Prescription drugs, surgery, and heart-healthy lifestyle changes are treatment options for atherosclerosis. Shutterstock (2) Atherosclerosis occurs when fat-containing deposits called plaque form in your arteries, causing them to harden and narrow.
Full Answer
What are the different approaches to treating atherosclerosis?
There are many proven approaches for treating atherosclerosis, including lifestyle modifications, prescription drugs, and surgical procedures. There are also some less proven — but possibly still effective — alternative remedies.
How can the Mayo Clinic help with atherosclerosis?
Our caring team of Mayo Clinic experts can help you with your arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis-related health concerns Start Here Lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising, are the first treatment for atherosclerosis — and may be all that you need to treat your atherosclerosis.
What drugs can slow or reverse the progression of atherosclerosis?
Several drugs have been shown to slow or reverse the progression of atherosclerosis, including ones in the following categories: Cholesterol Medication Drugs known as statins and fibrates can reduce your LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or "bad") cholesterol, which can help stop or even reverse the buildup of plaque in your arteries.
Can lifestyle changes slow the progression of atherosclerosis?
Certain lifestyle changes can slow or even reverse the progression of atherosclerosis, and are generally the first-line treatment for people diagnosed with the condition. Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following steps:
What is the best treatment for atherosclerosis?
Lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising, are the first treatment for atherosclerosis — and may be all that you need to treat your atherosclerosis....TreatmentStatins and other cholesterol medications. ... Blood thinners. ... Blood pressure medications. ... Other medications.
What is the nutritional treatment for atherosclerosis?
A heart-healthy diet regimen encompassing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, low-fat dairy products, nuts, seeds and legumes are beneficial in augmenting cardiac health and functions. While it is also essential to limit sodium, saturated and trans fats, refined carbohydrates and alcohol.
How do you reverse atherosclerosis?
Medical treatment, regular exercise, and dietary changes can be used to keep atherosclerosis from getting worse and stabilize the plaque, but they aren't able to reverse the disease....Exercisemanage a moderate weight.maintain a stable blood pressure.boost your HDL (good cholesterol) levels.lower your triglycerides.
What causes atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis: Arterial Disease. Atherosclerosis is a hardening of your arteries caused by gradual plaque buildup. Risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, lack of exercise and a diet high in saturated fat.
How to reduce risk of atherosclerosis?
Lose extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight, losing even just a few pounds can reduce your risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, two of the major risk factors for developing atherosclerosis. Ask your doctor what your target weight should be. Eat healthy foods.
What is the best test for atherosclerosis?
High levels of blood sugar and cholesterol raise your risk of atherosclerosis. A C-reactive protein (CRP) test also may be done to check for a protein linked to inflammation of the arteries. Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This simple and painless test records the electrical signals in your heart. Exercise stress test.
How to tell if you have atherosclerosis?
This test can tell if you have atherosclerosis in the arteries in your legs and feet. During an ABI test, your doctor compares the blood pressure in your ankle with the blood pressure in your arm. An abnormal difference may be a sign of peripheral vascular disease, which is usually caused by atherosclerosis.
How to reduce the risk of heart disease?
Regular exercise improves blood flow, lowers blood pressure, and reduces your risk of conditions that increase the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease. Aim to exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week. If you can't fit it all into one session, try breaking it up into 10-minute intervals.
How to control blood pressure and cholesterol?
Eat healthy foods. A heart-healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains — and low in refined carbohydrates, sugars, saturated fat and sodium — can help you control your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Try substituting whole-grain bread in place of white bread.
Does herbal medicine help with high cholesterol?
It's thought that some foods and herbal supplements can help reduce your high cholesterol level and high blood pressure, two major risk factors for developing atherosclerosis. With your doctor's OK, you might consider these supplements and products:
Can statins slow down fatty deposits?
Statins and other cholesterol medications. Aggressively lowering your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — the bad cholesterol — can slow, stop or even rever se the buildup of fatty deposits in your arteries.
What is the earliest lesion of atherosclerosis?
earliest lesion of atherosclerosis. It is a possible precursor of atheroma, not significantly raised, no blood flow disturbance. They are seen in virtually all children by age 10 and are made up of lipid filled foam cells with T lymphocytes and extracellular lipid within intima. More frequently found in areas in coronaries and banch points.
Which cell types migrate into the intima?
migration of monocytes, connective tissue, lymphocytes and smooth muscle cells into intima. ECM accumulation of collagen and proteoglycans which enhance accumulation of lipids. Platelet adhesion from endothelial cell breakdown may lead to vessel occlusion
How long can cardiac cells stand ischemic conditions?
a. cardiac cells can w/stand ischemic conditions for about 60mins
What is the term for the acute process of heart muscle degeneration?
a. atherosclerosis is acute process of heart muscle degeneration
Which strand of mRNA is complementary to the noncoding strand of DNA?
RNA polymerase assembles a strand of mRNA complementary to the noncoding strand of DNA.
How many types of RNA are there?
There are three main types of RNA, each of them has a specific role within the cell. The following table provides a list of statements in the left-hand column describing each of those three main types. In the right-hand column, select which type of RNA each statement describes. Carries a protein-building message: mRNA.
Which bone marrow contains the most rapidly dividing cell lines?
red bone marrow contains some of the most rapidly dividing cell lines of the body
What type of cells are highly specialized?
The highly specialized B cells and T cells are types of
Can you give type A blood to type B?
Type A blood cannot be given to people with type B blood.
Diagnosis
Treatment
- Lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising, are the first treatment for atherosclerosis — and may be all that you need to treat your atherosclerosis. But sometimes, medication or surgical procedures may be needed.
Clinical Trials
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- Lifestyle changes can help you prevent or slow the progression of atherosclerosis. 1. Stop smoking.Smoking damages your arteries. Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do to keep your arteries healthy and prevent atherosclerosis complications. 2. Exercise most days of the week. Regular exercise improves blood flow, lowers blood pressure, and r...
Alternative Medicine
- It's thought that some foods and herbal supplements can help reduce your high cholesterol level and high blood pressure, two major risk factors for developing atherosclerosis. With your doctor's OK, you might consider these supplements and products: 1. Alpha-linolenic acid 2. Barley 3. Beta-sitosterol (found in supplements and some margarines, such as Promise Activ) 4. Blond psylliu…
Preparing For Your Appointment
- If you think you may have atherosclerosis or are worried about having atherosclerosis because of a strong family history of heart disease, make an appointment with your doctor to have your cholesterol level checked. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and know what to expect from your doctor.