Atherosclerosis is a dangerous disease that affects the vessels of the brain, and foci of cholesterol growth appear on the inside of the arteries, which provoke a narrowing of the lumen of the vessels. As a result, this can lead to blockage.
The main problem is that at the early stage this disease is practically not felt - there may be a slight noise or dizziness, people often blame it on simple fatigue. Let's consider the main symptoms and the correct treatment of atherosclerosis.
Causes of Atherosclerosis
Why does atherosclerosis occur? At an early stage of pathological processes that are associated with disruptions of lipid metabolism, cholesterol plaques begin to accumulate on the surface of already damaged vessels. Calcium salts, unformed connective tissue are gradually deposited there, due to which the surface of the plaques acquires an irregular shape.
Such a cholesterol growth leads to a narrowing of the lumen of the vessels, resulting in hindered blood circulation. It also leads to the destruction of blood cells, the formation of blood clots. If adverse conditions arise for the body, a blood clot may come off, and the arteries will become blocked. At the same time, blood circulation problems and cholesterol plaques that have come off can provoke.
Atherosclerosis develops on the background of a violation of fat metabolism in the body. The main causes of the disease include:
Sedentary lifestyle (for example, office workers).- Violation of the exchange process.
- Heredity.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Bad habits.
- Malnutrition, when fatty foods prevail in the diet.
Sedentary lifestyle (for example, office workers).But the main reason is the deposition of cholesterol plaques on the vessels.
Main signs and symptoms
There are the following common signs of atherosclerosis:
- nightmares, insomnia, trouble falling asleep;
- severe and regular headaches;
- change of gait, speech;
- the appearance of tinnitus;
- depression, mood changes, anxiety;
- sweating, hot flashes;
- fatigue and distraction;
- the appearance of tremors in the limbs;
- memory problems.
It should be noted that the listed symptoms are not yet a diagnosis. To confirm or deny it, you should consult a doctor.
With the development of this disease to the initial symptoms can be attributed to pain in the head, which first appear for a short time, then increase, and their duration increases.
There are also major changes in sleep.
People suffering from atherosclerosis complain of fatigue, a decrease in performance. The character also changes: there is a constant change of mood, tearfulness, a person is constantly irritated. In the future, there may be problems with coordination.
It should be noted that this disease is doubly dangerous and for the reason that atherosclerosis can be difficult to detect. And it's not the difficulty of diagnosis or further treatment, but the fact that people themselves often do not pay attention to the symptoms that arise and go to the doctor late.
Main stages of the disease
Based on the course of the disease, its symptoms, such stages of atherosclerosis are distinguished:
Initial
There are practically no pronounced symptoms, however, if a person monitors his health, he will be able to quickly notice such changes as:
- overwork after minimum exertion;
- dizziness;
- recurrent headaches;
- decrease in working capacity.
Most often, these symptoms appear in the afternoon, but after resting or sleeping pass.
Progressing
There is an increase in the above symptoms, but additionally anxiety or depression appears. There may be instability gait, hand tremor, blurred speech.
Decompensatory
Severe stage in which there is a loss of memory, difficulty with the thinking process. A person can not serve themselves. In addition, a stroke may develop at this stage.
How is the diagnosis
To date, the most successful and effective diagnostic methods are:
- Angiography of the vessels. This method is considered additional in the case of confirmed atherosclerosis. It consists in the following: a special liquid is introduced into the vessels, due to which it is possible to assess the state of the walls.
- Ultrasound of intracranial vessels.
These methods are safe, and when combined with laboratory tests that are prescribed by a doctor (blood test, OAM, etc.), they can determine the stage of the disease. Based on the results obtained, treatment is prescribed.
There are several important tips to help prevent the development of atherosclerosis. For example, you need to maintain a proper diet, give up cigarettes, alcohol, other bad habits, you should lead an active lifestyle. In addition, if you are predisposed to the development of atherosclerosis, you should minimize and generally eliminate from the diet any foods high in cholesterol.
Treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis
Treatment of atherosclerosis is regular. The main goals of therapy are as follows:
- reduction of ischemic manifestations of the disease;
- restoration of cell functionality;
- preventing the development of complications after a stroke;
- excretion of cholesterol.
Any treatment prescribed by a neurologist, who according to the results of research will identify the severity of the disease. And you can use both classical therapy with the use of medicines, and folk. Let's look at all the options in more detail.
Medication Treatment
Modern drugs help to eliminate the effects of the disease, restore the functioning of blood vessels. Most often prescribed drugs such as:
Statins. They help reduce cholesterol levels and normalize the size of cholesterol plaques. The most famous drugs: Atoris and Mertinil.- Fibrates. Aimed at lowering triglyceride levels. Fenofibrate is usually prescribed.
- Nicotinic acid or its derivatives.
- Cholestides or ion exchange resins that bind fatty acids.
- The drug Ezetemib, which helps stop the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine.
- They may also prescribe antihypertensive drugs that help lower blood pressure.
Statins. They help reduce cholesterol levels and normalize the size of cholesterol plaques. The most famous drugs: Atoris and Mertinil.Additionally, depending on the stage of the disease and the condition of the person, vitamins are prescribed that are related to auxiliary medicine.
It should be noted that in the second or third stage, drugs prescribed by a doctor will have to be taken for life.
Operation
If medication did not give any results, they can prescribe surgery. Indications - the results obtained after the ultrasound, the narrowing of the lumen of the arteries should be detected by more than 70%. First you need to get the advice of a surgeon who will determine the most effective type of treatment.
Carotid endarterectomy is most often performed: the affected vascular walls are dissected, the thrombus is removed, the artery is restored. Several years ago, another operation appeared - angioplasty. When it is used, a catheter is inserted into the artery, which expands the vessel, thereby restoring blood flow, and a “way out” for cholesterol plaques appears.
Proper diet - the guarantee of health
The success of any treatment depends on the further diet, which patients with such a diagnosis must adhere to all their lives. Immediately it is worth noting that atherosclerosis is most common in people with overweight.
So, be sure to eliminate from your diet foods with a high content of cholesterol. These include:
- Fat meat (broths).
- Alcohol.
- Chocolate and muffin.
- Liver, kidney.
- Any kind of fat.
- Salty or spicy dishes.
- Strong tea, coffee.
Instead of animal fat is better to use vegetable. Especially useful in atherosclerosis will be omega-group fatty acids - there are many of them in olive and linseed oils. Despite the fact that such products are very high in calories, their regular intake leads to the strengthening of blood vessels, makes them more elastic, normalizes metabolic processes in the body.
Also, those who suffer from atherosclerosis should remember about exercise, they need exercise. So, walking or swimming is especially useful, but it is better to refuse strength training. Naturally, very important and positive emotions that will help get rid of stress and tension.
The use of traditional methods in the treatment
Atherosclerosis can be treated with folk remedies - there are a lot of methods and recipes. We will tell you about the most effective tinctures and decoctions against this disease.
These include:
Lofant
Take a tablespoon of dry lofant, pour 200 ml of water, simmer for 10 minutes. Leave for 30 minutes to infuse, then strain and add 1 teaspoon of honey to the mixture. Take the tool for 2 tbsp. three times a day, half an hour before meals. The course of taking lofanta is 30 days, after which you need to take a week break and drink broth for another month.
Herbal Collection
To prepare the tincture you need to take 1 tbsp. such herbs as:
- chamomile;
- calendula;
- motherwort;
- hawthorn.
Put all the herbs in a thermos and pour 1 liter of boiling water, leave to infuse for at least 6-8 hours. After the broth has cooled, strain it, pour it into a clean container, add 500 ml of honey and 0.5 liters of vodka there. Mix the resulting mass and leave for at least 20 hours. Take three times a day, 30 ml before the meal.
Rosehip
Pour the berries in a 0.5-liter jar so that they fill the container by 30%. Fill up with vodka before the neck and leave for 2 weeks to infuse, not forgetting to mix the mixture daily. After that, strain the resulting tincture. Apply it as follows: drip 20 drops of a remedy onto a sugar cube and eat refined sugar. Repeat the procedure three times a day.
Mulberry
A prescription with this plant will help those with impaired intracranial pressure. Take twigs of mulberry, finely smash, 2 chair. Put the plants in a thermos, pour 1 liter of boiling water there, leave for a day. Take 150 ml of the drug before meals, a maximum of three times a day. Duration of treatment is 2 months.
Garlic
Another popular remedy is garlic (one head), you will also need a whole lemon. Put all the ingredients in a blender, chop, dilute the mixture with 0.5 liters of water, leave to infuse for four days. Take on an empty stomach remedy in the morning for 2 tablespoons.
What are the predictions
Cerebral atherosclerosis is a chronic disease, because treatment is most often lifelong. But the prognosis of this disease largely depends on the timeliness of the diagnosis and the treatment initiated.
As practicing neurologists note, they are aware of complex cases of this disease, but with proper prescription of drugs and diet, this did not prevent them from living normally and even working. But there are also cases where the initial clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis led to strokes and deaths.
Because it is so important when the first symptoms appear, consult a doctor to start timely treatment.
