In the article we will consider what it is - atherosclerosis of the aorta of the heart. The symptoms of this pathology will also be described.
Sedentary lifestyle along with unhe althy diet causes diseases of various organs. In particular, the human body suffers greatly from eating food saturated with cholesterol, because of this, atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries develops. How to deal with such an ailment?
Atherosclerotic changes can affect any large vessels, including the abdominal aorta. The total share of such pathology among all types of atherosclerotic changes is no more than 20% of the total. Those who are faced with atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta sometimes do not suspect that this is the same dangerous pathological change as, for example, atherosclerosis of the arteries of the head. Meanwhile, the problem of atherosclerotic transformations in this large arterycan lead to a number of negative consequences.
Essence of pathology
Atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta is characterized by a violation of lipid metabolism, which causes the deposition of cholesterol plaques on the vascular walls. After some time, they calcify, the lumen becomes blocked, and blood flow worsens. Atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta can be characterized by a decrease in the elasticity of the vessel walls.
It should be noted that the aorta is the largest vessel in the body, divided into two parts: abdominal and thoracic. The vascular diameter is very large, and therefore the disease is determined in 95% of cases in elderly patients.
What are the symptoms of aortic atherosclerosis? More on that below.
The aorta is the largest part of the circulatory system, supplying the vital organs with the necessary amount of fluid, oxygen and nutrients. Since its internal diameter is large enough, it takes more time for the progression of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta than for the development of disease of other vessels. Therefore, in 95% of cases, pathology is diagnosed in very elderly people.
Vascular blockage is accompanied by ischemia, so that in the process of diagnosis, signs of pathology can be determined.
Causes of disease
Calcified atherosclerotic plaques in the abdominal region of the aorta appear due to disorders of fat metabolism. High-density lipoproteins are replaced in the blood by substances of reduced density, which becomes the main reason for the formation of plaques on the vascular walls. As soon as it happensoverlap of the aortic lumen by 70%, the development of coronary heart disease is noted. The main causes of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries are:
- hereditary predisposition;
- diseases of the endocrine system;
- lack of exercise;
- infectious diseases;
- obesity;
- having bad habits;
- chronic overexertion of the nervous system;
- eating too much fatty food.
Any of the listed items can cause a severe violation of fat metabolism, which will lead to atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta. If it is completely blocked, the organs will begin to die, and the patient will die.
Classification of pathology
There are three types of classification of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta. The first system is based on the features of the clinical picture of the pathology, it is determined by the level of ischemic disorders.
The following types of vascular obstruction are distinguished:
- Low occlusion. There is a bifurcation of the peritoneal aorta.
- Medium occlusion. Aortic occlusion is diagnosed in patients at the proximal level.
- High occlusion. There is a violation of vascular patency below the localization of the renal arteries.
- In hospitals, when diagnosing atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries, specialists most often use the Fontaine classification, in whichfour stages of the course of the disease are distinguished.
- Preclinical stage. The disease does not manifest itself, instrumental analysis does not give positive results. The body has a normal concentration of lipids. In the process of a chemical analysis of blood, it is possible to determine an increase in the number of beta-lipoproteins, as well as hypercholesterolemia, which confirms the patient's predisposition to the development of atherosclerosis. It is advisable to take preventive measures.
- Latent stage. It is possible to determine changes in the physical state of the artery through instrumental analysis. If, against the background of violations of hemodynamic functions, deviations in fat metabolism are diagnosed, then the patient is diagnosed with atherosclerosis.
- Clinical non-specific manifestations. In this case, the patient has ischemic disorders of organs, as well as pain in sleep and at rest. You can determine this stage of the pathology using an instrumental examination.
- The appearance of trophic disorders and chronic arterial occlusion. Ischemia of vessels and nearby organs in the area of plaque damage is diagnosed. Also, patients have tissue fibrotic changes.
Complications of the disease
Approximately 95% of patients do not know what complications appear in atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta if there is no timely diagnosis.
With a strong vascular blockage, an inflammatory process of the peritoneal organs develops. The patient's condition suddenly worsens, the intensity of pain increases.
If hospitalization is delayed,then gangrene of the lower extremities may appear, which leads to the death of a person. The least life-threatening complications are renal ischemia and failure, and strokes.
Symptoms of the disease
Atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta in 95% of cases is manifested by severe and moderate pain, which can be localized in various parts of the peritoneum.
In addition, the symptoms of peritoneal aortic atherosclerosis include:
- weight loss;
- problems in bowel function.
It is possible to determine the signs of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta and therapy only in a medical institution. It is not recommended to carry out self-diagnosis and strive to get rid of the manifestations of the disease by means of drugs that stimulate the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as painkillers, as this will cause difficulties in diagnosing vascular obstruction.
Intensity of pain
The intensity of the pain syndrome increases along with the pathology. If the specialist has not made a diagnosis, the patient may be assigned a diagnostic operation to determine the source of pain.
Non-stenosing atherosclerosis is characterized by a change in the vessel wall. Traditional pain in the usual form of the disease does not appear. The patient instead experiences numbness and weakness in the legs and arms, as well as tinnitus. Dizziness is more common. Some patients experience a decrease in blood flow without physical manifestations.
Diagnostic features
Beforethe beginning of treatment for atherosclerosis of the aortic arteries should determine its presence. The patient is referred to a gastroenterologist due to severe gastrointestinal disorders. A specialist in 70% of cases does not find a problem, while the patient is sent for a thorough examination.
To determine the violations of the blood flow of the abdominal organs, the patient is carried out:
- FGS (gastroscopy);
- ultrasound;
- blood lipid spectrum analysis;
- blood clotting test;
- duplex scanning of the abdominal aorta;
- Aortoangiography.
Due to duplex scanning, atherosclerosis of the peritoneal cavity can be detected at an early stage. Another effective diagnostic method is angiography. Such techniques allow the specialist to confirm the diagnosis.
Older people rarely realize how dangerous such a disease is, and why it is necessary to proceed with its surgical treatment. They go to the hospital in the later stages of the disease, when the body has been severely harmed. If you regularly undergo medical examinations, you can avoid such situations and identify the disease at the beginning of its development.
Specific treatment of pathology
Treatment of atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta should be comprehensive. The specialist takes into account the age of the patient, his condition, the degree of progression of the disease, the severity of symptoms. Self-treatment with folk remedies for atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries is undesirable, since theymay cause an allergic reaction.
Medicated treatment is carried out by the following means:
- Statins, which reduce natural cholesterol production.
- Disargents that thin the blood.
- Fibrates that reduce lipid production.
- B vitamins that produce antioxidant effects on the body.
- Calcium antagonists that dilate blood vessels.
Such maintenance therapy in some cases is prescribed to the patient for life, if there is no inflammatory process.
When atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta caused the formation of an aneurysm, whose diameter is more than four centimeters, then surgical intervention is performed, the affected area of the vessel is excised, the defect is sutured or replaced with a vascular prosthesis.
Aneurysm rupture requires urgent surgery.
Patient diet
In order to reduce blood cholesterol and increase the strength of blood vessels, you need to eat right with atherosclerosis of the aorta of the coronary arteries. Food is taken in small portions at least four times a day. You need to eat foods in stewed, baked and boiled form or steamed. In addition, the amount of s alt is reduced. Preference should be given to fresh fruits and vegetables. What is allowed to eat:
- Meat: veal, rabbit, turkey, chicken.
- Fish: freshwater and marine, including fatty varieties.
- Fruits and vegetables.
- Fats: sunflower, corn and olive oils.
- Egg yolks.
- Low-fat dairy products.
What foods are banned:
- Meat: lamb, pork.
- Offal: brains, fat, kidneys, liver.
- Fats: lard, trans fats, butter.
- Fatty sauces.
- Whole milk, cottage cheese, heavy sour cream and cream.
- Smoked fish.
Folk methods
For atherosclerosis of the aorta of the coronary arteries, the following folk methods are used.
Tincture of hawthorn. To prepare it, you need to take 200 grams of fresh berries and pour them with 70 medical alcohol (300 ml), leave for a week in a dark place. Strain and drink three milliliters in the morning and evening before meals. The reception lasts three months, after which a break is made for four weeks, then the reception resumes.
Healing infusion. Valerian grass, motherwort and knotweed are mixed in equal proportions. Three grams of the collection should be poured with boiling water (200 ml) and infused for forty minutes. Then strain and drink in small sips. The remedy is taken once a day for two months.
Garlic tincture. A large head is crushed, placed in a dark glass dish and filled with alcohol. Infused, periodically shaken, for a week. Strained and drunk in the morning and evening, 15 drops for six months.
Viburnum tincture. 200 grams of ripe berries must be chopped, add honey (50 grams). Then pour natural wine (400 ml) made from red grape varieties. give a weekinsist and strain. Drink five milliliters three times a day before meals. The disease needs to be treated for six months.
Tincture of horseradish root. To prepare the remedy, take two tablespoons of crushed root, pour 100 milliliters of vodka, insist in a dark place for a week. Tsed and drink twice a day for four months, 20 drops each.
Pumpkin juice. Every day you need to drink on an empty stomach 100 milliliters of juice squeezed from ripe pulp. The product must be prepared immediately before use. This treatment should be continued for at least three months.
Prevention
To avoid signs of aortic atherosclerosis, you need to:
- Stay he althy.
- Get in shape nutrition.
- Give up bad habits.
- Do sports.
- Strengthen your immunity.
- Timely treat infectious pathologies.
- Get rid of excess weight.
This pathology is characterized by a gradual development, and its treatment is long. If you experience unpleasant symptoms, you should seek medical advice.
Advice from cardiologists
Strokes and heart attacks are the cause of almost 70% of all deaths in the world. However, few people know that seven out of ten patients die just the same because of high blood cholesterol due to blockage of the arteries of the brain or heart.
Especially frightening is the fact that many people do notsuspect that they have high cholesterol. And they don't even try to fix it.
Cardiologists advise to pay attention to the following signs of high cholesterol:
- Headache.
- Black dots (flies) before the eyes.
- High heart rate.
- Drowsiness, irritability, apathy.
- Sweating.
- Fuzzy vision.
- Puffiness of the face.
- Chronic fatigue.
- Chills and numbness of fingers.
- Pressure drops.
If there is one symptom, you should already think about it. If there are more of them, then there is no doubt that the level of cholesterol is elevated.
