These symptoms indicate calcification of the abdominal artery

Calcification of the abdominal artery is often asymptomatic for a very long time. The abdominal aorta has a very large diameter, therefore small calcifications reduce the blood flow only very slightly, so there are no symptoms. Symptoms of a lack of blood flow can only occur in the case of heavy deposits and a significant restriction of the blood flow.

These can affect the legs, for example, and usually the first symptoms occur when running because the muscles are not sufficiently supplied with oxygen. Organs such as the kidneys can also suffer from a lack of blood circulation, resulting in blood pressure derailments and malfunctions in the excretion of urine. In most cases, calcifications of the abdominal artery are accompanied by calcifications of other vessels.

The heart, for example, can be affected, so that a heart attack or pressure on the chest during physical exertion can also be an indication of calcification of the abdominal aorta. This topic may also be of interest to you:

Symptoms of arteriosclerosis

Pain in the abdominal artery is not normally caused by calcification. Rather, pain in other parts of the body is caused by a lack of blood circulation.For example, the legs ache during physical exertion.

Pain in the abdominal aorta or abdominal cavity is indicative of the development of an aortic aneurysm, i.e. a bulging of the abdominal artery. This can be a complication of calcification of the vessel walls. In the worst case, the wall of the abdominal aorta may tear.

However, this only happens in an extremely advanced stage of the disease. The strongest pain in the abdominal aorta occurs, which can be projected onto the abdomen or back. If the defect in the vessel wall is large, affected individuals can bleed to death within a few minutes.

How to treat the calcification of the abdominal aorta

Calcification of the abdominal artery is usually treated conservatively, i.e. non-surgically. Initially, one even tries a therapy without medication. However, this requires a comprehensive change in lifestyle.

Harmful substances such as alcohol and nicotine must be completely avoided. In addition, exercise must be integrated into everyday life. At least 150 minutes of physical activity per week is a guideline value that should be achieved.

The diet must also be changed. A lot of fruit and vegetables should be consumed. One should avoid particularly fatty foods, especially those that contain “bad” fats (LDL).

On the other hand, one should eat more “good” fats (HDL), which are contained in nuts and fish, for example. Sweet foods with a lot of sugar are also harmful. If this change in lifestyle does not succeed, an additional drug therapy can be administered.

This consists of adjusting the blood pressure, and if the blood fat level is high, cholesterol-lowering drugs must be taken. If the person concerned is also suffering from diabetes, this must be adjusted as well as possible using antidiabetics. Normally, a minimally invasive procedure is initially used during surgery.

In this procedure, a so-called stent, i.e. a wire mesh is advanced along a long wire over the inguinal artery and into the abdominal artery. There the calcification is removed as far as possible and the stent is inserted in the affected part of the abdominal aorta. If the calcification is too large, or if outgoing vessels of the abdominal artery such as the renal arteries are also affected, a major operation must be considered.

This involves replacing the original vessel with a prosthesis. This operation can also be performed using the inlay technique, in which the abdominal artery is cut open, the prosthesis is inserted and the artery is then sutured back over the prosthesis. An operation is often initially not possible if the abdominal aorta is calcified.

The disease is usually treatable for years or even decades with lifestyle adjustments and medication. However, if the calcification is so severe that serious circulatory problems occur, surgery should be performed. This can be done minimally invasive, i.e. without large abdominal incisions, to remove some of the calcifications.

To stabilize the abdominal aorta, a stent, a type of wire mesh, is then usually inserted. Larger operations, in which the affected part of the abdominal aorta has to be replaced by a prosthesis, are only necessary in very advanced stages. They are used when stent implantation is not sufficiently promising.

The diet for vascular calcifications is largely based on the types of fat that someone eats. Good cholesterol has a protective effect on the vessels, whereas bad cholesterol promotes the development of arteriosclerosis. One should take therefore as little as possible saturated fatty acids to itself.

These are contained above all in animal fats, thus in meat. In addition, Frittierfett consists to a large extent of these saturated fatty acids. Vegetable fat on the other hand is particularly valuable.

Beside vegetable margarine and olive oil also nuts and fish are an important source for the good fat. So it is not important to completely banish fat from the diet, but rather to pay attention to the source of the fat. In addition, fruit and vegetables with their fiber and vitamins also have a very positive effect on the vascular system. As a rule, about 5 portions (á 50g) of fruit a day and 250g of vegetables are sufficient for an adult person to cover the vitamin requirements.