Headache, fatigue, decreased concentration, general lethargy and passivity - all these manifestations are most often attributed to a cold, hormonal failure or the so-called chronic fatigue syndrome. But if they occur for a long time, becoming more pronounced, or the clinical picture expands with additional symptoms, it is urgent to contact the clinic and undergo an examination. It is quite possible that this is cerebral atherosclerosis.
How to treat this disease? Like any other disease of the cardiovascular system, this one requires an individual and at the same time integrated approach. The main thing is not to self-medicate, because the mistake in choosingdrugs can cost serious and irreversible consequences.
Which doctor should I contact?
Before treating cerebral atherosclerosis, the patient is sent for examination. Only after making an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will be able to start treating this unpleasant disease.
If a patient has atherosclerotic plaques on the vessels of the brain, it is important to understand that it will not be possible to get rid of them completely and be cured once and for all. This process is progressive and can lead to impaired cerebral circulation. But if you seek help in a timely manner and follow medical recommendations, you will be able to achieve good results in the treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis. Methods and drugs used in therapy should only be prescribed by the attending physician.
By the way, a neurologist deals with this disease, but often a cardiologist also plays a role in determining the scheme of treatment tactics. The goal of therapy for atherosclerosis of blood vessels is to expand their walls, normalize metabolism and improve the quality of the blood.
The main principles of therapy
Many patients are interested in how to treat cerebral atherosclerosis and whether there are any special effective methods that will improve well-being and stop the development of the disease. In fact, there is nothing unusual and special in the treatment of this disease. It is based on the most common principles.
Dieting isfirst rule. Before treating cerebral atherosclerosis with pills, it is necessary to correct the lifestyle and revise the diet. Fatty meats, offal (kidneys, lungs, brains), lard, egg yolk - all these products contain cholesterol, which is not really absorbed by the body, but settles on the walls of blood vessels. Instead of this food, it is better to lean on oatmeal, potatoes, cabbage, low-fat cottage cheese and sour-milk drinks, soy, vegetables and fruits rich in vegetable fiber.
By the way, an adjusted diet can come back to haunt weight loss, which is very useful. After all, extra pounds interfere with full-fledged physical activity. Every day you need to play sports or at least do exercises in the morning. Lack of movement is one of the risk factors for the progression of atherosclerosis.
You will have to give up bad habits - otherwise the therapy will not bring the expected effect. Smoking and drinking alcohol lead to jumps in blood pressure, and this should never be allowed. With narrowed vessels affected by atherosclerosis and high blood pressure, the risk of developing a stroke increases several times.
To control your blood pressure, protect yourself from worries and intense stress. When asking how to treat cerebral atherosclerosis, you must first understand that such a patient should not worry, he should rest a lot and not overwork.
Examination -first step towards healing
Which doctor treats cerebral atherosclerosis is already known. If the symptoms mentioned at the beginning of the article appear, you need to go to see a neurologist. Experienced specialists usually detect the problem during the first visit of the patient. Sleep disturbances, headache, absent-mindedness, arrhythmia, memory problems against the background of hypertension speak for themselves. But to make a diagnosis, the doctor's assumptions alone are not enough - confirmation is needed, that is, the results of diagnostic procedures.
If atherosclerosis of the vessels of the head of the patient is suspected, the patient is sent for a lipid profile. This survey allows you to determine:
- blood cholesterol level (normally no more than 5.2 mm/l);
- number of low-density lipoproteins ("bad" cholesterol - no more than 3.9 mm/l);
- and high density (“good” cholesterol exceeds 1.58 mm/L);
- triglycerides (norm in the range of 0.14-1.82 mol/l);
- atherogenic coefficient (less than 3).
If the results of the lipidogram indicate the presence of a disease, additional instrumental diagnostics will be required. To assess the degree of vascular damage by atherosclerosis, ultrasound and angiography are performed. Both methods are non-invasive and painless. In the first case, no special preparation is required at all. Angiography is usually performed using a contrast agent. Moreover, the diagnosis can be fluoroscopic, computer or magnetic resonance.
Only after obtaining an objective picture of the disease, drugs are prescribed.
Treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis is carried out conservatively or surgically. It all depends on the degree of the disease.
Anti-sclerotic agents
Treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis with drugs begins with the use of statins. Medicines in this group reduce the rate of plaque formation. The most effective of those prescribed for the treatment of a number of neurological pathologies include:
- Mertinil.
- Zakor.
- Atoris.
The direct purpose of statins is to reduce the concentration of cholesterol in the blood and stop the growth of the size of atherosclerotic formations on the walls of blood vessels. Contraindication to their use is pregnancy and lactation. Also, statins are not prescribed for children with liver or kidney dysfunction, myalgia, lupus erythematosus and endocrine disorders.
Fibrates
These drugs in the medical treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis are mandatory if gout develops in parallel with this disease. Fibrates ("Bezafibrate", "Liprimar", "Gembifrosil") can reduce the level of triglycerides in the blood. If this indicator is normal, the drugs of this group are not prescribed to the patient. In addition, fibrates should not be used for cholelithiasis, kidney failure, children, pregnant and lactating women.
Antihypertensives and antiplatelet agents
MedicatedIn the treatment of atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels, an important place is occupied by drugs that reduce blood pressure. Medicines for hypertension are prescribed, as a rule, for life. This is a broad pharmacological group, which includes such medicines as Reserpine, Captopril, Oktadin. The choice of a suitable remedy should be carried out by a doctor. It is dangerous to self-prescribe medications and take them without the supervision of a specialist, as they can cause serious complications and have many contraindications.
Antiplatelet agents, among which Heparin is the most popular, inhibit platelet aggregation and prevent them from sticking together, sticking to the endothelium of blood vessels. These drugs are used in the prevention of ischemic stroke, heart attack.
The thing is that platelets are directly involved in the formation of cholesterol plaques, so antiplatelet agents are considered indispensable drugs in the treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis. In 8 reviews of patients out of ten, it is stated that antiplatelet agents are prescribed as part of the complex therapy of this disease. They are contraindicated in gastrointestinal ulcers, cardiac aneurysm, liver or kidney failure.
Other drugs
When drawing up a plan for the medical treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis, the doctor will definitely remember nicotinic acid and its derivatives. This remedy is prescribed if a patient has high cholesterol levels. In addition, this substance helps to improve blood circulation in the brain and the resorption of small thrombotic formations.
Another drug group used in atherosclerosis is bile acid sequestrants (Colestipol, Colestyramine). They are not absorbed into the blood and are used as maintenance therapy between main courses of treatment. Sequestrants stimulate the process of removing bile from the body and reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol. In diseases of the hepatobiliary system and disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, they cannot be taken.
Nutritional supplements in the treatment of atherosclerosis
The use of all of the above drugs in the treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis in elderly patients is unsafe. If the level of cholesterol in the blood has risen slightly, you should not start treatment with potent synthetic statins. It is better to use natural analogues of these drugs, which have no contraindications and do not bring side effects. What's more, they're much easier to carry and taste great.
For example, statins can be replaced with a combination of vitamins C and B3. Fish oil, flaxseed oil, peanuts, dark grapes, turmeric, etc. are also regularly recommended. Some bioactive supplements created using natural ingredients can be taken without consulting a doctor. For example, taking dietary supplements based on:
- Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant that can protect the cardiovascular system and normalize cholesterol levels;
- beta-sitosterol – hasstructural similarity to "good" cholesterol and helps neutralize "bad" cholesterol;
- nicotinic acid is the second name for vitamin B3, which is involved in the blood circulation of the brain.
Laser surgery
In addition to conservative methods of treatment, in severe cases, the patient may be prescribed surgery. With a severe degree of atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels, laser treatment often remains the patient's last hope for recovery or, at least, for stabilization of the condition.
This method of dealing with the deposition of cholesterol plaques has been known since the 80s of the last century. For the first time, the treatment of atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels with a laser was carried out at the Moscow Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery named after A. N. Bakulev. Today, this method of fighting the disease is widespread and is used in almost all major cities of Russia.
The operation is performed using a laser beam - this is the only tool of the neurosurgeon. The essence of this procedure is as follows:
- a flexible quartz thread with blood flow is carried to the place where cholesterol deposits are localized, preventing the full movement of blood;
- then the laser is turned on and starts to directly affect the plaque with high temperatures;
- during manipulation, the deposit heats up sharply, due to which it evaporates - the plaque turns into gas.
This treatment is consideredhighly effective, but at the same time simple in execution technique. It does not require a huge investment of time both for the operation itself and for recovery after it. The technique itself is similar to that used in the treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities.
Regardless of the chosen method of treatment, it is important to understand that no one can give a guarantee of healing once and for all. If the cause that caused atherosclerosis is not eliminated, relapses of the disease are inevitable.
Alternative Medicine
How to treat atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels with folk medicines? At home, you can also treat this disease. Of course, it will not be as powerful as medication. And if folk methods are used in the treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis as monotherapy, it is unlikely that the expected effect will be achieved. Home remedies are recommended to be used in combination with traditional methods - then it will be possible to cure the disease much faster.
Fundamental in folk therapy are herbal preparations, seeds, rhizomes of medicinal plants and other raw materials. Honey and mummy are also considered useful for the vessels of the brain - these ingredients are used both for the treatment and for the prevention of atherosclerosis. Basically, they are used without restrictions, since the only contraindication to use is an allergic reaction.
To lower cholesterol at home, you need to use the following methods.
Fresh vegetable juices
In order to prevent and eliminate already existing atherosclerotic deposits in the vessels of the brain, vegetable juices from cabbage, beets, potatoes, pumpkins, celery and carrots are used. Moreover, both single-component juices and mixes are considered useful. You need to drink half a glass of freshly squeezed juice in the morning and evening. Citrus fruits, raspberries, strawberries also help to stop the progression of the pathological process in the cerebral arteries.
Natural honey
You can use products based on it only if there is no allergic reaction. Honey activates the blood supply to all organs and systems, helps cleanse blood vessels and restore lipid metabolism. Honey is often used in combination with vegetable oil, citrus juice or herbal decoction. For example, from atherosclerosis, a decoction based on plantain and chrysostom is often used, for the preparation of which you will need to take 1 tsp. each component and 1 glass of water. Boil the broth for 10 minutes, cool, strain, add honey and drink after meals, divided into two doses.
Garlic
Many of the recipes for folk treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis include this component. Garlic is a natural remedy for cholesterol in the body. It is eaten in its pure form as an additive to dishes. You can also make a tincture from garlic. It is prepared as follows: 100 g of garlic gruel is poured into 200 g of vodka and left to infuse for 10-14 days in a dark place. When the tincture is ready, strain it and drink a few drops. Starting with threedrops, then gradually increase the dosage to 30, then reduce it in reverse order.
Also in the treatment of atherosclerosis, an effective folk remedy is onion juice mixed with lemon juice. Drink 2 tsp. three times a day on an empty stomach.
Medicinal plants
There are a few more simple options for treating atherosclerosis:
- Pour boiling water over hawthorn fruits or flowers (you need to take the same amount of water as raw materials), put on fire, bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Drink chilled and strained broth in unlimited quantities throughout the day.
- Birch buds (2 tablespoons) pour two glasses of water and boil for 15 minutes, then insist and take 50 ml after each meal.
- Decoction of plantain prepared according to the above method in the same proportion. You can add honey or lemon juice to it.
- Thyme grass is used in the complex treatment of atherosclerosis, taking 1 tbsp. l. dried flowers or plant stems in 0.5 liters of boiling water. It is not necessary to boil the drink: just cover it with a lid and let it brew for an hour. Drink 200 ml every day after meals for a week.
Reviews from patients and specialists
Cerebral atherosclerosis is a very common disease, which, judging by the reviews, occurs not only in the elderly. With full treatment and a he althy lifestyle, the prognosis for the disease is favorable.
Mostpatients suffering from this disease, noted such a symptom as increased blood pressure and severe headache, which forced them to consult a doctor. After undergoing a course of treatment for cerebral atherosclerosis (according to reviews), the symptoms became more blurred, but did not completely disappear. A good effect in the treatment of this disease is demonstrated by laser therapy. However, only a few can afford this treatment due to the high cost.
Doctors in their reviews recommend that patients pay more attention to preventive measures. In the fight against atherosclerosis, breathing exercises, swimming, hardening are useful. By following all the doctor's instructions, the patient will be able to take control of this disease and live a full and active life.
