessels, shortness of breath is complemented by severe edema. Over time, heart failure develops. Deterioration of the condition reduces performance.

A heart attack due to atherosclerosis of the heart vessels is accompanied by signs of angina pectoris. There is acute lack of air, severe shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness.

Important! The use of nitroglycerin does not alleviate the condition, as with angina.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis of the mesenteric arteries

Atherosclerosis of these vessels affects the sections located in the upper abdomen. There is a disruption of blood flow in the digestive organs. There is not enough blood to ensure the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. This is indicated by signs that appear in the evening after eating. In this case, the signs of atherosclerosis have the common name “abdominal toad”, and the characteristic symptoms are considered to be a marker of pathology:

• pain is moderate in nature, reminiscent of the pain of an ulcer, but longer lasting. Their duration can vary: from several minutes to an hour;
• flatulence;
• intestinal atony or hypotension;
• belching, nausea, vomiting.

During thrombosis of the mesenteric arteries, diffuse wandering pain appears, which can be localized in the navel. Also, blockage of the arteries can be accompanied by severe vomiting. Sometimes vomit contains bile or blood. Often, thrombosis of mesenteric vessels leads to peritonitis or gangrene. The following signs appear:

• body temperature rises sharply;
• blood pressure decreases;
• strong sweating;
• unbearable abdominal pain;
• incessant vomiting.

Manifestations of atherosclerotic vascular lesions of the renal arteries

Over time, ischemia develops, causing blood pressure to rise. In some cases, specific signs do not appear. The disease often leads to impaired blood flow and secondary hypertension.

Increased pressure in this case is an obvious sign of atherosclerosis, which indicates that the vascular lumen is blocked by more than 70%. Such disorders cause increased blood pressure; they provoke heaviness in the head, dizziness, increased intracranial pressure, visual disturbances, and tinnitus.

When only one artery is affected by pathology, it develops slowly and is characterized by hypertension.

When there is a narrowing of both arteries, the pathology develops rapidly and manifests itself:

• abdominal pain;
• in the lower back;
• nausea and vomiting;
• increased temperature;
• aching pain in the heart;
• increased heart rate.

Kidney infarction is a serious complication, accompanied by severe pain in the lower back and blood in the urine, the patient’s condition worsens.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries

Atherosclerosis can also develop in the carotid arteries. It is usually detected after a stroke. The pathology is manifested by the following symptoms:

• there is itching, tingling or numbness in the extremities;
• control of movements of any of the limbs is lost;
• loss or weakening of vision in one eye;
• speech disorder.

At the same time, with atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries, weakness and numbness of the body are noted.

Diagnosis of the disease

It is very difficult to identify pathology at the beginning. Usually a specialist is visited with complaints that correspond to a certain type of atherosclerosis. At this time, the vessels are already severely damaged.

In addition to laboratory tests, the following are prescribed:

• Doppler examination;
• myocardial catheterization;
• MRI or CT;
• angiographic study.

An individual set of diagnostic measures is compiled for each patient, which allows for a better assessment of atherosclerotic changes and the most accurate diagnosis.

Prognosis and prevention

A favorable prognosis for atherosclerosis will be with full compliance with the specialist’s prescriptions for taking medications, correcting nutrition, habits and physical activity. This is the only way to stabilize the disease and stop the growth and increase of fatty plaques. It is possible to achieve complete regression of the pathology only in the initial stages.

If you refuse to correct your lifestyle and fail to follow the recommended treatment, the prognosis of the pathology will be unfavorable.

Timely prevention allows you to prevent atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels, and if they are present, stop the development of pathology and remain healthy.

Preventive measures include the following rules:

• exclude fatty and fried foods;
• increase resistance to stress;
• bring body weight back to normal;
• to refuse from bad habits;
• perform feasible physical activity.

People prone to hypertension and diabetes need to regularly visit doctors for preventive examinations.

According to data provided annually by the World Health Organization, the incidence and development of heart and vascular pathologies is steadily increasing. One of these diseases is vascular atherosclerosis, which kills people every hour or causes disability.

Patients faced with a similar diagnosis are concerned with the question: “How quickly does vascular atherosclerosis develop, what are its causes and can it be cured?”

Vascular atherosclerosis (to be defined briefly) is a disease that affects the main and peripheral vessels. He was assigned a code according to the international classification of diseases ( ICD code 10 - І 70). World statistics say that the active development of the disease is observed after 50 years. Most often, arteries that have an elastic and muscular-elastic structure of the vascular wall are involved in the pathological process.

The main prerequisite for the development of the disease is fat metabolism disorder, arising under the influence of a number of reasons. The biochemistry of the blood changes - the concentration of cholesterol in the plasma begins to increase, which does not tend to spontaneously decrease. The optimal balance between the atherogenic (LDL) and antiatherogenic (HDL) fractions of cholesterol is disrupted, which contributes to the development of pathological changes affecting the vascular bed.

Severin E. S. described the biochemical aspects of vascular atherosclerosis in more detail in his book “Biochemistry of Atherosclerosis.”

The development of the disease goes through several stages - the presence of clinical manifestations depends on this. In patients with atherosclerosis, atherosclerotic plaques (accumulations of fat) are deposited inside the blood vessels, which are prone to proliferation. All these changes lead to the walls of the vascular bed becoming thinner and their basic functions being disrupted. The mechanism of development of dystrophy is characteristic of the advanced stage of vascular atherosclerosis.

The National Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis (NOA) classifies the disease as an internal medicine and views it as a medical and social problem. This is confirmed by statistics on mortality rates in the world and in Russia.

Atherosclerosis is the main cause of cardiovascular diseases, which can lead to death.

Symptoms taking into account localization and stage of development

The symptoms of the disease depend on which vessels are affected by atherosclerosis and the stage of its development. With the development of pathology, the vessels that carry blood to the organs (arteries, arterioles, capillaries) are primarily affected. Atherosclerotic deposits do not form in the lumen of the veins - this is explained by the structure of the walls of this section of the vascular bed.

As the disease develops, it goes through several successive stages:

1. First stage. Primary pathological changes occur within a short time after the concentration of total cholesterol in the blood plasma significantly increases. The vascular endothelium begins to secrete active substances that are designed to neutralize excess fatty molecules circulating in the systemic circulation. Over time, the compensatory capabilities of the inner layer of blood vessels are exhausted. The endothelium becomes thin, pronounced edema forms, and microcracks appear. Against the background of these negative changes, the vessels become defenseless against the settling of fatty particles on their walls in the form of spots or stripes that are not visible to the naked eye.
2. Stage of sclerotic changes. Over time, spots and stripes of fat begin to accumulate cellular elements of connective tissue on their surface. Thus, an atheromatous plaque appears. The capsule covering the fatty core of the plaque is quite loose. It is prone to the appearance of microtraumas, which is dangerous due to the loss of the nucleus and its entry into the bloodstream. A fat embolus can cause complications of atherosclerosis such as vascular thrombosis.
3. Recalcification stage. At this stage, the growth of intravascular pathological neoplasms continues. The capsule of the fatty core begins to actively accumulate calcium salts, which contributes to its hardening. Over time, plaques grow, leading to significant stenosis or complete obstruction of the lumen of the affected area of ​​the vascular bed. The result of this is acute or chronic ischemia of tissues and organs to which damaged vessels carry blood.

Clinical manifestations in the early stages This vascular pathology is absent or only slightly expressed. The first signs of atherosclerosis appear at the stage of sclerotic changes. Then the patient begins to present characteristic complaints, which are formed depending on the localization of the pathological process. It has been established that peripheral atherosclerosis occurs much less frequently in women than in men.

The atherosclerotic process can affect parts of the thoracic and abdominal aorta. For a long time the disease remains undetected. The first signs of atherosclerosis of the aorta are debilitating burning pain in the chest, which can radiate to the spinal column and upper floors of the abdominal cavity. This pain differs from angina pectoris in that it can last up to several days and is wave-like.

Damage to the abdominal section of the main artery is characterized by the presence of constant pain throughout all levels of the abdominal cavity, excessive gas formation, and disturbances in defecation. If the pathological process involves the part of the aorta where it branches into the right and left iliac arteries, patients are bothered by pain in the legs, a feeling of numbness, swelling, and necrotic changes in the soft tissues of the distal parts of the lower extremities.

Vascular atherosclerosis is dangerous due to its complications, which are often fatal.

Most Negative consequences diseases:

• cerebral stroke (ischemic, hemorrhagic),
• myocardial infarction (focal, transmural),
• necrotic changes in soft tissues (gangrene of the lower extremities);

If qualified assistance is not provided in a timely manner, these complications often lead to death!

From point of view psychosomatics, there is a metaphysical theory of the occurrence of vascular atherosclerosis. For example, Oleg Torsunov believes that atherosclerotic vascular damage occurs due to stiffness of thoughts, lack of gentleness in character, and a person’s closedness to the outside world. Valery Sinelnikov writes in his book that atherosclerosis appears as a result of disruption of the energy channels through which waves of joy should flow to the human mental body. Exactly lack of joy, and not an incorrect lifestyle leads to illness.

Diagnostics: how to check blood vessels for atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis of the arteries can be diagnosed in a patient only after he has undergone a complete examination.

The first step is to consult a doctor. All specialists, while studying at medical universities, attended the department of faculty therapy, where the main attention was paid to a thorough study of the medical history. Therefore, the doctor must ask the patient in detail about the complaints, detailing them as much as possible. After verbal contact, the specialist examines the patient for visible pathological changes and measures blood pressure.

Next comes the stage of laboratory diagnostics. The patient passes lipid profile, which allows you to identify lipid imbalances, because dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis are inseparable concepts. The doctor should also monitor a clinical urine test. This is necessary in order to understand whether there are problems with the kidneys or not. Also standard procedure is a general blood test.

The final stage - instrumental methods diagnostics In cardiology, ultrasound is considered the most informative method that allows identifying vascular atherosclerosis. For this purpose, the Doppler mode is used, with the help of which a visual assessment of blood flow is carried out and areas of the vascular bed covered by the atherosclerotic process are determined. Angiography is used to study coronary and cerebral vessels.

How to treat atherosclerosis

Patients suffering from vascular atherosclerosis are concerned with the question: “Is the disease curable?” Modern medicine believes that it is impossible to completely cure atherosclerosis, but stopping its progression is quite possible. Treatment of vascular atherosclerosis is a long process that should begin immediately after identifying the pathology. The World Health Organization has developed clinical recommendations on methods of treating this pathology.