Symptoms and treatment of obliterating atherosclerosis of vessels of the lower extremities

Beginning obliterating atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower limbs, which is a chronic pathology, is innocent enough: a person begins to limp slightly. After a while there is a feeling of numbness and coldness of the foot. As a result of the progression of the disease, gangrene develops. Against this background, the doctor often takes a radical decision.

Thanks to the timely access to a qualified doctor, the patient's chances of complete recovery and preservation of his leg are increased.

The risk of developing this disease includes persons of both sexes who have crossed the fifty-year threshold.

Risk factors

Obliterating atherosclerosis of the lower extremities is a specific disease. It is characterized by the presence on the vascular walls of cholesterol and lipoprotein deposits, because of which the lumen of the vessels is greatly reduced. Against this background, the blood supply of tissues becomes worse, as a result of which there is a real risk of developing such a dangerous pathology as gangrene.

To the rapid progression of the disease can result:

1. Smoking.
2. Incorrect diet( the disease develops due to eating fatty and fried foods).
3. Abuse of alcoholic beverages.
4. "Sitting work".
5. Frequent occurrence in a stressful situation( obliteration of vessels occurs against the background of spasms of blood vessels provoked by psychological stress).
6. Obesity.
7. Progressing diabetes mellitus.
8. Genetic predisposition.

Against the background of the main provoking factors, the vascular walls rapidly "grow old", lose their elasticity and are sclerosed.

Alarming symptoms of

The disease has many characteristic symptoms. This allows an experienced specialist to diagnose the disease even at an early stage.

The main "swallows" of the disease

The main symptom that indicates the progression of obliterating atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities is considered to be a painful syndrome in the gastrocnemius muscle.

There is pain not only during intense and prolonged walking, but even with little physical exertion. When the pathology progresses, painful sensations arise in the lower leg, foot and other leg muscles. Often a person experiences such unpleasant symptoms as contraction and numbness in the actual zones.

Painful sensations disappear after rest. Physicians call this phenomenon intermittent claudication.

No less important symptom for obliterating atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower limbs is a decrease in the pulse in the popliteal artery and foot. The muscles of the affected limb atrophy, and the feel of the leg feels colder than her neighbor.

Stages of the disease

There are four stages of the development of pathology:

• in the first stage, pain occurs only after the person has overcome a distance of one thousand meters;
• in the second stage, the walking distance without pain is 250-1000 meters;
• in the third stage( distance - less than fifty meters) painful sensations occur at night;
• the fourth stage is characterized by the formation on the toes or heels of necrosis, accompanying the development of gangrene.

Assistance in the development of the disease

In modern conditions, modern doctors prefer conservative treatment of obliterating atherosclerosis of the lower limbs. The objectives of therapy should be considered:

• elimination of the painful syndrome;
• increased tolerance for high physical activity;
• arresting the risk of developing the 4th degree of the disease;
• prevention of heart attack;
• prevention of stroke.

"Tabletotherapy"

Treatment of obliterating atherosclerosis of the lower extremities involves taking medications that help reduce platelet clumping:

1. Ticlid.
2. Clopidogrel.
3. Acetylsalicylic acid.

For the protection of the arterial walls, the patient must receive the following:

1. Trental.
2. Pentoxifylline.
3. Vazonite.

Statins are prescribed for cholesterol reduction.

Operative intervention

In especially severe cases, the physician decides on endovascular or surgical intervention. The operation is relevant in the event of trophic lesions and pain at rest.

At last

It is possible to exclude the risk of disease progression to stage 4, if at least once every 12 months to undergo special therapy in the hospital.

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