X-ray examination, in addition to the above-mentioned manifestations of aortic atherosclerosis, selective digital subtraction and arteriography can show the atherosclerosis of coronary artery, cerebral artery, renal artery, mesenteric artery and limbs, leading to lumen stenosis or aneurysm lesions, as well as the scope and degree of the lesions, which is helpful to determine the indications and surgical methods of interventional and surgical treatment.
Color Doppler ultrasound examination is helpful to diagnose the blood flow and vascular diseases of carotid artery, limb artery and renal artery. Impedance cardiogram, EEG, X-ray, CT and MRI are helpful to judge the function of cerebral artery and the pathological changes of brain tissue.
The characteristic changes of radionuclide cardiac examination, echocardiography, electrocardiogram and their compound tests are helpful to the diagnosis of coronary heart disease. Angiography, including coronary angiography, is the most direct method to diagnose atherosclerosis. Intravascular ultrasound imaging and angioscopy are new examination methods to assist intravascular interventional therapy.
2 Symptoms of arteriosclerosis When arteriosclerosis occurs in different organs, it can show different symptoms. Generally speaking, mental and physical decline may occur. For example, patients with aortic atherosclerosis may show increased systolic blood pressure and widened pulse pressure, and the most important consequence is the formation of aortic aneurysm. For example, when coronary artery atherosclerosis occurs, it can be manifested as coronary heart disease, leading to arrhythmia, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, heart failure and even sudden death. When arteriosclerosis is manifested as cerebrovascular disease, it can invade internal carotid artery, basilar artery and carotid artery and cause cerebrovascular accidents, such as stroke, cerebral ischemia and vascular dementia. Renal atherosclerosis can cause intractable hypertension, and long-term renal ischemia can also lead to renal atrophy, thus developing into renal failure. Mesenteric atherosclerosis can lead to indigestion, increased intestinal tension, constipation and abdominal pain. When thrombosis occurs, severe abdominal pain, abdominal distension and fever may occur. Intestinal wall necrosis can cause bloody stool, paralytic intestinal obstruction and shock. Atherosclerosis can also occur in arteries of limbs, mainly lower limbs. Due to the obstacle of blood supply, the lower limbs are cold and numb, which is a typical intermittent claudication.
What diseases can arteriosclerosis cause? Atherosclerosis refers to an inflammatory lesion of arteries, which can thicken and harden the arterial wall, lose elasticity and narrow the lumen. Atherosclerosis is a vascular disease that occurs with age. Its law generally occurs in adolescence. Arteriosclerosis of arterioles in the whole body reduces the blood of many organs, causing organ ischemia and a series of structural and functional damage, especially to the heart, kidney and brain.
Renal arteriosclerotic stenosis can make some glomeruli glassy and fibrotic, that is, nephrosclerosis, and finally gradually develop into uremia. Cerebral arteriosclerosis usually coexists with arteriosclerosis of cerebral arteries. Mild lesions can be manifested as dizziness and memory loss, and severe ones can appear cerebral thrombosis, cerebral hemorrhage and encephalomalacia. Arterioles with systemic arteriosclerosis can increase peripheral vascular resistance, ventricular ejection resistance and left ventricular load, thus causing myocardial hypertrophy, secondary progression and left ventricular enlargement, and finally leading to congestive heart failure.
How to improve atherosclerosis should first actively prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis. If it has happened, it should be actively treated to prevent the disease from developing and strive for reversal, mainly including the following aspects.
1. General preventive measures, mainly including health education, patiently persuading patients to accept long-term defensive measures.
2. Reasonable diet, control the total calories in the diet, so as to maintain normal weight circumference. People over 40 should prevent from getting fat. Those who are overweight should reduce their daily total calories, eat a low-fat and low-cholesterol diet, limit the intake of alcohol, sucrose and sugary foods, and advocate a light diet. Over 40 years old, even if there is no dyslipidemia, avoid using too much animal fat and foods with high cholesterol.
3. Patients who have been diagnosed with atherosclerosis are prohibited from overeating, so as not to induce angina pectoris or myocardial infarction.
4. Patients should take part in certain physical labor and sports activities, arrange their work and life reasonably, and advocate no smoking or drinking. Actively control some risk factors related to atherosclerosis such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and obesity.
5. If the patient still can't reach the standard through diet and exercise, it is recommended to take lipid-lowering drugs, such as statins. Some patients need to take antiplatelet drugs to prevent thrombosis.