Ways to Heal Plaque in Arteries

Atherosclerosis is defined as the build up of fatty substances in the artery walls known as plaque. When plaque forms, the flow of blood to the heart and other vital organs is restricted. If the buildup is too heavy, you can have a stroke or a heart attack. In some situations, a blood clot will form and the artery will burst. Luckily, atherosclerosis is a curable condition.

Medication

• Some drugs work by slowing down the buildup of plaque and in some cases, reverse the damage caused by the condition. One way to reverse plaque is cutting down your LDL cholesterol by taking medication such as Crestor or Lipitor. Other medications, such as aspirin, work by cutting down your platelets, which can get caught in the plaques and create a blood clot. Your doctor may also prescribe anticoagulants such as Coumadin to thin the blood and make it easier for it to pass by.

Surgery

• If plaque buildup is severe, you may require more intensive treatment to cure atherosclerosis. One of these procedures, angioplasty, involves your doctor inserting a tube into the blocked artery. Then using an empty balloon, the doctor will inflate it and clear out the plaque that has formed in the artery. Another procedure, an endarterectomy, involves the surgical removal of the plaque. Finally, if you have a blood clot, your doctor may inject a drug to dissolve it.

Lifestyle Changes

• Perhaps the most important way to limit plaque in arteries is lifestyle changes. If you are smoker, you should quit as cigarettes do damage to the arteries. Getting exercise is important as well since physical fitness helps with circulation. The Mayo Clinic recommends people get 30 to 60 minutes of exercise almost every day of the week. Watching your diet will also help you limit plaque. Stay away from fatty foods and try to eat a diet rich in whole grains, fruit and vegetables.