With the constant use of fatty foods, a person independently provokes an excess of cholesterol in his body. In turn, this leads to the formation of so-called atherosclerotic plaques. The largest human artery, the aorta, suffers the most from this pathology.
The elderly are the most susceptible to this disease. That is why atherosclerosis of the aorta is also often called a disease of old age. However, it is worth noting that malnutrition has become a scourge of the younger generation. Therefore, it is not surprising that younger people began to suffer from this disease.
Due to blockage of the arteries, the blood begins to circulate more slowly, which, in turn, can lead to irreversible consequences. Therefore, it is very important to understand in more detail what it is - atherosclerosis of the aorta of the heart. If a person experiences pain in the chest, fatigue and dizziness, then this becomes an occasion to think about the state of his he alth. In this case, it is recommended to undergo an examination as soon as possible and consult a specialist. If you start therapy in the early stages of the manifestation of the disease, then this can prolonghuman life for several decades. Therefore, this topic is very important for both young people and those who have already retired.
General information
To quickly understand what it is - atherosclerosis of the aorta of the heart, you must have at least minimal knowledge in the field of anatomy. The aorta is the largest and most important vessel in the human body. It starts from the left heart ventricle and divides into numerous smaller arteries, thanks to which the internal organs located in the abdominal cavity and human sternum are fed.
In turn, the aorta is divided into main sections: thoracic (responsible for blood supply to the head, neck, arms and chest organs) and abdominal (supplies blood to the inside of the peritoneum). If we talk about the nutrition of the pelvic organs and legs, then the iliac arteries coming from the abdominal aorta are responsible for them.
It is also worth highlighting the coronary arteries, which also come from the main aorta. They are responsible for saturating human blood with oxygen and are closest to the heart. Thus, atherosclerosis of the aorta of the coronary arteries or others is isolated, depending on the location of the disease.
It is worth noting that this disease and all its varieties, as a rule, affect organs only partially. Thus, it is easy to conclude that this pathology does not affect the entire aorta, but only a certain segment of it. Depending on its location, a more detailed clinical picture will be drawn up and therapeutic measures will be prescribed.measures.
If we talk about what it is - atherosclerosis of the aorta of the heart, what kind of symptoms patients should expect, then in this case it is worth considering this topic in more detail.
Fat (lipid) spot
This is the first stage of the development of the disease, during which microscopic damage to blood vessels occurs. In addition, when a lipid spot appears, blood flow slows down, and fatty deposits appear. Most often, these damages are noticeable in those parts of the vessels where they branch out. Their inner walls become more loose and swollen.
At the initial stage of development of atherosclerosis of the aorta, the protective systems of the human body stop working normally, and gradually their functionality decreases. A little later, more complex deposits appear on the walls of blood vessels, which are protein and cholesterol.
If we talk about the duration of the first stage of the disease, then it all depends on the individual characteristics of the patient. However, the diagnosis of atherosclerosis of the aorta is possible even in newborns. Therefore, it is possible to exclude the further development of the disease if you undergo an examination in a timely manner.
Liposclerosis
This is the second stage of atherosclerosis of the aortic arteries, during which fatty deposits grow into large areas. In this case, there is also an increase in connective tissue. As a result, the formation of atherosclerotic plaques occurs.
Treatment of aortic atherosclerosis at this stage also gives a positive result. After the use of specialized drugs, the plaques dissolve. However, during therapy, there is a small risk that they can come off and completely clog the vessel. In addition, it is better not to reach liposclerosis, since in an advanced stage this can lead to the fact that the walls of the arteries begin to lose their elasticity, sores and cracks appear on them. This is very dangerous, as such conditions become ideal for the formation of thrombosis.
Atherocalcinosis
At the third stage of the disease, plaque thickens, in which s alt deposits also begin to appear. However, some patients may not even observe symptoms of aortic atherosclerosis. This is due to the fact that the deformation of blood vessels and their narrowing occurs gradually. However, in this case, the disease flows into the chronic stage, the blood supply to the internal organs is disturbed. In this case, there is a high risk of developing blood clots. In the third stage, the patient may have a heart attack or gangrene in one of the internal organs, which receives the least oxygen.
At this stage, the treatment of atherosclerosis of the aorta of the heart becomes the most difficult. Therefore, it is better to stop the pathology in the first stages of its development.
If we talk about the causes of the disease, many believe that this pathology appears solely due to cholesterol deposits. However, there are much more conditions that lead to such consequences.
Unhe althy diet
This is the most common reason. The appearance of atherosclerosis of the aorta is most often due to an excess of animal fats.in the human diet. Easily digestible carbohydrates, which are filled with products belonging to the category of fast food, can also lead to negative consequences.
In addition, the human diet should contain a sufficient amount of vitamins, dietary fiber and natural fatty acids obtained from plant foods. If there is a deficiency of useful trace elements in the human body, then this becomes a favorable background for the formation of pathologies.
Overweight
In this case, we are not talking about obesity, but about fullness. People in the body are more prone to atherosclerosis, as they are in insufficient physical activity. With a sedentary lifestyle and the consumption of large amounts of food in the body, stagnation can begin. All this leads to a violation of metabolic processes, a slowdown in energy production. In this case, cholesterol accumulates in the blood, which subsequently leads to illness.
Gender
It is worth noting that the representatives of the stronger sex are more prone to the appearance of atherosclerosis of the aorta. This is due to the fact that the disease develops faster, which is why men begin to suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular system 5-10 years earlier than the fair half.
Also, women are less likely to suffer from an illness due to certain sex hormones that can only be contained in their bodies. These components perform a protective function. In addition, female sex hormones perfectly resist cholesterol deposits.
Age
Of course, the fundamental factor in such diseases is how old a person is. With age, the body's defense systems begin to work more slowly and cannot cope with the tasks. If you add malnutrition and fullness here, then you get ideal conditions for the development of atherosclerosis.
Women after menopause become more vulnerable to this disease, as in this case, the production of essential sex hormones stops.
Smoking and alcohol
In this case, we are talking not only about active smokers, but also those who are in close proximity to people with cigarettes. In this case, the same damage is done to the vessels and the heart. This is due to the fact that cigarette smoke contains very harmful components that significantly reduce the stability of blood vessels, thinning their walls. This becomes a favorable factor for the formation of cholesterol and harmful lipids.
Alcohol has the same destructive properties. This is because ethyl alcohol is a toxin that destroys the liver. Large doses of alcohol produce harmful lipids that prevent the formation of the necessary fats.
Symptoms of the disease
If we talk about the manifestation of the disease, then it all depends on the area in which cholesterol plaques began to form. Most often, the disease manifests itself in the area of \u200b\u200bthe aortic valve. At the same time, patients complain of increased heart rate, which becomes especially noticeable in the supine position. In addition, the symptoms of this ailment may be sensations of pulsation in the neck and head. Also, patients often begin to complain of constricting or squeezing pains in the heart. Additionally, there may be tinnitus, headaches, shortness of breath, sweating, fatigue and even fainting.
If we are talking about the development of the disease in the area where the root or arch of the artery is located, then in this case there is even a risk of death even before the pathology is detected. If we talk about the symptoms, then in this case it will be the same as with angina pectoris. In this case, the patient may suffer from a heart attack or coronary disease. Also, many complain of burning and pressing pain in the chest, increased shortness of breath, vomiting, nausea, frequent dizziness, loss of consciousness and pressure surges.
When atherosclerosis is detected on the arch, patients usually complain of a rather severe pain syndrome. At the same time, unpleasant sensations are also transmitted to the left arm, shoulder blade and shoulder area. The pain syndrome increases significantly with physical exertion.
Saying that it is aortic atherosclerosis, how to treat this disease is also worth knowing.
Treatment
To increase the chances of getting rid of this pathology, it is necessary to identify the disease as early as possible. If we are talking about the first stages, then, as a rule, doctors prescribe conservative treatment. In this case, an individual course of medications is selected, which may have to be taken for more than one year. At the same time, patients should undergo periodicexaminations and take the necessary tests.
If a patient has diabetes mellitus or arterial hypertension, then atherosclerosis can quickly turn into a more aggressive form. In this case, medications with a stronger effect are prescribed.
In order for the treatment to be successful, it is very important to make a correct diet. First of all, the patient should exclude meat, fish and mushroom broths from his diet. It is also necessary to abandon sausages, smoked meats, pork and lard. Alcohol, sweets and spices will have a negative effect during the treatment period.
