Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries of the heart treatment. What is atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries of the heart

Atherosclerosis coronary arteries serious enough disease that can cause lethal outcome because the coronary arteries are the main vessels supplying the heart with blood. They are tortuous, and their diameter is small, so deposition often occurs here. cholesterol plaques. In this case, the walls of the vessels lose their elasticity, and subsequently ulcerate.

Most often, the disease affects people over 45 years of age, but in some cases, atherosclerotic changes can also be detected in people under the age of thirty.

Factors contributing to the development of the disease

Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries of the heart can be triggered by the following factors:

1. Improper nutrition, in which too much bad cholesterol is formed in the human body.
2. Bad habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol.
3. hereditary predisposition.
4. Chronic stress or depression.
5. Natural aging of the body and gender. Often the disease is observed in men whose age is more than 40 years.
6. Lack of adequate physical activity.
7. Metabolic disease.
8. Diseases endocrine system(often coronary atherosclerosis becomes a companion of diabetes mellitus).
9. Hypertension, in which the pressure rises above 140/90 mmHg.

Symptoms of the disease

On the initial stage the disease does not manifest itself in any way, and it can be detected only during examination. In the future, the patient develops unstable angina.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries:

1. pressing or burning pains in the chest, giving into left shoulder or back.
2. Pain is aggravated by excitement or physical tension and last no more than a quarter of an hour, while normalizing the patient's condition disappear on their own.
3. Stopping seizures is obtained with the help of Nitroglycerin.
4. If the patient is in horizontal position, he is short of breath.
5. Angina may be accompanied by dizziness, cephalgia, nausea.

Depending on the class of angina pectoris, it appears both during strong physical exertion, and at rest and after minimal activity.

To common features atherosclerosis include rapid aging patient. His skin become thin and dry, tissue turgor is disturbed, and the arteries on the flexor surfaces and temples look tortuous.

How the disease is diagnosed

To diagnose atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels, an anamnesis is collected and the actual and standard body mass index is determined, and blood pressure is also measured. It is also necessary to donate blood for sugar and cholesterol.

Methods for diagnosing the disease include:

• Ultrasound procedure hearts.
• Electrocardiogram (graphic recording of the work of the heart and pulsation of the heart muscle)
• Bicycle ergometry (a study that reveals hidden coronary insufficiency and determines individual susceptibility to physical activity).
• Treadmill test (an electrographic study carried out after exercise on a treadmill).
• Angiography (contrast x-ray examination blood vessels estimating functional state vessels and pathological processes).
• Computed or magnetic resonance imaging.

Therapy

Treatment of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries should be comprehensive. It is necessary not only to take the drugs prescribed by the doctor, but also to adhere to the diet. In order to get rid of the disease, you must follow the following recommendations:

• Reduce your fat intake by at least 10%. Remove from diet butter, trans fats, lard. replace them vegetable oils(olive, sunflower, corn, linseed).
• Reduce the consumption of foods containing saturated fatty acids (eggs, cream, fatty meats).
• Increase the amount of foods containing polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet (fish of any kind, seafood).
• Increase the amount of foods rich in fiber (vegetables, fruits).
• Reduce salt intake.

For the treatment of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels of the heart, drugs from different pharmacological groups. In some cases they are combined.

Statins

Drugs from this group suppress the production of the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which is responsible for the production of cholesterol. It also increases the number of membrane recipes that allow low-density lipoproteins to bind and be removed from the bloodstream. This helps lower cholesterol levels. Statins restore elasticity vascular wall and have an anti-inflammatory effect.

to the most popular and effective drugs statins include:

• Lovastatin.
• Simvastatin.
• fluvastatin.
• Atorvastatin.
• Provastatin.

As a rule, drugs are taken once a day after dinner, since the maximum production of cholesterol occurs at night. Treatment starts with minimum dose any remedy that is gradually increased.

The most common side effects that occur with the use of statins are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and myopathy.

Anion exchange resins

This group of drugs binds bile acids, as a result of which the liver synthesizes them, additionally consuming cholesterol. These drugs include:

• cholestyramine.
• Colestipol.
• Questran.

Medicines are produced in the form of powders, which are dissolved in a liquid and taken with meals 2-3 times a day. The effect of the application is observed a month after the start of administration.

The use of these drugs may cause side effects from digestive system in the form of nausea, bloating, stool disorders. Most often, drugs of this group are prescribed in combination with statins.

Fibrates

They are prescribed for elevated plasma triglyceride levels. They contribute to the active production of an enzyme that breaks down low-density lipoproteins. Such medicines include:

• Gemfibrozil.
• Benzafibrate.

Take these medicines twice a day before meals. When used, they develop side effects from the side gastrointestinal tract in the form of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. AT rare cases muscle weakness or dizziness may occur.

Folk recipes

Treatment of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries using methods traditional medicine the process is quite lengthy. In order to reduce cholesterol, you need not only to take funds based on medicinal plants but also change your lifestyle.

To lower cholesterol and strengthen the walls of blood vessels use:

• Garlic. To prepare the remedy, 5 large heads of garlic are thoroughly crushed, mixed with the same amount of May honey and left in a dark place for three days. Store the medicine in the refrigerator and take 2 g daily for six months in the morning and evening before meals.
• Clover. 80 g of red clover flowers are poured with a liter of vodka and allowed to brew for at least ten days. Filter and consume 15 ml of tincture at lunchtime and in the evening before bedtime. Treatment continues for at least six months.
• Lemon. 10 g of needles are poured into 400 ml of water and boiled over low heat for 5 minutes. After cooling, filter. 2 lemons, peeled and finely chopped. The pulp is poured with the resulting broth and insisted for 3 days. Add 50 g of honey and mix thoroughly. You need to take 50 ml of the drug per day. Treatment is continued for three months.
• Fuck root. The product is rubbed on a fine grater and mixed with low-fat sour cream. Take one teaspoon daily with meals. Reception continues for at least 2 months.
• Onion. 50 ml of juice squeezed from the bulbs is mixed with 20 ml of aloe juice and the same amount of honey. The product is stored in the refrigerator and taken 5 ml once a day before bedtime. The course of treatment is 3 months.

In the event that atherosclerosis is detected late, and it poses a threat to the patient's life, it is necessary surgical intervention in order to restore impaired blood circulation. There are two methods to fix the problem - stenting and shunting.

Stenting

A frame is installed in the lumen of the coronary vessels, expanding the narrowed area. The stent looks like a metal tube made up of cells. It is placed in the affected vessel, then inflated with a special balloon, pressing into the walls.

The intervention is carried out under local anesthesia. During the operation, the patient can communicate with the surgeon and follow his commands. A special catheter is used to insert the stent, guidewire, and special balloon.

Once the balloon is correctly positioned, the guidewire and catheter are removed. The operation gives nice results, but in 20% of cases, re-constriction of the vessel is possible. This is due to the overgrowth muscle tissue.

Shunting

If a patient has a progressive narrowing of the main artery that leads to the heart muscle, coronary artery bypass grafting. This operation allows you to restore blood flow by installing special vascular prostheses (shunts). Unlike stenting, shunting makes it possible to bypass areas of narrowing.

This is serious surgery, which lasts for 3 - 4 hours. When it is carried out, a heart-lung machine is used. rehabilitation period after such a surgical intervention is quite long. If the patient does not comply with all the doctor's prescriptions and stops taking medications on his own, a relapse is possible.

Complications

If several vessels are affected by atherosclerotic plaques, this can cause the death of the patient. Also, a lethal outcome can provoke a rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque. Most often it occurs in the cold season in the morning after waking up. Becomes a provocateur severe stress or physical activity.

As a result, there is a fluctuation in the tone of the coronary artery, increased blood flow, sharp rise blood pressure or heart rate. The coagulation ability of the blood also has an effect.

With thrombosis of the entire lumen of the coronary artery, a fatal outcome occurs. In 60% of cases, the patient's death occurs before he gets to the hospital. At partial lesion vessel, unstable angina occurs.

A complication of the disease can be myocardial infarction, which is characterized by symptoms:

• Sharp pain in the chest area, which can radiate to the back.
• Drop in blood pressure.
• Dyspnea.
• Loss of consciousness.

In this case, immediate hospitalization and resuscitation are required.

Another complication of the disease is cardiosclerosis, in which heart muscle cells are replaced by scar tissue. It does not participate in the contraction of the heart and causes an excessive load on the myocardium.

Signs of the appearance of cardiosclerosis indicate:

• Arrhythmia.
• Pain in the region of the heart, which is aggravated by physical exertion on the body.
• Edema.
• Dyspnea.
• Weakness.

Prevention

To prevent atherosclerosis of the vessels, it is necessary:

1. Get rid of bad habits.
2. Normalize food. Eliminate fatty and fried foods from the diet. Preference should be given to vegetables and fruits cooked boiled or steamed with a small amount vegetable oil.
3. Exercise and walk fresh air.
4. Normalize body weight.
5. Treat infectious diseases promptly.

With atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, it is necessary to seek advice from a cardiologist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist and vascular surgeon.

The coronary arteries are the most common cause development of coronary heart disease, which occurs against the background of a violation of the blood supply to the heart muscle. How myocardial infarction, and angina pectoris are the results of atherosclerosis of the arteries of the heart of varying degrees of severity. In case of partial blockage of the heart vessels, coronary heart disease makes itself felt various degrees gravity. If a patient develops a myocardial infarction, it means that the person has a complete blockage of the heart vessels. After reading the information presented in this article, you will be able to get acquainted with the main signs and symptoms that accompany such a pathology as atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries of the heart.

Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries of the heart

Blood enters the heart region through two coronary arteries, which depart directly from the very beginning of the aorta, which is the central blood vessel human body. Any violation of blood circulation through the coronary heart arteries causes a malfunction of the heart muscle, which in turn leads to the development of a heart attack, that is, the necrosis of one or another part of the heart muscle. The most common cause of the development of such circulatory disorders is considered to be atherosclerosis of these arteries. Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries is accompanied by the formation of arterial walls so-called seals, which are called plaques. The presence of such seals gradually leads to the fact that the walls of the arteries begin not only to deform, but also to collapse, while their significant narrowing is noted. The degree of narrowing of the arterial lumen, as well as circulatory disorders in this area play leading role in the severity of the symptoms of this pathology. It should be noted that all these signs in most cases resemble the symptoms of coronary heart disease, which occurs against the background of just the same disease.

Symptoms accompanying atherosclerosis of the heart vessels

• Burning or pressing pain in the chest area, which, as a rule, gives to the left shoulder and back. This kind of pain makes itself felt at the time of physical exertion or stressful conditions;
• Shortness of breath - a feeling of lack of air is created, which is noted at the time of the onset of pain. Sometimes people are forced to experience this kind of seizures in sitting position, since lying down they simply suffocate;
• There are also such patients in whom this kind of attacks are also characterized by headache, severe dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

myocardial infarction
Very strong pain in the chest, similar to pain in angina pectoris, which cannot be eliminated by taking nitroglycerin, a sharp establishment of heart failure, severe shortness of breath, loss of consciousness is quite possible.

Cardiosclerosis
Gradual development of heart failure against the background physical activity, shortness of breath, and excessive swelling.

The heart is the most important body in the human body. Rhythmic heartbeats help carry oxygenated blood throughout the body. it natural process. And through which vessels the myocardium itself (this is the name of the middle layer of the heart muscle, which makes up most its masses) gets required amount oxygen to function properly? Through the coronary (also called coronary vessels).

Important! The coronary arteries are the only source blood flow to the heart. Therefore, it is so important that they are in “working condition” and function normally.

Atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels of the heart - pathology chronic nature, which is characterized by the formation of cholesterol plaques, significantly blocking the lumen of the arteries and preventing normal blood flow. Statistics say that it is this disease that occupies one of the first places among diseases. of cardio-vascular system. Moreover, the pathology is difficult to diagnose at the initial stage; and when it is already revealed at a late stage, it is difficult to treat. What provokes the development of pathology? How to deal with it? What are its symptoms? What preventive measures can prevent the development of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels? Let's figure it out. useful information never a lot.

Reasons for the development of atherosclerosis

main reason The development of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels is the presence of elevated cholesterol levels (of the order of 6 mmol / l and more) in the blood. What can lead to this state of affairs:

• Consumption of animal fats large quantities.
• Decreased activity of the metabolic process.
• Failure of the intestines in terms of excretion of fat-containing substances.
• The presence of a hereditary predisposition to atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels.
• Psycho-emotional overstrain and stressful situations.
• Diabetes.
• crash hormonal background.
• speed dial body weight, i.e. obesity.
• Disorders in the work of the central nervous system.
• Not active image life (i.e. hypodynamia).
• Do not forget about the age of patients and the gender factor. It's no secret that the older the person, the slower the metabolism. Up to 60 years, the disease is more often diagnosed in men; in women, the risk of developing the disease increases after the onset of menopause.

• High blood pressure (i.e. hypertension).

On a note! Atherosclerosis of the aorta of the coronary vessels can be triggered by the same factors that were described above. We remind you: the aorta is called the largest blood vessel located above It is from it that the two main arteries depart (right and left) coronary blood supply.

The mechanism of development of vascular atherosclerosis

Starting point development of atherosclerosis of the aorta of the coronary vessels and arteries is damage to the endothelium as a result of autoimmune pathologies, exposure to viruses and bacteria, and allergic reactions. It is in these places that body fat(plaques). Over time, they become more and more, as there is a constant flow of new volumes of "building material". As a result, connective tissue is formed in the lesions, which is the reason for the narrowing of the lumen of the aorta and coronary vessels; their blockages; failure of the local circulatory process and, as a result, serious illnesses chronic (for example, coronary heart disease or myocardial infarction) and even death. That is, in the presence of cholesterol plaques, there are two options for the development of pathology: the first - the vessel is slowly but surely clogged up to its final blockage; the second - a thrombus, having reached its maximum in volume, simply breaks and thereby blocks any movement of blood through the artery. Both are very bad.

Who is at risk

Who is predisposed to coronary aortic atherosclerosis? cerebral vessels and arteries? There is a certain group of people who have every chance to similar pathology developed in their bodies. This category includes those who:

• Leads sedentary image life, that is, constantly either sitting or lying. As a result, blood stagnation occurs in the body and, as a result, cholesterol deposits on the walls of the arteries.
• It has elevated level cholesterol.

Remember! The more cholesterol in the blood, the greater the risk of blood clots.

• Suffering diabetes. Metabolic disorders are one of the main causes of pathology.
• Is overweight.

• Eats incorrectly. That is, the diet contains a large amount of salt and animal fats.
• It has high blood pressure(this contributes to damage to the walls of blood vessels).
• Smokes often and a lot.

Symptoms of the disease

All signs that blood circulation in the heart is not at the proper level are divided into two categories - ischemic and general. The former are directly related to the work of the heart muscle, and the latter to the deterioration of blood flow to various parts body.

From ischemic symptoms worth highlighting the following:

• The presence of a heart muscle rhythm that is somewhat different from normal. This happens as a result of the fact that with an insufficient amount of blood, the heart begins to work “idle”.

• There is an increase in blood pressure due to congestion in the coronary arteries.
• Attacks of fear in a patient caused by problems with the heart muscle. The pulse quickens, and the influx of testosterone increases, which only aggravates the situation.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels of a general nature:

• Shortness of breath, which is observed at the initial stage of the attack.
• Dizziness resulting from insufficient blood pressure.
• Failure of the CNS.
• Availability pain(burning and pressing nature) in the sternum, which can give to the left shoulder or back. As a rule, they occur during physical exertion, and they are associated with a lack of oxygen in the heart.

• Increased nervousness.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Coldness felt in the limbs (legs and hands).
• Puffiness.
• Lethargy and weakness.
• Nausea, sometimes turning into vomiting.
• Redness of the skin.

Important! At the initial stage of development, atherosclerosis of the vessels of the coronary arteries does not manifest itself in any way. The first symptoms appear only at the moment when the plaques begin to grow and obscure part of the lumen of the vessels. Therefore, it is necessary to undergo regular examinations, especially for people at risk.

The main stages of atherosclerosis

The main phases of the development of the disease can take decades to form and, in the absence of any fight against the disease, can lead to serious consequences. There are five stages of atherosclerosis:

• prelipid phase. It is characterized by some accumulation in smooth muscle proteins and lipids. During this period, deformation of the intercellular membranes, the formation of blood clots (soft in structure), the loss of elasticity by the muscles, and the production of collagen in the body occur. At this stage it is possible to return normal condition if you adhere to proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle life.
• lipid phase. The patient does not show any anxiety, despite the fact that there is a further growth connective tissue. During this period, there is rapid increase body weight.
• phase of liposclerosis. Quite full-fledged fibrous plaques are formed.

• phase of atheromatosis. At this stage, atherosclerotic plaques, blood vessels, muscle tissue and connective tissue are destroyed. As a result, disruptions occur in the work of the central nervous system. Brain hemorrhages are possible.
• phase of calcification. On the plaques there is a hard coating, and the vessels become brittle and completely lose their elasticity and shape.

Atherosclerosis of coronary cerebral vessels

Illness can for a long time develop completely asymptomatically or with some mild pronounced manifestations. The clinic begins to be observed only when atherosclerotic plaques already prevent cerebral circulation causing ischemia and vascular lesion brain (that is, discirculatory encephalopathy). The result is either temporary dysfunction or severe tissue damage.

There are three coronary aortas cerebral vessels:

• First. This is the initial stage, which is characterized by symptoms such as general weakness, fast fatiguability, lethargy, headaches, inability to concentrate, tinnitus, decreased mental activity and irritability.
• Second. This is a progressive phase, which is characterized by an increase in psycho-emotional disorders. The patient develops a depressive state, there is a tremor of the fingers or head; problems with memory, hearing and vision; headache, constant noise in the ears, uncoordinated movements, slurred speech, suspiciousness and anxiety.
• Third. At this stage, the patient has a persistent violation of speech function, complete indifference to his appearance(i.e., apathy), memory lapses, and loss of self-care skills.

Treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis is a long process and cannot lead to complete healing. True, as a result of regular and complex therapy some delay in the development of pathology can be achieved.

There are several methods of surgical intervention for the treatment of the disease:

• Shunting (i.e. plastic abdominal operation), which allows you to put the blood flow around the affected area of ​​the vessel.
• Endarterectomy, during which the atherosclerotic plaque and altered tissue of the vessel wall are removed.
• Extra-intracranial anastomosis (i.e. connection internal system carotid artery with its outer component).
• Removal of the affected area of ​​the artery (that is, clogged with atherosclerotic plaque) and repair it by installing artificial prosthesis(that is, prosthetics of the brachiocephalic trunk).
• As a result of surgical measures, resection occurs inner surface carotid artery.

Diagnosis of atherosclerosis

When a patient goes to a medical institution, first of all, a specialist listens carefully to him. Moreover, all the smallest details are important, since it is they who clinical tests allow you to put accurate diagnosis. In addition to collecting anamnesis and visual inspection, the doctor prescribes the following laboratory and instrumental studies:

• A complete blood count to determine your cholesterol level.
• Determination of the ankle-brachial index, that is, the measurement of pressure in the ankle and shoulder area.
• Electrocardiogram. Sometimes, to make a diagnosis, daily ECG monitoring is necessary, in which a recording device that records all readings is attached with straps to the human body and remains with him throughout the entire examination.
• Examination on a special analyzer called a cardiovisor.
• Radionuclide research.
• Veloergometry. This method reveals the hidden form coronary insufficiency.
• Treadmill test. In the process of this diagnosis, the state of the heart muscle is examined at the time of a certain physical activity.
• Intravascular ultrasound. With it, you can get a clear picture of the lumen of the vessels.
• duplex scanning. A non-invasive ultrasound examination that can be used to evaluate blood flow characteristics.
• Ultrasound of the heart. Using this method, you can determine the extent of damage to the organ.
• Stress echocardiography. This method, using ultrasound, makes it possible to evaluate anatomical structure and the functioning of the heart muscle at the time of physical exertion, as well as the pericardial space.
• CT scan.

Only after the complex diagnostics atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels, the specialist prescribes adequate treatment.

Important! Do not self-medicate: best case it will not give any results, and at worst, it will simply aggravate the situation with your health.

Treatment of vascular atherosclerosis

In many ways, the treatment of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels of the heart depends on the stage of the disease. If the disease has just begun to develop, then, sometimes, it is enough:

• Taking certain cholesterol-lowering drugs (i.e. statins). Also, the doctor may prescribe beta-blockers, diuretics, antiplatelet agents, and others that help eliminate the symptoms of atherosclerosis.

Remember! Only a specialist can prescribe drugs and determine their dosage.

• Lifestyle changes. Balanced diet, moderate physical exercise under the control of a cardiologist, abstraction from stressful situations, as well as the rejection of such bad habits as smoking and drinking "strong" drinks will help to quickly cope with the disease.

On a note! You can use the advice of traditional medicine, after consulting with your doctor. For example, eating garlic gives a good effect in the fight against atherosclerosis. True, if it causes a rapid heartbeat in a patient, then it is better to purchase in pharmacy network garlic-based products.

How to treat atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels in severe cases? Most likely, you can not do without surgical intervention:

• The most common option is the installation of a stent, with the help of which the affected vessel is expanded, thereby ensuring normal blood flow.

Important! A patient who has undergone stenting will have to take statins and other drugs for life, because if this is not done, the vessels will again be affected by atherosclerosis.

• Another option is coronary artery bypass grafting. Using this method, you can start the blood flow around the affected area of ​​the vessel.

Prevention

In order not to subsequently deal with the treatment of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels, it is necessary to carry out a number of preventive measures:

• Regularly engage the body in moderate physical activity (for example, walk, swim, do morning exercises or simply dig up beds in your backyard). The most important thing is more movement.
• Treat any pathologies you have in a timely manner. It would be nice if you visited a cardiologist once every few years.

• Try to avoid stressful situations or at least abstract from them. Any psycho-emotional overstrain is harmful to health.
• In the presence of excess weight be sure to fight him.
• Try to alternate physical activity with rest.
• Proper nutrition- guarantee of health. What need to do? Give up animal fats, eggs, butter, dairy products with a high percentage of fat, sour cream, as well as meat and fish fatty varieties. The intake of vegetables and fruits is welcome.
• Quit smoking and drinking hot drinks.
• Walk outside regularly.
• Use traditional medicine recipes.

On a note! If atherosclerosis has already developed, then try to slow down its progress. Follow your doctor's advice regarding both medication and lifestyle. If surgical intervention inevitable, then do not delay with him.

Finally

Take good care of your health, especially your heart. Moreover, such a pathology as atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries manifests itself in all its glory exclusively on late stages. This disease is difficult to treat, but it can be stopped, and sometimes positive dynamics can be achieved. Remember: the main thing is to start the treatment of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels on time. Health to you and your loved ones!

Coronary atherosclerosis (or atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries of the heart) is the overgrowth of blood vessels with fatty deposits. Excess cholesterol is deposited in the form of plaques on the walls of blood vessels and reduces their lumen, impeding blood flow and complicating the work of the heart muscle. Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries of the heart leads to a significant decrease in the supply of fresh blood to the myocardium, due to which it begins to experience a lack of oxygen and nutrition.

Causes of atherosclerosis

Coronary atherosclerosis is provoked by the following factors:

• Excessive intake of animal fats rich in saturated fatty acids. As a result, the concentration of low-density lipoproteins in the blood increases, which settle on inner walls vessels, forming plaques.
• Physical inactivity has become a companion of civilized life. Thanks to the development of transport, people began to move comfortably and effortlessly. However, doctors believe that in order to maintain a healthy tone, a person needs to walk about 10 kilometers a day.
• Genetic predisposition increases the chance of developing atherosclerosis in some people.
• Gender - it is known that women are less likely to suffer from atherosclerosis due to the fact that female body generates the hormone estrogen, which prevents vascular sclerotization. But after menopause, women lose their natural protection.
• Age - usually the condition of the vessels worsens after 35 years, primarily in men.
• Overweight - it is obvious that obese people are many times more likely to have problems with clogged vessels.
• Bad habits are also an important factor contributing to atherosclerosis, especially smoking.
• Diabetes mellitus - with this disease, many metabolic processes in the body, this also applies to the metabolism of fats.

In total, scientists have discovered about two hundred various reasons causing atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels of the heart.

Video about the causes and risk factors for the development of coronary atherosclerosis:

Symptoms of atherosclerosis

Symptoms of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries often may not cause anxiety in a person at all, and in other cases resemble the symptoms of other diseases. Therefore it is important to do early diagnosis this insidious disease. After all, neglected atherosclerosis with stenosis will inevitably lead to severe complications if not treated.

You should not hesitate to do the diagnosis, experiencing the following sensations:

• burning, almost unbearable pains in the chest;
• heaviness in the chest, radiating into left hand or back;
• shortness of breath, not stopping even in the supine position;
• respiratory disorders;
• severe dizziness;
• nausea leading to vomiting.

These symptoms are common to the whole group cardiac diseases such as ischemic heart disease, cardiosclerosis, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction. But with cardiosclerosis, edema is also observed, and with heart failure, loss of consciousness may occur.

Atherosclerosis is especially dangerous because in the initial stage it proceeds completely without symptoms, and often it is accidentally detected only during routine examinations.

Video about the process of formation of coronary atherosclerosis:

Diagnosis of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels

If atherosclerosis is suspected, then the following studies are prescribed:

• Biochemical blood test, which reveals increased content it contains cholesterol and a violation of the proportion of lipoproteins.
• Doppler ultrasonography makes it possible to evaluate coronary vessels blood flow condition.
• Angiography (coronography of the heart) is a method that provides a lot of information. With its help, you can assess the place of narrowing of the lumen of the vessel and its degree. Introduced into the blood radiopaque agent, which makes the vascular network visible and allows its condition to be assessed.

• An electrocardiogram allows you to detect ischemic changes in the myocardium, the presence of deviations in the patient's rhythm and other characteristics of heart contractions.
• Radionuclide diagnostics.
• Bicycle ergometry, treadmill tests.
• Computed tomography, including multislice type.

Here it is important detailed description sensations by the patient himself, thanks to which it is possible to clarify the diagnosis and choose a scheme in which atherosclerosis of the aorta and coronary arteries will be the most effective treatment.

Treatment of coronary atherosclerosis

Treatment of atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels depends on the stage of the disease at which it was detected. If the patient has been diagnosed with early stage atherosclerosis are usually limited to drug therapy using drugs that lower blood cholesterol levels.

Atherosclerosis must be treated as soon as possible so that it does not lead to much more serious complications. At modern medicine there is enough methods and means to cure patients without resorting to serious intervention in the body:

• Diet. It is important to drastically reduce the amount of animal fats that enter the body with food. They can be replaced vegetable fats, especially those rich in polyunsaturated fatty organic acids that prevent the development of atherosclerosis.
• Lifestyle change. It is important for the patient to force himself to move as much as possible in daily life.
• Usage pharmacological preparations from the category of statins, it can reduce the content of cholesterol and atherogenic lipids in the blood. But when applying them, the doctor must take into account that there is much in common between cholesterol and testosterone (origin and similar structure). Therefore, these drugs are contraindicated for young men who are sexually active.
• The use of drugs that reduce myocardial oxygen demand, protect the heart muscle and smooth out ischemic manifestations. These include blockers. calcium channels, beta-blockers, antiplatelet agents and ACE inhibitors.

But if there is already running atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries of the heart, its treatment with conservative measures will be ineffective. Then the blood flow in the coronary vessels has to be restored by surgery:

Coronary artery bypass grafting

Coronary artery bypass grafting involves creating a bypass route for blood flow, bypassing an area with a narrowing or occlusion. A fragment of another vessel is taken from the patient and sutured above and below the damaged area. After that, the blood continues to circulate through the narrowed fragment, but mostly goes along the bypass.

Balloon angioplasty

Balloon angioplasty refers to the methods of endovascular surgery. Here, the intervention is carried out through a puncture made in the femoral artery. A catheter is inserted into the vessel and retrogradely brought to the place where the coronary artery is narrowed. After that, a balloon is inflated at the end of the catheter and thereby expands the lumen of the vessel. The blood flow is restored, and ischemia of the cardiac tissues stops.

coronary stenting

Coronary stenting is in many ways similar to the method described above. Only in the case of balloon angioplasty, after the expansion of the lumen, the balloon is removed, after which the vessel narrows again, and during stenting, the balloon opens the stent - a special design with a fairly rigid frame. The stent material has a memory effect, that is, it remembers its shape. Over time, the vascular tissue grows through the mesh frame of the stent and securely fixes it. Sometimes stents are therapeutic - on their surface is applied medicinal product, which dissolves slowly and does not allow the formation of blood clots, thereby reducing the likelihood of complications.

Have you or your loved ones experienced coronary atherosclerosis? Did you manage to defeat this disease and in what way? Share your story in the comments.

Many people know that with atherosclerosis, cholesterol plaques settle on the walls of blood vessels, gradually reducing their lumen. Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries is the same process, but it already occurs specifically in the coronary arteries, due to which an insufficient amount of blood enters the heart muscle.

Causes of blockage of blood vessels

Atherosclerosis of the heart vessels can develop due to internal and external causes, there are more than 200 of them, and the most common are:

• high cholesterol (the main component of plaques deposited on the arterial walls);
• smoking (in tobacco smoke contains substances that damage the walls of blood vessels and accelerate the development of atherosclerosis);
• hypodynamia;
• excess weight.

There is a family-hereditary nature of the causes, when the number of different classes of lipids decreases in plasma. This includes negative eating habits: eating animal fats and foods high in cholesterol.

If a person understands that some of these prerequisites are present in his life, he needs to be more careful and attentive to health. It is important to detect the onset of the disease early.

Symptoms of the disease

Pathology is characterized by symptoms that do not always prompt an immediate visit to the doctor. These signs may masquerade as other diseases. The symptoms are as follows:

• chest pain, pressing or burning, may radiate to the back or left shoulder;
• , especially manifested at the beginning of pain, sometimes due to lack of air, a person cannot lie down, the feeling is aggravated and there are difficulties with breathing;
• dizziness;
• nausea;
• vomit.

As can be seen, atherosclerosis manifests itself in signs characteristic of coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction and cardiosclerosis. Accordingly, you need to imagine what symptoms are typical for these diseases. In myocardial infarction, severe chest pain, which resemble angina pectoris, but do not go away after nitroglycerin. Loss of consciousness and the occurrence of manifestations of heart failure are possible. With cardiosclerosis, edema and shortness of breath appear.

About fifty percent of patients experience some of these symptoms before that heart attack, but do not pay attention to them. We must not forget that atherosclerosis may not manifest itself for a long time, so you need to be regularly examined, especially for those people who are at risk.

Diagnostic methods

Since very often atherosclerosis of the heart vessels is accompanied by symptoms of coronary artery disease, diagnosis is not difficult. Several methods are used to make an accurate diagnosis.

• ECG, daily ECG monitoring;
• echocardiography;
• bicycle ergometry, treadmill test;
• radionuclide research;
• CT scan;
• multislice CT;
• electron beam tomography.

Without a doubt, a detailed account of the patient about his condition is very important. It is important to list all symptoms, even minor ones. This will help to identify diseases associated with atherosclerosis, and make an accurate diagnosis that determines the entire direction of treatment.

Treatment

In many ways, treatment depends on the stage of atherosclerosis. If the disease was detected on time, then at the beginning of its development it is enough to use drugs that lower cholesterol levels. It is also very important to change your lifestyle, which includes reducing stress, moderate exercise and diet.

If during the examination it becomes clear that these methods are not enough, a decision can be made to expand the section of the vessel narrowed due to pathology, otherwise it is called. Also, sometimes they resort to shunting, which involves the creation of an additional path that bypasses the affected area of ​​​​the heart. carried out if a significant narrowing of the main artery is detected.

You need to understand the following: if such a procedure is scheduled, it means that there is no other way out. In this case, the lumen of the artery can be narrowed by 75 percent. In some medical institutions shunting may be offered if the patient has already had a heart attack. This operation is performed under general anesthesia.

In any case, you can't do self-treatment. Only a doctor can prescribe the necessary drug therapy or surgery. However, these methods will be of little benefit if you do not follow a diet and do not lead a moderately active lifestyle.

Atherosclerosis loves junk food, so don't feed it junk food. It is better to eat fruits and vegetables, as they are rich in potassium, fiber, folic acid and vitamins. They also do not contain cholesterol. a large number kilocalories and fat, which contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. It is recommended to consume dairy products as they are rich in useful elements. But do not extend this advice to butter and sour cream.

You can use the methods of traditional medicine, if the permission of the doctor is obtained. Garlic is very useful, it delays the formation of cholesterol plaques. But you have to be careful, it causes strong heartbeat in individual patients. It is advisable for such people to purchase preparations based on garlic in a pharmacy.

Preventive measures

Atherosclerosis affects people who do not take care of themselves. Measures to prevent the occurrence of pathology include these rules:

1. Quit smoking. Statistics show that smokers suffer from cardiovascular diseases several times more often than other people.
2. Move more. Sports such as swimming, skiing, running, walking and morning exercises are useful.
3. Get rid of excess weight.
4. Proper nutrition. You need to stop eating butter, fatty dairy products, eggs and animal fats.
5. The use of medicinal herbs.

The heart loves and appreciates careful handling, which includes taking care of the vessels that help it work. It is better to make every effort now than to run to the doctors in search of the right treatment later.