Atherosclerosis is the build up of plaque (cholesterol, fat and other substances) in your arteries which leads to the hardening and narrowing of the arteries. If you have been diagnosed with Atherosclerosis, your doctor will help you develop a treatment plan. This article describes some of the treatment options for Atherosclerosis, including lifestyle changes, medication, and surgery. It is not meant to constitute, or replace, medical advice.
Lifestyle changes
Eat well – sounds simple, doesn’t it? Cut back on fats, eat lot of fruit and vegetables (not eating enough fruit and vegetables is one of the risk factor for atherosclerosis), go for whole grain cereals and breads and lean meats. Eating well is an important part of your treatment plan.
Exercise regularly – a lack of regular exercise is another known risk factor for atherosclerosis. Once you have the okay from your doctor, start small (a ten minute walk after dinner every day) and go from there. Making regular exercise part of your treatment plan can also help you to maintain a health weight and manage your stress, two additional risk factors for you.
Quit smoking. Smoking is one of the three major causes of Atherosclerosis. If you don’t think you can do it on your own, have your doctor prescribe medication for you. Try a nicotine patch or nicotine gum. Also, see http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/index.htm for lots of great resources for quitting smoking.
Limit your alcohol. More than one drink per day may be too much. Discuss this with your doctor, but cutting back (or cutting out completely) may be one of the best decisions you can make for the treatment of your disease.
Manage high cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as diabetes. This can be done through diet as well as medication (see below.) The American Heart Association offers some great resources for managing your high blood pressure. See http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=757 for a checklist on managing your high blood pressure and other great resources. And WebMD has a great cholesterol management center. See http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/default.htm.
Medication
Blood pressure medications. High blood pressure is one of the three main causes of atherosclerosis. Your doctor may prescribe blood pressure medication as part of your treatment program.
Beta blockers are often prescribed for the treatment of Atherosclerosis. Beta blockers slow the heart rate and let it beat with less force. They are also used to treat high blood pressure, so can be used to treat a risk factor of Atherosclerosis as well as the disease itself.
Nitrates relax your blood vessels and can also be used to treat chest pain. Your doctor may prescribe nitrates for your Atherosclerosis. Nitroglycerin is the most commonly prescribed form of nitrates.
Surgery
Plaque removal procedures can be used to remove plaque buildup from an artery’s inner lining. Atherectomy is one process, where a catheter with a rotating shaver is inserted into an artery to remove plaque. Laser angioplasty is also used to remove plaque.
Stent placement – a stent is a small tube that is used to hold open an artery, improving blood flow. Stents can be used alone or are often used along with angioplasty or plaque removal as part of an Atherosclerosis treatment program. Stenting seems to work especially well for women.
By-pass surgery uses arteries or veins from other areas in your body (usually a leg or your chest) to bypass diseased arteries. It can improve the blood flow to the heart, relieve chest pain, and sometimes prevent a heart attack.
These are just a few treatment options for Atherosclerosis – there are many more, and your doctor will prescribe the right plan for you.
