Principles of atherosclerosis treatment
General information
With a confirmed diagnosis of atherosclerosis, treatment involves a variety of complex, lengthy and time-consuming procedures. There are no trifles in this matter and cannot be, therefore the patient must mentally and physically prepare to comply with all the recommendations of the attending physician. Currently, vascular atherosclerosis is cured with diet, exercise and medication. Let's take a quick look at the nuances of each technique.
Diet
Since atherosclerosis of the limbs and the brain is often associated with fat deposits on the walls of blood vessels, the patient needs to eat properly. The main rule here is to minimize the consumption of high-calorie foods. First of all, the patient must give up animal fats, meat (with the exception of chicken), some dairy products (milk, fatty cottage cheese, cheese, cream) and egg yolks. All of these foods are major sources of cholesterol. In addition, they violate the quality characteristics of blood, carbohydrate metabolism and lead to thrombosis. You should also limit the amount of consumed vegetable oils, since they reduce the concentration of high density lipoproteins, which is why atherosclerosis of the lower extremities often develops. The list of recommended products is as follows:
- products made from wholemeal flour - bind cholesterol contained in food, remove nitrates, nitrites, heavy metals and carcinogens from the body;
- seafood - dishes from squid, mussels, seaweed. They contain organic iodine, which prevents obliterating atherosclerosis, and vitamin B6, which is actively involved in the process of fat metabolism;
- baked potatoes, dill, green onions, parsley, prunes, bananas, black currants and other foods rich in calcium salts;
- oat or cornflakes, yoghurts, soy foods;
- fresh vegetables and fruits, with the exception of grapes and juices based on it.
Note also that the modern treatment of vascular atherosclerosis involves the distribution of a standard diet for several meals. The ideal option is to eat 5-6 times a day, and the last meal should be no later than 19 hours. As for ice cream, sweets and alcoholic drinks. Since atherosclerosis, the symptoms of which are increasingly observed in young people, is associated with a decrease in the lumen of blood vessels, patients are strictly prohibited from consuming chocolate, pastries, strong alcohol, cocktails and ice cream.
A rigid diet is prescribed for up to 3-4 months. During this time, the patient is constantly monitored. If atherosclerosis of the aorta continues to develop, then the diet is tightened. At the same time, the patient is prescribed medication for vascular atherosclerosis.
Medicines that are effective in the treatment of atherosclerosis
I want to say right away that it will take a very long time to use the prescribed funds, and in many cases - all my life. For this reason, one should correctly approach the choice of medicines in order to minimize the chance of side effects. Currently, the treatment of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities and the brain is carried out using:
- statins are an active group of cholesterol-lowering drugs that block the formation of cholesterol in the human liver. The most prominent members of this group are lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin and fluvastatin. All of them lower cholesterol and prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaques;
- fibrates - derivatives of fibric acid that increase the amount of high density lipoproteins and lower total cholesterol. In recent years, doctors have been constantly arguing about whether it is permissible to treat cerebral atherosclerosis and other forms of the disease with fibrates. Some are categorically against their use due to side effects, while others believe that without fibrates it is generally not worth starting treatment. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in between. If taken uncontrolled, fibrates can indeed be dangerous, so all treatment regimens must be agreed with a cardiologist. The drugs in this group include: clofibrate, fenofibrate, bezafibrate and gemfibrozil.
- nicotinic acid - as well as fibrates, it increases the content of lipoproteins, while reducing the concentration of triglycerides. The use of nicotinic acid is justified in cases where vascular atherosclerosis is associated with an increased content of high-density cholesterol. The drug dilates blood vessels, but at the same time causes redness of the skin, so it should be taken with caution and regularly monitored by a doctor. One of the new dosage forms of nicotinic acid is enduracin, which eliminates most of the side effects of the original product.
Among hypocholesterolemic agents, colestipol, neomycin, probucol, guarem, lipostabil, benzaflavin and eikonol should also be noted. They affect the body in different ways, but in the end they solve the same problems: lower cholesterol levels, normalize metabolism, and block the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.
General principles of atherosclerosis treatment
Along with diet and medication, the treatment of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities and the brain also implies the correction of risk factors. Secondary prevention of complications includes: reducing excess weight, quitting smoking and alcoholic beverages, regular exercise. All such activities will not bring a visible effect immediately, but it will certainly appear after a few months. However, in this case, talking about the timing of treatment is meaningless, because we have already noted above that some patients are trying to get rid of atherosclerosis throughout their conscious life.
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The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
