Atherosclerosis is a dangerous disease that affects the blood vessels of the brain; pockets of cholesterol growths appear on the inside of the arteries, which provoke a narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels. As a result, this can lead to blockage.
The main problem is that at an early stage this disease is practically not felt - a slight noise or dizziness may appear, people often attribute this to simple fatigue. Let's look at the main symptoms and proper treatment of atherosclerosis.
Why does atherosclerosis occur? At the early stage of pathological processes that are associated with lipid metabolism failures, cholesterol plaques begin to accumulate on the surface of already damaged vessels. Gradually, calcium salts and unformed connective tissue are deposited there, causing the surface of the plaques to acquire an irregular shape.
This cholesterol build-up leads to a narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels, as a result of which blood circulation becomes difficult. This also leads to the destruction of blood cells and the formation of blood clots. If unfavorable conditions for the body arise, the blood clot may break off and the arteries may become blocked. At the same time, circulatory problems and detached cholesterol plaques can cause problems.
Atherosclerosis develops against the background of impaired fat metabolism in the body. The main causes of the disease include:
But the main reason is the deposition of cholesterol plaques on the vessels.
The following are common signs of atherosclerosis:
It should be noted that the listed signs do not yet constitute a diagnosis. To confirm or refute it, you should consult a doctor.
Serious changes in sleep are also observed.
People suffering from atherosclerosis complain of fatigue and decreased performance. The character also changes: there is a constant change of mood, tearfulness, the person is constantly irritated. Coordination problems may arise later.
It should be noted that this disease is doubly dangerous for the reason that atherosclerosis can be difficult to detect. And the point is not in the complexity of diagnosis or further treatment, but in the fact that people themselves often do not pay attention to the symptoms that arise and go to the doctor late.
Based on the course of the disease and its symptoms, the following stages of atherosclerosis are distinguished:
There are practically no pronounced symptoms, but if a person monitors his health, he will be able to quickly notice changes such as:
Most often, such symptoms appear in the afternoon, but disappear after rest or sleep.
There is an increase in the above-mentioned symptoms, but additionally anxiety or depression appears. There may be unsteady gait, hand tremors, and blurred speech.
A severe stage in which there is memory loss and difficulty with the thought process. A person cannot take care of himself. In addition, a stroke may develop at this stage.
Today, the most successful and effective diagnostic methods are:
These methods are safe, and when combined with laboratory tests prescribed by the doctor (blood test, OAM, etc.), they will determine the stage of the disease. Based on the results obtained, treatment is prescribed.
There are several important tips that will help avoid the development of atherosclerosis. For example, you need to maintain a proper diet, give up cigarettes, alcohol, and other bad habits, and lead an active lifestyle. In addition, if you are predisposed to developing atherosclerosis, you should minimize and generally eliminate any foods high in cholesterol from your diet.
Treatment of atherosclerosis is regular. The main goals of therapy are:
Any treatment is prescribed by a neurologist, who, based on research results, will determine the severity of the disease. Moreover, you can use both classical therapy with the use of medications and folk therapy. Let's look at all the options in more detail.
Modern drugs help eliminate the consequences of the disease and restore the functioning of blood vessels. The most commonly prescribed drugs are:
Additionally, depending on the stage of the disease and the person’s condition, vitamins are prescribed, which are classified as auxiliary medicine.
It should be noted that in the second or third stage, the drugs prescribed by the doctor will have to be taken for life.
If drug treatment does not produce any results, surgery may be prescribed. Indications - the results obtained after ultrasound should reveal a narrowing of the lumen of the arteries by more than 70%. First, you need to consult a surgeon who will determine the most effective type of treatment.
The most common procedure is carotid endarterectomy: the affected vessel walls are dissected, the blood clot is removed, and the artery is restored. A few years ago, another operation appeared - angioplasty. When using it, a catheter is inserted into the artery, dilating the vessel, due to which blood flow is restored, and an “exit” for cholesterol plaques appears.
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The success of any treatment also depends on the subsequent diet, which patients with this diagnosis must adhere to throughout their lives. It is immediately worth noting that atherosclerosis most often occurs in overweight people.
So, be sure to exclude foods high in cholesterol from your diet. These include:
Instead of animal fat, it is better to use vegetable fat. Omega fatty acids are especially useful for atherosclerosis - there are many of them in olive and flaxseed oils. Despite the fact that such foods are very high in calories, their regular intake strengthens blood vessels, makes them more elastic, and normalizes metabolic processes in the body.
Also, those who suffer from atherosclerosis should remember to exercise, they need physical exercise. So, walking or swimming are especially useful, but it is better to avoid strength training. Naturally, positive emotions are also very important, which will help get rid of stress and tension.
Atherosclerosis can also 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:
Take a tablespoon of dry lofant, add 200 ml of water, cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Leave to infuse for 30 minutes, then strain and add 1 teaspoon of honey to the mixture. Take the product 2 tbsp. three times a day half an hour before meals. The course of taking lofant is 30 days, after which you need to take a week's break and drink the decoction for another month.
To prepare the tincture you need to take 1 tbsp. herbs such as:
Place all the herbs in a thermos and pour 1 liter of boiling water, leave to steep for at least 6-8 hours. After the broth has cooled, strain it, pour into a clean container, add 500 ml of honey and 0.5 liter of vodka. Stir the resulting mass and leave for at least 20 hours. Take 30 ml of the product three times a day before meals.
Pour the berries into a 0.5-liter jar so that they fill the container by 30%. Pour vodka up to the neck and leave to steep for two weeks, remembering to stir the mixture daily. After this, strain the resulting tincture. It is used as follows: drop 20 drops of the product onto a piece of sugar and eat refined sugar. Repeat the procedure three times a day.
A recipe with this plant will help those who have impaired intracranial pressure. Take mulberry branches, break them finely, 2 chairs. Place the plants in a thermos, pour 1 liter of boiling water into it, and leave for a day. Take 150 ml of the product before meals a maximum of three times a day. The duration of treatment is 2 months.
Another popular remedy is garlic (one head), you will also need a whole lemon. Place all ingredients in a blender, grind, dilute the mixture with 0.5 liters of water, and leave to steep for four days. Take 2 tablespoons of the product on an empty stomach in the morning.
Cerebral atherosclerosis is a chronic disease, so treatment is most often lifelong. But the prognosis of this disease largely depends on the timeliness of diagnosis and treatment initiated.
As practicing neurologists note, they know of complex cases of this disease, but with the correct prescription of medications 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.
That is why it is so important to consult a doctor when the first symptoms appear in order to begin timely treatment.
The disease is very dangerous because it affects human blood vessels. The pathology is characterized by the deposition of cholesterol plaques on the walls, as a result of which blood flow is inhibited, and in some cases completely blocks it, which often leads to death.
Vascular atherosclerosis is one of the most common diseases and its trend is increasing annually.
There are many reasons that lead to blockage of blood vessels, narrowing their lumen. Cholesterol is gradually deposited on the walls and forms cholesterol plaques, which leads to their complete blockage.
These include:·
In most cases, the person himself is to blame for the development of this pathology, since eating fast food contributes to the gradual accumulation of cholesterol and the formation of cholesterol plaques, which leads to the disease.
3 stages of cerebral atherosclerosis:
Common symptoms can work differently for everyone with varying degrees of severity.
It is worth highlighting what manifestations a person can expect to be diagnosed with atherosclerosis:
Atherosclerosis of the arteries is a very dangerous condition; at the first symptoms listed above, you should immediately seek medical help.
Diagnosis of the disease includes:
These studies are absolutely safe for the patient, so their regular use makes it possible to detect the disease at the initial stage and also atherosclerotic changes.
The following medications are used, which differ somewhat in their actions, but almost all are aimed at reducing cholesterol deposits. Therapy is selected depending on the symptoms of the disease.
If drug treatment does not bring the desired effect and in severe forms of the disease, the doctor may prescribe surgery to the patient.
Treatment of atherosclerosis is always very long and presents a number of inconveniences to the patient.
This disease should not be confused with a disease such as cerebral otosclerosis, since these are completely different diseases. Only a doctor is able to prescribe the correct treatment and explain to the patient how to deal with the disease.
The only thing that a patient can do on his own is to carry out the so-called prevention of atherosclerosis; now we will tell you how this can be done. Advice from traditional healers helps supplement the basic treatment.
The fight against the disease must be comprehensive, so you can use the following recipes:
One of the main reasons for the development of atherosclerosis is poor nutrition. Follow the recommendations:
Most types of the disease can be supported by drug therapy, but if atherosclerosis of the great vessels has been diagnosed, then surgery cannot be avoided.
Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels is a pathology caused by damage to the blood vessels of the brain by cholesterol deposits. With prolonged development it leads to death. It is important to start treatment on time.
Cerebral atherosclerosis worsens cerebral circulation and is a type of dementia. It occurs in people over 20 years of age, but is more common in older people.
Cerebral atherosclerosis with hypertension is characterized by a significant gap in systolic and diastolic pressure. The pressure at the initial moment rarely increases, but over time it becomes constant. The patient is at risk of left ventricular hypertrophy, stroke, or encephalopathy, which is the death of brain neurons due to cessation of blood flow and insufficient oxygen supply.
Cerebral atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels develops due to a disease associated with a disorder of fat metabolism in the body. The disease begins with cholesterol deposits on the inner walls of the artery (formation of lipid stains). Gradually, these deposits develop into a fatty spot, which begins to thicken and become covered with connective tissue (liposclerosis). An atherosclerotic plaque appears. It begins to close the passage of the vessel, causing insufficient blood supply to neighboring tissues (atherocalcinosis). The vessel becomes blocked (obliteration).
Cholesterol plaques accumulate in the main and middle cerebral arteries. Fatty spots appear in small arteries, but small capillaries are not affected by cerebral atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries occurs due to damage to the liver, its inability to reproduce high-density “good cholesterol” (HDL). It has anti-sclerotic properties, gives elasticity and strength to blood vessels. When the liver malfunctions, the body begins to build vascular cells from low-density “bad” cholesterol (LDL). They become rough and inelastic.
Other causes of cerebral artery atherosclerosis are:
Identifying cerebral atherosclerosis in the initial stages is quite problematic. Symptoms of the disease depend on the stage at which the patient is.
The very first symptom that worries a person is a headache. The cause of its occurrence is cholesterol plaques that clog the vessel. The result is insufficient oxygen supply to the brain. Hence the dull, aching headaches that turn into constant ones. Fatigue increases and performance decreases. I suffer from insomnia at night. Patients suffer from rapidly changing moods. There is a loss of coordination.
Subsequently, new symptoms of cerebral vessels are added: memory loss, tinnitus, dizziness, unsteady gait. This is exacerbated by brain attacks, their manifestation is accompanied by various symptoms that depend on the area of brain damage. With changes in the carotid artery, numbness and impaired sensitivity of half the body occur. If a brain attack affects the left hemisphere, epilepsy attacks and speech disorders are possible. If the occipital and temporal parts of the brain are blurred vision, impaired swallowing function.
The duration of ischemic attacks is no more than two days. The patient does not remember anything afterwards. If they last longer than the specified period, a brain stroke occurs. Stroke can be ischemic (manifested by the closure of the lumen in a vessel with cholesterol plaques) and hemorrhagic (due to a rupture of the vessel, a hemorrhage occurs in the brain).
At the last stage of the disease, signs of cerebral atherosclerosis are manifested in the following: complete indifference to everything, poor orientation in time and space, impaired control over urination. Speech is almost completely lost and paralysis occurs.
How to treat cerebral atherosclerosis should be prescribed by specialists such as a neurologist and a therapist. Diagnosing the disease at the initial stage is quite difficult. But if the diagnosis is made correctly at the onset of the disease, the outcome is almost always positive.
To make a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to carry out a number of examinations:
Treatment of cerebral vessels directly depends on the symptoms of the disease. At the first stage, it is enough to lead a healthy lifestyle, follow a diet, and take long walks in the fresh air. Do not eat foods containing fats and cholesterol. Include more vegetables, fruits, dairy products, fish and seafood in your diet. All these measures are relevant as prevention and at the initial stage of the disease, they can help cure it.
At the next stage, treatment is carried out under the supervision of a doctor. It is necessary to use the following groups of medications:
At the last stage of development of cerebral atherosclerosis, surgical intervention is used. Stenosing atherosclerosis is operated on in an open manner on the internal and common carotid arteries. Through a cut in the neck, the doctor opens the diseased area and removes the plaque along with the inner lining. Next, a suture is placed and a small drain is installed. This operation is performed under the control of ultrasound scanning of the cerebral vessels.
On the internal cerebral arteries, stenting is performed by inserting a balloon that crushes the plaque, and a stent is installed in this area. After this operation, the attending physician prescribes the use of antiplatelet agents for life.
At the initial stage of the disease, the prognosis is favorable. If all recommendations are followed, it is possible to eliminate the causes that contribute to the further course of the disease.
When the disease moves into the second stage, it will not be possible to completely get rid of atherosclerosis; you can stop its development and prevent the occurrence of stroke and encephalopathy.
The third stage inevitably leads to the death of the patient if surgical intervention is not undertaken.
Cerebral atherosclerosis of the brain greatly changes the personality of the patient. His behavior changes, mental disorders, headaches, and dizziness are observed. Also local disorders: loss of vision and speech. It is necessary to identify the disease in the early stages and begin treatment.
Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels, symptoms and treatment, is a chronic disease. The basis of the pathology is the blockage or narrowing of arteries - vessels that deliver blood saturated with oxygen and nutrients to the brain. The characteristic signs and consequences of atherosclerosis are extremely diverse: from constant headaches and memory impairment to strokes with subsequent severe disability of patients. It is impossible to cure the disease; the result of treatment will be stopping the destruction of blood vessels and normal blood circulation.
Cerebral atherosclerosis is a pathological process that develops as a result of impaired fat metabolism in the human body. Cholesterol nodules accumulate on the damaged vascular wall, connective tissue grows and a plaque forms.
The deposition of salts gradually increases, the nodule becomes denser and a blood clot forms. It can break off and block a cerebral artery. The atherosclerotic plaque itself can disrupt blood flow in the vessels of the head and lead to obliteration.
Other reasons are:
The main cause of atherosclerosis is still the accumulation of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels and the appearance of plaques.
Various signs of cerebral atherosclerosis lead to the following manifestations of the disease:
The appearance of symptoms does not mean that the diagnosis of the disease is final. First you need to find out your cholesterol level and donate blood for an appropriate test. And then, by contacting a neurologist with the results, confirm or refute atherosclerosis.
This disease is insidiously difficult to diagnose, since symptoms manifest differently in many patients. The reason is not the difficult diagnosis of the disease, but the fact that most people do not pay attention to the signs of the disease, but attribute them to overwork or unfavorable weather conditions.
There are several stages of brain pathology, depending on the speed of spread of symptoms:
The clinical picture of its manifestations will depend on which particular vessel is clogged:
Hemorrhagic stroke. It appears less frequently, in 30% of stroke cases, but develops rapidly. The difference from an ischemic stroke is that due to a lack of oxygen, it is not a blockage of the artery that occurs, but a hemorrhage into the white or gray matter of the brain.
To determine the stage of the disease, the following studies are practiced:
All diagnostic methods are completely harmless. Additionally, laboratory tests are carried out - urine and blood tests, which show cholesterol levels. All measures taken together provide a comprehensive clinical picture of the patient’s health.
The most effective way to prevent cerebral atherosclerosis is diet. Overweight citizens often suffer from this disease.
They need to remove foods high in cholesterol from their diet:
Fats of animal origin are replaced by vegetable ones. The use of oils containing Omega acids is extremely beneficial. These products, despite their calorie content, normalize metabolic processes in the body, cleanse and strengthen blood vessels, and add strength to them.
It is advisable to include fruits and vegetables, fermented milk products, and cereals in your daily diet. Rich in healthy elements: eggplants, legumes, nuts, grapefruit, quince and ripe cherries.
For a person at risk, the diet should become a dietary style for the rest of his life.
Physical activity also plays an important role for preventive purposes. Swimming and walks in the fresh air will be beneficial. Training with weights is contraindicated.
The patient needs more pleasant experiences. They provide an opportunity to cope with negative emotions and get rid of the consequences of stressful situations.
The course of treatment for atherosclerosis is a very long process, and most often lifelong.
Therefore, the main goals of atherosclerosis therapy are:
Treatment is carried out by a neurologist, whose responsibilities include detecting similar manifestations in people, determining the severity of the disease and prescribing conservative treatment.
Modern means of drug treatment are used to eliminate the consequences of the disease and restore arterial function.
For this, attending physicians prescribe:
In the absence of benefit from drug treatment, when there is a high risk of blockage of vital arteries (narrowing of more than 70% of the lumen of the vessel), surgical treatment is used.
There are two methods of operation:
Endovascular interventions are the most effective way to prevent consequences at the late stage of atherosclerosis (ischemic stroke).
Atherosclerosis is a long-term disease; the prescribed treatment will have to be followed throughout your life. Today, pathology is considered almost an obligatory companion for older people.
Unfortunately, in recent years there has been a visible trend towards rejuvenation of the disease: atherosclerosis has become more common in people over 30 years of age.
Statistics and reviews from doctors show that the prognosis for recovery depends, in most cases, on the stage at which the disease was detected:
For this reason, doctors give a decisive role to timely diagnosis of the problem.
Vascular diseases of the brain cannot be ignored, because a frivolous attitude will lead to a stroke. This, in turn, often causes death or disability, and at least a long period of rehabilitation. Each pathology has its own symptoms, but often cerebral vascular diseases are asymptomatic, especially in the first stages. All this indicates that the health of the brain and blood vessels requires careful monitoring.
Hypertension is caused by a prolonged increase in blood pressure above the human norm (140/90 mm Hg). The causes of the pathology are not fully understood; only in 10% of cases is it possible to accurately determine the root of the problem. The central nervous system or atherosclerosis may be responsible for most hypertensive diseases.
Hypertension often occurs without any symptoms and the diagnosis is made by random blood pressure measurement. Sometimes patients complain of periodic headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, flickering “spots” before the eyes, chest pain, and heavy heartbeat. Symptoms of the underlying disease (thyrotoxicosis, nephritis) may predominate.
According to the level of blood pressure, hypertension is divided into:
It must be remembered that this pathology is a systemic disease, often with unknown causes. The most important part of treatment is non-drug or traditional methods.
When the disease is detected at a mild and moderate stage, traditional methods of treatment are usually sufficient for recovery or prevention of development. In severe cases, they resort to treatment with diuretics, beta blockers, and vasodilators.
The pathology is characterized by the formation of fatty or fibrous deposits on the inner wall of blood vessels. Cholesterol crystals play a major role in the creation of atherosclerotic plaques. Therefore, diet therapy and lifestyle changes are an important component for treating the disease.
There are three stages in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis:
Stage 1 – fats, mainly cholesterol, are deposited on the inner wall of blood vessels in the form of stripes. The stage is asymptomatic; this stage of the pathology is the longest.
Stage 2 – fibrin molecules and platelets are added to the fatty stripes. The lumen of the vessel noticeably narrows, so coronary artery disease occurs, which immediately affects the functioning of the brain. Plaque particles can break off and clog small capillaries.
Stage 3 – its medical name is atherocalcinosis. Calcification of the plaque with calcium molecules occurs (hence the name). It can come off entirely, causing a large-scale stroke. Otherwise, it gradually increases in size, clogs the vessel and also leads to a stroke.
Since atherosclerosis leads to a narrowing of the lumen of the vessel, a lack of blood flow to the brain occurs - coronary artery disease. This affects its work, so the main symptoms of the disease are:
All symptoms increase gradually. According to their manifestations, coronary disease due to atherosclerosis is divided into three stages:
Stage 1 – initial manifestations. During this period, symptoms manifest themselves only as headache and fatigue when staying in a stuffy room. There is also a decline in performance and memory; a person is not able to work a full day, and is exhausted by the second half of the day.
Stage 2 – progression of the disease. There is a deterioration in coordination, speech, and writing. Clear memory impairments are visible, the person easily forgets the information he has just received, and has difficulty mastering new simple skills. During this period, patients themselves may not notice the changes happening to them; they blame others for their failures.
Stage 3 – decompensation, development of cerebral sclerosis. The syndrome is popularly called senile dementia. At this stage, people significantly lose their memory and constantly need outside help. They may forget basic things - their place of residence, how to use household appliances.
The most dangerous outcome of the disease is ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. In this case, a part of the brain dies, which can lead to disability or death.
In the early stages of the disease, the only way to guarantee recovery is to change your diet and lifestyle. Of course, due to the fact that the disease is often diagnosed in late stages, drug treatment is also necessary, but even in this case we must not forget about traditional methods of therapy.
Non-drug physiological therapy:
Less commonly, surgical treatment is used to remove atherosclerotic plaque. Typically, the indication for this method is the large size of the plaque and the risk of its detachment from the vessel wall.
Saccular and lateral aneurysms are distinguished. The first looks like a “berry” attached to the vessel by the neck or base. The second looks more like a tumor or thickening on a vessel. Aneurysms are also divided by size in diameter:
This pathology is a convex formation on the wall of a vessel in which blood accumulates. An aneurysm is dangerous due to the ever-increasing probability of rupture of it and the vessel. For pathology to occur, the walls of the vessel need to lose their elasticity. Therefore, vascular aneurysm occurs only in people with connective tissue diseases or pathology of the vascular bed.
Pathology is more often registered in adults (from 30 to 60 years old). People with bad habits - drug addiction, smoking or drinking alcohol - are often at risk. Of course, narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels in atherosclerosis is a predisposing factor.
The greatest danger of an aneurysm is the likelihood of its rupture followed by a hemorrhagic stroke. It is worth noting that this type of stroke is the most dangerous and often causes death or disability. In addition, it is very difficult to detect an aneurysm at an early stage, and sometimes it happens that the pathology is asymptomatic until the moment of stroke.
An enlarged brain aneurysm puts pressure on surrounding tissues, which causes characteristic symptoms:
Unfortunately, there is no drug treatment that eliminates the pathology. With medications and a healthy lifestyle, you can only slow down or completely stop the development of an aneurysm. At the same time, you will have to constantly follow a diet and visit specialists for examination. Surgical treatment also does not guarantee healing, since there is a risk of damage to blood vessels, the development of another aneurysm, and postoperative seizures.
Today, a disease such as cerebral vascular sclerosis is one of the leading causes leading to an increase in morbidity and mortality in the developed countries of the world. In this regard, the treatment of sclerosis is one of the most pressing problems that worries patients and their doctors today.
One of the main reasons for the development of vascular sclerosis of all organs and systems is the atherosclerotic process.
Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease of elastic and muscular-elastic arteries with the formation of cholesterol and fatty deposits on their inner wall, which causes complex cellular changes, subsequent proliferation of connective tissue and the formation of special fibrous plaques on the arterial wall. For this reason, the lumen of the arteries gradually narrows, due to which the blood supply to all organs and systems that receive power from this artery is disrupted.
In addition, complete blockage of the lumen of the vessel by the above-mentioned plaques is also possible, which will lead to necrosis of tissues, organs or parts of the body. And also the detachment of an atherosclerotic plaque from the wall of blood vessels and its migration through the bloodstream (embolus), where it can completely block a vessel of a smaller caliber, and this threatens necrosis (infarction), in the brain - a stroke.
Such atherosclerotic plaques can sometimes be found in young people aged 20-30 years, but most often people over 50 years of age suffer from this disease. Moreover, according to statistics, atherosclerosis occurs 5-7 times more often in men than in women.
The process of formation of atherosclerotic plaques is complex and multifaceted; it consists of numerous aspects and predisposing factors:
The particular insidiousness of this disease is that at the initial stage, the symptoms of vascular sclerosis are practically non-specific and often remain without due attention from both the patient and, sometimes, the doctor.
There are main signs of cerebral vascular sclerosis that should make a person wary and think about consulting a specialist. These are moments such as:
Without timely treatment, brain tissue chronically does not receive the necessary portion of oxygen and nutrients, which leads to the gradual death of nerve cells. This process can last for several years and a person does not immediately pay attention to the changes occurring in his body. In its development, this disease goes through a number of stages, which gradually transform into one another and ultimately cause irreversible consequences.
The following “bells” indicate the initial stage of cerebral sclerosis:
A very important manifestation of this stage is severe headaches, the presence of which is noted by about 90% of patients. The early stages make themselves felt by intermittent headaches, pressing, sometimes throbbing. In addition, the feeling of fullness and pressure in the head is disturbing. During activities that provide mental and physical stress, pain can intensify, as well as with stress or lack of oxygen (occurs due to prolonged exposure to a poorly ventilated area, for example). Some patients experience pain in the morning, while others intensify in the evening, that is, it does not depend at all on the time of day. They can cause sleep disturbances. The presence of such headaches makes a person hot-tempered, irritable, provoke a decrease in performance and attention, and loss of flexibility of thinking. Often, along with headaches, the noise that accompanies them occurs in one or both ears. Although sometimes the noise occurs before the headaches appear. People may complain of transient dizziness and unsteadiness when walking.
During this period, changes begin to occur in the human psyche. The patient becomes lethargic, inactive, and intellectual abilities begin to gradually decline. Memory is impaired: a person forgets what he did yesterday, but he can remember long-ago events in the smallest detail. The ability to work suffers, concentration weakens,
understanding of the meaning of what is read is impaired, and professional skills are lost.
Memory suffers more and more. People begin to forget key dates regarding their lives and families. They become professionally unfit and cannot continue to work. The peak of vascular sclerosis is heart attacks, strokes and dementia (dementia).
One of the special cases of the development of vascular atherosclerosis is atherosclerosis of the aorta. The most common type of this disease is localized in the abdominal region. Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries poses a particular danger. In the initial stages, its symptoms may be completely absent or very mild.
Sometimes patients may feel chest pain that spreads to the interscapular area. When the affected layer of the vessel atrophies, sac-like protrusions or aneurysms may form in certain areas of the aorta. The pain that can appear with an aneurysm depends on its location (with an aneurysm of the ascending part of the aorta - retrosternal pain, of the descending part - back pain, aneurysm of the aortic arch - pain in the shoulder, neck). In addition, symptoms may include headache, swelling of the face, and sometimes hoarseness.
The most dangerous complication of an aneurysm is its dissection and subsequent rupture with a fatal outcome. Depending on the size of the aneurysm and the presence of concomitant arterial hypertension, the risk of such a rupture increases.
If you observe any of the above symptoms and complaints, a person should contact a neurologist, who will prescribe the necessary examination, select appropriate therapy and monitor the subsequent development of the disease, which will affect the patient’s condition.
Making a diagnosis of cerebral vascular sclerosis and identifying the degree of development of the disease is usually made through the use of ultrasound methods:
One type of vascular angiography is magnetic resonance angiography (MR angiography or MRI angiography) - a research method based on the use of magnetic fields and electromagnetic waves. MR angiography can be performed in several ways - with or without the introduction of a contrast agent. Which is especially valuable for patients with allergies to contrast agents.
The combination of the above instrumental methods, together with tests performed in the laboratory, the patient’s medical history and complaints, allows the doctor to make or exclude a diagnosis of cerebral vascular sclerosis and select appropriate therapy.
When treating this disease, the doctor sets himself several main tasks:
There are several main points related to solving the first problem:
A balanced diet with the correct content of vegetable and animal fats, with the required content of vitamins. The diet of such patients should be dominated by plant foods, as well as fish and seafood. It is necessary to exclude or at least limit foods high in cholesterol, such as smoked meats, eggs, and fatty meats. Also limit the consumption of low-quality pasta and bakery products. If the patient is overweight, then the diet should be aimed at reducing the caloric content of food.
Read more about proper diet and lifestyle for vascular sclerosis by following the link.
It is necessary to pay close attention to the treatment of concomitant diseases, the presence of which contributes to the progression of the process. First of all, these are arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. This pathology should be treated gradually and systematically to avoid further complications.
The second task is achieved through the selection of individual physical therapy. Physical activity must be strictly dosed and regular and correspond to the age and capabilities of each individual patient. Such loads will contribute to increased bypass blood flow.
In combination with physical activity, physiotherapeutic treatment can be used: balneotherapy, massage and other procedures as prescribed by the attending physician.
In addition to all these recommendations, treatment of cerebral vascular sclerosis should be accompanied by certain drug therapy:
Attention: All medications must be selected individually for each patient. Do not try to self-medicate!
To summarize, we can conclude that the treatment of cerebral vascular sclerosis is a complex undertaking. A person must combine mental work with physical activity, regularly engage in physical exercise, and normalize diet and weight. In addition, he must walk in the fresh air for several hours a day, take the necessary medications as prescribed by the doctor and under his supervision. Preventive measures to prevent the development of this disease should be equally comprehensive.
After all, if the patient wishes and uses all the possibilities of modern medicine, stable remission and improvement of the condition can be achieved.