Causes of vascular atherosclerosis. group: additional drugs

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 the absence of a fatal risk dangerous 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 has exceeded oncological diseases, 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 appoint comprehensive examination and if atherosclerotic changes are detected, he 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 from start pathological changes In vessels, at least 20-30 years pass before the negative consequences of atherosclerosis appear. The slow progression causes symptoms to increase unnoticed. And this is the first reason why atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels. 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 to 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 initial stage 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. Complicates the situation with cholesterol deposits smoking and alcohol, limited physical activity. 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 atherosclerosis is ignored, although in the first stages the disease can be successfully controlled by taking a combination 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 special sharp features: the patient suffers from a constant feeling of fatigue, cannot lead his previous 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 those of cardiac and pulmonary diseases, since against its background the following appears:

• shortness of breath, shortness of breath;
• general weakness and rapid fatigue during physical activity;
• dull pain in the chest;
• violations heart rate according to the type of angina.

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

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

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• 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 severe 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 initial stage illnesses subside at rest. Along with this, the quality changes skin: It becomes pale and dry in the area below the narrowing of the vessel. If atherosclerosis is not treated, formations will form on the limbs closer to the foot. trophic ulcers and areas of necrosis, 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, narrow 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 makes diagnosis difficult.

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. At running forms 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 derivatives, have similar properties. nicotinic acid.

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 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 with high content fats, 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, skimmed 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 restoration of blood flow:

• endarterectomy- 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, sleepy and coronary arteries, vessels lower limbs 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. When the brain is damaged, 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.

Breakaway 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 may develop long time and remain 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 profuse internal bleeding, and in 80% of cases ends in death.

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, healthy image life 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

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 states 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.

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

The development of the disease goes through several stages - the presence of clinical manifestations. 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, which are designed to neutralize excess fat 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 on 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);

In case of untimely provision qualified assistance these complications are often fatal!

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, but not wrong image life 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 laboratory diagnostics. The patient passes lipid profile, which allows you to identify lipid imbalances, because dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis are inextricable 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, which allows you to identify 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. The angiography method is used to study the 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.

Good day, dear readers!

In this article we will look at such a disease of blood vessels as atherosclerosis, as well as its causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, using traditional and folk remedies.

Atherosclerosis – chronic illness arteries, a characteristic feature of which is the deposition of cholesterol and other fats on the inner walls of blood vessels. Subsequently, this “clogging” causes the walls of the vessels to thicken, the lumen to decrease, their elasticity to be lost, resulting in blockages of the vessels. Due to the deformation of blood vessels, there is a load on the heart, because it needs more effort to pump blood.

The result of atherosclerosis are diseases such as, hypertonic disease(hypertension), necrosis, etc.

According to statistics for 2000, in Russia 800 people die from cardiovascular diseases per 100,000 population! At the same time, in France there are 182 people, in Japan 187. Scientists have recognized that the reason for this situation is nutrition and lifestyle. Of course, in the current 2016, when the spread of GMO products has gained incredible momentum, and truly high-quality food products cost such an amount that most people cannot afford to buy them, mortality continues to rise.

In this regard, it has been established that middle-aged and elderly people are most often susceptible to atherosclerosis, although there have been cases where this disease was identified in children.

ICD

ICD-10: I70
ICD-9: 440

The development of atherosclerosis begins from the human circulatory system. U healthy person, blood, circulating in blood vessels, delivers oxygen and nutrients to all organs and tissues. With a normal diet, cholesterol is also present in the blood.

Cholesterol- an organic compound - a natural fatty (lipophilic) alcohol that is found in the cell membranes of the body. Cholesterol plays an important role in protecting cell membranes, and is also necessary for the production of steroid hormones (cortisol, estrogen, testosterone, etc.), bile acids, as well as the normal functioning of the immune and nervous systems.

Cholesterol is insoluble in water, and accordingly, it cannot independently enter the tissues of the body, therefore, the function of delivering it through the blood to all organs is performed by transporter proteins (apolipoproteins), which are found in complex compounds - cholesterol with other compounds.

Apolipoproteins are divided into 4 groups:

- high molecular weight (HDL, HDL (lipoproteins) high density))
- low molecular weight (LDL, LDL, (low density lipoproteins))
- very low molecular weight (VLDL, VLDL, very low density lipoproteins);
- chylomicrons.

Depending on the “address” (body part) of delivery, different of these apolipoproteins perform the function. LDL, VLDL and chylomicrons combine with cholesterol and deliver it to peripheral tissues. But LDL (low-density lipoproteins) are poorly soluble and tend to precipitate. Due to this, cholesterol combined with LDL is called “bad” cholesterol.

Problems begin when an excess of cholesterol in the body, together with LDL, precipitates, which sticks to the walls of blood vessels and forms atherosclerotic plaques.

Here I would also like to note that low-density lipoproteins are counteracted by high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which protect the walls of blood vessels from their negative influence, but HDL, unfortunately, is 2 times less.

Atherosclerotic plaques– formations that consist of cholesterol, other fats, low-density lipoproteins and. They are formed under the endothelium ( inner surface blood vessels) in those places where it is damaged.

Under the endothelium (between the outer and inner walls of the vessel), i.e. in the thickness of the vessels, various substances are synthesized that regulate blood clotting, as well as the health of the vessels themselves.
So, as the atherosclerotic plaque grows, the lumen of the vessel narrows, and there is a risk of its rupture, from where a blood clot enters the vessel.

Thrombus- an accumulation of cells, mainly platelets and blood proteins. To put it simply, a thrombus is a clot of coagulated blood that occurs in places where blood vessels are damaged.

A thrombus aggravates the situation by the fact that it further narrows the lumen of the vessel, but the main danger from it is that a piece can come off from it, which, moving further along the vessels, reaches a place where the diameter of the lumen of the vessel is less than the thrombus. Further, in this place a blockage of the vessel occurs, and the tissues and organs “cut off” from the blood supply begin to die.

Of course, the process of development of atherosclerosis described above is a simplified form of explanation, but I hope that big picture I managed to describe it.

Causes of atherosclerosis

On this moment, the causes of atherosclerosis continue to be studied. Let's highlight the most well-known reasons:

- endothelial dysfunction;
— damage to the endothelium by viruses (herpes virus, cytomegalovirus, etc.);
- damage to the vascular wall by chlamydia, mainly Chlamydia pneumoniae;
- abnormalities in the functioning of leukocytes and macrophages;
- primary accumulation of a large number of lipoproteins in the thickness of the blood vessel;
— deviations in the functioning of the antioxidant system;
- an increase in the level of adrenocorticotropic and gonadotropic hormones with age, which leads to an imbalance of hormones necessary for regulating cholesterol.

Among the factors that provoke the development of atherosclerosis are:

— bad habits (drinking alcohol, smoking);
— hypertension (): blood pressure level from 140/90 mm Hg. Art.;
- hyperlipoproteinemia;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- unhealthy diet;
— ;
— ;
— ;
- heredity;
— ;
- homocysteinuria;
- hyperfibrinogenemia;
- postmenopause;
- age;
- metabolic disorders.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis largely depend on the location where it develops, as well as the vessel affected. Let's consider the most popular sites of injury and the accompanying signs of this disease.

Atherosclerosis of the heart

Coronary atherosclerosis. Occurs as a result of damage to atherosclerotic plaques coronary vessels. Based on this, the flow of oxygen to the heart (myocardium) decreases and nutrients.

Symptoms of coronary atherosclerosis:

Atherosclerosis of the aorta of the heart. It occurs as a result of damage to the main vessel of the heart, the aorta, by atherosclerotic plaques.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis of the aorta of the heart:

- burning periodic pain in the chest area;
- increase in systolic (upper);
- periodic dizziness;
— premature aging, graying;
- difficulty swallowing food;
- increased hair growth in ears;
- appearance of wen on the face.

Atherosclerosis of the abdominal region

Atherosclerosis of the abdominal region (cardiac aorta). Occurs as a result of damage to atherosclerotic plaques of the aorta in the abdominal area.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta

Symptoms of cerebral atherosclerosis

Conditionally acceptable products food (minimum quantity): vegetable oil(30-40 g/day), beef and lamb (no more than 90-150 g), eggs (no more than 2 pieces per week), whole milk, White bread, pasta.

What not to eat if you have atherosclerosis: butter, hard margarine, animal fat, caviar, egg yolks, brains, kidneys, liver, heart, tongue, meat with visible fat, sausages, ham, frankfurters, duck, goose, sour cream, full-fat milk, cream, fat cottage cheese, fatty varieties cheese, curd cheese, processed cheese, ice cream, vegetables (cooked in fat), fruit (candied, sweetened), chocolate, candy, marmalade, marshmallows, jam and preserves.

For the treatment of atherosclerosis, M.I. Pevzner developed a special dietary food — .

In addition, it is necessary to minimize the use of:

- saturated fatty acid;
— ;
— table salt– no more than 8 g per day.

Medicines for atherosclerosis

Medicines for atherosclerosis are used for:

— correction of blood pressure levels;
— control of diabetes mellitus;
— corrections metabolic syndrome;
— normalization of the lipid spectrum.

Depending on the above goals, they are divided into 4 main groups:

1. Drugs that block the absorption of cholesterol by the walls of blood vessels and organs.
2. Drugs that reduce the synthesis of cholesterol and triglycerides in the liver, as well as their concentration in the blood.
3. Drugs that increase the breakdown and excretion of atherogenic lipids and lipoproteins from the body.
4. Additional drugs.

Group 1: drugs that block the absorption of cholesterol by the walls of blood vessels and organs

IA - anion exchange resins: Gemfibrozil, Cholestyramine. This group of drugs absorb cholesterol and are then removed from the body along with it. The disadvantage is that vitamins and other medications are absorbed along with cholesterol.

IB – plant sorbents:"Guarem", "β-sitosterol". This group of drugs interferes with the absorption of cholesterol by the intestines.

Group 1 drugs can cause dyspepsia.

Group 2: drugs that block the absorption of cholesterol by the walls of blood vessels and organs

IIA (statins): lovastatin (Apexstatin, Mevacor, Medostatin), simvastatin (Vasilip, Zocor, Simvor), fluvastatin (Leskol), pravastatin (Lipostat, Pravachol), atorvastatin (Liprimar ", "Torvacard"), rosuvastatin ("Crestor"). Contraindications: should not be taken by pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, those with liver disease, or in combination with alcohol. Side effects: alopecia, myopathy, dyspepsia, rhabdomyolysis, impotence, hepatotoxicity.

IIB (fibrates): fenofibrate (Traykor), bezafibrate (Bezalip), ciprofibrate (Lipanor). Side effects: dyspepsia, myositis. Fenofibrates are the newest drugs, therefore, in the treatment of atherosclerosis, they are preferred. Fenofibrates are also used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

IIC: nicotinic acid (“Enduracin”). Side effects: skin itching, dyspepsia. Not recommended for use with diabetes.

IID: probucol (“Fenbutol”). Reduce sterol synthesis.

Group 3: drugs that increase the breakdown and excretion of atherogenic lipids and lipoproteins from the body

Unsaturated fatty acids: Linetol, Lipostabil, Omacor, Polyspamine, Thiogamma, Tribuspamin. Side effects: increased effect of antihyperglycemic drugs.

Group 4: additional drugs

Endotheliotropic drugs (nourish the endothelium): pyricarbate (“Anginin”, “Parmidin”), synthetic analogues of prostacyclin (“Vasoprostan”, “Misoprostol”), E (tocopherol) and C (ascorbic acid).

Important! Before using folk remedies against atherosclerosis, be sure to consult your doctor!

is a chronic disease of blood vessels, in which “bad” cholesterol and other LDL are deposited on their inner walls in the form of plaques and plaques, and the walls themselves become denser and lose elasticity. The vessels gradually become hard due to the sedimentation of fats and lime on the walls, lose their elasticity and, as a result, narrow, which reduces blood access to the organs. Eventually, the vessel may close completely. And when this is accompanied by a blood clotting disorder, there is a tendency to and ischemic damage to organs occurs.

Atherosclerosis is considered one of the most dangerous diseases that leads to death. Atherosclerosis is recognized most often when problems with the blood supply to the heart, limbs and brain already appear, i.e. the disease is diagnosed in the last stages. Atherosclerosis is one of the main causes of cardiovascular diseases: and.

The percentage of people with atherosclerosis increases depending on their age, i.e. this disease is typical for older people. Therefore, doctors call it a disease of old age, but every year it becomes younger, which is associated with the modern lifestyle.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease, therefore it usually affects all major blood vessels of the body. It follows from this that the manifestations are also diverse. As a rule, the heart, brain, and limbs (most often the lower ones) are affected. The symptoms are specific, but they do not always manifest themselves clearly enough to unambiguously diagnose atherosclerosis.

Symptoms depend on which organ suffers from lack of blood circulation to a greater extent. In any form of atherosclerosis, two symptomatic periods are distinguished. In the preclinical period, the process is just beginning, so any specific manifestations are missing. Significant problems with blood supply and organ functioning begin when the lumen of the artery closes more than 1/2.

Heart

Heart pain occurs with a frequency of 75%. Atherosclerosis affects the coronary vessels and reduces the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the myocardium. - one of the organs most sensitive to changes in nutritional intensity. In this indicator, it is second only to the brain. However, symptoms develop immediately; it is important to correctly interpret the patient’s sensations.

Disruption of the normal blood supply to the heart is manifested by angina pectoris syndrome.

Cardiac symptoms occur periodically and include:

Pain in the chest area. Pressing, dull, aching or burning (which is characteristic of an ischemic process). Pain sensations radiate to the shoulder blade, left forearm, hand or fingers (along the entire length of the circulatory system);

Feeling of pressure on the chest (as if a heavy weight was placed on the chest);

Painful sensations when breathing (both on inhalation and exhalation);

Respiratory disorders.

Angina pectoris, as a characteristic syndrome for atherosclerosis, manifests itself in attacks. The attacks are accompanied by instability in blood pressure levels.

Somewhat less frequently, the following symptoms appear with atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels:

Pain in the lower jaw, ear, neck on the left side (irradiation, but in the opposite direction);

Back pain;

Feeling of weakness in the limbs;

Feeling of cold, increased sweating and chills (“goosebumps”);

Brain

It is most susceptible to nutritional disorders, but the primary symptoms are characteristic not only of atherosclerosis. Thus, problems with cerebral circulation are observed with vertebrobasilar insufficiency, etc.

Symptoms appear gradually, increasing:

Cephalgia (or unspecified headache). Covers the entire head without the ability to determine the exact location. Has a bursting or pressing character;

Sleep problems. A person suffers from, or vice versa, he is constantly sleepy. During sleep, severe or nightmare dreams often occur (which is associated with brain activity and diffuse changes due to lack of blood circulation);

Deterioration of a person’s character (changes in personality);

Nervousness, high excitability, increased anxiety;

Lethargy and fatigue;

Violations of the basic functions of the body: breathing, speech, nutrition. The person may speak slurredly, often choke on food, etc.;

Impaired coordination of movements, problems with independent movement and orientation in space (due to damage to the cerebellum).

Causes of atherosclerosis

The reasons for the development of atherosclerosis are smoking, diabetes mellitus, and high blood cholesterol levels. But the main cause of atherosclerosis is a violation of cholesterol metabolism. The formation of atherosclerosis is a natural process that begins at approximately 10–15 years of age. With age, it may slow down, or it may speed up.

The following risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis are identified:

Floor. Men are more susceptible to developing atherosclerosis than women. The first signs of this pathology can appear as early as 45 years of age, or even earlier, in women - from 55 years of age. This may be due to the more active participation of estrogens in the metabolism of cholesterol and low- and very low-density lipoproteins;

Age. This natural factor risk. With age, atherosclerotic manifestations worsen;

Heredity. Of course, this is one of the reasons for the appearance of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a multi-cause disease. Therefore, hormonal levels, hereditary dyslipoproteinemia (impaired plasma lipid profile), and activity play important roles in accelerating or slowing down the development of atherosclerosis;

Bad habits. Smoking is poison for the body. This habit is another reason for the development of atherosclerosis. If you want to have healthy blood vessels, quit smoking! As for alcohol, there is an interesting dependence: drinking small doses of alcohol - about 50 g of vodka, 100 g of wine or 0.5 liters of beer daily is an excellent prevention of atherosclerosis. True, the same dose also contributes to the development of liver cirrhosis. So we treat one thing and cripple another. But large doses of alcohol accelerate the development of atherosclerosis;

Excess weight. This factor increases the likelihood of atherosclerosis. Obesity can lead to, and this pathology is a direct path to atherosclerosis;

Poor nutrition. Fatty, unhealthy foods are a major risk factor. Eating is very important physiological process in our life. Our future health will depend on how healthy the foods we consume are. Few people know that not a single diet, except for therapeutic and balanced diets, is approved by the World Council of Food Hygiene. You need to eat rationally and adequately to your needs and energy costs.

The average life expectancy of the Japanese is 90 years, and the Russians are about 60. Why is there such a difference? The answer is simple: look at what the Japanese and other eastern peoples eat. Their menu includes a variety of grains, vegetables, herbs, beans and fresh fish. Every day, the market in Tokyo is filled with seafood that contains valuable fatty acids. Why treat a disease if it is easier to prevent it? Start eating right with early age so that in old age I can thank myself for this.

Video: formation of atherosclerotic plaque

Types of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis of the heart vessels (coronary arteries). Promotes the development of coronary heart disease, angina and heart attack;

Aortic form. The aorta is the largest artery in the body. Its defeat by atherosclerosis significantly affects all organs and systems;

Atherosclerosis of the renal vessels. Lack of blood circulation leads to impaired renal function and severe arterial hypertension;

Atherosclerosis of vessels providing blood supply to the brain;

Atherosclerosis of blood vessels of the lower and upper extremities.

Forms can manifest themselves independently, but more often they do so systematically.

Cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis

Cholesterol is a special chemical compound, by its nature a fatty alcohol. The role of cholesterol in the synthesis of cellular structures and organelles has been proven (cholesterol is known to be involved in the formation of cell membranes). However, an increase in the level of the substance in the blood directly increases the risk of developing atherosclerotic pathology and other diseases of the cardiovascular system, since it indicates the onset of disorders of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in the body.

It is possible to prevent the development of this terrible disease only by refusing bad habits and maintaining the concentration of fatty alcohol in the blood at the same normal level constantly. However, cholesterol is atherogenic only in excess.

Its normal content is necessary not only for performance structural function, but also:

For normal digestion. With the participation of fatty alcohol, the liver synthesizes digestive juices necessary for processing fat-containing compounds;

For stable synthesis of sex hormones and pancreatic hormones.

Cholesterol enters the bloodstream in several ways:

Synthesized by the liver. The liver produces the most cholesterol. Typically, its more active production is associated with a deficiency of the compound and the inability to replenish it with cholesterol from food. If liver function is impaired, interruptions and problems with regulating the level of the substance in the blood are also possible;

Comes with foodstuffs. This cholesterol is no more than 25%. Cholesterol is found in products containing animal fats. Its highest concentration is observed in egg yolks, offal (brains, liver, kidneys), shrimp, margarine, bacon. The cholesterol they contain enters the blood in a free state and only then is transferred by chylomicrons to the liver, where, depending on functional features the body and the usual diet turns into lipoprotein complexes of two types: “good” (or HDL) and “bad” (LDL). The former cleanse the walls of blood vessels from layers of fat, and the latter form them.

In addition to the fact that cholesterol is actively synthesized and used by the body, it is also actively removed beyond its boundaries. Most connections come out in a natural way through digestive tract. A slightly smaller amount is excreted through the death (desquamation) of the upper layers of the skin and intestinal mucous membranes.

An increased level of cholesterol in the blood proportionally increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis - this phrase can often be heard, but is it really so? . The normal level of cholesterol in the blood is far from a guarantee and is not insurance against the formation of pathology for other reasons.

Atherosclerosis is directly related to the presence of concomitant diseases (neuroendocrine form of hypothalamic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, addiction to psychoactive substances, etc.). They act as equivalent risk factors for the development of the disease.

One way or another, cholesterol plays a key role in the development of atherosclerosis. To reduce the risk, it is necessary to adhere to a hypocholesterol diet and maintain the concentration of the substance at approximately the same normal level.

Atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus

Cholesterol is actively involved in the synthesis of digestive juices and pancreatic hormones, and, despite the fact that it is not the cause of diabetes, it still significantly affects the course of the disease.

Diabetes mellitus is considered a factor increased risk development of vascular atherosclerosis (the likelihood of development increases by more than half). Also, vascular atherosclerosis increases the severity of diabetes. In the presence of diabetes mellitus, the incidence of atherosclerosis is set at equal limits in both men and women (although without diabetes, men are more likely to get sick).

Diabetes mellitus, in turn, seriously complicates the course of atherosclerosis:

Atherosclerosis can also form at a young age if you have diabetes. Although the disease usually develops after 45-50 years;

There is a high probability of aneurysms;

The vessels not only become clogged, but also become extremely fragile, which increases the likelihood of strokes;

The process becomes systemic, equally severely affecting the heart, brain, and limbs.

Atherosclerosis begins in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is associated with digestive and lipid metabolism disorders, which causes a stop in normal metabolism. The walls of blood vessels become extremely permeable to fatty fractions, and therefore much more “bad cholesterol” penetrates into the bloodstream. It forms fat deposits on the walls of large arteries, gradually closing the lumens of the artery.

Over time, the layer of fat is encapsulated by connective tissue and crystallizes under the influence of calcium deposits. This entire structure becomes “stony” and the lumen of the artery closes even more. The vessel becomes brittle and loses its conducting function. The result is impaired circulation in the affected area, increasing ischemia, vessel rupture and tissue necrosis.

Patients with diabetes are 4 times more likely to simultaneously suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular system, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease and angina. In addition, with atherosclerosis in diabetics, the likelihood of rapid development of necrosis (gangrene) of the lower extremities increases almost seven times. These factors must be taken into account during treatment.

Why is atherosclerosis dangerous? Stages of development

According to statistics, atherosclerosis is the most common disease of the cardiovascular system and main reason death of the vast majority of patients around the world. Atherosclerosis is variable, and, despite the fact that the essence of the disease is the narrowing or blockage of blood vessels, it significantly affects the entire body. Lack of blood circulation affects the heart, brain, abdominal organs, lower and upper (rarely) limbs. Disturbances in blood flow in the arteries also affect smaller blood vessels, causing secondary ischemia.

Atherosclerosis is a polyetiological disease. The exact reasons are not fully known, but it is known that the mechanism is based on a disorder of lipid metabolism. This dysfunction is the trigger for the onset of a dangerous illness.

There are several stages in the development of pathology:

The stage of formation of fat stains (or lipid stains). At this stage, no specific symptoms are observed, and the patient does not suspect the presence of atherosclerosis. The essence of the stage is diffuse changes arterial walls (molecules of lipoprotein complexes penetrate the structure of the arterial wall and form thin layer). Externally, these changes appear as yellowish-brown stripes along the length of the affected area of ​​the vessel. Not the entire tissue of the bloodstream is affected, but only individual segments. The process is developing quite quickly. It is accelerated by existing cardiovascular pathologies, diabetes and obesity;

The stage of formation of lipid layering. The tissue underneath the lipid bands becomes inflamed. The body thus tries to fight the imaginary intruder. A long-term focus of chronic inflammation is formed. Constant inflammation leads to the decomposition of the lipid layer and tissue germination. As a result, the fatty accumulation is encapsulated and rises above the artery wall;

Stage of development of complications. This is the last stage in the formation of atherosclerosis. At this stage, complications develop, and symptoms appear most clearly. There are two main types of complications: rupture of encapsulated fatty deposits (plaques), which entails the release of a large amount of blood, and blood clots. Blood clots, together with plaque products, get stuck in the lumen of the vessel, completely clogging it. In such a situation, the development of a stroke is possible. If blood clots become clogged major arteries giving necessary nutrition limbs, tissue necrosis and gangrene are likely to occur.

The timing and speed of development of atherosclerosis is quite difficult to predict. We can talk about years or a few months. It all depends on the characteristics of metabolism, metabolic rate, the presence of a predisposition to atherosclerosis and diseases that increase the risk of its development, and many other factors.

Diagnosis of atherosclerosis

Diagnosing advanced atherosclerosis is relatively easy. It is a completely different matter to clarify the localization of the process and accurately determine the source of the lesion. This requires a lot of work. Only an experienced doctor can cope with such a difficult task.

Diagnostic measures include:

Taking anamnesis;

Initial examination of the patient using special functional tests;

Laboratory tests and instrumental studies. Thanks to them, it is possible to establish the very fact of the presence of the disease, determine the stage and localization of the process, and assess the general condition of the patient’s body.

History taking

The primary analysis of the patient’s condition begins with a survey regarding complaints and heredity.

Firstly, with this pathology, there will be at least three specific symptoms in the anamnesis; in addition, there will most likely be signs (and maybe a confirmed diagnosis) of a provoking disease of atherosclerosis.

Among them:

Arterial hypertension;

Previous myocardial infarction or stroke;

Angina syndrome, ischemic heart disease;

Such diagnostics do not give a complete picture, but it allows general outline determine the condition of the body and draw up a plan of diagnostic measures.

In addition, it is important to establish the presence of risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis: diabetes mellitus, hypertension, psychoactive substance use, obesity.

Initial examination

In addition to functional tests aimed at assessing the blood supply to the extremities, an experienced doctor pays close attention to the following factors:

Disappearance of hair on the legs or arms;

Sudden decrease in the patient's body weight;

Heart murmurs, increased blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances;

Hyperfunction of sweat and sebaceous glands;

Nail deformation;

Constant development of edema in the absence of kidney disease.

Laboratory and instrumental methods

Change venous blood to assess indicators such as atherogenicity coefficient, total cholesterol;

X-ray examination and angiography. X-rays allow you to evaluate the condition of the aorta, since plaques are clearly visible in the images. Angiography involves injecting a special contrast agent into the bloodstream and further monitoring the blood flow;

Ultrasound. Allows you to evaluate the speed of blood flow in a particular part of the artery. Thanks to this method, it is possible to identify the slightest deviation and determine the degree of insufficiency of blood supply.

There are other diagnostic methods. Specific methods are determined by the doctor based on the clinical picture.

Modern methods of treatment

As a rule, in 80% of cases drug therapy sufficient to eliminate the cause of atherosclerosis and its harmful consequences. Treatment with special drugs is combined with the prescription of a diet and an optimal regime of physical activity.

Among the drugs for atherosclerosis, drugs of several groups can be distinguished:

Statins. The most popular statin drugs are still used today. Their effect is to inhibit the liver's function in producing cholesterol. In parallel with statins, patients with atherosclerosis are prescribed medications to maintain the activity of the heart and digestive organs (since statins have the most negative effect on them). At the present stage of development of medicine, reputable scientists and practitioners question not only the effectiveness of statins, but also the very fact of the role of cholesterol in the development of atherosclerosis, considering the danger of this substance to be unreasonably overestimated. ;

LCD sequestrants. Significantly inhibit the function of bile acid synthesis by the liver. In this regard, the body has to more actively consume cholesterol in order to ensure normal and stable digestion. At long-term use Possible disorders of the digestive system. Prescribed at the initial stage of the disease or to prevent pathology;

Fibrates. They destroy neutral fatty structures - triglycerides. They are quite effective in the fight against atherosclerosis, but are strictly contraindicated for people with liver problems;

Nicotinic acid preparations. Despite the fact that they do not fight cholesterol, they have a vasodilating and antispasmodic effect. Used in combination with other medicines and form an important part of drug therapy. However, nicotine is contraindicated for diabetics and people with liver and gallbladder diseases. They are replaced by separate specialized vasodilators and antispasmodics.

Conservative therapy also includes physical therapy. This method is indicated for persons with atherosclerosis of the extremities.

Surgery

In modern medical practice, three main methods have been developed surgical treatment atherosclerosis.

Highly invasive:

Shunting. The essence of bypass surgery is to suture the affected vessel to a healthy one, due to which a new blood line is formed and the blood supply to the tissue is gradually restored;

Vascular prosthetics. Modern materials allow you to completely replace the affected vessel and restore blood supply functions.

Minimally invasive method:

Angioplasty. The essence of the method is to insert a specialized catheter through the femoral artery, which, under camera control, is advanced through the bloodstream by an endoscopist to the affected area. After this, the necessary manipulations are performed to clean or expand the vessel.

Thus, atherosclerosis is an extremely controversial and complex disease, which, however, requires maximum attention, since it can lead to life-threatening and health-threatening consequences. The symptoms of the disease are quite pronounced, and with the proper level of training, the doctor will easily establish a diagnosis, as well as determine the localization of the process and prescribe competent and effective treatment. A wide arsenal of tools and methods for diagnosing atherosclerosis, even in the early stages, helps the doctor with this. The specialist will determine the specific examination strategy himself, based on their feasibility and the degree of confidence in the diagnosis.

Treatment of atherosclerosis at the present stage of medical development does not present any great difficulties. In the vast majority of cases, it is possible to get by with “little bloodshed.” If conservative treatment methods are not sufficiently effective, surgical intervention is resorted to.

Correct and competent diagnosis in combination with effective course treatment is the key to a favorable outcome.

Prevention of atherosclerosis

First of all, this includes quitting smoking, regulating weight, certain dietary restrictions, and increasing physical activity:

Regulation of body weight in atherosclerosis is necessary measure, since obesity causes vascular complications and is characterized by lipid metabolism disorders. Low-calorie diets with optimal fat content and physical activity are recommended for weight loss;

Physical activity should be increased based on overall health and age. You can start with the safest and most accessible type of physical activity – walking. Classes should be at least three to four times a week for 35–40 minutes.

Conversation with Vyacheslav Artashesovich Isaev - President of the Association of Dietary Supplements, Academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor. Topic of the program: Issues of aging. What is atherosclerosis and when does it begin? Ways to prevent atherosclerosis:

Education: Moscow medical school them. I. M. Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 " Occupational diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".

What are the causes of atherosclerosis? Many people believe that only older people can get sick. But this is far from true. It is necessary to find out the causes of this disease.

What is atherosclerosis called?

The disease is systemic: the blood vessels of the human body are affected, and the blood vessels of the brain are damaged. All body systems are affected, although the lesion may be located only in one or several parts. The ideal artery is smooth, shiny and even.

The appearance of plaques (growths) on blood vessels causes them to narrow and impede the flow of blood through them. Plaques can grow in “families” and later merge into one growth. You can understand the cause by understanding what cholesterol is. Cholesterol is a complex symbiosis of fat molecules. The classes of compounds in the human body are fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and more.

Fats are lipids, and protein is protein. The intercellular fluid of the blood combines all molecules, including cholesterol. Molecules (fat) are in close connection with protein molecules. They form a protein-fat complex, referred to in science (medicine) as lipoproteins. These complexes (LC) are involved in the formation of plaques. They are also involved in reverse regeneration (disappearance of atherosclerotic plaques). LP as a separate group is heterogeneous. In medicine Special attention are given to five groups of lipoproteins, three of which are of greater interest:

• alpha lipoproteins;
• beta lipoproteins;
• pre-beta lipoproteins.

The first group helps eliminate atherosclerosis, but the next two, on the contrary, cause its development. The cause of the disease is a metabolic disorder.

Risk factors and causes of the disease

Factors are divided into the following groups:

• predisposing;
• provoking;
• contributing.

Predisposing to the development of the disease are those factors that we cannot influence. The following factors will predispose to the development of AS. Firstly, this is the genetics of the structure of an individual human body. Scientists have not yet fully studied this mechanism, but, according to statistics, people whose relatives suffered from hypertension or coronary artery disease are more likely to develop the disease. Secondly, the predisposing factor is the gender of the person. Men are more susceptible to the disease than women. A woman is protected from the occurrence of atherosclerosis up to hormonal changes in the body (menopause) by estrogens.

However, sometimes they talk about the development of atherosclerosis in girls who have a number of bad habits: smoking, alcohol. Taking contraceptives can also affect early atherosclerosis. The third factor is age. The risk of getting the disease in men occurs after 35 years. Finally, the last reason predisposing to atherosclerosis is the psychological characteristics of a person. Mobile people are most often affected. Blood cholesterol levels can be adjusted by humans. Atherosclerotic plaques form in places where cholesterol accumulates, in damaged areas of the vessel.

Cholesterol is the main component of plaques. It does not dissolve in aquatic environment, therefore, subsequently the growths take on an increasingly solid state. It becomes more and more difficult for blood to move through the vessels. An incorrect current occurs, the consequences of which are the death of blood cells, gluing them to each other. The plaque is increasing. As a result, a person acquires chronic circulatory failure. Meanwhile, the process of death and gluing continues. Blood clots grow. As a result of the blood clot breaking off, an artery may become blocked, possibly leading to death. Hypertension, in other words, high blood pressure, is a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis.

With elevated blood pressure, blood moves faster through the circulatory system, as a result of which not only the condition worsens, but also the number of destroyed platelets increases.

Smoking contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. Located in tobacco products Nicotine leads to spasms in the blood vessels of the body. The movement of blood cells worsens, and aggregation increases.

This causes the development of atherosclerosis to progress. One cannot help but mention the weight of a person. Increasing body weight also increases the risk of atherosclerotic plaque formation. This is a powerful factor that affects the development of not only atherosclerosis, but also other diseases. Increased body weight puts stress on the body as a whole and affects all systems. Metabolism changes. People do not take this seriously, but poor nutrition leads to obesity, and subsequently to atherosclerosis. This dangerous disease, like diabetes, contributes to the occurrence of atherosclerosis. Carbon metabolism is disrupted, and all blood vessels in the body are damaged.

Often, a person diagnosed with atherosclerosis does not even suspect that he has diabetes. However, these two diseases often accompany each other. A thorough examination of the human body is required to exclude or confirm the diagnosis. Provoking factors influencing atherogenesis are stressful situations and bad habits. This has already been discussed above. These two factors provoke the development of AS.

Treatment of atherosclerosis

The disease is of the following types:

• cerebral atherosclerosis;

Only a doctor should establish a diagnosis and the causes of atherosclerosis. If the stage of development of AS is initial, then changes in lifestyle are recommended: giving up bad habits, following a special diet, bringing cholesterol to normal indicators.

It is important to be examined by a doctor at least once every 5 years. If the patient is at high risk, lifestyle changes and re-examination are recommended three months after the modification.

It is necessary to undergo examination at least once a year. If the risk remains high, medications are prescribed.

Diet

Diet adherence is recommended for every patient. The doctor takes into account cholesterol levels and other risk factors and prescribes an individual diet. Food should be different, nutrition should be balanced. Daily caloric intake must be maintained. The amount of fat consumed should not exceed 30% per day. It is recommended to replace animal fat with vegetable fat. Fruits and vegetables should be at least 400 g per day. Consumption of low-fat foods such as poultry and grains is beneficial bakery products, low-fat cottage cheese, fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, dairy products. It is recommended to limit your salt intake.

By strictly following a diet, they normalize the level of cholesterol in the blood, thereby eliminating the risk of atherosclerosis. The existing stage of the disease is reduced to normal levels. Every person must take care of themselves. We must not forget that life is given once and only a person can prolong it by taking responsibility for his health.