Acıbadem Taksim Hospital Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist Assoc. Dr. Macit Bitargil stated that vascular occlusion, which is more common in men than women, is a progressive disease and said: If not, it can cause serious problems. It can make the person unable to walk due to severe pain in the legs, as well as lead to amputation of the leg and being bedridden in the last stages.
8 FACTORS CAUSED BY VESSEL OCCLUSION IN THE LEG!
SMOKING USE
Smoking causes a hardening of the arteries called ‘atherosclerosis’, which narrows and clogs the vessel over time. Smoking accounts for almost half of all atherosclerosis diseases. Moreover, not only smoking, but also being in a smoking place and being exposed to smoke increases the risk of atherosclerosis. Since smoking is among the controllable risk factors, giving up this habit as soon as possible plays a very important role in reducing the risk.
inactivity and excess weight
Especially with the increase in the use of technology in recent years, inactivity is a big problem. As inactivity increases, weight gain increases, and as weight gains, the desire to move decreases over time. Emphasizing that this vicious circle has begun to seriously threaten our health, Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist Assoc. Dr. Macit Bitargil “Inactivity and uncontrolled weight gain are also important risk factors for vascular occlusion. About 3 million people in the world die every year due to sedentary lifestyles. In order to prevent undesirable effects, it is of great importance not to go below 5000 steps a day and to exercise regularly for 40-50 minutes 3-4 times a week.
HIGH CHOLESTEROL (FAT NUTRITION)
Cholesterol and triglycerides are fatty substances, and when they are found in excess in the body, they can accumulate around the vessels with various interactions and cause vascular occlusion. Assoc. Dr. Macit Bitargil said, “LDL is known as bad cholesterol and HDL is known as good cholesterol. Because LDL is the molecule that carries cholesterol to the blood vessels. The molecule that carries and removes cholesterol in the blood is HDL. High cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL levels in the blood are like alarm bells. It should be reduced by intervention with the appropriate diet or medication,” he warns. Stating that HDL levels should not be low, Assoc. Dr. Macit Bitargil emphasizes that doing sports and a healthy diet are essential for this.
HYPERTENSION
While our heart pumps an average of 5 liters of blood per minute to our body, normal blood pressure should be 120/80 mmHg. At high pressures above this level, the cells in the vessel begin to be damaged, and if not intervened at the right time, narrowing and occlusion of the vessels become inevitable. Assoc. Dr. Macit Bitargil said, “Therefore, it is important to have our blood pressure checked at regular intervals and to have an awareness about it. With the right dietary recommendations, avoiding salty diet, doing sports, losing weight and using medication if necessary are the cornerstones of treatment.
DIABETES
Vascular occlusion can also be seen in approximately 20-30% of diabetic patients. Uncontrolled blood sugar can lead to vascular occlusion by causing problems in the lumen of the vessel over time. Noting that non-healing wounds can be opened on the legs due to the decrease in blood flow and the effects of diabetes, Assoc. Dr. Macit Bitargil warns, “It is very important for the health of the diabetic patients to use the medications given to them by the doctor properly, not to neglect their blood sugar control and to follow the appropriate dietary recommendations.”
advanced age
Studies show that the risk of atherosclerosis has doubled in the past 10 years. Especially after the age of 50, minimizing controllable risk factors such as smoking, fatty diet, excess weight gain, and inactivity and having vascular health checked at regular intervals are of great importance in reducing the risk.
GENETIC DISEASES
Stating that some patients may have unexpected problems with vascular occlusion at a young age, Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist Assoc. Dr. Macit Bitargil says: “Unexpected plugs can occur in the vessels in diseases that can cause blood clotting, such as familial cholesterol diseases, Factor V leiden mutation, antithrombin 3, protein C, S disorders. Diagnosis can be made with some simple genetic tests and blood tests, and in these patients, the disease can be controlled in the early stages with appropriate medical treatment and anticoagulant treatments.
Vascular Inflammation (VASCULITER)
Many vascular inflammation problems such as Burger’s disease, Kawassaki’s disease and Behçet’s disease are encountered. Assoc. Dr. Macit Bitargil states that early diagnosis and treatment is very important in vasculitides, which can cause serious problems and occlusions in small, medium or large vessels in the body at a young age, and says that if treatment is not done, the loss of the affected limb and organ and serious life risks will occur.