Atherosclerosis of the lower extremities

The human body consists of different organs. All of them are very important for the life of a person. However, none of them will not be able to function if blood supply stops, delivery of which is carried out by large, medium and small vessels. Their condition depends, first of all, on how correctly a person eats, what his regime is. If in his diet fat, acute, cholesterol-rich foods, then the word "atherosclerosis" he hears very early.

In translation, it means "dense gruel". In practice - this is the deposition of cholesterol plaques, which, growing on the walls, narrow the vessels. Moreover, for each person they choose a place for their location in different places. One develops atherosclerosis of the heart aorta, the other - the renal arteries, the third - the vessels of the brain. But most often there is atherosclerosis of the vessels of the extremities.

For reasons of origin, it is divided into two types:

- Vessel changes with age;

- a degenerative-metabolic process, often called obliterating atherosclerosis.

The trigger mechanism for the development of atherosclerosis can occur due to frequent hypothermia and frostbite of the legs, traumatic events, and provocateurs can be diabetes, smoking, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. These factors contribute to changes in the elasticity of the arteries of the extremities. Lipoproteins begin to be deposited on the walls of the vessels, which later germinate with a connective tissue. So begins atherosclerosis of the lower extremities. Under the influence of bad habits, the diameter of the cavity of the arteries decreases, which leads to a delayed blood supply and hypoxia of the tissues of the fingers, foot and lower leg.

Atherosclerosis of the lower extremities is the first line in the ranking of diseases of the peripheral arteries. It affects, as a rule, men after 40 years, dooms patients to suffering and sometimes disables. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the more likely it is to reduce pain symptoms and slow the process of blockage of blood vessels. In the absence of treatment, the disease progresses and may result in gangrene.

For a long time, atherosclerosis of the lower limbs may not show any signs, but from the time of the first clinical symptoms it often progresses rapidly.

In most cases, declares itself atherosclerosis of the lower extremities with intermittent claudication. When walking in the calf muscles there are pains that disappear after a short rest. Lameness, as a rule, becomes stronger when climbing stairs or on a road uphill. Painful sensations arise from the lack of oxygen in the working muscles. Among the first signs - chilliness, sensitivity to cold, a feeling of numbness in the feet.

Progressing, atherosclerosis of the lower extremities changes the coloration of the skin of the legs, ulcers may appear. Over time, the skin of the fingers and feet become purple bluish, there are trophic disorders, signs of which can be hair loss, brittle nails. Another sign of this disease is the lack of pulse on the arteries of the hip, in the popliteal fossa, behind the inner ankle. Painful sensations at rest for two weeks or more, trophic ulcers due to lack of patency of the arteries - a clear sign of ischemia of the lower limbs.

Treatment of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities

In the early stages of the disease, it is possible to reduce the size of cholesterol plaques if the disease is treated comprehensively. For this purpose, it is necessary to use diet. In the diet should be products with polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, fiber. It can be sea fat fish, olive, linseed, corn oil, low-fat meat, skim curd, vegetables and fruits. Sugar, sweets, buns are best cut to a minimum or at the time of treatment to abandon them at all. Diet therapy should last at least six months.

If the diet does not give the expected results, drug therapy is used. Treatment of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities is long and necessarily with the control of biochemical parameters of the blood.