How to Manage Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a condition of your arteries where plaque builds and increases your risk of heart attack and stroke nearly tenfold. Reading this article will teach you how to manage your atherosclerosis.

Instructions

• 1

  Watch your diet and cholesterol. The food you eat primarily contributes to your cholesterol level. Higher than normal levels of cholesterol can contribute to atherosclerosis. Eating fried foods and foods containing hydrogenated oils can increase cholesterol levels. However, erasing or eliminating these foods from your diet and replacing them with healthier foods such as ones low in saturated and trans fats, grains and vegetables can help you manage your atherosclerosis by helping you eliminating some of the plaque that may have developed over your lifetime. It is recommended that you consult with your doctor about what to eat and how much of it to eat.

• 2

  Work in close connection with your doctor. Working in close connection with your doctor is another prime way to manage and even eliminate atherosclerosis. Things you should tell your doctor include: what your current diet consists of, other diseases or health issues you have, medications you take and family history that may have contributed to your condition. It is recommended that you discuss these things with your doctor so that he/she can better assess what you feel and determine what treatments to give you.

• 3

  Consider treatment options. Diet alone can help you manage your atherosclerosis but treatments are available that can help you manage it even better. When discussing these options with your doctor, you should answer all of their questions honestly because these questions are to determine what medicines are right for you and not being totally honest may cause complications in treatment.