What Are the Treatments for Calcified Arteries in the Heart?

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease that leads to calcification, commonly called "hardening of the arteries." Treatments for calcified arteries range from dietary changes to open heart surgery.

Identification

• "Calcification of the coronary arteries is a late effect of atherosclerosis," according to Dr. David Stewart of the Providence Everett Heart and Vascular Institute, who says the amount of calcium seen “is a fairly good measure of the amount of atherosclerosis present."

Atherosclerosis

• Atherosclerosis is a buildup of fat and cholesterol that clogs the lining of arteries leading to the heart. As the arteries harden, calcification develops, contributing to heart attack and stroke.

Prevention/Solution

• Your doctor may suggest limiting consumption of fat and cholesterol, quitting smoking and exercising regularly. Omega-3 fatty acids, contained in fish oil, help lower cholesterol.

Medication

• A doctor will likely prescribe cholesterol-lowering medications called statins. "Aggressively lowering your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the ‘bad’ cholesterol, can slow, stop or even reverse the buildup of fatty deposits in your arteries," says the Mayo Clinic.

Surgery

• Calcified arteries in the heart also may be treated with stenting and angioplasty, typically implemented simultaneously to help re-open atherosclerotic arteries. In cases of advanced disease, a coronary bypass operation may be necessary.