home Audience 3 The most common vascular diseases. Vascular diseases. What tests do you need to take to check your blood vessels? How to check the condition of human blood vessels Causes of disease

The most common vascular diseases. Vascular diseases. What tests do you need to take to check your blood vessels? How to check the condition of human blood vessels Causes of disease

Despite the difficulty of recognizing vascular diseases, the correct diagnosis in most cases can be established through a clinical examination of the patient. The examination must be carried out in a warm room with mandatory comparison of symmetrical sections of the limbs.

Complaints

Patients complain of pain, weakness, fatigue, heaviness in the legs, sensitivity disorders, swelling, ulcerations.

Pain that occurs in the legs when walking and disappears at rest is a pathognomonic symptom of insufficiency of arterial blood flow caused by stenosis (narrowing) or occlusion (blockage) of the artery. This condition is called intermittent claudication. The severity of the symptom depends on the degree of blood flow disturbance.

Muscle weakness, which increases with physical activity, also becomes a constant companion to impaired arterial circulation.

Paresthesia (numbness, crawling sensation), anesthesia (lack of all types of sensitivity) are characteristic of arterial blood flow disturbances, differ in frequency and intensify at the time of functional activity.

Swelling is a sign of impaired venous blood flow or lymph circulation. They may be constant or appear in the evening and disappear by morning. The entire limb or part of it may swell.

Objective examination

Upon examination in some cases (for example, with varicose veins), the pathology is detected immediately (by the presence of dilated veins with nodes), in other cases, the examination allows us to identify tissue trophic (nutrition) disorders that are important for the diagnosis of vascular diseases.

Muscle wasting is observed in arterial diseases. Dystrophic changes in the skin (thinning, hair loss, dryness, cracks, hyperkeratosis, ulcers) indicate a violation of the blood supply. Changes in skin color (pallor, cyanosis, marbling) are of great diagnostic value.

An increase in the volume of a limb due to edema indicates insufficiency of venous blood flow or lymph circulation; the localization and severity of changes indicate the prevalence and severity of the disease.

To objectively assess the severity of limb edema, the circumference of the lower leg and thigh is measured at different levels, compared with the data obtained by measuring a healthy limb at the same level.

Palpation allows you to define several parameters at once:

Assess the change in temperature of different areas of the skin, for which the examiner places the back of the hands on the symmetrical parts of the limb;

Identify systolic-diastolic tremors in arteriovenous fistula, the presence of phleboliths (calcified blood clots are palpable through the skin, determined as formations of rocky density along the superficial veins);

Compare pulsation in symmetrical areas of the limbs. Percussion arteries is of less importance (determination of the border of a hematoma, aneurysm).

Auscultation carried out at the main points (in the supraclavicular, iliac, inguinal regions, in the navel and above the place of the pulsating protrusion). When the artery is narrowed, a systolic murmur is heard, and with an arteriovenous fistula, a systolic-diastolic murmur is heard.

Limb volume measurement in symmetrical areas allows you to determine the severity of edema and its changes during treatment.

Methods for studying the condition of blood vessels: angiography, Dopplerography, duplex scanning, MRI, CT, ultrasound, rheography, thermography, phlebography.

The entire human body is penetrated by many large and small vessels and capillaries. Therefore, the list of diseases associated with malfunctions of this system is significant. In addition to atherosclerosis, that is, damage to the walls of arteries and varicose veins, the most famous vascular ailments, the improper functioning of these natural “highways” in the human body leads to thrombosis, phlebitis, lymphostasis, hemorrhoids, and tortuosity of the arteries. Timely diagnosis will significantly improve the functioning of the vascular system.

What are vessels, what are they like and what functions do they perform?

Vessels are divided into arteries, veins, and capillaries. Arteries deliver oxygen and nutrients to human organs and tissues. Veins perform an excretory function, ridding the body of carbon dioxide and metabolic products. The structure of the vessels is similar to tubes of various diameters.

What are the types of vascular malfunctions?

Vascular pathologies are different, but almost all of them are based on an atherosclerotic process, that is, a violation of the blood supply to the organ in which a particular vessel is located. Depending on the location, the following are considered in medical practice:

Angina pectoris and myocardial infarction as manifestations of coronary heart disease;

Stroke as an acute disruption of the blood supply to the brain or its chronic form;

Damage to the blood vessels of the kidneys and abdominal cavity;

Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the legs, causing thrombosis, phlebitis and varicose veins;

Aneurysms;

Hypertonic disease.

There are also secondary vascular lesions that develop against the background of infectious and autoimmune diseases, diabetes mellitus.

Symptoms of vascular diseases

The manifestations of diseases will always depend on the location of the vessels. Let's name the most common ones.

The vessels of the head and neck make themselves felt by dizziness, fainting, tinnitus, sleep disturbances and motor coordination.

If you experience shortness of breath, arrhythmia, pressing sensations in the chest, pain radiating to the shoulder blade, arm, neck - these are the coronary vessels.

Pain in the legs, cramps, ulcers, cracks, heaviness in the legs, swelling - signs of disruption of the blood vessels in the legs.

Despite the fact that the vascular system is a single whole, in medical practice it is customary to turn to highly specialized specialists. For example, coronary vessels are under the jurisdiction of a cardiologist, venous diseases are treated by a phlebologist, an angiosurgeon or an angiologist - a doctor for all vessels.

What diagnostic methods are used when examining blood vessels?

Today, medicine knows a significant number of methods that allow one to obtain a complete picture of the condition of blood vessels.

Angiography involves the injection of a contrast agent. Due to its traumatic nature, it is performed exclusively in a hospital setting and under local anesthesia. Iodine compounds are injected into a vein, they spread throughout the body and make it possible to determine the presence of blood clots, plaques, narrowings, and aneurysms. Contraindications to the procedure are:

Thrombophlebitis;

Thyroid disorders;

Kidney, heart and liver failure;

Allergic reactions to iodine;

Deviations in blood clotting parameters.

Dopplerography- one of the types of ultrasound examination. Allows you to detect disorders in the vessels of the extremities, head and neck. The method is non-invasive, painless, and very informative. It does not require any special preparation and does not cause significant discomfort in humans.

Duplex scanning gives an image of the dynamics of blood flow, shows the anatomy of veins and arteries. Excellent detection of plaques, stenoses, blood clots, and various anomalies. It is very convenient that on the screen the veins are blue and the arteries are red.

MRI- one of the most informative diagnostic methods. It is used to study vessels of any location, prescribed for a wide range of symptoms, as well as after strokes, atherosclerosis and many other diseases. Shows all changes and neoplasms in large and small vessels.

Spiral computed tomography suitable for examining vessels that are difficult to see using other methods. During the examination, a person sits on a table, the X-ray tube and table rotate, the result is a three-dimensional image of the area being examined.

Intravascular ultrasound. Cardiologists and cardiac surgeons value this method for its significant information content and the virtual absence of contraindications. This ultrasound involves inserting a catheter with a sensor at the end into the artery. Moving along the vessel, it sends an image to the screen and allows you to understand how effectively the treatment of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis is taking place.

Rheography- this is a study using a special device that passes small currents through the human body. The resulting graphs are deciphered and understood how blood moves in the pulmonary artery, vessels of the extremities, and the aorta.

Phlebography contributes to the diagnosis of veins of the lower extremities. It is a type of angiography and allows you to determine thrombosis and thrombophlebitis.

Thermography is based on the study of temperature indicators of organs and tissues. Detected deviations lead to a conclusion about any changes. This method has found application in the diagnosis of varicose veins in the early stages. Thermography is an auxiliary study and does not provide the same accurate results as other methods for determining vascular pathologies.

Thanks to the variety of methods for diagnosing blood vessels, it is possible to detect deviations in their functioning in time and take timely measures to get rid of ailments.

As a rule, a doctor can diagnose heart disease based on a conversation with the patient and examination. Special diagnostic tests help confirm the diagnosis, establish the severity of the disease, and adjust treatment.

Typically, the doctor will first ask about complaints such as chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling of the legs and feet, palpitations, as well as other symptoms, such as fever, weakness, fatigue, and loss of appetite. All of these symptoms may indicate heart disease. This will be followed by questions about past infections, contact with toxic substances, use of medications, consumption of alcohol and tobacco, psychological situation at home and at work, and rest schedule. The doctor will ask if any family members have a history of heart disease or if the patient suffers from other diseases that may affect the cardiovascular system.

During the examination, the doctor pays attention to the patient’s weight and general physical condition, checks to see if he is pale, sweating, or depression of consciousness, which may be signs of heart disease. The patient's general condition and mood are taken into account because heart disease can affect them. Assessing skin color is important because pallor and cyanosis (a bluish tint to the skin) may indicate anemia or poor heart function, as well as insufficient oxygen from the blood to skin cells due to lung disease, heart disease, or vascular damage.

The doctor checks the pulse in the arteries of the neck, under the arms, on the elbows and wrists, in the groin, popliteal folds and on the feet to assess blood flow on both sides; measures blood pressure and body temperature. Any abnormalities may indicate heart disease.

The doctor examines the veins of the neck as they drain into the right atrium and their condition indicates the pressure and volume of blood entering this chamber of the heart (the patient lies on a couch with the head of the bed raised at 45 degrees, but sometimes he can sit or stand). By applying pressure to the ankles, lower legs, and lower back, the doctor checks for excess fluid accumulation under the skin (edema).

If necessary, an ophthalmologist using an ophthalmoscope (an instrument that allows you to examine the fundus of the eye) examines the vessels and nerve endings of the retina, the light-sensitive membrane of the eye. Visible changes in it are often found in people with high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis and bacterial damage to the heart valves.

The doctor determines whether your breathing rate and chest movement are normal, and then taps (percusses) your chest with your fingers to see if there is fluid in the chest cavity. Percussion helps determine the presence of fluid in the pericardium (the membrane surrounding the heart) or pleura (the lining of the lungs). Using a stethoscope, the doctor listens to breathing sounds. This allows you to find out whether the air is passing normally, or whether there is an obstacle in its path - a narrowing of the airways. The doctor can also use this test to see if there is fluid in the lungs due to heart failure.

The doctor percusses and palpates the area of the heart to determine its size and force of contractions. Pathological turbulent (disordered) blood flow in the vessels or between the chambers of the heart causes vibrations that can be felt by the fingertips or palm.

The doctor listens to the heart with a stethoscope (called auscultation), paying attention to heart sounds - the sounds created by the opening and closing of the valves. Disturbances in the structure of valves and other intracardiac formations create turbulent (disordered) blood flows, which cause the appearance of characteristic sounds - the so-called murmurs. Turbulent blood flow occurs when it passes through a narrowed valve opening or there is backflow of blood through the valve.

Murmurs do not appear in all heart diseases, and not every murmur means disease. Thus, the murmur is often heard in pregnant women due to a normal increase in blood volume. Benign murmurs are common in young children due to the high speed of blood flow through the relatively small valve openings. With age, as the walls of blood vessels, valves and other tissues gradually harden, blood may also flow turbulently, but this does not indicate serious heart disease.

By listening with a stethoscope to the arteries and veins of the limbs, the doctor can detect sounds and noises if the blood flow is turbulent. This happens with narrowing of blood vessels or heart disease, as well as pathological communication between vessels.

The doctor palpates the patient's abdomen to check whether the liver is enlarged due to stagnation of blood in the large veins that drain into the heart. An enlarged abdomen due to the accumulation of excess fluid may be a sign of heart failure. The pulsatility and size of the abdominal aorta are assessed.

Diagnostic tests

Modern medicine has great opportunities for fast and accurate. Instrumental methods for examining the patient include electrocardiographic, electrophysiological and x-ray studies, echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), cardiac catheterization.

Most diagnostic tests in cardiology involve very little risk, but this risk increases as the complexity of the procedure and the severity of the disease increases. With cardiac catheterization and angiography, the probability of serious complications (stroke, heart attack) or death is 1:1000. Stress tests carry a 1:5000 risk of heart attack or death. In radionuclide studies, virtually the only risk factor is the microdose of radiation that the patient receives. It is significantly less than with conventional radiography.

Electrocardiography is a quick, simple and painless test in which the heart's electrical impulses are amplified and recorded on a moving tape of paper. An electrocardiogram (ECG) allows the doctor to assess the condition of the heart pacemaker (a special structure that causes heart contractions), the conduction pathways of the heart, the frequency and rhythm of heart contractions, and obtain other data.

To record an ECG, a doctor or nurse places small metal leads (electrodes) on the patient's arms, legs, and chest. These electrodes detect the strength and direction of electrical currents in the heart every time it beats. The electrodes are connected by wires to a device that records the impulses. Each curve reflects the electrical activity of the heart, taken as if from different pairs of points. These pairs of points are called leads.

An ECG is done for any suspicion of heart disease. This test allows the doctor to identify a number of different heart problems, including rhythm problems, insufficient blood supply to the heart, and excessive thickening of the heart muscle (hypertrophy), which can be caused, among other things, by high blood pressure. An ECG detects thinning or replacement of part of the heart muscle with connective tissue after a heart attack.

What do ECG waves mean?

An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the electrical activity of the heart. Each heartbeat begins with an impulse that arises in the main pacemaker of the heart - the sinus node. This impulse first excites the upper chambers of the heart (atria). Atrial excitation is reflected by the P wave.

The impulse then spreads to the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles). Ventricular excitation is reflected by the QRS complex. Its polarity may be different.

The T wave reflects a wave of repolarization when the impulse propagates through the ventricles in the opposite direction.

Load tests

The way a person withstands physical activity allows us to judge the absence or presence of coronary heart disease, other heart diseases and the severity of damage to the coronary vessels. A stress test, in which a doctor monitors changes in ECG and blood pressure during exercise, can help identify signs of the disease that are not noticeable at rest. When the coronary arteries are narrowed, the heart may have enough oxygen when a person is at rest, but not enough during physical stress. Simultaneous pulmonary function testing allows us to understand whether the limitation of exercise capacity is due to disease of only the heart or only the lungs, or whether it is explained by disease of both organs.

During the study, the patient pedals a bicycle or walks along a path (treadmill) moving at a given pace; the pace is gradually increased. An ECG is constantly recorded, and blood pressure is measured at certain intervals. As a rule, the load is increased until the heart rate reaches 70-90% of the maximum for a given age and gender. If shortness of breath or chest pain becomes very severe, or certain changes in the ECG or blood pressure appear, the study is stopped earlier.

If a person, for one reason or another, is not able to carry out the load, another study is carried out: a special substance (this can be adenosine or dipyridamole) is injected into a vein, which worsens blood flow in the narrowed coronary arteries, which simulates the effect of the load.

If certain ECG changes are recorded, an attack of angina develops, or blood pressure drops, the doctor may diagnose coronary heart disease.

Continuous ambulatory ECG recording

Heart rhythm disturbances and periods of insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle can be short-lived and unpredictable. To detect them, continuous ambulatory ECG recording is used. The patient is fitted with a small battery-powered device (Holter monitor) that records an ECG for 24 hours. While the examination is ongoing, the person records in a diary the time of occurrence and the nature of any symptoms that arise. The recording is subsequently processed on a computer: the heart rate and rhythm of the heart are analyzed, changes in electrical activity are found that indicate inadequate blood flow in the heart muscle, and the ECG recording is played back for 24 hours. Symptoms recorded in the diary can be correlated with ECG changes.

The ECG can be transmitted by telephone to a computer located in a hospital or doctor's office for immediate interpretation if the situation requires it. Sophisticated ambulatory devices can simultaneously record ECGs and electroencephalograms (recordings of electrical activity in the brain) of patients who experience loss of consciousness. Such registration helps to establish the cause of fainting and, in particular, to distinguish heart rhythm disorders from epileptic seizures.

Continuous ambulatory ECG recording using a Holter monitor

A small monitor is placed over the patient's shoulder. Electrodes are attached to the chest and a monitor continuously records the electrical activity of the heart.

Electrophysiological study

An electrophysiological study allows you to evaluate the nature of rhythm disturbances or disorders of the conduction of electrical impulses in the heart. In a hospital setting, tiny electrodes are inserted through veins, and sometimes arteries, directly into the chambers of the heart - this is how the exact location of the paths of impulses in the heart is determined.

In some cases, the doctor will provoke an arrhythmia during a test to find out whether a certain medicine can stop such attacks and whether surgery is needed. Normal rhythm is quickly restored with a short electrical shock (cardioversion). Although electrophysiological testing involves the introduction of instruments into the body, it is practically safe: the risk of death is 1:5000.

Anyone suspected of having heart disease will have a chest X-ray taken from the front and side. From the image, you can evaluate the shape and size of the heart, as well as the structure of the blood vessels in the lungs and chest cavity. Changes in the shape or size of the heart, as well as other pathological signs, such as excess calcium in the cardiac structures, are easily noticeable. A chest x-ray can also help evaluate the condition of the lungs, especially the blood vessels, and detect the presence of excess fluid in or around the lung tissue.

With heart failure or changes in the heart valves, an increase in heart size is often detected. However, the heart size of people with serious heart disease may be normal. With constrictive pericarditis, which leads to the formation of a “shell” around the heart, it does not increase even with the development of heart failure.

The appearance of the blood vessels in the lungs is often as important in making a diagnosis as the appearance of the heart itself. For example, an increase in the diameter of the pulmonary arteries near the heart and their narrowing in the lung tissue suggests an enlarged right ventricle.

Computed tomography (CT) is not often used to diagnose heart disease, but it can help detect anatomical changes in the heart, pericardium, major vessels, lungs, and other structures in the chest cavity. This study is based on the fact that X-ray “slices” of the chest are taken using a computer in different planes. They allow you to determine the exact location of any anatomical abnormalities.

A new technique - ultra-fast computed tomography, also called cine computed tomography - makes it possible to observe a three-dimensional image of the beating heart and evaluate both anatomical changes and disorders of the contractile function of the heart.

Fluoroscopy - a study in which continuous x-rays are taken - allows you to see the heartbeat and breathing movements of the lungs on the screen. During this test, the patient receives a relatively high dose of radiation, so it has now largely been replaced by echocardiography and other diagnostic methods.

Fluoroscopy is still used as part of the examination for cardiac catheterization and electrophysiological studies. It helps clarify the diagnosis in some difficult cases, in particular with heart valve disease and congenital heart defects.

Echocardiography is one of the most widely used methods for diagnosing heart disease. Its advantage is that it does not require x-rays and provides excellent images. The test is harmless, painless, relatively inexpensive and widely available.

This method is based on the use of high-frequency ultrasound waves emitted by a special transducer, which are reflected from the heart and blood vessels and create a moving image. It appears on the screen of the video system and is recorded on a video cassette or magnetic disk. By changing the position and angle of the sensor, the doctor sees the heart and major blood vessels in different planes, which gives an accurate picture of the structure and function of the heart. To obtain an image of increased quality and analyze the condition of the small structures of the heart, a special sensor is inserted into the patient’s esophagus and an image is obtained with its help. This type of test is known as transesophageal echocardiography.

Echocardiography can detect disturbances in the movement of the heart walls, changes in the volume of blood that is ejected from the heart with each contraction, thickening and other changes in the lining of the heart (pericardium), and the accumulation of fluid between the pericardial wall and the heart muscle.

The main types of ultrasound examinations (ultrasound): M-mode, two-dimensional and Doppler, including color Doppler, modes. In M-mode, the simplest type of ultrasound, a single ultrasound beam is aimed at the part of the heart being studied. The most widely used mode is 2D. It allows you to obtain real two-dimensional images in various planes. Doppler mode (color Doppler mode) displays the speed and pattern of blood movement in color. Color and other types of Doppler studies make it possible to determine and display the direction and speed of blood flow in the chambers of the heart and blood vessels. The images allow the doctor to see whether the heart valves open and close correctly, how much blood they allow when closed, and whether blood flow is impaired. Pathological communications between the blood vessels and chambers of the heart can be detected, and the structure and functions of the vessels and chambers can be determined.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an examination method that uses a powerful magnetic field to produce accurate images of the heart and chest organs. This is an extremely expensive and complex method for diagnosing heart disease and is currently under development.

The patient is placed inside a large electromagnet, which vibrates the atomic nuclei in the body. As a result, they emit characteristic signals that are converted into two- and three-dimensional images of heart structures. Usually contrast agents are not needed. Sometimes, however, paramagnetic contrast agents are given intravenously to help identify areas of poor blood flow in the heart muscle.

MRI has a number of disadvantages compared to computed tomography (CT). First, it takes longer to acquire each image. Second, the contractions of the heart cause MRI images to appear blurrier. In addition, some people during the study experience a pathological fear of closed spaces (claustrophobia) because they are in a narrow space inside a giant machine.

Radionuclide research

In a radionuclide test, small amounts of radioactively labeled substances (radiotracers) are injected into a vein, but this method exposes the person to less radiation than most types of x-ray tests. Radioactive tracers are quickly distributed throughout the body, including the heart. Their radiation is then recorded by a gamma camera. The image is created on the screen and recorded on a computer disk for further analysis.

Various types of recording cameras can produce either a single image or a series of computer-enhanced two-dimensional images. This technique is known as single photon emission computed tomography. The computer is capable of generating three-dimensional images.

Radionuclide testing is especially important when clarifying the diagnosis in the case of chest pain that occurs for an unknown reason. If it is clear that a patient has a narrowing of a coronary artery, radionuclide testing can help determine how the narrowing affects the blood supply and function of the heart. Radionuclide testing is also used to assess how much the blood supply to the heart muscle has improved after bypass surgery or similar interventions, and to determine the prognosis after myocardial infarction.

Blood flow in the heart muscle is usually tested using thallium-201, which is injected into a vein. The patient performs physical exercise during the diagnostic process. The amount of thallium-201 absorbed by cardiac muscle cells depends on their blood supply. At the peak of exercise, an area of the heart muscle that has a poor blood supply (ischemia) has less radioactivity and therefore produces a weaker image than adjacent areas with a normal blood supply. If the patient is unable to exercise, medications (adenosine or dipyridamole) are administered intravenously to simulate the effect of physical stress on the bloodstream. These medications impair the blood supply to the damaged vessel, due to which normal vessels are better supplied.

After resting for several hours, the images are re-registered. As a result, the doctor can see which areas of the heart have a reversible defect in blood flow, which is usually the result of a narrowing of the coronary artery, and which areas have scar tissue that appears after a heart attack.

If an acute heart attack is suspected, instead of thallium-201 preparations, radioactive tracers containing technetium-99m are used. Unlike thallium, which accumulates primarily in normal tissue, technetium concentrates primarily in pathologically altered tissue. However, since technetium also accumulates in bone, the ribs obscure the image of the heart to some extent.

Technetium testing is used in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. The damaged area of the heart absorbs technetium. This method allows you to confirm a heart attack 12-24 hours after it occurred; increased accumulation of technetium in the infarct area persists for approximately one week.

In positron emission tomography (PET), a substance labeled with a radioactive agent is injected into a vein. After a few minutes, when the labeled drug reaches the area of the heart being studied, the sensor scans it and registers areas of high activity. The computer creates a three-dimensional image of the area under study, showing how actively different areas of the heart muscle absorb the labeled drug. Positron emission tomography produces images of better quality than other nuclear imaging techniques. However, this is a very expensive test, so it is used for scientific purposes and in cases where simpler and less expensive methods do not allow a definitive diagnosis.

Coronary angiography is the study of the coronary arteries using catheters. The doctor inserts a thin catheter into an artery in the arm or groin and advances it toward the heart into the coronary arteries. To monitor the progress of the catheter, the doctor uses fluoroscopy (continuous X-ray imaging) when inserting this instrument. The tip of the catheter is positioned according to the location of the mouth of the artery being examined. A contrast agent, which can be used for X-ray examination, is injected through a catheter into the coronary arteries - and an image of the arteries appears on the video system screen. X-ray filming (cineangiography) provides clear images of the chambers of the heart and coronary arteries. This is how coronary disease is detected: damaged coronary arteries appear narrowed and often have an irregular structure. In case of coronary disease (coronary heart disease), the catheter can be used for therapeutic purposes. At the site of narrowing of the vessel, the balloon is inflated, restoring normal patency of the vessel. This procedure is called percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

Minor side effects of coronary angiography occur immediately after contrast agent administration. As it spreads through the bloodstream, the patient often experiences a temporary feeling of heat, especially in the head and face. The heart rate increases and blood pressure decreases slightly. Reactions of moderate severity are rare: nausea, vomiting and cough. Very rarely, severe reactions develop: shock, convulsions, impaired renal function and cessation of heart contractions (cardiac arrest). Allergic reactions range from skin rashes to a rare life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis. If the catheter touches the wall of the heart, abnormal heart rhythms may develop. The technical equipment and professional training of the medical personnel performing this procedure ensure the immediate elimination of any side effects that occur.

Arteries, veins, capillaries located throughout the body provide nutrients and oxygen to all organs. Vascular diseases are considered one of the most dangerous pathologies and often cause early mortality. These diseases are becoming “younger” every year; they are diagnosed in children and adolescents.

Clogged blood vessels interfere with normal blood circulation

Vascular diseases

Vascular pathologies are divided into two groups, depending on the location of the main focus of the pathological process. Diseases of the central vessels are accompanied by circulatory disorders in the aortas and coronary arteries of the head, neck, spinal cord; problems with peripheral vessels cover the legs, arms, and abdominal cavity. The diseases are accompanied by expansion or narrowing of the lumen of the veins, poor patency, spasms, pain, and blockade of nerve fibers.

Atherosclerotic vascular disease

The most dangerous type of vascular damage, in which irreversible changes develop in large arteries. The main reason is bad cholesterol, which accumulates in the body when addicted to junk food. The development of the disease can be triggered by bad habits, hereditary factors, physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and thyroid diseases. You can see what cholesterol plaques look like in the photo.

Excess cholesterol clogs blood vessels

Symptoms and types of diseases:

Coronary atherosclerosis – cholesterol accumulates in the vessels of the heart. The disease is accompanied by pain in the left side of the chest, which radiates to the arm, intensifies when inhaling, chills, and heart rhythm disturbances. As a result of the illness, weakness in the limbs appears and fainting is possible.
Atherosclerosis of the aorta - the clinical picture manifests itself in the form of hypertension, a burning sensation in the chest area. The main distinguishing signs are premature aging, wen on the face.
With atherosclerosis of the abdominal region, the vessels of the peritoneum are clogged, which manifests itself in the form of increased gas formation, deterioration of kidney function, diarrhea, and severe abdominal pain.
Atherosclerosis of the lower extremities - the skin turns pale, a venous pattern clearly appears on them, the extremities hurt, get cold, go numb, and severe diseases of the legs develop.
Cerebral atherosclerosis is accompanied by damage to blood vessels in the brain - tinnitus, severe cephalalgia, dizziness, shortness of breath, chronic fatigue, arterial counts increase, and memory deteriorates.

Vascular diseases develop slowly, often at the initial stage they occur without pronounced symptoms, so many people go to the doctor with advanced forms of pathologies.

Ischemia develops against the background of regular blood deficiency in the coronary vessels that nourish the myocardium and brain tissue. The causes of the disease are physical inactivity or constant excessive physical activity, stress, overwork, bad habits, unbalanced nutrition, impaired carbohydrate and fat metabolism.

When ischemia occurs, the blood supply to the heart is disrupted

Main symptoms:

pain in the chest, which radiates to the arm, jaw - first occurs after physical exertion, gradually begins to bother the person even at rest;
dyspnea;
arrhythmia, increased heart rate.

In the acute form, a heart attack develops - during the disease, a large area of tissue falls out of the blood circulation. The pain syndrome becomes strong, cutting in nature, shortness of breath turns into suffocation, pulmonary edema.

With cerebral vascular ischemia, coordination of movement is impaired, a person staggers, vision, hearing, and memory deteriorate, problems with sleep arise, and character changes.

Nitroglycerin will help eliminate severe pain during ischemia, but this drug does not help with a heart attack.

With a persistent disruption of the blood supply to brain tissue, the death of nerve endings begins, which leads to the loss of certain functions. The cause of the disease is prolonged oxygen starvation of tissues due to atherosclerosis. In an ischemic stroke, the lumen of a blood vessel is blocked by a thrombus or cholesterol plaque; in a hemorrhagic stroke, the damaged vessel bursts, forming an intracerebral hematoma.

With prolonged oxygen starvation, brain cells die

Symptoms:

weakness and numbness of the limbs on one side of the body, one half of the face;
throbbing headache;
double vision;
nausea, vomiting;
loss of coordination, loss of orientation in space.

If such signs appear, you should urgently call an ambulance - qualified assistance should be provided no later than four hours from the start of the attack.

Ischemic stroke is diagnosed more often, but hemorrhagic stroke occurs in a more severe form. The disease mainly develops at night or in the morning.

Hypertonic disease

The diagnosis is made when there is a persistent increase in readings to 140/90 mmHg. Art. Provoking factors are obesity, imbalance of lipids in the blood, excessive salt intake, insomnia, and frequent stress.

Hypertension - high blood pressure

Signs of the disease:

throbbing headache in the occipital and temporal zone;
noise in ears;
flashing black spots before the eyes;
dizziness;
shortness of breath, swelling of the limbs;
nausea, vomiting.

Without proper treatment, hypertension can cause the development of atherosclerosis, stroke, heart attack, and cerebral hemorrhage.

Hypertension is diagnosed in every seventh person over 45 years of age.

Cardiopsychoneurosis

Vegetative-vascular dystonia develops against the background of a malfunction of the nervous system, the functioning of large and small vessels deteriorates; doctors describe many causes and signs of the disease. Provoking factors are vitamin deficiency, stress, chronic insomnia, and a sedentary lifestyle. The disease is diagnosed in a child when there is excessive mental, emotional and mental stress.

How the disease manifests itself:

pain in the heart area;
cardiopalmus;
hands and feet are constantly cold, a marble pattern appears on the skin;
increased sweating;
panic attacks;
dyspnea;
migraine, dizziness, weather sensitivity;
upset stool, loss of appetite;
, or with the left;
The temperature may rise slightly, and fluctuations in blood counts are observed.

VSD is a disease of urban residents; every eighth person suffers from it; most often, the pathology is diagnosed in people with an asthenic body type. Hardening and regular exercise will help strengthen weak blood vessels.

With varicose veins, the arteries of the lower extremities suffer - the lumen of the venous bed expands, the walls of the vessels become weak, the disease is considered female, and often occurs during pregnancy. The disease develops in people who have to stand for a long time, with endocrine problems, disruption of the venous valve, congenital weakness of the vascular walls, and frequent hypothermia.

Healthy and varicose veins on the legs

Symptoms of deterioration of the arteries in the leg:

bulging, swollen veins in the legs;
pain especially in the evening;
spider veins, small ulcers, peeling skin;
cramps, swelling.

Varicose veins are a hereditary disease; for prevention it is necessary to regularly use plant-based venotonics and wear compression garments.

Haemorrhoids

Venous disease, a type of varicose veins, in which the cavernous areas of the final section of the rectum expand, venous stagnation is formed. The disease often develops during pregnancy or immediately after childbirth, against the background of regular constipation, a sedentary lifestyle, frequent heavy lifting, and alcoholism.

Hemorrhoids are a venous disease

Signs of hemorrhoids:

bursting pain in the anus in a sitting position and during bowel movements;
itching and burning in the anus area;
bleeding during the bowel movement process.

Hemorrhoids can cause anemia due to chronic blood loss.

Venous and arterial thrombosis, thromboembolism

Blood clots on the walls of blood vessels are a dangerous disease; a clot can break off at any moment, which will lead to rapid death. Pathology develops against the background of endocrine and infectious diseases, after surgical interventions on blood vessels, with increased blood viscosity, and physical inactivity.

Blood clots on the walls of blood vessels are very dangerous

Symptoms:

tissue edema;
pale skin;
dryness and flaking of the skin, ulcers;
painful lumps;
acute hypoxia, tissue necrosis.

Thrombosis is a common pathology in bedridden patients.

Which doctor should I contact?

The vascular system is one of the most complex mechanisms in the human body; various highly specialized specialists are involved in the treatment of diseases.

Which doctors treat vascular diseases:

– eliminates vascular pathologies in the brain;
– treats varicose veins of the lower extremities, thrombophlebitis, inflammatory processes of the venous wall;
– heart disease specialist;
angiologist – a doctor specializing in diseases of the arteries and lymphatic system;
– deals with the treatment of lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, which often cause problems with blood circulation and blood vessels;
Sometimes consultation may be required.

If you have heart problems, you should visit a cardiologist

A newborn often develops a hemangioma - a proliferation of blood vessels, and a convex red spot appears on the neck. The neoplasms themselves are not dangerous, but they negatively affect blood clotting and the immune system. It is necessary to consult with a surgeon, but in most cases no specific treatment is required, the problem disappears on its own by the age of 10 years.

Problems with blood vessels often occur in women during menopause - female sex hormones protect the walls of blood vessels from cholesterol .

Diagnosis of vascular diseases

After examining and questioning the patient, palpation, percussion and auscultation, the doctor prescribes laboratory and instrumental tests to clarify the diagnosis and draw up the correct treatment regimen.

Basic diagnostic methods:

Clinical blood test - the presence of inflammatory processes in the vessels is indicated by an increase in ESR.
General urine test - the level of LDH is important; an increase in the urine of this substance indicates an ischemic heart attack.
Biochemical blood test - shows cholesterol level; in men, the values should be in the range of 5.9–6.5 mmol/l, in women - no more than 5.2 units. You should take the test only on an empty stomach; your last meal should be 10 hours before the test.
Immunological test to detect lipoproteins in the blood.
Coagulogram - allows you to determine how the process of blood clotting occurs in the body.
Vascular angiography – contrast x-ray. Used to detect pathological changes in the vessels of the heart, legs, and brain. The method is informative, but has many contraindications and requires special training in a hospital setting.
Angiography – using a tomograph, the condition of blood vessels in the heart, neck, abdominal region, and brain is studied.
Ultrasound (Dopplerography) - allows you to see the presence of cholesterol plaques and their location.
An MRI method will help identify vascular abnormalities and the degree of narrowing of blood vessels.
Vascular RVG - this method allows you to see how blood circulates in the arms and legs, and assess the tone of blood vessels in the extremities.
– using REG, the level of vascular response is checked.

Vascular diseases never manifest themselves as a separate pathology - they are always closely related to any malfunctions in the body.

A blood test will show the condition of the blood vessels

Possible complications

Since blood vessels supply oxygen and nutrients to all systems, when they become diseased, pathological processes can begin in any organ, but the heart and brain suffer the most.

Consequences of vascular diseases:

heart attack, different types of stroke;
dementia;
Alzheimer's disease;
encephalopathy;
severe migraine;
blindness, deterioration of speech, coordination;
paralysis of limbs;
tissue necrosis;
mental disorders.

Vascular pathologies provoke the development of dangerous diseases that cause disability or death.

If vascular diseases are not treated, a heart attack may occur.

Treatment of vascular diseases

To get rid of vascular pathologies, improve well-being, and prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to take special medications. But drug therapy will be ineffective if the patient does not follow a special diet.

Medicines

In the treatment of vascular diseases, drugs are used whose action is aimed at improving blood circulation, increasing the lumen in damaged capillaries, and cleansing blood vessels from atherosclerotic plaques. The correct choice of medications helps to normalize metabolic processes and eliminate oxygen starvation in tissues.

Groups of vascular drugs:

Myotropic, neurotropic drugs, nitrates– Euphilin, Reserpine, Nitroglycerin. The medications are intended to normalize cerebral blood flow, reduce vascular tone, and have an effect on nerve fibers.
Calcium channel blockers– Diazem, Verapamil, Nifedipine, Amlodipine. Prevents deterioration in the flexibility of blood vessels and strengthens their walls.
Heart medications– Adoniside, Cardiovalen. Improve the functioning of coronary vessels, eliminate oxygen deficiency in the brain.
Preparations based on nicotinic acid- Enduracin. They have a beneficial effect on even the smallest capillaries, but impair liver function.
Herbal medicines- Bilobil, Cavinton. They eliminate spasms, normalize blood circulation, and have virtually no contraindications or adverse reactions.
Preparations for strengthening the walls of blood vessels– Ascorutin, Venoton, Detralex.
Nootropics – Nootropil, Phenotropil. They improve memory and brain function, and are necessary for people who engage in mental work.
Anti-migraine medications- Maxalt. They reduce vascular tone, eliminate spasms, relieve pain, and have a vasodilator and anti-inflammatory effect.
Anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents– Heparin, Hirudin. Medicines prevent the formation of blood clots, reduce the risk of heart attack, and improve the condition of peripheral blood vessels.
Preparations for cleansing blood vessels- Cavinton, Capillarin.
– used to reduce blood pressure and strengthen blood vessels.

People who are at risk of vascular pathologies need to regularly take ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and fish oil.

Ascorutin will strengthen the walls of blood vessels

Nutrition

All the food a person eats affects the health of blood vessels. Fatty and fried foods, large amounts of coffee, salt, sugar are a direct path to dangerous diseases.

What should be included in the menu:

sea fish, seafood, lean meats;
vegetable oils – olive, corn, flaxseed;
cereals, bran, rye bread, wholemeal bread, pasta made from durum wheat;
milk and dairy products with medium fat content - when consuming low-fat products, calcium is less absorbed;
You can eat biscuits, bread rolls, homemade marmalade, marshmallows in moderation - provided there is no predisposition to obesity;
light vegetable soups, meat first courses can be consumed once a week;
raw nuts;
legumes, potatoes, carrots, sauerkraut, eggplant, celery, pumpkin greens;
seasonal berries and fruits, dried fruits, citrus fruits.

Fruits have a beneficial effect on vascular health

All dishes need to be baked, stewed, boiled, steamed, and salted after cooking directly on the plate. Spicy seasonings and vegetables thin the blood well - chili, ginger, mustard, horseradish root, onion, garlic, but if you have stomach problems, you should not use them.

To reduce the likelihood of diseased blood vessels, you need to completely give up fast food, eat no more than two chicken eggs per week, and drink 1 cup of coffee or strong tea per day.

Prevention of vascular diseases

Vascular diseases are fraught with various serious complications, so it is important to regularly carry out preventive measures that will help reduce the likelihood of developing these pathologies.

How to avoid problems with blood vessels:

Take Aspirin. This drug thins the blood, it is recommended to take it to prevent thrombosis and heart attack - 100 mg every evening during dinner for 4-6 months. The medicine should not be taken if you are prone to bleeding, in order to reduce the negative effect on the stomach, you should choose enteric forms of acetylsalicylic acid - Thrombo ACC, Aspirin Cardio.
Proper and balanced nutrition will help avoid the accumulation of cholesterol in the body, and blood vessels will maintain elasticity.
Learning to cope with stress and nervous tension - meditation, yoga, walking in the fresh air, and your favorite hobby will help with this.
Measure regularly and record the results in a special diary.
Control your weight – every extra 10 kg increases your blood pressure by 10–20 units. Get rid of bad habits.
Get enough sleep.
Play sports - exercise should be regular, but moderate.

Aspirin thins the blood

In order to detect vascular pathology in a timely manner, after 30 years of age it is necessary to regularly undergo preventive examinations, monitor cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

In addition to weight, waist circumference should be measured regularly to detect abdominal obesity. Normally, indicators for women should not exceed 88 cm, for men – 102 cm.

Vascular diseases are second only to cancer in the number of cases of premature mortality. Simple preventive measures and a healthy lifestyle reduce the risk of developing pathologies by 3 times.

Vascular diseases cannot occur on their own; they are associated with the manifestation of some individual diseases of the body systems. The vessels circulate blood throughout the body in a continuous state. Cardiovascular diseases include:

Types of vessels

Vessels are central and peripheral.

Central vessels

Central vessels are divided into two types:

Heart vessels;
Brain vessels.

The continuous supply of blood and oxygen to the cerebral cortex and heart valves depends on them.

Central vascular diseases

Coronary heart disease is a failure in the proper functioning of blood vessels.

Symptoms of the disease:

Chest pain radiating to the shoulder blade or left arm, pain in the neck and back;
shortness of breath and difficulty or irregular breathing;
Rapid heartbeat, arrhythmia;
Discomfort in the heart area.

If you do not see a doctor in time, these symptoms may result in a heart attack. During the examination, the specialist will check your pulse, listen to your breathing and heartbeats, measure your body temperature, as well as blood and blood pressure. If there are any abnormalities in at least one of these indicators, then the doctor will give a referral for an electrocardiogram, blood tests from a vein, and only then will he make a diagnosis and prescribe recommendations and treatment.

Ischemic cerebrovascular disease most often develops due to atherosclerosis (chronic artery disease) and occurs in older people and the elderly.

Ischemic cerebrovascular disease

Symptoms:

Frequent headaches, dizziness;
Vision and hearing deteriorate;
Difficulty speaking;
Loss of balance and coordination (slips when walking), especially with sudden movements;
Memory impairment, absent-mindedness;
Frequent insomnia at night.

After such symptoms, a stroke may occur.

After suffering a stroke, the following consequences may occur:

Loss of consciousness (a person may fall into a coma for a long time);
Changes in sensitivity of the lower extremities and arms (paralysis);
Difficulty or confused speech;
Irritations associated with the psyche (apathy, depression).

We can only talk about the following cause-and-effect relationships:

Sudden jumps in blood pressure can lead to changes in the structures of the brain, which leads to the appearance of acute or subacute psychosis. Its main features are confusion and...

The progress of psychotic abnormalities of vascular origin is influenced by individual characteristics of the body, which have developed on the basis of hereditary and acquired properties, as well as general somatic factors.

The acute form of the disorder may occur due to lower blood pressure at night, which, in turn, provokes a lack of blood supply to the brain. The development of deviations is promoted by atherosclerotic damage to the heart vessels and various types of infectious diseases.

Mental disorder often occurs during a period of acute, so vascular psychosis is a common occurrence afterwards.

Features of the clinical picture

With this type of disorder, non-psychotic symptoms, intertwined with disorders of an organic nature, are combined with symptoms of a psychopathological type. The latter have mildly expressed neurological features.

Symptoms that make it possible to diagnose vascular psychosis at the initial stage of development:

Symptoms characteristic of mental disorders arise much later and manifest themselves as delusions, hallucinations, and a schizophrenic picture.

Diagnosis of the disease

At an early stage, when there are symptoms of a neurotic nature, vascular psychosis is diagnosed based on signs of hypertension, arteriosclerotic stigmas, and slight changes in the fundus.

Diagnosis is more difficult. It is not easy to distinguish from. Characteristic features of dementia are random deviations and flickering of the main signs in vascular disorders.

With age-related dementia, symptoms will only increase and no periods of stabilization can be expected. In addition, the onset of vascular psychosis is more acute and may be accompanied by increased confusion.

Treatment options

Treatment is best started with treatment of the underlying vascular disease that caused the psychosis.

Psychotropic medications will definitely be prescribed. Their choice is determined by the type of mental disorder. At the first stage of treatment, the following are prescribed: Rudotel and others. Propazine is usually prescribed (normal of this drug varies 25-75 mg/day), Rispolept in the form of drops.

If the patient has it, then atypical ones are prescribed, such as Remeron and others.

Treatment is not limited to the use of specialized products. The patient should take vitamins, restoratives, and medications intended to affect the higher mental functions of the brain (,).

The patient will have to give up smoking, alcohol, avoid overwork and emotional outbursts.

It is impossible to cure vascular psychosis or dementia. There is no chance for a person to recover completely, but you can try to raise your standard of living to the highest possible level.

Preventive measures

The prevention of mental disorders associated with dysfunction of the vascular system will be facilitated by:

timely diagnosed vascular disease;

establishing a constant and orderly daily routine;

preventing excessive loads;

giving up smoking, alcohol and other bad habits;

proper, balanced, dietary nutrition;

giving up a sedentary lifestyle;

physical therapy classes;

constant monitoring of blood pressure and taking measures to normalize it even with minor deviations from the norm.

The disorder never goes away without a trace. Modern medicine is not able to completely cure it; you can only take drugs that improve the blood supply to the brain, drugs that help strengthen memory, but in any case it will not be possible to completely get rid of all the symptoms. They will appear again at one time or another.

Persons suffering from vascular diseases may present a variety of complaints, which are caused by damage to both the vessels themselves and distal parts and organs (brain, heart, kidneys, liver, intestines, skeletal muscles, etc.). The main complaints include those that directly or indirectly indicate vascular damage:

Symptoms of vascular diseases - patient complaints

Complaints about various dysfunctions of distal parts and organs.

Complaints about local symptoms (localized) changes in color (pallor, redness, cyanosis), temperature (feeling of cold or heat) and trophism (cracks, erosions, ulcers, etc.) of the skin and mucous membranes.

Complaints about pathological pulsation of arteries, swelling and expansion (including varicose veins).

Complaints of asymmetric (local) lymphatic edema of the limbs and torso.

Complaints about violations of the integrity of the vascular wall - hematomas, “bruising” or pinpoint hemorrhagic rashes on the skin and mucous membranes; nasal, gingival, renal, uterine and other bleeding (see symptom complex of hemostasiopathies).

The main symptoms in patients with vascular diseases are often supplemented by general symptoms: weakness, increased fatigue, increased body temperature, neurovegetative disorders - irritability, sweating, etc. The main physical methods for studying peripheral vessels are their examination, palpation and auscultation.

Examination for vascular diseases

Examination of peripheral vessels

Examination of peripheral vessels is inseparable from a general examination of the skin and mucous membranes, neck, chest, abdomen and limbs. During the examination, you should pay attention to the presence of increased pulsation of some arteries, the appearance of pulsation where under normal conditions it is not visible. Sometimes the artery itself is visible, running shallowly and, due to increased pulsation, dilated and tortuous. The expansion of the veins and sometimes their pathological pulsation are also noted. You can often find focal dilatation of small peripheral vessels (telengiectasia) - many dark red vascular nodes.

With arterial sclerosis, when their elasticity is significantly reduced, each pulse wave, sharply increasing intra-arterial systolic pressure, forms such a blow to the wall of the arteries that it displaces it to the side. In such cases, increased pulsation and significant jerk-like lateral displacements of the arteries are visible in areas where these phenomena are usually invisible. This is especially clearly revealed when examining the area of the brachial artery, when increased pulsation of the subclavian and intercostal arteries is noticeable. The temporal artery is also clearly visible. The arteries are very tortuous. This is explained by the fact that, having lost elasticity, they lengthen under the influence of pulse impulses and take on a convoluted shape. Particular attention is paid to themselves, the increased pulsation of which is noticeable with their sclerosis, insufficiency of the aortic valves (“carotid dance”) and a decrease in the tone of the arterial wall.

Examination of veins when symptoms of disease appear

Inspection of veins for vascular diseases is carried out throughout the entire periphery of the body. Note dilation of the veins in the neck (with insufficiency of the right ventricle of the heart), local dilation of the veins as an expression of impaired blood outflow in this area (compression of the veins), dilation of the veins as an expression of the development of collateral circulation (dilation of the veins of the anterior abdominal wall with cirrhosis of the liver or thrombosis of the inferior vena cava ), as well as dilation of veins due to phlebitis or thrombophlebitis (especially on the lower extremities) in the form of varicose veins (twisting cords, plexuses and bulges). Examination establishes the exit of varicose nodes of hemorrhoidal veins through the anus.
Swelling with lymphostasis of the lower extremities is usually localized on the dorsum of the foot or in the lower third of the leg, is of a variable nature, increasing in the warm season, after physical activity and decreasing (up to complete disappearance) in the autumn-winter period, or after a long rest. The amount of edema during lymphostasis is influenced by a sedentary lifestyle, work associated with prolonged standing, nervous strain, etc.

Diseases of the heart and its blood vessels;

Diseases of the arteries and aorta (such as aneurysms, atherosclerosis, etc.);

Diseases associated with inflammation of the veins (thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency);

Damage mainly affects the entire cardiovascular system of the body (hypertension).

The main symptom of vascular and heart diseases is pain that occurs behind the sternum, or slightly to the left and radiates to the shoulder blade or shoulder. Such pain can occur suddenly, during physical activity, or even just at rest. Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, which indicates heart failure. It occurs both after physical exertion on the body (initial stage) and with minor exposure (next stage). Diseases of the heart and blood vessels also have symptoms such as irregular heartbeat (tachycardia or bardycardia), swelling in the legs and irregular heart rhythms.

Vascular diseases of the legs - symptoms and treatment

According to statistics, almost every fourth suffers from such a disease, and this particular disease is more common in women than in men. ((banner2-left)) If at first such a disease does not bring any inconvenience at first glance, then as it progresses, it can result in very unpleasant and severe vascular disease. The symptoms of different diseases of this kind are approximately the same:

painful heaviness and swelling of the legs;

frequent leg fatigue and cramps in the calf muscles;

external change in the appearance of veins: tortuosity, bulging, appearance of compactions;

pain that appears when touching the seals, and a slight increase in the temperature of the painful area of the veins.

Vascular diseases of the legs are varied. The most common disease is varicose veins. This is a very unpleasant and dangerous disease that occurs when the walls of the veins of the legs expand. Complications of varicose veins of the lower extremities are such life-threatening diseases as: rupture of a varicose node, thrombophlebitis, chronic venous insufficiency and the most dangerous stage of vascular disease of the legs - trophic ulcers.

Another common disease associated with the vessels of the legs is thrombophlebitis - inflammation that occurs in the vein, which leads to the formation of a blood clot. Mostly, blood clots occur in veins five times more often than in arteries. If treatment for venous insufficiency is started, the blood clot enters the veins and forms venous thrombosis. In turn, a blood clot that breaks away from the wall can cause a complication such as thromboembolism.

Diseases of the blood vessels of the head and brain. Ischemic cerebrovascular disease

Diseases associated with the vessels of the head occur quite often not only among older people, but also among young people. Cerebrovascular diseases are primarily associated with circulatory disorders and insufficient blood flow to the human brain. When treatment is started, vascular disease of the head can develop into a disease such as ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

At first, a person complains of headaches, memory loss and mild fatigue, although these signs already indicate that vascular disease is present. Its symptoms vary, depending on the stages of disease progression:

Stage 1 - characterized by headaches, high fatigue, heaviness of the head, dizziness, general weakness and poor sleep;

Stage 2 - headache attacks are very frequent, memory impairment, depression, irritation, dizziness develop;

Stage 3 - fainting, falling and epileptic attacks begin, patients cannot remember any dates in their lives and completely lose their professional skills.

And it is precisely at this stage of the development of cerebrovascular disease that strokes very often occur and the development of coronary vascular disease of the brain is quite possible.

Diseases of the blood vessels of the head most often occur in people who suffer from diseases such as atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension.

Atherosclerosis is a disease of the blood vessels of the head, which occurs due to lipid metabolism disorders. Patients with this disease have elevated levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoproteins. These substances form lipid stains, depositing the walls of blood vessels. Arterial hypertension is characterized by thickening of the walls of blood vessels, resulting in the formation of tortuosity and local narrowing.

Chronic ischemic cerebrovascular disease is a manifestation of a disease that first causes acute oxygen starvation of the brain and then disrupts its functions. This complication of cerebrovascular disease leads to the most dangerous ischemic stroke.

It should be noted that the appearance of spider veins is characteristic not only of the lower extremities. As a result, rosacea may develop. Vascular mesh on the face occurs in people with increased skin sensitivity. They are the ones who are more susceptible than others to temperature fluctuations, as well as the adverse effects of certain cosmetic preparations.

The first symptoms of rosacea are regularly occurring burning and itching. Later, irritation develops, usually in the forehead, nose or chin. As the disease progresses, symptoms become more pronounced and occur more frequently. In the next phase of the disease, intense redness develops on the skin and the formation
If early signs of vascular diseases occur, in order to prevent undesirable consequences, you should consult a specialist.