Arteriosclerosis is a vascular pathology characterized by the obstruction of the arteries, impeding the passage of blood and causing a deficit of oxygen to the tissues.
Arteriosclerosis can be of different typologies depending on the affected area and according to the evolutionary stage of chronic arteriopathy of the lower extremities (Fontaine classification).
According to the affected territory
- Cerebral: the increase in life expectancy means that more people are affected by cerebral arteriosclerosis. The first symptoms show a decrease in the ability to concentrate and memory. The main risk factors are diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, etc.
- Coronary artery disease (angina pectoris): affects the arteries of the heart. In the first stage it is asymptomatic. In addition, when the person exercises, precordial pain appears, which is popularly known as angina pectoris. When a coronary artery is totally obstructed, a myocardial infarction is provoked. In this sense, ozone therapy will be a complementary treatment to other surgical and/or pharmacological treatments.
- Peripheral arteriopathy: insufficient blood supply to the legs.
According to the evolutionary stage, peripheral arteriopathy can be divided into:
- Stage I: asymptomatic patient without any pain. In this stage, all risk factors for arteriosclerosis are controlled.
- Stage II: pain appears in the calves when exercising, which disappears at rest. The pain is caused by insufficient blood and oxygen supply to the muscles.
- Stage III: there is pain at rest, without exercise. Patients try to sit or sleep with one leg out of bed to counteract the deficit in circulation. It is a pain that resists treatment with common analgesics.
- Stage IV: this is the final stage of evolution. In addition to pain, lesions appear in the area of the fingers, which can lead to gangrene and even amputation.
Ozone therapy treatment is indicated in stages 1 and 2, with the possibility of treatment in stages 3 and 4 when the angiologist sees it indicated, being always in these last stages a complementary treatment to pharmacological or surgical treatment.