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Overview
This section discusses the the importance of cholesterol in relation
to the circulatory system
What is this disease known to the medical profession as peripheral
vascular disease, and how does it affect you? Peripheral means, in this
case, not the trunk of the body, but particularly the appendages - the
legs. Vascular means the arterial pathway along which the blood flows
and disease in this respect is an undesirable condition - not as you
well might think and infectious disorder.
When someone is unfortunate enough to develop this problem and is aware
of something wrong - what is that something which prompts him to seek
medical advice? Usually the symptoms he has is pain in the legs or thighs.
The explanation is "I can't walk as far as used to be able to do". "I
feel a discomfort in my legs, I have to stop and wait a while before
I can start walking again".
There is a good reason for the course of this problem. To explain this,
we have to know something of the body's anatomy and also to understand
how a compound named cholesterol is involved.
The circulation of the body is a complicated system, but we have only
to concentrate on one component - the arterial pathway. The arteries
penetrate all areas of the body as their function is to supply the pathway
along which oxygenated blood is carried to all working areas. Think
of it in this way - the arteries could be likened to a tube underground
transport system, the arteries are tube like, they are resilient and
the walls consist of several layers, one of which is muscular. The blood,
oxygenated during the passage through the lungs, conveys the oxygen
to all parts, particularly the muscles as they are large consumers of
oxygen. Building materials and cholesterol material is transported along
the arteries by the blood. Cholesterol is manufactured in the liver.
Some foods contain cholesterol such as eggs and liver and if those are
eaten in quantity, too much cholesterol will be carried in the blood
stream. This results in a build up in the walls of the arteries. The
fatty material is named Athcroma and the conditions produced is called
Arteriosclerosis, which means abnormal hardening of the arteries due
to these deposits. Depending upon the degree of blockage, so the symptoms
may be mild or severe.
Symptoms
Leg pain is the most notable and this leads most people to seek medical
advice. Other symptoms are:
sensation of cold in the feet
the skin may change colour - becoming dusky
possible ulcer formation. This is a definite reason to seek advice.
The doctor, on hearing about these signs and symptoms will immediately
take action. His enquiries will primarily centre on the cardio vascular
system. He will take blood pressure reading in the arm and perhaps the
lower leg. These readings will be repeated either later at the same
examination or at some arranged time in the future. The pulses will
be checked as usual at the wrist and the various points in the lower
limbs. He will be questioned about his smoking habits and nicotine is
a potent cause of this problem. He will be questioned about his diet,
eggs and egg based meals in an attempt to estimate his cholesterol intake.
He will be asked about his family history as to whether anyone has or
has had similar symptoms, as some families have a genetic pre-disposition
to cholesterolaemia.
Further tests will be called for and will probably be performed in a
cardiological outpatient department.
If the diagnosis is confirmed the treatment depends entirely upon the
extent of the problem, as the type of person prone as having this condition
is usually male, but is now being noted that females are rapidly catching
up and will probably be aged between 50 and 65 years and overweight
- advice will be given regarding nicotine and dietary habits.
If he has the condition because of genetic inheritance, he will be placed
on medication. All will be advised to give up smoking and they will
receive specific dietary advice.
More serious cases will be seen by a cardio vascular surgeon who will
arrange invasive investigation. That means that he may have dye injected
into his circulation which will be monitored by xrays to specifically
outline any blockage in the arterial system. Blood and urine tests will
be make to determine if the patient has diabetes. They will also assess
whether or not there is disease in any other part of the circulation,
particularly in the coronary system, which is specific to the heart.
Following all this, surgery may be advised.
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