Because of the wrong lifestyle, diet, age changes and heredity, the internal walls of the arteries are covered with cholesterol plaques and deposits of some lipid fractions. So begins atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities - the symptoms and treatment of this ailment have been studied for over 100 years. Despite the impressive progress in medicine, this pathology still remains one of the main causes of mortality.
Symptoms and therapy of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities
The danger of the presented disease is that it proceeds secretly until a certain moment. While the lumen of the arteries persists in the range of 20-40% of the normal diameter, a person may not even suspect of the progression of obliterating atherosclerosis. Explicit signs of the disease are observed with a strong narrowing or complete closure of blood vessels (from 60 to 80%):
- periodic occurrence of pain in the muscles of the legs;
- lameness, especially characteristic of smokers;
- pain syndrome at rest, including night rest;
- feeling of numbness of feet , loss of control over them;
- resistant or chronic fungal infections of fingers and nails;
- pallor and dryness of the skin, hair loss on the legs;
- chilliness in the foot, usually they are colder than other parts of the limbs;
- the formation of ulcers on the soles of the feet;
- disappearance of the pulse in the arteries of the legs;
- the appearance of dark spots on the feet;
- gangrene.
In the early stages of atherosclerosis, it is sufficient to eliminate the factors that provoke it - to normalize weight, nutrition and lifestyle, control blood sugar and blood pressure.
For an average degree of vascular lesion, conservative therapy is performed to restore blood circulation and rapidly reduce the concentration of cholesterol.
If the above methods are ineffective, endovascular or surgical intervention is prescribed:
- Stenting;
- endarterectomy;
- prosthetics;
- balloon angioplasty ;
- bypass surgery.
Medical treatment of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities
The main groups of tools used to eliminate the phenomena of obliteration of the arteries:
- thrombocyte disaggregants;
- statins;
- antioxidants;
- fibrates;
- nicotinic acid derivatives;
- anticoagulants;
- warfarins;
- drugs that improve blood microcirculation;
- heparins;
- beta-blockers;
- multivitamins;
- means of metabolic action.
Another treatment for obliterating atherosclerosis of vessels of the lower extremities includes a visit to sanatoriums, physiotherapy sessions, training walking. It is important to visit the doctor regularly, monitoring the effectiveness of the measures taken.
Preparations for the conservative treatment of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities
The exact scheme of therapy should be developed exclusively by a specialist, taking into account the severity of obliteration, the duration of the course of the pathology. Among the significant factors - the presence of concomitant ailments, the patient's age, the level of his physical activity, the nature of nutrition and other nuances.
The main drugs for the treatment of progressive atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower limbs (example of an outpatient therapy plan):
- Trental or Pentoxifylline;
- Simvastatin;
- Dipyridamole;
- Plavix;
- Kapilar;
- extract of ginkgo biloba.
In the formation of erosion or ulcers on the skin, the following drugs are added:
- Actovegin;
- Papaverine;
- Sulodexide or Wessel Douay F;
- Riboxin;
- Analgin;
- Diphenhydramine;
- Nikoshpan;
- Cardiomagn.
Locally, directly on skin lesions, it is recommended to apply Salcoseril ointment or Actovegin.