The heart is the most important organ in the human body. Rhythmic heartbeats help carry oxygenated blood throughout the body. This is a natural process. And through what vessels does the myocardium itself (this is the name of the middle layer of the heart muscle, which makes up most of its mass) receive the necessary amount of oxygen to function normally? Through the coronary (also called coronary vessels).
Important! The coronary arteries are the only source of blood supply to the heart. Therefore, it is so important that they are in "working condition" and function properly.
Atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels of the heart is a pathology of a chronic nature, which is characterized by the formation of cholesterol plaques that significantly block the lumen of the arteries and prevent normal blood flow. Statistics say that it is this disease that occupies one of the first places among diseases of the cardiovascular system. And pathologydifficult to diagnose at an early stage; and when it is already revealed at a late stage, it is difficult to treat. What provokes the development of pathology? How to deal with it? What are its symptoms? What preventive measures can prevent the development of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels? Let's figure it out. There is never too much useful information.
Causes of atherosclerosis
The main reason for the development of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels is the presence of elevated cholesterol levels (of the order of 6 mmol/l and more) in the blood. What can lead to this state of affairs:
- Consumption of animal fats in large quantities.
- Decrease in the activity of the metabolic process.
- Failure in the work of the intestines in terms of excretion of fat-containing substances.
- The presence of a hereditary predisposition to atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels.
- Psycho-emotional overstrain and stressful situations.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Hormonal failure.
- Fast weight gain, i.e. obesity.
- Disturbances in the work of the central nervous system.
- Inactive lifestyle (i.e. physical inactivity).
- Do not forget about the age of patients and the gender factor. It's no secret that the older the person, the slower the metabolism. Up to 60 years, the disease is more often diagnosed in men; in women, the risk of developing the disease increases after menopause.
High blood pressure (i.e. hypertension)
Note!Atherosclerosis of the aorta of the coronary vessels can be triggered by the same factors that were described above. Remember, the aorta is the largest blood vessel located above the aortic valve. It is from him that the two main arteries (right and left) of the coronary blood supply depart.
Mechanism of development of atherosclerosis of vessels
The starting point for the development of atherosclerosis of the aorta of the coronary vessels and arteries is damage to the endothelium as a result of autoimmune pathologies, exposure to viruses and bacteria, as well as allergic reactions. It is in these places that fatty deposits (plaques) form. Over time, they become more and more, as there is a constant flow of new volumes of "building material". As a result, connective tissue is formed in the lesions, which is the reason for the narrowing of the lumen of the aorta and coronary vessels; their blockages; failure of the local circulatory process and, as a result, serious chronic diseases (for example, coronary heart disease or myocardial infarction) and even death. That is, in the presence of cholesterol plaques, there are two options for the development of pathology: the first - the vessel is slowly but surely clogged up to its final blockage; the second - a thrombus, having reached its maximum in volume, simply breaks and thereby blocks any movement of blood through the artery. Both are very bad.
Who is at risk
Who is predisposed to atherosclerosis of the aorta of the coronary cerebralvessels and arteries? There is a certain group of people who have every chance to develop such a pathology in their body. This category includes those who:
- Leads a sedentary lifestyle, that is, constantly either sitting or lying down. As a result, blood stagnation occurs in the body and, as a result, cholesterol deposits on the walls of the arteries.
- Has high cholesterol.
Remember! The more cholesterol in the blood, the greater the risk of blood clots.
- Suffers from diabetes. Metabolic disorders are one of the main causes of pathology.
- Overweight.
- He doesn't eat right. That is, the diet contains a large amount of s alt and animal fats.
- Has high blood pressure (this contributes to damage to the walls of blood vessels).
- Smokes a lot and often.
Symptoms of the disease
All signs that blood circulation in the heart is not at the proper level are divided into two categories - ischemic and general. The former are directly related to the work of the heart muscle, and the latter to the deterioration of blood flow to various parts of the body.
Ischemic symptoms include the following:
The presence of a heart muscle rhythm that is somewhat different from normal. This happens as a result of the fact that with an insufficient amount of blood, the heart begins to work "idle"
- There is an increase in blood pressure due to congestion incoronary arteries.
- Attacks of fear in a patient caused by problems with the heart muscle. The pulse quickens and the flow of testosterone increases, which only aggravates the situation.
Symptoms of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels of a general nature:
- Shortness of breath, which is observed at the initial stage of the attack.
- Dizziness resulting from insufficient blood flow.
- CNS failure.
- The presence of pain (burning and pressing nature) in the sternum, which can radiate to the left shoulder or back. As a rule, they occur during physical exertion, and they are associated with a lack of oxygen in the heart.
- Increased nervousness.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Coldness felt in the limbs (legs and hands).
- Puffiness.
- Lethargy and weakness.
- Sickening condition, sometimes turning into vomiting.
- Redness of the skin.
Important! At the initial stage of development, atherosclerosis of the vessels of the coronary arteries does not manifest itself in any way. The first symptoms appear only at the moment when the plaques begin to grow and obscure part of the lumen of the vessels. Therefore, it is necessary to undergo regular examinations, especially for people at risk.
Main stages of atherosclerosis
The main phases of the development of the disease can take decades to develop and, in the absence of any fight against the disease, can lead to serious consequences. There are five stages of atherosclerosis:
- Dolipid phase. It is characterized by some accumulation of protein compounds and lipids in the smooth muscles. During this period, there is a deformation of the intercellular membranes, the formation of blood clots (soft in structure), the loss of elasticity by the muscles, and the production of collagen in the body. At this stage, it is possible to return to normal if you adhere to proper nutrition and a he althy lifestyle.
- Lipoid phase. The patient does not show any concern, despite the fact that there is a further proliferation of connective tissue. During this period, there is a rapid increase in body weight.
- The phase of liposclerosis. Quite full-fledged fibrous plaques are formed.
- The phase of atheromatosis. At this stage, atherosclerotic plaques, blood vessels, muscle tissue and connective tissue are destroyed. As a result, disturbances occur in the work of the central nervous system. Brain hemorrhages are possible.
- Calcification phase. There is a hard coating on the plaques, and the vessels become brittle and completely lose their elasticity and shape.
Atherosclerosis of coronary cerebral vessels
The disease can develop completely asymptomatically for a long time or with some mild manifestations. The clinic begins to be observed only when atherosclerotic plaques already interfere with cerebral circulation, causing ischemia and vascular damage to the brain (that is, dyscirculatory encephalopathy). As a result, either temporarydysfunction or severe tissue damage.
There are three stages of atherosclerosis of the aorta of the coronary cerebral vessels:
- First. This is the initial stage, which is characterized by symptoms such as general weakness, fatigue, lethargy, headaches, inability to concentrate, tinnitus, decreased mental activity and irritability.
- Second. This is a progressive phase, which is characterized by an increase in psycho-emotional disorders. The patient develops a depressive state, there is a tremor of the fingers or head; problems with memory, hearing and vision; headaches, constant tinnitus, uncoordinated movements, slurred speech, suspiciousness and anxiety.
- Third. At this stage, the patient has a persistent impairment of speech function, complete indifference to his appearance (that is, apathy), memory lapses and loss of self-care skills.
Treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis is a long process and cannot lead to complete healing. True, as a result of regular and complex therapy, it is possible to achieve some slowdown in the development of pathology.
There are several methods of surgical intervention to treat the disease:
- Bypass surgery (i.e., plastic abdominal surgery), which allows you to put the blood flow around the affected area of the vessel.
- Endarterectomy, during which the removal of atherosclerotic plaque and altered tissue of the vessel wall.
- Extra-intracranial anastomosis (that is, the connectioninternal system of the carotid artery with its external component).
- Removal of the affected area of the artery (i.e. clogged with atherosclerotic plaque) and its restoration by installing an artificial prosthesis (i.e. prosthetic brachiocephalic trunk).
- Carotid endarterectomy. As a result of surgical measures, the internal surface of the carotid artery is resected.
Diagnosis of atherosclerosis
When a patient goes to a medical institution, first of all, a specialist listens to him carefully. Moreover, all the smallest details are important, since it is they and clinical analyzes that make it possible to make an accurate diagnosis. In addition to taking an anamnesis and visual examination, the doctor prescribes the following laboratory and instrumental studies:
- Complete blood test to determine cholesterol levels.
- Determination of the ankle-brachial index, that is, the measurement of pressure in the ankle and shoulder.
- Electrocardiogram. Sometimes, to make a diagnosis, daily ECG monitoring is necessary, in which a recording device that records all readings is attached to the human body with straps and remains with him throughout the entire examination.
- MRI.
- Examination on a special analyzer called a cardiovisor.
- Radionuclide research.
- Veloergometry. This method allows you to identify a hidden form of coronary insufficiency.
- Treadmill test. In the process of this diagnosis, the state of the heart muscle is examined at the time of a certain physicalload.
- Intravascular ultrasound. With it, you can get a clear picture of the lumen of the vessels.
- Duplex scanning. A non-invasive ultrasound that can evaluate blood flow characteristics.
- Ultrasound of the heart. Using this method, you can determine the extent of damage to the organ.
- Stress echocardiography. This method, using ultrasound, allows you to evaluate the anatomical structure and functioning of the heart muscle at the time of exercise, as well as the pericardial space.
- Computed tomography.
Only after a comprehensive diagnosis of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels, the specialist prescribes adequate treatment.
Important! Do not self-medicate: at best, it will not give any results, and at worst, it will simply aggravate the situation with your he alth.
Treatment of vascular atherosclerosis
In many ways, the treatment of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels of the heart depends on the stage of the disease. If the disease has just begun to develop, then sometimes it is enough:
Taking certain cholesterol-lowering medications (i.e., statins). Your doctor may also prescribe beta-blockers, diuretics, antiplatelet agents, and others to help relieve symptoms of atherosclerosis
Remember! Only a specialist can prescribe drugs and determine their dosage.
Lifestyle changes. Balanced diet, moderate exercise under the supervision of a cardiologist, abstraction from stressfulsituations, as well as giving up bad habits such as smoking and drinking "strong" drinks will help you quickly cope with the disease
Note! You can use the advice of traditional medicine, after consulting with your doctor. For example, eating garlic gives a good effect in the fight against atherosclerosis. True, if it causes a rapid heartbeat in a patient, then it is better to purchase garlic-based products in the pharmacy network.
How to treat coronary atherosclerosis in severe cases? Most likely, surgery is indispensable:
The most common option is to install a stent, which expands the affected vessel, thereby ensuring normal blood flow
Important! A patient who has undergone stenting will have to take statins and other drugs for life, because if this is not done, the vessels will again be affected by atherosclerosis.
Another option is coronary artery bypass grafting. Using this method, you can start the blood flow around the affected area of the vessel
Prevention
In order not to subsequently treat atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels, a number of preventive measures must be taken:
- Regularly load the body with moderate physical activity (for example, walk, swim, do morning exercises or simply dig beds in your garden). The most important thing is more movement.
- Treat any pathologies you have in a timely manner. It would be nice if youvisited a cardiologist every few years.
- Try to avoid stressful situations or at least disengage from them. Any psycho-emotional overstrain is harmful to he alth.
- If you are overweight, be sure to fight it.
- Try to alternate exercise with rest.
- Proper nutrition is the key to he alth. What need to do? Refuse animal fats, eggs, butter, dairy products with a high percentage of fat content, sour cream, as well as fatty meats and fish. Fruits and vegetables are welcome.
- Quit smoking and drinking "hot" drinks.
- Stay outside regularly.
- Use traditional medicine recipes.
Note! If atherosclerosis has already developed, then try to slow down its progress. Follow your doctor's advice regarding both medication and lifestyle. If surgery is inevitable, then do not delay it.
In closing
Take care of your he alth, especially your heart. Moreover, such a pathology as atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries manifests itself in all its glory only in the later stages. This disease is difficult to treat, but it can be stopped, and sometimes positive dynamics can be achieved. Remember: the main thing is to start the treatment of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels on time. He alth to you and your loved ones!
