Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities can be treated with folk remedies, and today we will explain why. What is atherosclerosis? This disease is a pathological compaction, as well as thickening of the artery wall, in any part of it. Most often, with this disease, medium and, of course, large vessels are damaged; during the disease process, they become clogged with cholesterol plaques, which accordingly disrupts the flow of blood to various organs.
Such plaques are atherosclerotic, they consist almost entirely of fatty formations and calcium. That is why treatment of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities with folk remedies is possible. Let's break this disease down into pieces.
Atherosclerosis is a disease of old age, although in recent years there has been a rejuvenation of this disease. As a result, people already from 35 to 40 years of age can detect some symptoms of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities. Treatment of this disease should be comprehensive; treatment of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities with folk remedies is necessary only in conjunction with the prescriptions of your attending physician.
There can be many reasons for the occurrence of atherosclerosis, but let's look at the main ones:
This disease is asymptomatic for a very long time, which makes it difficult to diagnose. Then symptoms such as pain in the legs, ankles and thighs begin to appear. The pain intensifies greatly while walking, forcing the person to stop and rest, but after a short rest the person can continue to move, and this will be repeated.
In later stages of the development of leg disease, ulcers may occur that do not heal for a long time. The skin begins to turn very pale, and a feeling of coolness is also noted in those parts where atherosclerosis is supposed to develop.
In extreme cases, experts recommend resorting to leg amputation.
There is also a short list of common symptoms of atherosclerosis in the legs, let's look at them:
Naturally, the use of folk remedies without drug therapy will have little effect, so treatment with folk remedies should go along with the main one.
Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities, its treatment with folk remedies for the most part consists of the use of herbal tinctures, because many herbs have positive effects, for example, they relieve vascular spasms, have bactericidal properties, and, most importantly, have a calming effect. Tinctures can be made from one herb or from several.
To prepare this remedy, you need to pour one tablespoon of dried common thyme with about 500 milliliters of boiling water, then tightly close the contents and let it brew, leave for about 45 minutes to one hour.
After the thyme has been brewed, you will need to strain the resulting mixture to get rid of the residue, then add 4-6 drops of golden mustache to the strained tincture. An infusion of thyme with the addition of golden mustache is a powerful remedy, which is why it is recommended to take it no more than three times a week. The duration of the course varies from three to four months.
For this remedy you will need herbs such as:
Then these ingredients must be mixed, and only two tablespoons must be poured with 500 milliliters of boiling water, then left until completely cooled, and then strained. Take 50 milliliters orally before meals.
The duration of the course is approximately 30 days, then you need to take a break of ten days, then again a course of one month.
Before use, you should consult your doctor.
Garlic is a very good remedy for cleansing blood vessels. Frequent consumption of garlic is considered the best method of preventing this foot disease; it is worth noting that garlic also helps a lot in medicinal practice.
Method for preparing the tincture:
The course lasts 30-35 days, take this tincture orally before meals, three times a day, ten drops, preferably mixed with a small amount of water. It is not recommended to exceed the duration of the course; be sure to take a break of several months.
For this decoction you only need fresh, picked plantain leaves. At the beginning, they need to be chopped very finely, then the juice is squeezed out, the resulting juice is mixed with fresh honey, the proportion should be one to one. Afterwards, boil well in a water bath for about 30-35 minutes, the broth should cool completely, then it is placed in a cool place in an airtight container. The duration of the course is approximately 14-16 days, depending on the patient’s well-being.
Take orally, one tablespoon twice a day.
In addition to such methods of treating atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities with folk remedies, there are also popular remedies aimed at external action, that is, local prevention, let's look at them.
For this method, you will need approximately 100-150 grams of nettle leaves, they should be thoroughly rubbed in a mortar, this is necessary to release a large amount of juice, then 100-150 milliliters of vodka is poured into the resulting mass, and accordingly it is all mixed.
This mixture must be rubbed into the affected part; rubbing too often is not recommended. This mixture has very good effects, the main thing is to warm up the blood vessels, which improves blood circulation and, accordingly, increases the lumen. The duration of the course is approximately 14-16 days.
With this ailment, various compresses help very well, the composition of herbs from plantain, chamomile, string, St. John's wort, and also shawl helps especially well. This collection should be mixed, then pour boiling water and put gauze in the same container. Then the affected part must be washed with laundry soap and completely dried.
Then the gauze that was infused with the collection of herbs should be wrapped tightly around the affected part, then wrapped with a special compress cloth and, if possible, a dry bandage (in extreme cases, you can use a sheet). Repeat twice a day, for 3-4 hours. Course duration is from 2.5 weeks to 3 weeks.
Naturally, as has been written several times before, treatment with folk remedies helps well along with drug treatment, physiotherapy, and the like. It is not recommended to treat the disease itself with folk remedies. Separately, traditional medicine is very good in preventing and preventing atherosclerosis of the legs. Thanks to this, you can notice the development of this disease in time and avoid many unpleasant symptoms. It is always worth remembering that prevention will be powerless if you continue to lead an unhealthy lifestyle, eat a lot of animal fats, lead a sedentary lifestyle, and the like.
Gradually increasing or acutely developed obstruction of the blood vessels of the lower extremities is called occlusion. There are many reasons for the development of blockage of the lumen of the arteries: it can occur against the background of vascular diseases, pathologies of the heart valve apparatus, metabolic disorders, and injuries. The consequence of this condition is the death of organs or tissues, that is, no blood flows to the area where the occlusion of the arteries of the lower extremities occurred, ischemia develops, and then gangrene. If a patient with a blockage is not provided with qualified medical care in a timely manner, the pathological process will lead to amputation of the limb, and in advanced cases, to the death of the person.
There are several reasons leading to the development of occlusion of the arteries of the lower extremities:
A blockage in an artery can occur due to thromboembolism.
These are the most common causes of occlusion of the femoral or tibial arteries.
In almost 50% of cases, occlusion of the femoral or popliteal artery occurs. It can develop gradually, over several months, or occur suddenly, when acute occlusion forms in a few hours. The severity of symptoms in the case of acute or chronic variants of the development of the process will be different, but the most typical signs are the same:
If one or more of the symptoms listed above appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. Timely examination and correct diagnosis will make drug treatment effective and help avoid the development of tissue necrosis of the lower extremities and gangrene. Pay attention to the appearance of early symptoms and the condition of the arteries and veins of the lower extremities not only for older people, but also for those who have just crossed the threshold of their 40th birthday. Atherosclerosis and obliterating endarteritis are diseases of men just over forty years of age.
Depending on the severity of symptoms and the clinical picture, medicinal methods or surgical intervention followed by medication are used to treat occlusion of the arteries of the lower extremities.
As a rule, in the early stages, with the initial symptoms of a gradually developing blockage, drugs are prescribed for treatment that affect the cause that led to the occlusion.
That is, the underlying disease must be treated: atherosclerosis or obliterating endarteritis. These are the two most common causes of clogged artery symptoms. In addition to drugs that alleviate the course of the underlying disease, the treatment regimen includes taking antiplatelet agents (medicines that prevent blood cells from sticking together into a blood clot) and anticoagulants that thin the blood.
Treatment carried out with the help of physiotherapy has a pronounced effect in such patients: magnetic therapy, barotherapy, and other techniques. To reduce the risk of thrombosis and improve the rheological properties of blood, plasmapheresis sessions are recommended.
At an early stage of the disease, drug treatment is used.
Patients with severe obstruction of the arteries of the legs are indicated for inpatient treatment. They are prescribed conservative therapy with antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants and thrombolytics (special drugs that resolve blood clots). If there is no effect from drug treatment within 24 hours, the severity of symptoms not only does not decrease, but also increases, and surgical intervention is prescribed. Thrombosis or embolism is eliminated by vascular surgeons during specially designed operations. If possible, nearby arteries and veins are simultaneously examined, blood clots (if any) are removed from them, and blood flow is restored. It is impossible to say how much surgery a particular patient will need for effective treatment. The decision on the method of intervention, techniques, and volume is made by the surgeon after the examination. Sometimes vascular prosthetics is required to restore full blood flow in the lower extremities; in some cases, a simple thrombectomy can be done.
In the later stages of occlusion of the arteries of the lower extremities, with severe symptoms of impaired blood supply, we are talking, first of all, about preserving the patient’s life. If tissue necrosis has already developed, the doctor’s task is to remove the dead tissue, even if this requires amputation of the leg.
Occlusion of the arteries of the lower extremities, a life-threatening condition, can be avoided by paying close attention to your health. Treatment of early stages is much more effective than late stages. Be sure to monitor the condition of blood vessels, after 40 years, visit a therapist at least once a year, measure blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Follow the recommendations given by cardiologists around the world: eat right, constantly give the body moderate physical activity. This is the simplest thing a person can do for himself. If the diagnosis of atherosclerosis or obliterating endarteritis is made, then strictly follow the instructions of the attending physician and know the signs of occlusion. But first of all, quit smoking. Smokers are several times more likely to experience blockage of the leg arteries due to diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle reduce the chance of developing the disease.
The development of occlusion of the arteries of the lower extremities, with the exception of an acute post-traumatic condition, is preceded by a fairly long period of time, when the body carefully hints with symptoms that not everything is in order with health and that you need to go to the doctor. It is important at this moment to find the time and energy to visit a medical center to be examined, to receive from the doctor a list of detailed recommendations aimed at improving the condition of blood vessels, preventing occlusion, and adjusting the treatment tactics for the underlying disease. Paying attention to yourself and your health will help you avoid amputation, disability, and death.
Narrowing of blood vessels in the circulatory system can otherwise be called vascular stenosis. The main reason for this lies in atherosclerosis of the cavity of the coronary arteries. This disease affects the heart vessels, vessels of the brain and neck, as well as the lower extremities. If a person is diagnosed with vasoconstriction of the lower extremities, treatment plays an important role, otherwise the development of this disease can result in gangrene and amputation.
The disease vascular stenosis of the lower extremities can be caused by:
The causes of narrowing of blood vessels in the legs are as follows:
Stenosis of the vessels of the legs does not manifest itself in any way at the initial period of its development. Due to insufficient blood supply to the tissues, a person may feel cold in the lower extremities, pale skin, burning, and a sensation as if goosebumps are crawling along the legs.
As the disease progresses, its symptoms become more pronounced and begin to cause anxiety in a person.
Depending on the degree of narrowing of the blood vessels in the legs, signs of the disease appear as follows:
Further development of the disease leads to deterioration of tissue nutrition and the appearance of trophic ulcers. The pain intensifies. If the disease takes an acute form, then blockage of the veins in the legs can lead to tissue necrosis. If the disease becomes chronic, then its symptoms smooth out and become less pronounced.
When a doctor diagnoses vasoconstriction in the lower extremities:
When diagnosing stenosis, it is possible to use instrumental research methods:
What tests to take and what instrumental methods to use will be determined by the attending physician.
It all depends on the patient’s age, weight, and individual characteristics. A universal diagnostic method has not been created. Based on the data obtained, a diagnosis is made and treatment is determined.
When a complete examination of the patient is done, the doctor, based on the results obtained, will determine at what stage of development the narrowing of blood vessels in the legs is and will prescribe appropriate treatment.
Vasoconstriction in the lower extremities can be treated using conservative or surgical methods.
Conservative treatment of vasoconstriction in the legs means:
For non-drug treatment, the patient is required to:
When treating a disease with medications:
If the disease is in an advanced stage, then surgery is necessary. It happens that only she saves the patient’s life.
Surgery involves the following steps:
Which treatment method to choose for narrowing of the blood vessels in the legs depends on:
The attending physician, together with the surgeons, decide whether surgery is necessary to treat narrowing of blood vessels in the legs.
If vasoconstriction is detected in the lower extremities, treatment can be supplemented by preparing various decoctions, tinctures, and teas from medicinal herbs. Here are some recipes:
Before taking a product prepared on the basis of medicinal plants, it is necessary to consult a doctor. It is important to take into account that decoctions, infusions, teas prepared according to folk recipes are only an addition to the main treatment course. It is impossible to cure narrowing of blood vessels in the legs using folk remedies alone.
In order not to start the disease and not bring it to surgical intervention, after 40 years of age it is necessary to undergo annual examinations in medical institutions, which will help to timely determine the occurrence of arterial stenosis in the lower extremities and begin a course of treatment.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system are among the most common. They are often associated with clogging of blood vessels, even to the point of complete blockage. One example of such a pathology is occlusion of the arteries of the lower extremities. Treating it is much more difficult than preventing it. Therefore, it is important to understand what causes the disease, who is at risk, and how to properly organize treatment.
Occlusion of the lower extremities is associated with significant difficulties in the flow of blood in the large vessels of the legs (mainly obstruction occurs in the femoral and popliteal arteries). It manifests itself as a sudden thrombosis of the artery, as a result of which blood does not flow to various parts of the legs for a long time. The reasons always develop over a long period of time.
They are associated with complications such as:
Depending on the exact cause of the disease, the following types are distinguished:
Pathology can affect any vessels in different places of the leg, which also serves as the basis for classification:
Accordingly, they are grouped into 4 stages:
Externally, the symptoms are accompanied by blue discoloration of the leg, the vessels on it acquire dark shades, while below these areas the legs turn pale. They feel significantly colder to the touch than healthy areas.
It is necessary to understand that, except in cases of injury or frostbite, occlusion of the vessels of the lower extremities occurs against the background of general complications in the cardiovascular system. Therefore, it is possible and necessary to prevent pathology. To do this, you should follow simple preventive measures.
If you experience systematic foreign sensations in your legs, increased fatigue when walking, or visual abnormalities on the skin of your lower extremities, you should definitely go to the hospital for examination. The fact is that self-medication most often turns out to be ineffective. The patient often cannot correctly diagnose himself. In addition, medical intervention gives a more sustainable result.
When conducting a diagnosis, the doctor performs the following studies:
If the disease has recently arisen, then, as a rule, a small number of studies are sufficient to accurately understand the clinical picture and prescribe the correct course of treatment. Therefore, in the early stages it is diagnosed and treated quite simply.
Features of treatment are directly related to the stage of the disease process.
If the patient tries to lead a correct lifestyle, then he will not encounter occlusion.
Preventive measures are part of a healthy lifestyle system and have a beneficial effect not only on the state of the cardiovascular system, but also on the general well-being of the body:
It is important to understand that taking care of your health is the responsibility of the individual himself. The more measures he takes, the lower the risk of almost any disease.
The largest vessel in the human body is the abdominal aorta. It transports blood from the heart to the lower extremities. This vessel is divided into the iliac arteries, which then pass into the femoral, popliteal and leg arteries.
When excess cholesterol enters the human body, it is deposited on the walls of blood vessels. In this case, the vessels narrow their lumen or become completely clogged, preventing blood from passing through. Plaques can form in both large and small vessels. This process does not bypass the arteries of the lower extremities.
When the arteries in the legs become clogged, there is no oxygen flow to them because the blood flow is also insufficient. This lack of oxygen is commonly called ischemia. In a state of ischemia, the patient feels pain in the legs, and gangrene or trophic ulcers may develop on the extremities. If it progresses rapidly, this may lead to amputation of the limb. In this case, from ten to forty percent of operations end in death.
The first symptom that signals a problem with the circulatory system of the lower extremities is pain, numbness and fatigue in the legs. After just a short period of time, the patient feels heaviness in the legs, a spasm similar to a pre-convulsive state. At first, these symptoms are short-lived and go away on their own. Often the patient does not pay attention to this condition and attributes everything to fatigue, since the symptoms quickly disappear. This approach is fundamentally wrong, since the first unpleasant sensations in the legs should alert you and become a reason for angiography.
As the disease progresses, the discomfort in the legs will also intensify - pain, heaviness and cramps will appear more often, spreading not only to the thighs or calves, but also hindering the movements of the toes. In addition, symptoms will appear not only when walking, but also at rest. The pain is so severe that it may not be relieved by analgesics; patients try to walk so as not to focus on their condition, but this does not always bring improvement.
high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, excess weight, diabetes, heredity.
In order to prevent sad consequences, atherosclerosis of the lower extremities must be treated on time. To do this, doctors need to make an accurate diagnosis so as not to miss the first signs of the disease. Diagnosis consists of conducting a study such as angiography. With the help of a contrast agent, various devices are used to view the vessels in which all defects and damage are visible.
In order to prevent atherosclerosis or cure it, it is necessary to adhere to a proper, balanced diet (eat more proteins and less fat and carbohydrates), and stop smoking. If you have a serious illness, such as diabetes, you must adhere to the rules that are put forward for the treatment of the underlying disease. This is necessary so that atherosclerosis does not become a complication.
If atherosclerosis has already been diagnosed, then the treatment of the disease must be approached comprehensively and be prepared for long-term treatment. Treatment of the disease is carried out using two methods - conservative and surgical. A conservative technique serves to stop atherosclerotic vascular lesions and reduce the risk of blood clots. To do this, you need to use special drugs that lower blood cholesterol levels - statins (Allicor, Zocor). Another group of drugs is aimed at dilating blood vessels, which improves blood flow through them. Such drugs include Reopoliglyukin, Aspirin, Curantil, Verapamil, etc. It is worth noting that the effect of these drugs appears only several weeks after administration; in some cases, they can give positive dynamics only after early surgery.
Surgical methods are resorted to only when conservative therapy cannot help, or there is a high risk of ulcers and gangrene. In this case, an analysis is performed to identify the problem area of the vessel, and during surgery the cholesterol plaque is removed and a shunt is placed (various shunt techniques are used depending on the condition of the vascular system of the lower extremities).
Obliterating atherosclerosis of the lower extremities is a degenerative process in the arteries supplying the legs and leading to symptoms of chronic ischemia and gangrene.
Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the neck and brain is the most common cause of ischemic stroke in the modern world.
Obliterating atherosclerosis leads to vasoconstriction and circulatory disorders, which causes most cardiovascular diseases.
Vascular operations for atherosclerosis make it possible to restore blood circulation in the affected tissues, thereby saving them from death.
Every patient with atherosclerosis should know and control their cholesterol and fat levels. A useful measure is a special hypocholesterol diet, fatty fish (salmon, cod), as it contains fatty acids that increase the amount of beneficial high-density lipoproteins. For high levels of cholesterol and low-density lipids, special statin drugs are prescribed to help reduce the level of those fatty fractions that contribute to atherosclerosis (these drugs zakor, lovastatin, pravastatin, etc.), inhibiting the biosynthesis of cholesterol in the liver. Treatment is prescribed by a cardiologist and is carried out under the supervision of laboratory tests.
Modern surgery cannot cure atherosclerosis, but only eliminates its complications. Medicines, diet and exercise often help avoid vascular surgery.
1. Treatment of circulatory failure. Atherosclerosis is dangerous not only by its appearance but also by the development of complications. Drug treatment should prevent their appearance. Chronic arterial circulatory failure develops when there are obstructions to blood flow. The body struggles with insufficient development of bypass (collateral) pathways. However, the diameter of these vessels is smaller than normal, and the blood with atherosclerosis is very viscous. To improve blood flow, intravenous infusions of drugs are prescribed.
These include rheopolyglucin, infucol, albumin. Currently, the drug sulodexide (Vessel Due F) has appeared, which combines the medicinal properties of various groups and improves blood fluidity, reduces the risk of thrombosis and helps restore the vascular epithelium. This drug can be taken in capsules and intramuscularly.
2. Therapeutic angiogenesis (neovasculgen). This is a new approach in the treatment of lower limb ischemia. The indication for its use is chronic ischemia of the lower extremities of atherosclerotic origin. Angiogenesis is the process of growth and development of new blood vessels. Therapeutic angiogenesis is a treatment strategy based on drug stimulation of the natural angiogenesis process. In other words, therapeutic angiogenesis is the application of the evolutionarily programmed process of formation and growth of blood vessels to treat chronic lower extremity ischemia.
The appearance and growth of new vessels in patients with chronic ischemia of the lower extremities occurs in the area of greatest vascular occlusion. The functioning of new vessels occurs according to the principle of shunts. The process of angiogenesis lasts about three months, after which the structure of the new vessels stabilizes and the patient feels an improvement in his condition (for example, the distance walked without pain may increase, there is no chilliness in the legs, the condition of the skin is normalized), the process of blood supply and oxygen utilization in the tissues of the limb improves. Therapeutic angiogenesis improves the condition within two years. However, atherosclerotic vascular damage can progress and vascular overgrowth develops at a new level, which in turn leads to a worsening of the condition and increased complaints. You can learn more about this treatment method from your doctor.
3. Increasing the distance of pain-free walking. The main symptom of atherosclerosis is periodic stops when walking. These stops are associated with an imbalance between the muscle's need for oxygen and the ability to deliver it through arteries altered by plaques. This ratio can be changed either by increasing delivery (development of additional pathways, improving blood flow or reconstructive surgery on blood vessels) or reducing tissue oxygen demand.
Previously, it was believed that drugs that dilate small arteries such as papaverine, no-spa, nicotinic acid (nikoshpan, teonicol) improve blood circulation, but their opposite effect was discovered - by dilating healthy arteries, they increase blood flow through them, but sharply reduce it through vessels altered by atherosclerosis and impair blood circulation in the affected pool.
The very popular pentoxifylline (trental, vasonite) did not live up to expectations; it improves microcirculation, but does not affect the pain-free walking distance. Today, prostaglandins (E1) vazaprostan or alprostan are recognized as effective drugs for increasing pain-free walking. They are administered intravenously slowly and increase the pain-free distance by 2-3 times. An effective drug is cilostazol (Pletal), but it is not registered in Russia. Infusions of Actovegin or solcoseryl are absolutely ineffective for increasing pain-free walking and are not used by us.
4. Prevention of acute thrombosis. The presence of atherosclerotic plaque in an artery promotes the formation of blood clots, which can suddenly block blood flow. This situation can lead to ischemic gangrene and amputation, stroke and heart attack. An established diagnosis of atherosclerosis is a compelling reason for lifelong prescription of antithrombotic drugs. Drugs that reduce platelet aggregation are best suited for this purpose.
These are drugs such as plavix (clopidogrel, zylt), ticlid, aspirin (thromboass, aspirin-cardio). These drugs reduce platelet aggregation and prevent the formation of blood clots in diseased arteries.
5. Treatment of critical ischemia. Critical ischemia is a terminal stage of vascular disease leading to limb amputation. Therefore, the entire range of active therapeutic and surgical measures is used to treat it. In addition to the above treatment, prostaglandin E1 preparations (alprostan, vazaprostan) are used in the form of long-term 3-5 hour infusions. To date, these are the most effective drugs for the treatment of critical ischemia. In addition, fluoride-containing blood substitutes (perftoran) are prescribed. This drug increases the delivery of oxygen to tissues several times. An oxygen pressure chamber serves similar purposes. Inhalation of oxygen under pressure leads to increased dissolution in the blood and increased delivery to tissues.
From time to time, each of us feels a slight pain in our legs, but, as a rule, we do not pay any attention to it. And we do this completely in vain, because we are not talking about fatigue or ordinary malaise, but about a serious illness. One of them is atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities, the most common pathology that develops in adulthood - approximately 65-70 years.
Atherosclerosis of the legs means a disease in which a number of changes occur - disruption of blood flow through peripheral vessels, the occurrence of tissue trophism, etc. Most often, atherosclerosis affects the large arteries of the abdominal and thoracic cavity. This is what leads to pathological changes in the popliteal, tibial and femoral arteries, the lumen in which decreases by more than 50-55%.
The disease can take more than ten years to develop, during which it will sit quietly inside.
Experts distinguish several stages of development of leg vascular pathology. The first - preclinical - is accompanied by a severe disorder of lipid metabolism (lipoidosis). There is pain in the lower extremities, but it occurs only after walking long distances and heavy physical exertion.
Normal vessels and susceptible to disease
At the second stage, the first signs of atherosclerosis begin to make themselves felt - the legs hurt after walking 250-1000 m. The third period (critical ischemia) is characterized by pronounced symptoms of the disease. Pain syndrome appears after 50 m of walking. Well, at the last (fourth) stage, the skin of the legs is affected by trophic ulcers, necrosis (blackened skin) and gangrene, and severe discomfort in the legs occurs even in a calm state, including at night.
Important. If treatment for atherosclerosis of the lower extremities does not begin even at this stage, the matter may end in gangrene with amputation of the legs.
Factors that provoke the development of this disease can be very different. We managed to put together the main reasons:
As we have already said, atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities does not manifest itself for a long time, and then a number of serious problems immediately appear. Is there really not a single sign by which it would be possible to recognize the onset of an illness in time? Of course there is. They are all in front of you:
Timely and correct diagnosis of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities plays an important role, because with its help you can find out about the causes of the disease and prescribe the correct treatment. In the hospital you must undergo the following consultations and procedures:
Doctors also note the presence or absence of trophic disorders in the legs, establish vascular patency using DS and ultrasound and listen to systolic murmur over stenotic arteries.
It wouldn't hurt to do one more small test. The patient needs to raise his legs while lying down to 45 degrees. You cannot bend your knees. During the procedure, the rate of appearance of pallor on the soles of the feet and general fatigue of the legs is noted.
Treatment for this serious and dangerous disease depends on the severity and complexity of its symptoms. It can be both folk and traditional. Let's discuss all the details of each of them.
If you want to achieve positive changes in the fight against atherosclerosis of the blood vessels of the legs, get ready to strictly follow the recommendations of specialists:
Treatment of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities includes a range of medications and procedures. Only a qualified doctor can prescribe them, so be sure to visit the hospital.
How can this disease be cured?
Surgery is the last resort in the treatment of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities. As a rule, surgery is prescribed for severe ischemia and the occurrence of very severe complications.
In this case we will talk about the following procedures:
An unconventional approach to the treatment of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities has its place, but even in this case you will need to consult an experienced specialist. As for recipes, here are the most effective and popular options.
If desired, the composition can be changed slightly:
Atherosclerosis of the blood vessels of the legs is a serious and very dangerous disease that requires urgent and qualified measures. Only in this case can we hope, if not for absolute recovery, then at least for a significant improvement in health.
Atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities is a disease characterized by a decrease in the lumen of blood vessels and their subsequent blockage. This entails tissue ischemia due to deterioration of peripheral circulation. Tissue nutrition is disrupted, which can lead to necrosis (gangrene). Only 50% of people have atherosclerosis diagnosed on time. If left untreated for 5 years, this disease is fatal in 30% of cases. The main causes of death for such patients are stroke (about 12%) and heart attack (about 60%). In 10–40% of patients, lower limbs are amputated within the first year after diagnosis. In the first year after amputation, mortality reaches 20%, over the next 5 years - 40 - 70%, and after 10 years - 80 - 95%.
Unmodifiable (non-modifiable) factors include a history of hyperlipidemia in family members, male gender (over 65 years), old and middle age.
Changeable (modifiable) factors include:
It would be useful to note that poor nutrition is one of the main causes of increased cholesterol levels in the blood.
As a rule, atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities has a concomitant vascular disease. The cause of pain in the legs can be neurospinal (pathology of the intervertebral discs, stenosis of the spinal canal), neuropathic (diabetes mellitus, alcohol abuse), muscle-articular (osteoarthritis of large joints, compression syndrome of the connective tissue sheath or tendon). From this we can conclude that the symptoms of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities are easily confused with other diseases.
Symptoms and characteristic signs of the disease are the basis for making a correct diagnosis, which is important when determining atherosclerosis. Let's list these signs:
However, only 10% of patients have severe symptoms. Ninety percent of patients have nonspecific complaints or none at all. Most people delay seeing a doctor because of leg pain and prefer to be treated with folk remedies until the situation gets out of control.
Typical symptoms can be identified for characteristic affected areas. When the aorta and iliac artery are affected, lameness of the gluteal region and the upper third of the thigh is observed, which can be accompanied by impotence in 30% of cases. Atherosclerosis of the common femoral artery is manifested by lameness in the hips. Damage to the superficial femoral artery occurs in 60% of cases and is expressed by lameness of 2/3 of the legs. With atherosclerosis of the popliteal artery, lameness of 1/3 of the lower part of the leg is characteristic. If the disease affects the posterior tibial artery, it will manifest itself as lower intermittent claudication.
Upon external examination, you can notice: thick, shiny skin, hair loss (alopecia), brittle nails, the color of the skin is changed (pale or reddened), there are ulcers or other trophic disorders, muscle atrophy is observed on the affected leg.
When palpating, you should pay attention to the temperature of the skin (atherosclerosis is characterized by temperature asymmetry), the presence or absence of a pulse, and the rate of refilling of the capillaries. Determine sensitivity and motor activity. Auscultation may reveal a systolic murmur over the artery being examined.
The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is determined by the ratio of systolic pressure in the tibial arteries to the pressure in the brachial arteries. Normally, this indicator is more than 0.96, with intermittent claudication - 0.50 - 0.95, rest pain - 0.21 - 0.49, tissue damage and trophic disorders 0.20, with irreversible changes this indicator is 0.15 and less.
Modern equipment used to clarify the diagnosis of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities helps to accurately select the appropriate treatment.
Dopplerography and duplex scanning. A non-invasive method for examining the condition of blood vessels, based on the use of ultrasonic waves. Advantages: allows you to evaluate the anatomical features of the vessel, the condition of its wall, intravascular stenotic lesions, factors of external compression.
Diagnostic capabilities of ultrasound. Sensitivity 92.6%, specificity – 97%. Advantages:
CT angiography has the following advantages:
Standard angiography. Advantages:
Treatment of vascular atherosclerosis of the lower extremities involves a combination of drug therapy, physical exercise and correction of risk factors. It is also possible to use folk remedies if desired. Naturally, you shouldn’t get too carried away with folk remedies, because you often cannot do without serious medications. One of the principles of treatment is a diet with a small amount of animal fats to better control blood cholesterol.
• quitting smoking – reduces 10-year mortality from 54% to 18%;
• constant monitoring of blood lipid levels – significantly reduces the incidence of myocardial infarction;
• control of blood pressure no more than 140/85 – significantly reduces mortality;
• lipid-lowering therapy;
• a special training program for 45 – 60 minutes 3 times a week – reduces mortality by 24%;
• every six months, increase training walking by 6.5 minutes;
• Disaggregate therapy – the use of aspirin, clopidogrel – reduces the incidence of vascular complications by 22%;
• Phosphodiesterase inhibitors – Cilostazol (Pletal) – increases distances walked.
It is used when conservative treatment is ineffective and signs of disease progression appear, as well as in advanced stages of the disease. The following methods of surgical treatment are distinguished:
Treating atherosclerosis with folk remedies is not difficult. Available recipes will help you cope with the disease. Warm baths of dry mustard, nettle and turpentine with a light massage provide tangible assistance in improving blood supply to the lower extremities. However, do not forget that with such a disease as atherosclerosis of the lower extremities, soaring your legs is strictly contraindicated. The water for these purposes must be warm.
In case of atherosclerosis, it is necessary to avoid injuries to the extremities, prevent hypothermia, select spacious shoes and give up the habit of sitting with your legs crossed. To prevent gangrene of the limbs, you must consult a doctor at the first symptoms of a developing disease. Remember that walking is not only the best exercise, but also medicine for your legs.
Atherosclerosis is a product of mistakes in relation to one's own health. Its prevention will not be particularly difficult, since proper nutrition, a healthy lifestyle and physical activity are the principles of a normal life. Following these simple rules will not only divert such a dangerous disease from the path of life, but will make life bright and give many unforgettable moments.
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Atherosclerotic damage to the vessels of the lower extremities is a manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis, which most often develops under the following conditions:
Clinical manifestations of obliterating atherosclerosis of the lower extremities are determined by the location and degree of occlusion (blockage) of the main artery. The most commonly affected arteries are:
Other localizations of this pathology are much less common.
Atherosclerotic plaques attached to the walls grow with connective tissue, and platelets and calcium salts settle on them. Such changes lead to destruction and occlusion of arterial walls.
During the growth and calcification of plaques, the patient may experience the following signs of atherosclerosis:
When palpating the affected artery, no pulsation is detected. As the disease progresses, areas of darkening may appear on the surface of the skin of the affected leg (incipient gangrene).
During obliterating atherosclerosis of the lower extremities, the following stages are distinguished:
In advanced stages of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities, the development of gangrene often leads to complete or partial loss of a limb. The lack of adequate surgical care in such situations can lead to the death of the patient.
Also, atherosclerosis of the lower extremities can be complicated by arterial thrombosis. This complication, in the absence of prompt medical attention, leads to the loss of a limb or, in the case of detachment of multiple blood clots, to embolism of other arteries. If a detached thrombus enters a coronary artery, the patient may develop myocardial infarction. If the blood clot migrates to the carotid artery, it is a stroke.
If the above symptoms are detected, the patient should seek advice from an angiosurgeon, who, after examining the patient, will prescribe a course of examination. To diagnose this pathology, the following types of laboratory and instrumental examinations may be prescribed:
After determining the stage of the disease, the patient is offered comprehensive treatment.
The treatment tactics for obliterating atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities depends on the stage of development of the pathological process and may include conservative or surgical techniques.
At the beginning of treatment, factors that contribute to the progression of the disease are eliminated:
Patients with the initial stages of pathology may be recommended to take the following medications:
To treat obliterating atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities, physiotherapeutic procedures (microcurrents, laser therapy), balneotherapy and hyperbaric oxygenation can be prescribed.
Indications for surgery may include:
In the initial stages of the disease, the patient can undergo minimally invasive operations:
When performing such minimally invasive operations, angiography is used to control the manipulations being performed. These interventions can be performed in specialized hospitals. After the operation, the patient is under medical supervision for 24 hours, and the next day he can go home.
If the lumen of the artery is significantly narrowed, the following open techniques are used for surgical treatment:
In addition to such reconstructive operations, additional auxiliary surgical techniques may be used:
In the event of the formation of large-scale non-healing trophic ulcers or when signs of gangrene of the limb appear, plastic surgery using flaps of healthy skin after removal of necrotic areas or amputation of part of the lower limb can be performed.
The prognosis for the treatment of obliterating atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities is favorable if the patient contacts an angiosurgeon early. During 10 years of development of this pathology, the development of thrombosis or gangrene is observed in 8% of patients.
To prevent the development of atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities, the following measures can be taken:
The main cause of atherosclerosis is smoking. The nicotine contained in tobacco causes the arteries to spasm, thereby preventing blood from moving through the vessels and increasing the risk of blood clots in them.
Additional factors that provoke atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities and lead to an earlier onset and severe course of the disease:
The main symptom to look out for is pain in the legs. Most often, pain occurs when walking in the calf muscles and thigh muscles. When the muscles of the lower extremities move, the need for arterial blood increases, which delivers oxygen to the tissues. Narrowed arteries during physical activity cannot fully satisfy the tissue's need for arterial blood, which is why oxygen starvation begins in them, and it manifests itself in the form of intense pain. At the beginning of the disease, the pain goes away quickly enough when physical activity is stopped, but then returns again when moving. The so-called intermittent claudication syndrome occurs, which is one of the main clinical signs of obliterating atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities. Pain in the thigh muscles is called high claudication pain, and pain in the calves is called low claudication pain.
In old age, such pain is easily confused with painful sensations in the joints inherent in arthrosis and other joint diseases. Arthrosis is characterized not by muscle pain, but by joint pain, which is most intense at the beginning of movement, and then weakens somewhat when the patient “paces.”
In addition to pain in the leg muscles while walking, obliterating atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities can cause the following symptoms in patients (one of them or several at once):
According to the existing classification of arterial insufficiency of the vessels of the legs, the above symptoms can be divided into 4 stages of the development of the disease.
In order not to bring obliterating atherosclerosis to the extreme stage, it is important to diagnose it in time and treat it in a medical institution.
This disease requires an individually tailored treatment regimen for each individual patient. Treatment of vascular atherosclerosis of the lower extremities depends on the stage of the disease, its duration, and the level of damage to the blood arteries. In addition, when diagnosing and drawing up a clinical picture, the presence of concomitant diseases in the patient is also taken into account.
If atherosclerosis obliterans is detected at an early stage, it may be sufficient to eliminate risk factors to improve the condition. In this case, the following will help:
In case of vascular atherosclerosis, the consumption of the following products is strictly prohibited: butter, margarine, lard, margarine, fatty meat, sausages, pates, offal, high-fat dairy products, fried potatoes, ice cream, mayonnaise, flour cakes.
Important: A sedentary lifestyle makes blood vessels less elastic and accelerates the progression of the disease.
At other stages, the following methods are used to treat atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities:
It can also be used at the initial stage of the disease, as well as in cases where the patient’s condition does not allow the use of other methods (in case of complications with concomitant pathology). Conservative treatment involves the use of medications, physiotherapy and includes pneumopressure therapy, dosed walking and physical therapy.
Unfortunately, there are no medications that completely restore normal blood circulation in a blocked artery and cure atherosclerosis. Drug treatment can only provide support and affect the small vessels through which blood flows bypassing the blocked section of the artery. Treatment with drugs is aimed at expanding these “bypass pathways” and compensating for the lack of blood circulation.
To relieve spasm from small arterial vessels, thin the blood and protect the artery walls from further damage, special medications are used, some of which must be taken in courses, while others must be taken continuously.
In addition to medications, patients are prescribed pneumopressure therapy - massage of the soft tissues of the leg using special equipment. By alternating low and high pressure in a cuff placed on a limb, peripheral arteries dilate, blood flow to the skin, muscles and subcutaneous tissue increases, and blood vessels are stimulated.
The most common treatment methods for atherosclerosis of leg vessels are endovascular methods - arterial stenting, balloon dilatation, angioplasty. They allow you to restore normal blood circulation through the vessel without surgical intervention.
Such procedures are carried out in a cath lab using special equipment. At the end, a pressure bandage is applied to the patient’s leg, and he must remain in bed for 12–18 hours.
If the blocked artery sections in the legs are too long for endovascular methods to be used, one of the following types of surgery is used to restore blood circulation in the legs:
Surgical methods can be combined or supplemented with other types of operations. If the operation is performed at stage IV of the disease, when dead areas have already appeared, surgical removal of these areas is performed and the trophic ulcers are covered with a skin flap.
If obliterating atherosclerosis has reached an extreme stage, when the patient has developed gangrene of the lower extremities, and it is no longer possible to restore blood flow, amputation of the leg is performed. Sometimes this becomes the only way to save the patient’s life.
Prevention of atherosclerosis includes primarily:
These are three pillars that will reduce the risk of atherosclerosis of the lower extremity vessels. You don’t have to exhaust yourself with physical exercise; you can just take walks every day and do leg exercises. In addition, special acupressure and traditional medicine recipes help as a preventative measure.
Read more about comprehensive prevention of atherosclerosis here.