Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck is a serious disease, since it is through these arteries that blood flows from the heart to the brain. Its main cause is the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. As a result, the lumen of the vessels narrows, and the brain ceases to receive the necessary nutrients. In the absence of treatment, the likelihood of complications, up to a fatal outcome, increases. In today's article, we will talk in more detail about the symptoms of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck, treatment and ways to prevent the disease.
Description of the disease
Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck is a disease, the development of which affects the work of all brain structures. It is through this part of the body that the main arteries of the body pass: carotid, vertebral and subclavian. They deliver nutrients and oxygen to the brain along with the current.blood. In the event of atherosclerosis, the lumen of the vessels is blocked, the full blood supply to the brain is disrupted. The result of such changes are various pathologies (heart attack, stroke, ischemia).
At the initial stage of development, it is quite difficult to identify the symptoms of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck. Treatment therefore does not begin in a timely manner, which almost always leads to complications. Even the overlap of the vessel by 50% is not accompanied by specific signs. Despite the fact that a decrease in its diameter by 70% or more significantly worsens the quality of human life.
Most often the disease is diagnosed in men older than 50 years. Recently, there has been a trend towards its rejuvenation. The fair sex suffers from the disease much less frequently. Mostly its symptoms are found in women over the age of 60.
Development mechanism
Atherosclerosis occurs against the background of lipid metabolism disorders. It is characterized by an increase in the concentration of cholesterol in the blood. Initially, yellowish spots appear on the walls of the arteries. Over time, cholesterol deposits, calcium s alts and platelets settle on them more and more. Gradually, the spots transform into plaques, increase in size, blocking the lumen of the vessel. As a result, the walls of affected arteries lose their elasticity and become brittle.
Main reasons
The main cause of the disease is recognized as high cholesterol. This violation, in turn, develops under the influence of the followingfactors:
- unbalanced diet, which contains a large amount of spicy and fatty foods, animal fats;
- bad habits (alcohol abuse, smoking);
- sedentary lifestyle;
- overweight;
- infectious processes in the body of viral or bacterial origin;
- comorbid he alth problems (diabetes, hypertension);
- vitamin B deficiency;
- hereditary predisposition.
The appearance of symptoms of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck, as a rule, is affected not by one, but by a whole group of factors from the list above.
Disease classification
In medical practice, in relation to blood vessels, it is customary to distinguish 3 types of atherosclerotic lesions:
- Non-stenosing.
- Stenosing.
- Multifocal.
In the first case, plaque growth is observed along the walls of the arteries, complete overlap does not occur. Only the volume of circulating blood decreases, which also negatively affects the functioning of the brain. A stenosing lesion is characterized by the germination of plaque into the artery. This threatens to completely block the blood flow. The multifocal type implies severe forms of the disease that can be treated exclusively by surgery.
Clinical picture
At the initial stage, atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck usually does not manifest itself. As the disease progresses, signs begin to appear that most write offfor malaise or fatigue. Gradually, the clinical picture is supplemented by the following symptoms:
- brief episodes of dizziness;
- pain in the head and neck;
- decrease in visual acuity, the appearance of "flies" before the eyes;
- sleep disorder, insomnia.
If the listed signs of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck appear, you should immediately consult a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination of the body.
Separately, a group of dangerous clinical manifestations of the disease should be singled out. These are:
- Spontaneous loss of vision in one eye, not associated with traumatic injuries.
- Feeling of numbness or tingling in both upper and lower limbs. At the same time, the ability to control the motor activity of the arms and legs is lost.
- Loss of consciousness due to excessive sweating and pallor of the skin.
- Violation of speech function.
- Loss of orientation in space.
Such symptoms usually indicate a serious cerebrovascular disorder. When they occur, a person needs emergency medical care followed by hospitalization.
Diagnostic Methods
Studying the symptoms of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck and head, treatment and recommendations for prevention is done by a neurologist. Diagnosis of the disease begins with a study of the anamnesis and complaints of the patient. In some cases, the doctor may ask a number of clarifying questions, for example, about the presence of chronic pathologies orhereditary predisposition, drugs used.
At the next stage, a comprehensive examination of the body is assigned, consisting of the following activities:
- Echocardiography.
- UZDG.
- Electrocardiography.
- A blood test to assess lipid balance.
- X-ray angiography.
Diagnostics cannot be neglected. In addition to atherosclerosis, the examination may reveal associated he alth problems.
Depending on the stage of atherosclerosis and the results of the tests, the doctor selects the therapy. It, as a rule, is complex in nature and includes taking medications, dieting, and lifestyle changes. Severe cases may require surgery.
Drug therapy
The main goal of drug therapy is to prevent the development of complications. The duration of the course of treatment for atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck, drugs, their dosage are selected individually by the neurologist. The choice of medical tactics is also influenced by the degree of vasoconstriction, the presence of concomitant he alth problems.
Drugs from the following groups are commonly used during treatment:
- Antihypertensive drugs (beta-blockers, diuretics, ACE inhibitors). Thanks to the use of such medicines, regulation and control of blood pressure indicators are carried out.
- Disaggregants ("Aspirin", "Clopidogrel", "Ticlopidine"). The action of these drugs is aimed at preventing blood clotting, itsliquefaction.
- Statins. This group of drugs provides a decrease in the concentration of cholesterol deposits in the blood.
The effectiveness of drug therapy increases significantly if the overlap of the vessel with plaques is no more than 50%. In addition, it is used in cases where the patient deliberately refuses surgery or there are contraindications to surgery.
Features of food
Change in nutrition in atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck plays an important role in the treatment process. Its key goal is to limit foods that increase the concentration of cholesterol in the blood. Doctors give the following recommendations on this issue:
- The diet should mainly consist of fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals.
- It is necessary to exclude foods rich in animal fats, smoked meats, fried foods and fast food.
- The emphasis in nutrition should be on marine fish and seafood. They contain substances that help lower cholesterol in the bloodstream and normalize metabolic processes.
Creating a daily menu for atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck, guided by these tips, is quite simple. And it should be followed regardless of the degree of damage to the body by the disease.
Correction of lifestyle
After identifying the symptoms of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck, treatment is not limited to drugs. All patients, without exception, needrethink your lifestyle. You need to eliminate bad habits. In case of excess body weight, it is necessary not only to monitor nutrition, but also, under the supervision of a doctor, increase physical activity. Some patients suffering from psycho-emotional overload are shown individual consultations with a psychotherapist.
Help of traditional medicine
It is used to eliminate the symptoms of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck and the treatment of folk remedies. It is used as a prevention of complications and to cleanse the vessels. Below are the most popular recipes.
- Hawthorn juice. To prepare it, you need to crush 500 g of berries with a pestle, pour 0.5 cups of water and heat to 50 degrees. The cooled mixture must be passed through a juicer. Take a decoction in a sip three times a day.
- Fresh garlic. In a glass jar with a volume of 3 liters, you need to put cherry and blackcurrant leaves, 1 kg of fresh garlic and pour brine. Then the vessel must be closed with a tight lid and put in a dark place for a week. Take a tablespoon of the remedy 5 times a day.
Before you treat atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck with folk remedies, you need to consult a doctor.
Surgery
Surgery is recommended for patients with moderate to severe vascular stenosis. Its result is the removal of cholesterol plaques, the expansion of the lumen of the affected vessel.
In modern medicine, the following varieties are used for this purposeoperations:
- Carotid endarterectomy. An incision is made on the skin in the area of the projection of the carotid artery. The doctor opens the affected vessel, cleans it from plaques. The incision on the artery is pulled together with small sutures.
- Stenting. This is the most common surgical treatment for atherosclerosis of the neck vessels. Symptoms of the disease disappear immediately after the operation. It involves the use of a stent or a small tube that is placed in a vessel. The stent holds the lumen to the correct size.
- Prosthetic arteries. The essence of the procedure is to artificially create alternative ways for blood to flow to the brain. The saphenous vein of the lower limb is usually used as a biomaterial. After creating a “bypass”, the patient normalizes blood flow to the brain tissues.
Most patients with atherosclerosis are elderly people with comorbidities. Therefore, before undergoing surgery, they need to undergo a comprehensive examination of the body and pass a series of tests.
Possible Complications
Atherosclerosis is a serious disease that negatively affects the quality of human life. Its mortality rate is one of the highest in the world. According to statistics, every 125th person dies due to this pathology.
As the disease progresses, patients experience various complications. For example, a cholesterol plaque can come off, get into the brain along with the blood flow and clog the vessel. As a result of these changes, ischemic stroke occurs.
Another nastya complication is a carotid aneurysm. Under this pathology, it is customary to understand the expansion of the aorta with a simultaneous thinning of its wall. A rupture of an artery is possible, as a result of which a large amount of blood enters the brain.
Prevention Methods
Symptoms of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck significantly impair the quality of life. In order to prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to constantly engage in its prevention. Doctors give the following advice on this issue:
- Remove all bad habits.
- Change your diet as suggested in the article.
- If you have diabetes, you should constantly monitor your blood sugar.
- If you have underlying he alth problems, take your doctor's prescription medications.
It is important to understand that atherosclerosis is a progressive pathology. If you do not treat it, the size of the lumen of the vessels will constantly decrease. As a rule, this figure is 13% per year. Early access to a doctor and the right therapy are a guarantee of preventing stroke and other dangerous complications.
