What is atherosclerosis and how to prevent it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

If you do not undergo an examination every year, it may be too late to learn about a dangerous disease.

What is atherosclerosis

Our blood vessels (arteries) carry oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. Sometimes fatty deposits - plaques - form in the vessels. Because of them, the arteries narrow Atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis), become hard and stiff, it is more difficult for them to deliver blood and oxygen to the organs. This is atherosclerosis - a dangerous chronic disease.

Lyudmila Sbrodova senior medical consultant "Teledoktor-24", cardiologist, candidate of medical sciences

The disease progresses slowly. But over time, the plaque can completely block the artery.

How to recognize atherosclerosis

Many people are unaware of the disease because it often has no symptoms. In the initial stages, it will definitely not be possible to independently detect atherosclerosis. If you do not undergo a complete examination of the body at least once a year, you can find out about the ailment many years later, when it goes into a severe stage and the plaques block the blood flow.

Symptoms of moderate to severe atherosclerosis atherosclerosis depend on which arteries are affected. According to Lyudmila Sbrodova, the disease often affects the vessels of several organs at once.

Heart vessels

You may feel pressure and chest discomfort. The pain often radiates to the back, neck, shoulders, arms, or jaw. Sometimes there is shortness of breath, arrhythmia (rapid heartbeat), insomnia, fatigue.

Cerebral vessels

The main signs in this case are sudden numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, slurred speech, temporary loss of vision, dizziness, loss of coordination when walking, severe headache, fainting.

Vessels of arms and legs

If these arteries are narrowed, your limbs can be sore and numb, especially when you move.

Renal vessels

Renal failure can develop due to plaque in the renal arteries. Its main signs are: weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, too frequent or infrequent urination, swelling of the hands and feet, problems concentrating, itchy skin.

Where does atherosclerosis come from?

The disease can appear as early as childhood. Why is not known exactly. It usually starts with damage to the endothelium - the inner layer of the artery.

Several things can cause damage to the vessels of Atherosclerosis Causes:

• high blood pressure;
• smoking tobacco;
• high cholesterol or triglyceride levels;
• type 1 diabetes mellitus;
• obesity, obesity;
• lack of physical activity.

Why is atherosclerosis dangerous?

The disease has several health and life threatening complications of Atherosclerosis.

• If the arteries leading to the heart are narrowed, blood flow slows down. This leads to coronary artery disease and angina pectoris. And subsequently, sometimes it becomes the cause of myocardial infarction and death.
• Due to the narrowing of the vessels that drive blood to the brain, a stroke can occur.
• Blockage of arteries in the arms or legs leads to cramps, muscle pain, and sometimes even gangrene.
• Atherosclerosis can cause an aneurysm in the vessel wall. This is a bulge that bursts over time and causes internal bleeding.

When to see a doctor

As soon as any of the above symptoms are noticed.

Go to a therapist first. He will examine you and give you a referral to a narrow specialist, depending on which arteries are affected by the disease. Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the heart is dealt with by a cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon, the brain - by a neurologist, extremities - by an angiologist or vascular surgeon, kidney - by a nephrologist.

How to treat atherosclerosis

This can slow down the Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis development of atherosclerosis and improve the patient's well-being.

Lifestyle change

First of all, the doctor will advise you to establish a regimen and get rid of bad habits. Here's how to do it Atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis):

• If you smoke, quit.
• Eat a healthy diet to lower your cholesterol. Try to avoid foods high in saturated fat, salt, and sugar. Lean on vegetables and fruits.
• Be proactive. Experts advise to devote at least 2.5 hours to this every day. For example, you can ride a bike, walk, and do strength training a couple of times a week.
• Maintain an optimal weight within the body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 24.9.
• Drink less alcohol.

If you caught yourself in time and did not start the disease, no other treatment may be needed.

Taking medication

This is the next step to take if changing your habits doesn't help.

For the treatment of atherosclerosis, drugs are now used that prevent the formation of atherogenic lipoproteins, inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine, physiological correctors of lipid metabolism, angioprotectors and some other means that are selected by the attending physician. In no case can you accept anything yourself.

Lyudmila Sbrodova, cardiologist

Operation

It is necessary if the patient has a severe blockage of the artery. The surgery will help remove plaque from the walls and restore blood flow.

Can atherosclerosis be prevented?

It is impossible to protect yourself one hundred percent. But some risk factors are controlled.

Above, we have already given recommendations on lifestyle changes for the treatment of atherosclerosis. They are also suitable for those who want to prevent illness.