Treatment of atherosclerosis in Kharkiv

Arteries are elastic and flexible hollow formations with walls consisting of several layers. Under the influence of external and internal factors, tissues change their structure, lose elasticity. Deposits of cholesterol accumulate on the walls of blood vessels, narrowing or blocking the lumen. Atherosclerosis begins which is a chronic vascular disease.

Luminal narrowing overloads the cardiovascular system. Nutrition of muscles and organs is impaired, the risk of coronary heart disease, varicosity, occlusion, dissection and aortic aneurysm increases. Atherosclerosis is a common vascular disease, more often diagnosed in men over 40 and women over 50.

What is atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is dangerous not only by cholesterol deposits, but also by changes in the structure of the artery walls. They lose elasticity, become brittle - surges in blood pressure damage them and cause ruptures, internal bleeding.

Factors of atherosclerosis development:

• age-related changes in the body;
• hormone fluctuations;
• heredity;
• smoking;
• unbalanced diet with abundance of animal fats;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• overweight;
• vascular malformations and infections of the cardiovascular system.

These reasons provoke the onset of the disease. At the initial stage, small fat stains form on the walls locally impeding the sanguimotion. Then lipids are replaced by connective tissue. Cholesterol plaques are formed, consisting of fats and connective fibers. In places of lesions, the wall becomes covered with ulcers, the likelihood of thrombosis increases.

At the last stage, the lump becomes denser, calcium salts are deposited in it. Gradually, the deposition grows, reducing the lumen and resulting in a complete blockage of the vessels.

Depending on the extent of the disease, its symptoms differ. A patient is faced with the following:

• rapid fatigability and soreness in the legs;
• intermittent claudication;
• numbness of the limbs;
• local changes in body temperature (always cold feet).

Symptoms vary depending on which arteries are affected by the pathology. For example, if plaque is deposited on the abdominal arteries, the patient is faced with abdominal pain, gastrointestinal disfunctioning. In case of damage to the heart vessels, heart attacks are possible; if the brain is affected, strokes are possible.

How to treat atherosclerosis?

How is atherosclerosis of legs treated? The basic rule is not to self-medicate, but to contact a competent phlebologist. The doctor selects therapy depending on the individual characteristics of a patient’s body, disease intensity. The most common treatment for atherosclerosis is as follows:

• drug therapy: taking drugs that lower cholesterol levels, maintain the elasticity of vascular walls, thin the blood;
• elimination of atherosclerosis causes: for example, normalization of weight and endocrine profile;
• formation of healthy habits: balanced diet, moderate physical activity.

The diet for atherosclerosis is based on replacing animal fats with vegetable ones. It is recommended to limit the use of fatty milk, cream, butter, refuse from egg yolks, liver, kidneys, lard and other cholesterol sources. It is important to diversify the diet with poultry meat, young lamb, lean beef. Any fish, vegetables, fruits are allowed. Compliance with a diet helps not only to cure atherosclerosis, but also to avoid its development.

Preventive examination by a phlebologist at the medical center “ON Clinic Kharkiv” is also favorable.