Treatment of atherosclerosis. Diet as one of the most important factors in treatment

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Atherosclerosis was known in ancient Greece, in fact, this disease got its name from the Greek atheros (slurry, chaff) and sklhroz (dense, hard). To date, this is one of the most common chronic lesions of the arteries, which is characterized by multiple or single cholesterol (lipid) deposits on their inner membranes. Subsequently, connective tissue grows in the affected arteries, calcium is deposited in the walls of the vessels, which causes deformation and narrowing of the lumen of the vessel, up to its complete blockage. Naturally, as a result, the organ that is supplied with blood through the artery affected by atherosclerotic plaques begins to suffer. In addition, there is a risk of acute blockage (occlusion) of the lumen of the vessel by the formed thrombus, or, which happens much less often, by the contents of the collapsed plaque, and possibly both. As a result, this can lead to necrosis (heart attack, stroke), gangrene of the organ supplied by the diseased artery.

Causes of disease

Today, this vascular disease is rapidly getting younger. Doctors say that the causes of atherosclerosis areprimarily in hypodynamia (inactivity). In addition, there are a number of other factors and diseases that provoke the development of this disease:

• Obesity
• Cholelithiasis
• Gout
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• High blood cholesterol
• Postmenopause
• Old age

Serious importance is attached to the factor of heredity. A very important role is played by human nutrition, saturated with products containing animal fat in excess. But this is rather a predisposing factor, and not the main reason. Risk factors include both psycho-emotional stress and chronic stress that have a negative impact on the nervous system, a busy pace of life and other specific negative conditions.

Especially dangerous is atherosclerosis of the bca (bracheocefiral arteries). What is the brachiocephalic artery? This is a large main vessel emanating from the aorta, and is divided into three arteries: carotid, vertebral and subclavian. They contribute to the normal blood flow of the right half of the shoulder and brain, and precisely because the nutrition of the brain depends on them, atherosclerosis is a particularly serious disease.

As mentioned above, due to atherosclerotic plaques, the gaps inside the vessels can close, which leads to a lack of nutrition of the organs that the arteries supply with blood, but this situation is especially dangerousfor the brain. The brain is nourished by three branches of the arteries: the carotid, brachiocephalic trunk and one of the branches of the artery of the left clavicle. They form a Wellisian (closed) circle that supplies blood to all parts of the brain. If blood flow is disturbed in at least one of the vessels, the blood supply system of the brain fails, the distribution of blood occurs incorrectly, which can lead to a stroke.

The main signs of this disease are dizziness when turning the head and a hypotensive state. This is a signal to immediately contact a neurologist.

Typically, the main non-drug treatment for atherosclerosis is diet. The reason is that a person with this disease needs to lower the level of lipids in the blood. If dietary treatment is planned correctly, and, importantly, strictly observed, then it will be possible to correct the violation of fat metabolism and lower the content of atherogenic lipids in the blood. And this is a very important step from which the treatment of atherosclerosis begins. The diet implies some restriction on the use of foods containing a high concentration of cholesterol and animal fats, and vice versa, an increase in the consumption of foods rich in polyunsaturated acids, vitamins that have an antioxidant effect.

In what cases is the treatment of atherosclerosis - diet indicated:

• When there are signs of atherosclerosis or arterial lesions detected through diagnostic tests.
• Presence of factorsrisk such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, smoking.
• High concentration of cholesterol in the blood.

Non-drug treatment of atherosclerosis. Diet:

1. Low-calorie.
2. Low in animal fats.
3. Low in saturated fatty acids.
4. High in unsaturated fatty acids.
5. Restricted consumption of easily digestible carbohydrates.
6. Basic condition: reduce consumption of foods high in cholesterol.