How to support the heart and blood vessels in old age.

With age, the functioning of all life support systems slows down. This leads to the development of various diseases, one of which is senile atherosclerosis. It is the process of formation of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels. They tend to grow, which ultimately leads to complete blockage of the vessel. Impaired circulatory function affects the functioning of vital organs. The result of this pathology is a deterioration in overall health. In this case, the risk of coronary heart disease, heart attacks and strokes increases significantly.

IN mature age The elasticity of the vascular walls decreases, and metabolic processes in the body slow down. Cholesterol deposits in the cavities of blood vessels reduce blood flow, which impedes the functioning of internal organs. In medicine, this pathology is called atherosclerosis. The formation of cholesterol plaques can take a lifetime. People who have bad habits and lead a sedentary lifestyle encounter it faster. Senile atherosclerosis is accompanied by the following characteristic signs:

• dizziness, aggravated by physical activity;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• change in gait;
• redness of the skin surface of the face;
• pulsation in the area of ​​the affected arteries, subject to normal blood pressure;
• tremor of the head and hands;
• flickering of small flies before the eyes;
• memory impairment;
• depressive disorders.

Changes in health status are first noticed by the patient himself. It becomes difficult for him to perform actions that require increased concentration. Against the background of these symptoms, emotional sensitivity changes. In some cases, this affects relationships with loved ones. Performance also decreases, and pain appears in those places where problems with blood circulation are identified.

Important! At the initial stage, the disease is asymptomatic. Therefore, it is imperative for older people to undergo regular medical examinations for prevention purposes.

Causes

Cholesterol is partially synthesized by the liver. The remaining amount of the substance enters the body with food. With the proper functioning of internal organs, its level is always maintained within normal limits. When metabolic processes are disrupted, cholesterol accumulates in the vessels, causing problems with blood flow. Age-related changes are not the only reason for the formation of cholesterol plaques. There are a number of factors that can speed up this process. But most often the disease develops as a result of a combination of reasons. These include the following:

• excess weight;
• hormonal abnormalities;
• an abundance of stressful situations;
• long-term smoking and alcohol consumption;
• hereditary predisposition;
• abuse of junk food;
• endocrine diseases.

Diagnostics

Analysis of existing symptoms is considered a subjective diagnostic method. Reliable facts are required to make a diagnosis. Time-tested methods help identify atherosclerosis in older people:

• Dopplerography of cerebral vessels and assessment of blood flow in the area of ​​the vertebral artery;
• MRI of the vascular system of the brain and heart;
• biochemical analysis, including lipid profile;
• computed tomography of the arteries in the brain;
• neurosonography or ultrasound of the head.

On a note! A tendency to develop atherosclerosis is observed in 80% of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Drug treatment

The choice of treatment method is carried out on an individual basis. It depends on the severity of the disease and the local location of the plaques. Comprehensive treatment will be most effective. It involves restoring the integrity of blood vessels and reducing cholesterol levels. The therapeutic course includes the use of several groups of medications at once. These include the following:

• bile acid sequestrants that prevent cholesterol synthesis (Colestyramine, Colesevelam, Colestipol);
• antiplatelet agents that reduce blood clotting (Acetyl-salicylic acid, Cardiomagnyl);
• drugs from the group of statins that lower cholesterol levels (Mertinil, Atoris and Zocor);
• vitamin complexes that promote blood hemodynamics;
• nicotinic acid derivatives, which reduce the size of cholesterol formations;
• fibrates that reduce the level of triglycerides involved in lipid metabolism (Fenofibrate, Gemfibrozil, Ciprofibrate, Bezafibrate).

Treatment and preventive measures

A person with atherosclerotic changes is shown a special way of life. Especially with coronary sclerosis, thrombosis and a high probability of developing coronary heart disease. Treatment and preventive measures include the following:

1. It is necessary to radically change the diet. Fatty, floury, salty foods should be avoided. The diet requires a large amount of vegetables, fruits, berries and protein.
2. Therapeutic gymnastics will help you lose overweight and will increase the tone of the body. Physical activity should be moderate but regular.
3. Stabilization nervous system will avoid disruption of metabolic processes. To eliminate stress, it is recommended to practice aromatherapy, drink natural soothing tea and spend more time in the fresh air.
4. Adverse habits, such as smoking and drinking alcohol, negatively affect the condition of blood vessels. It is especially important to limit exposure harmful substances into the body in old age.
5. Regular visits to doctors allows you to diagnose the disease in time, avoiding complications.

Conclusion

Atherosclerosis in elderly patients develops more intensively than in young patients. Therefore, every effort should be made to diagnose the disease in a timely manner. The success of treatment largely depends on compliance with the recommendations prescribed by the doctor.

Age-related degradation of the human body and the circulatory system in particular is the main factor contributing to the development of various diseases in old age. Accordingly, the risk of atherosclerosis in older people is significantly higher. Indeed, to a number of aspects that contribute to the development of cholesterol plaques and blockage of arteries, there is a loss of elasticity in the walls of blood vessels. The second important criterion for a more intense manifestation of atherosclerosis in old age is an increase in the total number of deposits on the intravascular membrane. Atherosclerotic plaques begin to form in the body from early childhood. Their percentage is steadily increasing by the age of 50–60.

Features of symptoms of atherosclerosis in old age

The awakening of the disease usually occurs between 30 and 40 years of age. By this time, atherosclerotic plaques appear in the circulatory system of the brain vessels. However, the manifestations of their existence are still invisible. The peculiarity of old age is that the symptoms of most diseases appear at earlier stages. This helps to respond in a timely manner on the one hand. The reverse of the medal is the ambiguity of symptoms. The same headache or high blood pressure is not necessarily associated with the development of atherosclerosis.

As an example, we can focus on the main symptoms of this disease in old age:

1. general weakness with periodic dizziness;
2. decreased labor activity and concentration;
3. memory impairment;
4. disturbances of auditory and visual perception, as well as speech function;
5. increased susceptibility to nervous tension, stress, resulting in insomnia.

The listed complex of negative factors does not necessarily indicate atherosclerosis; symptoms of a similar nature are characteristic of general aging of the body and a number of other diseases. Therefore, despite the clear manifestation of the disease, making an unambiguous diagnosis is not easy. However, for an elderly person it is enough to seek medical help in a timely manner.

Attachment to the lesion

It is important to understand that the symptoms and treatment of the disease depend on the type of disease:

1. Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels. Characteristic signs of the elderly generation are frequent changes in psycho-emotional background. They are complemented by weakening of memory and the functioning of the senses.
2. Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. This form is accompanied by a high risk of CVD. Mostly, the elderly patient complains of pain in the chest area. The weakness of the condition is complemented by dizziness. Physical exercise tolerance decreases sharply, and causeless shortness of breath appears.
3. Atherosclerosis of the lower extremities. Symptoms appear when walking. According to the stage of the disease, the patient is able to walk only a certain distance without experiencing heaviness and pain in the legs. In extreme stages, pain is present regardless of body position. The skin of the legs becomes covered with ulcers, the limbs go numb, and tissue necrosis develops.
4. Atherosclerosis of the renal arteries. Elderly people experience pain in the abdomen and lower groin area. The urge to vomit increases.

Alternatively, atherosclerosis may develop in the mesenteric arteries and also appear on the face. The latter is especially typical for patients over 55–60 years of age. Yellowish deposits – xanthomas – form in the eyelid area. Their appearance is associated with an excess of lipids, which are deposited not only inside atherosclerotic plaques.

Diagnostics

Any of the manifestations of pathology in an older patient require urgent consultation with a doctor and a diagnostic examination:

• biochemical blood test for cholesterol content, including fractional analysis - LDL/HDL;
• duplex scanning;
• computed tomography or MRI.

Diagnostics is necessary to determine the exact nature of atherosclerosis and the degree of deformation of blood vessels. Based on the examination data, the doctor will prescribe an effective course of therapy.

Drug treatment

Drug therapy, like an individual diet, will not cure atherosclerosis, but can slow down the development of the disease. It is impossible to remove atherosclerotic plaques from blood vessels in old age. The doctor’s task is to prevent their further development with the risk of complete blockage of blood vessels.

Prescription of medications is made based on the results of a biochemical blood test. Modern medical practice offers four groups of drugs for the treatment of atherosclerosis:

1. A nicotinic acid. Medicines in this category are distinguished by their affordable prices. The therapeutic effect is due to a decrease in the level of fats - triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood. At the same time, drugs based on nicotinic acid help increase the level of anti-atherogenic HDL.
2. Fibrates. This class of medications includes gevilan, atromide and other drugs that inhibit the synthesis of fats in the body.
3. Bile acid sequestrants. Medicines are characterized by an extremely unpleasant taste. Reducing cholesterol and fat levels is achieved by binding bile acids, followed by their removal from the intestines. Bile acid sequestrants interfere with the absorption of other medications, so a pause of 1 to 4 hours is required between taking them and other medications.
4. Statins. Inhibit enzymes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, reducing its content.

Almost all of the medications listed are contraindicated for liver diseases. Therefore, medications must be taken in strict accordance with the doctor’s instructions.

Treatment and preventive measures

The problems of treating senile atherosclerosis are associated with the need to change lifestyle. In most cases, it is quite difficult to convince an elderly patient to switch to proper diet or refusal bad habits, smoking especially. It is also difficult to exclude nervous stress. Older people are more sensitive. Another therapeutic and prophylactic remedy after 45 years is daily physical exercise. Their intensity should be moderate, a short run is enough. If there are contraindications to this, running can be replaced with a half-hour walk.

Recently, the question has become relevant for Russians: “How to support the heart and blood vessels in old age?” After all, according to statistics, seven people die every hour from a heart attack in Russia.

This main reason death among our compatriots. But doctors are confident that many of these situations could have been prevented if the patient had taken time to prevent and treat problems of the cardiovascular system.

The most common cardiac diseases

In old age, 90% of patients suffer from various cardiovascular diseases. Why is this happening?

Causes of deterioration of cardiac function with age:

• increase in the size of the left ventricle;
• thickening of the heart wall and decreased blood flow;
• decreased contractile activity of the heart muscle;
• dysfunction of the valve apparatus;
• change in heart rate.

Moreover, half of all “cardiac” deaths occur due to ischemia (cardiac circulatory disorders). There are 3 main groups of cardiovascular diseases: those associated with the functioning of the valve, blood vessels or muscles.

Heart diseases:

• coronary insufficiency;
• angina pectoris;
• myocardial infarction;
• arrhythmia;
• cardiosclerosis.

Factors affecting cardiac activity

The main enemy of the “fiery engine” is excess weight; due to obesity, the risk of a heart attack increases 20 times.

Bad habits are also important. Cardiologists strongly advise eliminating nicotine and alcohol and reducing coffee consumption.

Smoking increases blood pressure and viscosity, increases heart rate, and destroys vascular walls. The load on the heart increases when drinking alcohol.

More than 4 cups of coffee daily increases the likelihood of a heart attack, especially when combined with cigarettes. Stress, nervous tension, and overwork also have a negative effect.

In old age, all of these factors further increase the risk of serious heart disease.

How to strengthen the heart and blood vessels

So that the heart does not hurt and performs its function long years, you need to support it a little, observing a few important points.

Nutrition

To combat obesity, you need to change your diet and diet: eat less high-calorie foods, eat often, but in small portions. It is necessary to add some products to the menu to support the heart and blood vessels.

Products necessary for normal heart function:

• vegetables and grains (sources of fiber);
• grapes, apricots, squash, bananas, zucchini, cocoa (rich in potassium);
• buckwheat, kelp, watermelon (they contain a lot of magnesium);
• raspberries, peppers, apples, citrus fruits (record holders for vitamin C);
• linseed oil, fish fat(Omega 3).

Usually, doctors prescribe a special diet for heart patients. She excludes foods containing a lot of cholesterol (it leads to the formation of vascular plaques). Restrictions also apply to smoked, salted and fatty foods.

Physical exercise

An inactive lifestyle often leads to heart disease in older people. Moderate physical activity helps to cope with excess weight, gives a boost of vigor and energy. It is important to start training gradually.

During exercise, cardiologists advise monitoring your pulse (no more than 120-130 beats/min). The duration of the workout is preferably 30-60 minutes. Very useful daily 5-10 minute morning work-out. More active cardio exercises are recommended twice a week: Nordic walking, dancing, aerobics, cycling.

Healthy lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle includes not only healthy eating, eliminating bad habits, but also a daily routine. It is important to have proper rest every day, get enough sleep, and not be nervous.

Long walks in the park or in nature are useful. It is important to constantly monitor blood pressure, pulse, and the amount of cholesterol in the blood.

Medicines and vitamins

Often a person receives insufficient amounts of vitamins and microelements from food.

Vitamins important for the functioning of the cardiovascular system:

• C - prevention of atherosclerosis, strengthens vascular walls and myocardium;
• A - makes it difficult to form vascular plaques;
• E - makes capillaries strong;
• P -reduces vascular permeability and bleeding;
• F - strengthens heart tissue, prevents cholesterol plaques;
• B1- stabilizes heart rate;
• B6 – fights cholesterol.

Microelements:

• Magnesium improves the condition of the myocardium, normalizes blood pressure, reduces the number of blood clots;
• Calcium - strengthens vascular walls, improves rhythm;
• Potassium - improves contractions of the heart muscle;
• Phosphorus - normalizes heart rate;
• Selenium - fights free radicals;
• Chrome - prevention high blood pressure and cardiac diseases.

In addition to vitamin complexes, pharmacies today sell a large number of medicines and dietary supplements that improve the functioning of an important human organ.

Pharmaceutical cardiac drugs:

• Venoton;
• Ascorutin;
• Piracetam;
• Riboxin;
• Cavinton;
• Asparkam;
• Hawthorn forte;
• etc.

Folk remedies

People have always used decoctions and infusions of various plants to support the functioning of the heart.

Hawthorn decoction

Reduces high blood pressure, eliminates tachycardia and arrhythmia. Take 1 tbsp. spoon of fruit and add 300 ml of water, cook for 30 minutes. Then infuse, strain and drink 50 ml before meals.

Egg remedy

Strengthens blood vessels. Mash with a fork, pour a glass of olive oil, place in the refrigerator. Eat 1 teaspoon per day for 7 days.

Phytobarrel for the treatment of “heart” problems

Today, the “Fitobochka” procedure is very popular, which is an excellent means for training the cardiovascular system.

Phytosauna promotes the expansion of blood vessels, makes all capillaries work, due to which blood circulation increases and venous outflow increases.

As a result, the blood supply to all organs with oxygen and nutrients improves, and toxins are removed.

This is also an effective prevention of recurrent heart attack, but to carry out a course of treatment you must wait at least 6 months after the attack.

The procedure is useful for vegetative-vascular dystonia, ischemia (without angina), myocarditis, hypotension and hypertension.

In old age, it is very important to support the functioning of the cardiovascular system, which at this time experiences significant stress.

Timely prevention can save lives and ensure good health. After all, heart problems can lead not only to death, but also to disability of the patient. Their danger especially increases over the years.

Therefore, it is necessary to follow all measures to maintain the functioning of the “life engine” and periodically visit a cardiologist.

T. A. YAPPO, Candidate of Medical Sciences

Scientists say that “the age of a person is the age of his blood vessels.” Indeed, in the vast majority of cases, vascular diseases of the brain occur precisely in old age. And the most severe of them, stroke, occurs many times more often in people over 60 years of age than in younger people. The director of the Institute of Neurology of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, academician of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, Hero of Socialist Labor E.V. Shmidt spoke about this at the scientific

session of the Department of Clinical Medicine of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences.

There are two types of brain stroke: hemorrhagic (bleeding in the brain), which is mainly caused by hypertension, and ischemic (infarction, or softening of the brain), which is usually a consequence of atherosclerosis. This means that the basis of the fight against vascular lesions of the brain is the prevention of hypertension and atherosclerosis and their timely treatment.

Hypertension in the first stages of its development makes little difference, and therefore the patient does not consult a doctor. This is confirmed by surveys of about 6 thousand people of different ages conducted by employees of the Institute of Neurology of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences. It turned out that 21 percent of those examined aged 50 to 60 years had high blood pressure. But half of them don't know about it. And most of those who know, unfortunately, are not treated. At the same time, observations show: in those suffering from hypertension and not systematically taking the necessary measures to normalize blood pressure, cerebral stroke occurs 10 times more often than in those patients who are not treated occasionally.

These figures should convince everyone over 45 to monitor their blood pressure. And for this you need to periodically visit the clinic. If blood pressure turns out to be elevated, you should systematically take the medicine prescribed by your doctor, follow the work and rest schedule recommended by him, an appropriate diet, and limit salt.

And there should be no initiative in choosing an antihypertensive drug or its dosage. This is extremely risky! A sharp decrease in blood pressure sometimes leads to very serious consequences.

Atherosclerosis is also widespread among older people, observed in more than 90 percent of 60-70 year olds. But, as clinical experience shows, atherosclerosis begins to develop already at 30 and even 20 years of age.

Initially, large vessels, the aorta and the main arteries of the head are affected. They become stenotic (narrowed). This process often occurs in parallel with an increase in blood clotting. And this contributes to the formation of blood clots and further narrowing of blood vessels. It happens that a person over forty years old, who is at the zenith of his working capacity, experiences the first manifestations of insufficient blood supply to the brain caused by atherosclerotic vascular damage. Memory deteriorates; it becomes difficult to switch from one type of activity to another, previously unusual fatigue, emotional imbalance, easy excitability, irritability appear, and sleep is disturbed. Finally, a mild headache, tinnitus, and some instability occur when quickly changing body positions from horizontal to vertical.

These symptoms, which, as a rule, do not alarm a person and do not serve as an alarm signal for him, characterize the initial phase of the formation of organic changes in the blood vessels of the brain. Meanwhile, prevention of atherosclerosis at this stage can slow down its development.

Particular attention should be paid to body mass (weight). Its increase after 40-50 years not only indicates a violation of metabolic (metabolic) processes, but also predisposes to the progression of atherosclerosis. Therefore, one of the most important measures to prevent atherosclerosis is the fight against extra pounds.

Diabetes mellitus also contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, against the background of which pathological processes in blood vessels develop especially quickly. Their adaptive capabilities with diabetes are sharply reduced.

We should not forget that nicotine and alcohol have a detrimental effect on atherosclerotic vessels. Probably everyone knows that alcohol and smoking cause enormous harm to blood vessels. However, not everyone wants to give up a glass or a cigarette. It’s a pity that some people need personal sad experience for this.

Certain types of deformations of the main arteries of the head pose a real threat of stroke development. Doctor of Medical Sciences N.V. Vereshchagin provided impressive data: vascular deformations are observed in 40 percent of cases in people with vascular diseases of the nervous system. Different kinds deformations of the carotid and vertebral arteries - their elongation, expansion, pathological tortuosity, ring-shaped and spiral twisting - differ not only in shape, but also in origin. A quarter of them are congenital, the rest are acquired. In themselves, these vascular changes do not cause cerebral circulatory disorders, but they are dangerous because they can lead to kinks that lead to narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels, and therefore to a lack of blood supply to the brain.

Kinks of the great vessels of the head occur in patients over 50 years of age twice as often as in younger ones. This is due to the fact that the leading role in the development of kinks is played by progressive age-related changes in the vascular wall, as well as long-term exposure to various overloads that the vessels experience, in particular, with arterial hypertension. How does a vessel bend form?

With age, more often in the place where the vessel is deformed, its elastic frame and muscle layer are damaged. Deep folds form in the wall of the artery, which form an angle directed by the apex into its lumen. Over time, the sections of the vascular wall that form the sides of the angle are fastened from the outside with connective tissue, and the formation of the bend is completed.

The lumen of the narrowed part of the vessel changes depending on the level of blood pressure and the position of the head. When it is sharply turned or thrown back, for example, while hanging laundry or playing badminton, or when performing certain exercises, the lumen of the artery in the area of ​​the bend narrows even more, and a short-term, transient disturbance of cerebral circulation occurs. It manifests itself as instant dizziness, double vision, and even loss of consciousness.

These symptoms are a serious reason to consult a doctor immediately. Modern methods The studies also make it possible to diagnose vascular pathologies such as kinks. In some cases, surgery can be used to straighten or remove the damaged section of the artery. More often, patients are treated conservatively, primarily seeking to stabilize blood pressure at a level that is optimal for the patient.

But since an excessive decrease in blood pressure can aggravate the insufficiency of blood flow in the vessel caused by its kinking, such patients should especially strictly use those antihypertensive drugs prescribed by the doctor, and only in the dosage indicated by him.

There is another factor that increases the risk of cerebrovascular accident: atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, extrasystole. Any arrhythmia is accompanied by a decrease in cardiac output, that is, the amount of blood that is thrown into the aorta during one contraction of the heart. As a result, the amount of blood flowing in the vessels of the brain over a certain time decreases, to which its cells instantly react. In the elderly due to age-related changes There is some natural, physiological weakening of blood flow in the cerebral vessels, and during heart rhythm disturbances the brain finds itself in particularly difficult conditions.

Usually, those suffering from arrhythmias know what medications help them, and as soon as an attack begins, it should be stopped as quickly as possible with the help of these medications. If medications that usually work well in these cases do not help, you must immediately call an ambulance.

Older people need to be much more careful about their health than young people. First of all, this should be remembered by those who have a family member who suffers from hypertension, atherosclerosis, or cerebrovascular accident.

Relatives and friends should be very attentive to an elderly person, since he cannot always correctly assess his condition. Neurologists believe: it is necessary to create such an environment at home so that an elderly person feels that he is respected and taken into account. The enormous importance of this factor is confirmed by the fact that there are more centenarians, for example, in the Caucasus, where not only the old, but also the elders are treated with great respect. The friendly attitude of relatives towards the elderly and understanding of their interests largely prevent disorders and breakdowns in their neuropsychic activity. We must try not to notice the difficult traits of their character, irritability, suspicion, and be tolerant of the whims that appear in some with age. Treat an older person the way you would like to be treated in your old age.

Home doctor

Atherosclerosis is a disease of older people

And a real balm for the soul of those suffering is a study proving that a glass of wine or a glass of something stronger is an excellent prevention of heart disease. True, with a caveat: the main thing in this matter is a sense of proportion.

What is atherosclerosis? This is a disease in which the walls of our blood vessels turn from soft, smooth and elastic to hard, lumpy and rigid. They are beginning to resemble an old, crusty rubber hose that has served us at our dacha for many seasons in a row. The lumen in the vessels narrows so much that the organs stop receiving a sufficient amount of blood - with all the ensuing consequences: angina pectoris, strokes and heart attacks. Today, the disease is consistently among the leaders in the number of cases and very often ends in death.

Who is to blame for the ugly changes in our blood vessels?

Until recently, it was believed that cholesterol was to blame. “Extra” particles of it settle on the walls of blood vessels, become overgrown with connective tissue and form so-called atherosclerotic plaques. Gradually, the plaques grow into a large blood clot, clogging the vessels, like a cork in a bottle.

Where does this terrible enemy of man, cholesterol, come from? Yes, we produce it ourselves. Or rather, we eat it ourselves along with meat, sausage, caviar, fried potatoes in lard and scrambled eggs with bacon. What about buttercream cake? What about ice cream? All this is cholesterol.

When it became clear that he was primarily to blame for our heart diseases, all of humanity rose up to fight. They urgently began to calculate the amount of cholesterol in different products, report this information on labels, and learned to create products without it at all. Many gave up butter and eggs, meat and Peking duck, sour cream and milk. And what did you get as a result? Nothing. Just as people have suffered from atherosclerosis, they continue to suffer. Just as they died from heart attacks and strokes, they still die, and even vegetarians who do not receive cholesterol from the outside die at all.

Then we started thinking: is cholesterol really to blame for our troubles? Conducted research and...

The answer is simple - eat right. If you want to live longer, you don’t need to overeat on fatty, fried and sweet foods. It’s better to eat 2 apples a day or 25-30 g of soy protein. Fish, cereals, buckwheat, wild rice remove “bad” cholesterol, leaving the “good” to cleanse the walls of blood vessels.

But what if the process has begun and deposits have already appeared? Marine and cauliflower, eggplants, wild garlic, walnuts, figs, raisins, grapefruit and watermelon.

Presentation on the topic: Atherosclerosis in older people

Slide description:

Atherosclerosis in older people Khatynskaya Karina group 493.

Slide description:

Atherosclerosis This insidious disease is caused by the deposition of lipids on the walls of blood vessels in the form of atherosclerotic plaques, which, having a tendency to constant growth, are capable of completely blocking the lumen of the vessel over time. Atherosclerosis is a disease that affects the main vessels. In the walls of blood vessels, due to cholesterol deposits, the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, as a result of which the lumen of the vessel narrows and blood flow decreases. If an atherosclerotic plaque is destroyed, blood clots form in the vessels. If it breaks off, the blood clot can clog the vessel, and there is a risk of stopping blood flow. Atherosclerosis is one of the most common causes of death caused by “failures” in the heart.

Slide description:

In the initial stages of the disease, atherosclerosis is extremely difficult to recognize. Previously, it was believed that atherosclerosis was a disease of old age. However, in our time, this disease has become an epidemic and has affected almost the entire population of developed countries. Atherosclerosis is increasingly affecting young people. Atherosclerotic plaques are found even in the vessels of young children. And among older people, the prevalence of atherosclerotic vascular damage reaches 100%. The development of atherosclerosis is based on a serious metabolic disorder, the cause of which is blamed on excess nutrition with large amounts of fats and carbohydrates, and smoking, which has a bad effect on the adrenal glands and thereby increases the volume of lipids in blood. In any case, the result is the same - being in the bloodstream in huge quantities, fats settle on the walls, gradually replacing normal cells.

Slide description:

Atherosclerosis can affect various arteries. When the arteries of the heart are damaged (atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries), coronary heart disease (CHD), angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and heart failure occur. With damage to the blood vessels of the brain - cerebral stroke, dementia (dementia), vascular parkinsonism. Damage to the vessels of the lower extremities is accompanied by pain in the legs, “intermittent claudication” syndrome, trophic disorders, and gangrene.

Slide description:

Factors contributing to the development of atherosclerosis: Increased concentration of lipids in the blood; Obesity; Stress; Hypertonic disease; Abuse of foods high in cholesterol ( olive oil, fatty meats, lard, eggs, liver and even pork sausages). Dietary, from the point of view of the development of atherosclerosis, will be milk, low-fat meat and dairy products, fish, fruits and vegetables. Currently, there are a number of medications that can remove excess fat from the body lipids. However, with their long-term use, very undesirable side effects occur: stones form in the liver, and visual acuity may deteriorate.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic pathology of vascular lines. Develops against the background of metabolic disorders of lipids and carbohydrates. Characterized by the appearance of cholesterol plaques on the walls of arteries and capillaries. Atherosclerosis in old age requires proper treatment; prevention of the disease will reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke and improve the quality of life.

The disease is considered age-related. But recently, doctors have been diagnosing high cholesterol levels in young people. The symptoms and course of atherosclerosis in older age differ from the manifestations of vascular pathology in young people. The signs of circulatory disorders are influenced by the location of the cholesterol plaque.

Symptoms of the disease in old age:

• there is dizziness, headaches, disorientation in space, the appearance of spots before the eyes;
• atherosclerosis of the brain, which occurs in elderly patients, is accompanied by tinnitus. Sometimes it becomes so intense that insomnia develops;
• When the area of ​​stenosis is localized in the lower extremities, the symptoms change. There is swelling of the arms and legs, discoloration of the skin, and increasing pain. The situation is dangerous due to the development of gangrene with loss of a limb;
• when localized in the renal arteries, there is a stable increase in blood pressure. For senile atherosclerosis characteristic symptom is the lack of effect after taking medications to lower blood pressure. Possible development of renal failure.

Diagnosis is carried out on the basis of patient complaints and the results of a blood test for cholesterol. Additionally, exercise cardiography and Doppler sonography are indicated to assess the condition of the vascular system. The examination includes an MRI to clearly detail the affected area.

Review of tablets against atherosclerosis for the elderly

Drug therapy for atherosclerosis in older people is aimed at reducing higher level cholesterol, prevention of the development of diabetes mellitus, correction of metabolic processes and treatment of concomitant diseases.

Drugs are selected individually. There may be tablets, injection forms. Groups of drugs for the treatment of atherosclerotic changes in old age:

1. Drugs that interfere with the absorption of cholesterol. Cholestyramine, gemfibrozil and analogues adsorb lipid compounds. Plant absorbents are used - Guarem, β-sitosterol. A special feature is that the drugs can contribute to the development of dyspepsia, deficiency of vitamins and minerals.
2. Drugs that reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver tissues are drugs from the statins and fibrates groups. Typical representatives are Mevacor, Zocor, Leskol, Torvacard, Clofibrat. Long-term use may result in muscle weakness, kidney failure, and inflammatory processes in the liver. Fibrate drugs have fewer side effects. When treating atherosclerosis, it is recommended to use drugs from both groups.
3. Means that promote the evacuation of cholesterol from the body. Unsaturated fatty acids have a similar effect. Typical representatives are Linetol, Tribuspamin, Octolipen, Thiogamma, Omacor, Eikonol.
4. Endotheliotropic drugs - reduce the amount of lipids in the structures of blood vessels, have an angioprotective effect, and improve nutrition of the vascular wall. The doctor will prescribe Anginin, Vasoprostan, and vitamin complexes. Side effects groups are nausea, defecation disorders, changes in heart rhythm.

Additionally, long courses of blood thinning medications are indicated. A budget option is acetylsalicylic acid. In case of complications, Warfarin is indicated.

The medications are prescribed by the doctor based on the diagnosis, age and concomitant diseases of the patient. Buying medications on your own at a pharmacy can be harmful.

Prevention of appearance in old age

The set of preventive measures is divided into primary (carried out in healthy patients without prior examination) and secondary (in persons diagnosed with atherosclerosis).

The diet should be enriched with cereals, vegetables and fruits, vegetable fats, fish, soups with vegetable broth. Eat low-fat meat. Drink enough fluid.

The second direction is to get rid of bad habits. Smoking promotes the accumulation of lipids on the walls of blood vessels. Medical statistics show that quitting smoking reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke by 50%.

Adequate physical activity contributes to improving vascular trophism, accelerating metabolic processes and breaking down lipids supplied with food.

In old age best choice There will be a physical therapy complex. At the initial stage, exercises should be performed under the guidance of medical worker. Afterwards - in the usual home conditions every day.

The sources contain a recommendation for the consumption of small doses of alcohol to prevent atherosclerosis. But systematic drinking of alcohol in old age contributes to the development of liver fibrosis and cerebrovascular accident. Medications, used to lower cholesterol levels are incompatible with ethanol.

Secondary

Secondary prevention measures are carried out for patients diagnosed with atherosclerosis. They help improve vascular trophism, stabilize the patient’s condition, and relieve conditions that provoke a further increase in the number of fibrous plaques in the cardiovascular system.

The list of events includes:

• taking blood thinning medications;
• decreased levels of low-density lipoproteins;
• normalization of blood pressure indicators – above 140/90 mm. rt. Art.

If the diagnosis is confirmed, adherence to the principles of rational nutrition, adequate physical activity, and correction of body weight are indicated.

Senile atherosclerosis is a disease whose prevention and prevention is easier than treatment. You need to start from the moment the first lipid stripes form on the walls of blood vessels. The concept of “old age” does not mean a miserable existence and denial of the joys of life. Everyone has the power to maintain a bright mind and a reasonable view of the world in old age.