The connection between the brain and the heart is mainly through the large arteries in the neck, and whether the blood in the large arteries is smooth determines whether the human brain can obtain sufficient blood and nutrients, which is also the key to the stable operation of the brain.
Atherosclerosis in the neck reduces the flow and velocity of blood in the brain, and blood forms plaques in the inner layers of blood vessels that can become clogged into the blood vessels once they loosen and fall off.
The poor flow of blood to the brain can lead to a series of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral embolism and cerebral hemorrhage.
Many patients only find out that they have carotid plaque when they do a general health examination, and if the pre-artery is not observed in time, many symptoms will be triggered.
Statins are not available to everyone, and whether statin intervention is needed should be judged to meet the following conditions:
1. Statins should be received immediately if coronary heart disease or ischemic stroke has been diagnosed, regardless of whether the carotid artery has obvious stenosis**;
2. No coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke, but diabetes mellitus with hypertension;
3. Diabetic patients aged 40 years with LDL-C 26 mmol/l；
4. Chronic kidney disease (stage III or IV) and LDL-C 26mmol/l；
5. Presence of hypertension or other risk factors, and LDL-C 34 mmol/l。
The middle-aged man suffered from carotid plaque, and after taking statins for 5 years, how was his body?
Five years ago, Mr. Fang had been tossing and turning because of the strong echo plaque in the physical examination report of the unit, and from the moment he got the report, he looked up a lot of information on the Internet, some said that the plaque would fall off would cause cerebral infarction, and some said that it would cause sudden death ...... occasionally, no matter which one of them is read, it will only make him more anxious.
So he chose to take leave on weekdays to go to the hospital for treatment, and after basic blood and color ultrasound examinations, the results showed that Fang Li's blood pressure was 142 85mmHg and LDL cholesterol was 39 mmol l, total cholesterol 62mmol L, all of which are slightly high.
His bilateral carotid arteries did have obvious atherosclerosis, and there was a plaque about 6mm 1mm in size attached to the left bifurcation point.
The doctor prescribed Mr. Fang a statin medication and asked him to take it for a long time, the statin drug has a significant effect in stabilizing plaques and lowering blood lipids, but it can also cause liver damage.
In the latest carotid ultrasound results, Mr. Fang's hypoechoic plaque has been transformed into hyperechoic plaque, which is undoubtedly the best confirmation of the effectiveness of Mr. Fang's **, and also highlights the remarkable effect of the ** protocol he followed under the guidance of the doctor.
But why do some people also keep taking statins, but in the end the effect is not good?
Personal physical condition: First of all, everyone's physical condition and reaction are different, and even if the same statin is taken, different people may have different effects.
Dosage: The dosage of statin should be determined according to the individual's situation and the doctor's recommendation, if the dose is insufficient, it may not achieve the desired effect, on the contrary, if the dose is too high, it may cause *** and even cause damage to the liver and muscles.
How to take it: Statins should be taken after meals, as certain ingredients in food may affect their absorption, and in addition, certain medications may interfere with the effects of statins, so you need to inform your doctor of all the medications you are taking.
Lifestyle habits and diet: If you smoke regularly, drink alcohol, or eat an unreasonable diet, it may affect the effectiveness of statins. Therefore, while taking statins, it is necessary to maintain a good lifestyle and diet.
Finally, it should be noted that statins are not a panacea and cannot ** all atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases, so when taking statins, you need to determine the dosage and method of taking it according to your doctor's advice, and pay attention to maintaining good lifestyle habits and diet.
How is carotid plaque**
- Medications**
For smaller carotid plaques, medications** are usually used. According to the specific situation of the patient, the doctor will prescribe corresponding drugs, such as antiplatelet drugs, lipid-lowering drugs, etc. These medications can help stabilize the plaque, prevent it from growing further, and reduce the risk of blood clots.
- Surgery**
For larger carotid plaques, surgery** may be required, including carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS).
CEA is a method of surgically cutting the carotid artery to remove plaque and repair the blood vessel, and CAS is a method of implanting a stent into the carotid artery stenosis site through a catheter to widen the blood vessel and reduce thrombosis.
- General**
No matter what method is used, patients need to maintain good lifestyle habits, such as low-salt, low-fat diet, appropriate exercise, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, etc., at the same time, patients need to receive regular follow-up and examination by doctors in order to adjust the ** plan in time.
In short, the best method of carotid plaque needs to be selected according to the specific situation of the patient, and the patient should actively cooperate with the doctor's advice and maintain good lifestyle habits to reduce the risk of thrombosis and protect their health.