Atherosclerosis Of The Brachiocephalic Arteries - Symptoms And Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Atherosclerosis of the brachiocephalic arteries

Content:

• What is atherosclerosis of the brachiocephalic arteries?
• Disease symptoms
• Causes of the disease
• Diagnostics
• Treatment of atherosclerosis of the brachiocephalic arteries

What is atherosclerosis of the brachiocephalic arteries?

Atherosclerosis of the brachiocephalic arteries is the formation of plaques or atheromas in the intima of the brachycephalic trunk. It is a branch of the aorta and is one of the large major vessels with branches into three arteries: the right vertebral, right subclavian and right carotid.

The danger of atherosclerotic plaque formation in the cavity of the brachiocephalic arteries is that the risk of developing strokes increases as a result of impaired blood circulation in the brain. This is due to the fact that it is the brachiocephalic artery, together with the common carotid and a branch of the left subclavian artery, that are responsible for its blood supply, forming the so-called circle of Willis. If the blood flow through at least one of the arteries is obstructed, it disrupts the entire system and negatively affects the functioning of the brain. If for certain structures, for example, bone tissue, a violation of the blood supply is a relatively tolerable situation, then the human brain may not tolerate such a pathological process.

According to statistical data, it is the atherosclerosis of large vessels supplying the brain that in 90% of cases is the cause of its ischemic damage. In addition, according to the WHO, practically every person who has crossed the 55-year-old line shows signs of atherosclerotic lesions of the brachiocephalic arteries, according to the results of an echogram. The pathological process manifests itself, as a rule, after 40 years.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis of the brachiocephalic arteries

The danger of atherosclerosis of the brachiocephalic arteries is that in 50% of cases, the disease does not manifest itself in any way and a stroke develops unexpectedly for a person.

Among the symptoms that can be noticed:

• Recurrent dizziness and headaches of unexplained etiology. Moreover, the head starts spinning while a person makes an attempt to make sudden movements or when blood pressure drops.
• Unstable emotional state: increased psychological excitability or the development of depression.
• Disturbances from thought processes: decreased attention, memory.

• The occurrence of light-headedness or fainting.
• Intermittent tinnitus.
• Decreased vision, the appearance of dots and flashes before the eyes.
• Decreased ability to work against the background of increased fatigue.
• Constantly cold extremities, regardless of the ambient temperature and their short-term numbness.

If a person does not have a history of diseases leading to the development of such symptoms, then it is necessary to consult a doctor and diagnose the brachiocephalic arteries.

Causes of the disease

Among the reasons leading to the development of the disease are:

• Bad habits, in particular, smoking, which leads to metabolic disorders, decreased elasticity of blood vessels, increased blood pressure.
• Hypertension of the primary or secondary type.
• An increase in blood cholesterol levels, which is associated not only with poor nutrition, but also with diseases of the internal organs, a sedentary lifestyle, etc.
• Taking hormonal contraceptives.
• Certain diseases of the immune system, diabetes mellitus, any metabolic disorders in the body.
• Increase in body weight.

All these reasons are provocative factors that can cause the disease.

Diagnostics

Before proceeding with the treatment of atherosclerosis of the brachiocephalic arteries, it is necessary to determine the degree of closure of the lumen, as well as the rate of blood circulation, both before and after the problem area. The main diagnostic method used to achieve these goals is triplex scanning of the arteries. That is, the usual ultrasound examination in this case is supplemented by color Doppler radiation. Scanning makes it possible to assess the condition of the arteries of the cervical spine, which carry blood to the brain.

If necessary, the diagnosis of atherosclerosis of the brachiocephalic arteries can be expanded by such research methods as: duplex scanning, magnetic resonance angiography.

Diagnosis of pathology is not difficult due to modern equipment that allows you to view each vessel and identify the disease at the initial stage of its development.

Treatment of atherosclerosis of the brachiocephalic arteries

Once the disease has been diagnosed, the doctor decides which treatment is appropriate for each individual patient.

Drug treatment

When there is no need for an operation, the patient is registered with a neuropathologist and drug regulation of the condition is carried out. Anticoagulants are mandatory: aspirin or clopidogel, which are blood thinners, which in turn reduces the risk of thrombosis. The patient will need to take these medications for life, as well as regularly donate blood to determine the level of cholesterol.

In addition, the doctor may recommend drugs that improve blood flow, relieve spasms and dilate blood vessels, among them: Cavinton, Courantil, Actovegin.

Statins and fibrates are prescribed only by a doctor, after thorough diagnosis and under the direct supervision of the attending doctor, since statins have many contraindications and side effects. Ezetrol, evolocumab and alirocumab are among the modern cholesterol-lowering drugs. In addition to these, omega-3 supplements are often prescribed.

The patient will need to revise his own diet, excluding fatty and fried foods from it. The Mediterranean diet is especially recommended, which reduces the risk of complications by 50%.

Read more: Drugs for the treatment of atherosclerosis

In addition, there are herbal remedies for atherosclerosis that have been proven to be effective. These include: Inflaminate, Nattokinase, Revight Garlic Pearls, Ravisol - more about them is described here

Surgery

Surgical intervention is advisable if there is a real risk of stroke, and the vessel lumen is blocked by more than 50%.

The doctor chooses one of the methods of surgical impact on the affected artery:

• Open-type operation with removal of the pathological area, its further prosthetics or suturing.
• Stenting of the problematic area of the artery or endovascular intervention. This method is the least traumatic and most modern.
• An operation called endarterectomy is to remove plaque from a vessel and restore its integrity.

The author of the article: Volkov Dmitry Sergeevich | c. m. n. surgeon, phlebologist

Education: Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry (1996). In 2003 he received a diploma from the Educational and Scientific Medical Center of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation.