Treatment for Atherosclerosis: Lifestyle Changes, Natural Alternatives, Medications and Surgery

Atherosclerosis is the hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to the buildup of plaque. Atherosclerosis often leads to cardiovascular disease, the number one killer in the United States. Timely treatment to slow or reverse atherosclerosis can help prevent serious complications, such as heart attack and stroke. Treatment options for atherosclerosis include lifestyle changes, natural alternatives, medications and surgery.

Treatment Options for Atherosclerosis: Lifestyle Changes
Many of the risk factors for atherosclerosis are due to lifestyle choices. Reducing these risk factors can help treat atherosclerosis once it has begun by slowing or stopping the progress of the disease.

• Smoking - Tobacco smoke damages the arteries and tightens already constricted blood vessels. If you smoke, quit as soon as possible. If you live with a smoker, encourage them to quit or ask them not to smoke around you.
• 
  
• Exercise - Increasing your physical activity helps control your cholesterol levels, lowers high blood pressure, increases circulation, and reduces your weight. Regular exercise also helps the body develop collateral vessels, which are extra blood vessels that create a natural bypass around blockages.

  The goal should be 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise three to five days per week. Aerobic exercise includes activities as walking, running, swimming and bicycling. Breaking the exercise into 10 minute sessions done throughout the day is just as effective as exercising a straight 30 minutes or more. Ask your doctor for suggestions on what type of exercise would be right for you.

• 
  
• Weight - Maintaining a healthy weight is important while treating atherosclerosis. Your body mass index (BMI) should be between 18.5 and 24.9. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute offers a free BMI calculator on their website: Calculate Your Body Mass.

  If you need to lose weight, double your atherosclerosis treatment efforts by following a heart-healthy diet. The American Heart Association offers guidelines and tips on eating heart-healthy on their website: American Heart Association - Diet & Nutrition.

• 
  
• Diet - Following a healthy diet is necessary when treating atherosclerosis. Eating a diet full of whole grains, fresh produce and lean meats will help control your cholesterol and blood pressure. Limit your intake of high-fat foods and choose low sodium alternatives. Avoid foods that contain trans fat.

  Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables reduces the risk and progress of atherosclerosis. Scientists are not sure if this is due to the increased fiber intake or the phytochemicals (disease preventative chemicals) contained in the produce. Eat a minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

Treatment Options for Atherosclerosis: Natural Alternatives
Vitamins and minerals can help slow the progress of atherosclerosis and keep your blood vessels healthy. Many manufacturers make multi-vitamins formulas designed for heart health. These contain properly balanced formulas of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and minerals to promote vascular health. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a recommendation on a vitamin supplement.

Green tea contains antioxidants that can help increase vascular health and reverse or slow the progress of atherosclerosis. Two to three cups of green tea per day, preferably in a caffeine-free variety, is the recommended amount for natural health benefits. Green tea is not recommended for people with certain medical conditions or who are taking certain types of medication. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before drinking green tea for your health.

Treatment Options for Atherosclerosis: Medications
Even with making healthy lifestyle changes, there may be times when medications are needed to treat atherosclerosis. Some of the medications will help control high cholesterol or high blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk factors involved with the progression of atherosclerosis. Additional medications may be used to prevent the formation of blood clots. Blood clots can cause further blockage at the site of plaque buildup and greatly increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.

Aspirin is often used in the treatment of atherosclerosis, as it reduces the risk of blood clots. In addition, researchers have found aspirin increases the expression of two proteins connected with HDL (good) cholesterol. These proteins help break down and remove LDL (bad) cholesterol from the bloodstream, as well as increase the body's use of the phytochemicals in fruit and red wine. Your doctor may suggest a dose of 75-325 milligrams of aspirin per day.

Treatment Options for Atherosclerosis: Surgery
Surgery may be required in severe cases of atherosclerosis. Surgical procedures used in the treatment of atherosclerosis include:

• Angioplasty - this procedure uses a catheter that delivers a balloon to the site of the blockage in an artery. The balloon is inflated, which flattens the plaque up against the wall of the artery. Once the plaque is compressed, a stent (a tube of wire mesh) is put into place to hold the artery open. This allows blood to flow freely through the artery once again.
• 
  
• Endarterectomy - this is the surgical removal of the plaque blocking an artery. This procedure is common when atherosclerosis has affected the carotid artery.
• 
  
• Thrombolytic therapy - this procedure involves delivering a clot-dissolving medication to the any point where clots have formed due to plaque buildup in an artery.
• 
  
• Bypass surgery - in this procedure, doctors either use a healthy blood vessel from somewhere else in the body or a synthetic tube to make a grafted connection between two arteries on either side of a blocked artery. This allows blood to flow freely around heavy areas of plaque buildup.
• 
  

Sources:
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute:
How Is Atherosclerosis Treated?

Merck Manuals Online Medical Library:
Atherosclerosis

Mayo Clinic:
Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis: Lifestyle and home remedies
Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis: Treatments and drugs

WebMD:
Atherosclerosis: Treatment