Impaired blood circulation in the extremities - causes and signs of impaired blood circulation in the extremities

There are the following types of circulatory disorders of the extremities:

1. Arterial insufficiency - develops as a result of obstruction of the arteries of the lower extremities:

• Acute - embolism or thrombosis of the main arteries;
• Chronic - obliterating atherosclerosis or vascular endarteritis.

• Acute - acute thrombosis of the main veins;
• Chronic - develops with varicose veins of the lower extremities, post-thrombophlebitic syndrome.

Causes

There are many reasons for the occurrence of circulatory disorders in the extremities, the disease can be caused by:

• damage to the arteries (their peripheral sections);
• narrowing of blood vessels due to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques;
• inflammation of the arterial walls;
• artery spasm.

Most often, circulatory disorders in the extremities are provoked by the following diseases:

• atherosclerosis of the lower extremities of obliterating origin;
• obliterating endarteritis;
• damage to blood vessels due to diabetes mellitus;
• varicose veins ( thrombophlebitis), which can disrupt the outflow of blood, greatly weaken the walls of all vessels.

Risk factors leading to the development of disorders in the blood circulation of the extremities include:

• history of diabetes;
• bad habits;
• high cholesterol and lipid imbalance;
• high blood pressure;
• obesity;
• leading an inactive and sedentary lifestyle.

Symptoms

It is important to know that in some rare cases this pathology of the extremities can occur without pronounced symptoms. The most common symptom of this disease is intermittent claudication. This symptom is expressed by discomfort or pain in the lower limbs, arising during walking and disappearing when it is suddenly stopped. Sometimes the patient may not feel severe pain, but at the same time, he may be greatly bothered by cramps, a feeling of heaviness or severe weakness in the lower limbs. Intermittent claudication is more pronounced when climbing up. As the disease progresses, intermittent claudication may occur even when the distance decreases.

A critical degree of lower limb ischemia may occur with severe disturbances in the blood supply to the tissues of the lower limbs. As a result, the tissues do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients, which is why sharp pain sensations with pronounced intensity may occur, their localization is noted from the top of the thigh to the very tips of the fingers, even at rest, and intensifies with minimal physical exertion on the patient's lower limbs.

In the presence of a severe degree of ischemia of the upper limbs, the following may be noted:

• dryness of the skin;
• a strong decrease in the temperature of the limbs;
• paleness;
• the occurrence of a pronounced painful trophic ulcer.

In the absence of proper treatment, necrosis of soft tissues and gangrene of the upper limbs cannot be avoided.

Diagnostics

In order to diagnose circulatory disorders of the limbs, it is necessary to conduct certain laboratory and instrumental studies. For a correct diagnosis, the doctor pays considerable attention to the presence of any vascular diseases and the presence of characteristic complaints of the patient. This pathology can be accurately diagnosed using the following laboratory research methods:

• general blood test, blood sugar test;
• coagulogram;
• lipidogram.

A vascular surgeon resorts to such instrumental methods as:

• MRI of the whole body;
• angiography of the extremities;
• ultrasound Dopplerography.

The patient must be examined by an ophthalmologist, who will determine the symptoms of angiopathy and conduct a neuropsychological study in order to identify disorders.

Treatment

Treatment methods should be selected in accordance with what the source is that provoked this disorder. Treatment should be comprehensive, however, before choosing a treatment method, it is necessary to conduct some research. Therapy for this disease is mainly carried out with drugs that are aimed at increasing vascular tone and reducing capillary fragility, as well as:

• homeopathic drugs;
• phlebotropic agents;
• lymphotonics;
• angioprotectors;
• venotonics;
• drugs to improve blood circulation.

For the purpose of additional treatment, therapy is carried out with anticoagulants and anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs that can correct metabolic exchange, hirudotherapy is used.

Prevention

General methods aimed at preventing circulatory disorders of the extremities are:

• physical exercises;
• use of drugs that promote vasodilation;
• carrying out many thermal procedures (it is recommended to take hot baths, showers);
• regularly carry out general warming of the body. The main rule for warming is its long duration, no less than 20-25 minutes. This helps to open deep blood vessels, but this procedure should not be intense, since there is a risk that the load on the heart muscles can greatly increase.