Ischemia feet

Critical leg ischemia - a blockage of the arteries in the legs, which leads to a drastic restriction of blood flow in them. This dangerous form of peripheral arterial disease, which, fortunately, quite rare.

The most characteristic symptom of critical ischemia of the legs is severe pain in the legs Pain in the legs - from which they arise? Which the patient senses, even in a state of rest, and sores that do not heal for a prolonged time. Ischemia of the foot can lead to ulcers, because of which the patient becomes painful to walk, and this, of course, entails a significant reduction in quality of life. Other symptoms of critical limb ischemia Lower limb ischemia - what is the prognosis of the disease   may be pain or numbness in the feet, shiny, smooth and very dry skin Dry skin: care and treatment   on the legs and feet, thickening of the toenails, absent or very weak palpable pulse in the legs or feet, and, in advanced cases, gangrene. If untreated, leg ischemia may require amputation of the limb, but is now resorting to such measures rarely.

The basis for the cause of ischemic legs and other peripheral arterial disease is atherosclerosis and narrowing of the arteries caused by them. Among the factors that increase the likelihood of this type of disease ischemia - older age, smoking, diabetes, overweight or obese, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, family history of atherosclerosis.

Critical ischemia of the legs - this is a dangerous condition in which it is necessary as soon as possible to restore blood flow to the affected areas. The main task of the doctors in this case is a violation of limb salvage. As a rule, for the resumption of blood flow in the arteries where plaques are formed, use one of the following methods:

• Angioplasty. Through a small incision in the groin to a blocked artery was small hollow ball made of durable material. When he is in the right place, it is filled with brine, it increases blood flow in the artery and resumes;
• The operation, in which the stent inside the artery - a special metal mesh. It is usually put after the artery is expanded using the stent;
• Laser therapy - complete or partial removal of an atherosclerotic plaque with a laser.

In addition, it may be necessary special treatment of ulcers; usually good enough care of the affected skin, but in some cases require surgery.

Ischemia of the sciatic nerve

Compression-ischemic neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, or the sciatic nerve ischemia - a painful disorder that may be caused various injuries (including sports), displacement of the intervertebral disc, and, in rare cases, pregnancy and tumors. The sciatic nerve is formed nerve roots exiting the spinal cord in the lumbar region. It passes through the buttock and the entire back side of the leg. Therefore, when there is a pinched sciatic nerve and blood supply to it is limited, the patient may feel pain along the nerve - from the waist and ending ankle and foot. The symptoms of ischemia of this type can also be a weakness, tingling and numbness legs.

Pain and other symptoms are often more severe if the person for a long time sitting or standing, as well as performing any movements, in which the spine is bent. Typically, such ischemia gradually goes away on its own; the patient can relieve the symptoms by means of OTC analgesics and warm compresses. In some cases, treatment may need physical therapy, muscle relaxants or receiving corticosteroids, and even surgery.

Spinal cord ischemia

Spinal cord ischemia (infarction or ischemic stroke Stroke - a serious brain injury   spinal cord) - a condition in which the blood circulation in the spinal cord. One-third of the spinal cord blood-feeding posterior spinal artery and two thirds - anterior spinal artery. Each of the anterior spinal artery, in turn, nourishes a few arteries, located in the cervical spine, and only one major artery (the artery Adamkevicha) in the thoracic spine. These artery blood flows directly from the aorta. Since the sources of blood supply at the anterior spinal artery in some places quite a few, specific areas of the spinal cord are particularly vulnerable to ischemia. Damage to the aorta or arteries feeding the anterior spinal artery, leading to ischemia of the spinal cord were significantly more likely than damage to other arteries feeding it.

Typical symptoms of spinal cord ischemia - a sudden, severe back pain, weakness, decrease or loss of sensation in the back. Most patients with this disorder can not properly bend back, and their mobility is greatly reduced.

Treatment is most effective if it is possible to identify and eliminate the cause of ischemia, but many cases can only supportive treatment (primarily relief of symptoms).

It turns out that in our time have heart disease, the causes of which are not precisely known until now. It is believed that some of them are associated with viral diseases, other - with disorders of the body's defenses, and others have a lot of reasons. Nevertheless, it is not all clear in their origin. Cardiomyopathy include diseases with damage to heart muscle of unknown origin. These diseases are not associated with inflammation, tumor, angina or myocardial infarction Myocardial infarction - the most formidable diagnosis , Increased blood pressure. They are manifested by a sharp increase in the size of the heart, heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias.

The heart muscle in cardiomyopathies is a violation of metabolic processes, drying of muscle fibers (myocardial) and their replacement by connective tissue fibers (myocardiosclerosis).

Cardiomyopathy is divided into the following forms:

• Dilated (congestive) cardiomyopathy: a sharp increase in cavities of the heart with a relatively thin its walls;
• hypertrophic (increase of the cardiac muscle) cardiomyopathy, which may be symmetrical (extends almost the entire heart muscle) and asymmetric when myocardium expands only at the location of the process;
• restrictive cardiomyopathy - severely restricting the extensibility of the ventricles during diastole (ventricular filling with blood).

Causes of cardiomyopathy is not fully understood. Dilated cardiomyopathy, many associated with previous viral diseases (influenza, herpes simplex Herpes simplex - in fact, not so simple   etc.). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is often hereditary origin, restrictive can have many causes, including some of the diseases caused by protozoa.

As shown dilated cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy is usually first detected after 30-35 years. But perhaps its development in the young (including children) and old age. During this form of the disease can be slowly and rapidly progressive. With a slow course of the disease for a long time seen only by the increase of the heart and ECG changes. Only a few years after the onset of the heart muscle does not begin to cope with stress and there are signs of heart failure.

With the rapid current of the signs of heart failure appear within a few months after the first complaint. In the absence of proper treatment of such patients die within the first few years.

The disease is manifested signs of heart failure (shortness of breath, edema), disturbances of heart rhythm (more often - atrial fibrillation, when the heart beats irregularly and often) and thromboembolism (blood clots detachments and obstruction of the arteries). Patients complain expressed general weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations, asthma attacks at night.

How does hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can occur at any age, including children. Some of its forms are asymptomatic, while others - with severe manifestations.

Patients usually complain of shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue. First, as a rule, there are a variety of cardiac arrhythmias, which can progress and cause of death of patients before the onset of symptoms of heart failure.

If the increase in the amount of heart muscle squeezes the aorta (the largest artery through which blood is ejected from the left ventricle into the systemic circulation), the patients with early there are complaints of shortness of breath, pain in the heart, fainting and dizziness Dizziness - if the ground is slipping from under his feet Not always associated with physical activity.

How does restrictive cardiomyopathy

With restrictive cardiomyopathy patients complain of edema (first on his feet, and then all over the body), the increase in the abdomen (swollen and increased liver and spleen, free fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity - ascites).

Diagnosis of cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy should be suspected in all cases when detected an increase in the heart, especially if it is combined with arrhythmias and signs of heart failure. To confirm the diagnosis performed electrocardiography, radiographic and ultrasound (echocardiography) studies of the heart. There are also laboratory studies of blood to avoid inflammatory and ischemic heart disease.

Treatment of cardiomyopathies

If, after examination of the patient was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, the primary course of treatment with the selection of individual treatment is performed in the cardiology department of the hospital. In the future, if not growing rhythm disorders and heart failure, the patient can be treated in the clinic.

Treatment is focused on eliminating or reducing the degree of heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. When thromboembolic complications of prescribed drugs that reduce blood viscosity and its propensity to thrombosis.

When dilated cardiomyopathy initially appointed by a long (about one month), bed rest, and then the patient should reduce physical exertion to a minimum. Required appointed diuretics to remove excess fluid How to withdraw excess fluid from the body - all sorts of ways   excreted. With its principal place of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy takes antiarrhythmic therapy.

Stenosis (squeezing) of the aorta of the heart muscle, sometimes surgical treatment, which consists in the resection of the increase in the volume of the heart muscle.

Cardiomyopathy - a serious disease that requires thorough examination and a permanent cure.

  Galina Romanenko