 |
print the page |  |
email the page |  |
|
- What is atherosclerosis?
- Symptoms of atherosclerosis
- Causes of atherosclerosis
- Prevention of atherosclerosis
- Risk factors for atherosclerosis
- Complications of atherosclerosis
- When to see a doctor about atherosclerosis
- Diagnosis of atherosclerosis
- Conventional treatment of atherosclerosis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of atherosclerosis
- Living with atherosclerosis
- Caring for someone with atherosclerosis
Conventional treatment of atherosclerosis
Treatment of atherosclerosis usually consists of a combination of dietary and lifestyle modifications and medication. If the condition is severe, surgery may also be recommended as a last resort treatment (but it may be necessary for prolonging life):
Dietary modifications
There are a number of dietary modifications which will be recommended to help reduce symptoms and risk of complications:
- Eat enough legumes and wholegrains - the diet needs to include adequate amounts of legumes (chickpeas, peas, beans and soya beans) as well as wholegrains to ensure that the diet has adequate fibre, as well as the various nutrients that the legumes and wholegrains provide. Adequate fibre intake can help to reduce the amount of LDL ("bad") cholesterol in the blood
- Eat enough "good" fats - you need to ensure the diet includes adequate amounts of the "good" fats which are the polyunsaturated fats, from foods such as olive oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, olives (but take care that they are not too salty), avocado, as well as all types of nuts and seeds
- Eat more fruit - you need to eat 2-3 portions of fruit every day to provide all the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants necessary for good health
- Eat more fish - you need to have 2-3 portions of oily fish intake in the diet each week as they contain the beneficial anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. The fish which are most recommended are: mackerel, salmon, sardines, trout, tuna. It is better to eat fresh fish that is wild, as it has more omega-3 content, but canned fish can also be eaten too on occasion
- Eat more vegetables - you need to eat 5-7 portions of vegetables every day to provide all the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants necessary for good health
- Limit intake of saturated fat - foods that are high in saturated fat (full cream milk, cheese, butter, sour cream, as well as red meat, any fried foods, any processed foods, any take-away or junk foods) need to be limited in the diet, to help reduce levels of cholesterol and triglycerides as well as reduce risk of possible blockage build-up in the arteries
Lifestyle modifications
There are a number of lifestyle modifications which will be recommended to help reduce symptoms and risk of complications:
- Exercise regularly - you need to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day to help condition the heart and increase proper blood circulation, which may help to prevent worsening of symptoms and risk of complications. If you have a severe form of atherosclerosis, consult your doctor about the best exercise program which you should engage in, because you may need to do a more gentler form of exercise to reduce possible complications (due to your condition)
- Limit alcohol intake - women should only have one drink and men only 1-2 drinks per day at the most, with at least 2-3 days being alcohol free
- Reduce stress - some form of relaxation therapy is needed to help reduce any stress in your life and reduce this risk factor for atherosclerosis. Examples of relaxation therapy are: dancing, having a bath, meditation, tai chi, visualisation, yoga
- Stop smoking - it is vital for heart health to stop smoking and to stop being around people who smoke and breathing their unfiltered smoke, as it has exactly the same adverse effects on the arteries as if you smoked yourself
Advertisement
Medication
There are a number of medication options available for treating the atherosclerosis, which depend on the reason for the condition developing and may help to slow (or even reverse) the effects of atherosclerosis. A doctor will prescribe the appropriate medication (or combination of medications) from the following:
- Anti-coagulant medications - these medications are prescribed when a blood clot has been diagnosed (or suspected) in order to thin the blood and dissolve the blood clot. Examples of anti-coagulant medications are: heparin and warfarin (Coumadin®)
- Anti-platelet medications - these medications reduce the amount of platelets in the blood, which are the blood cells that cause the inflammation to initiate healing. The anti-platelet medications thin the blood, which reduces risk of blood clots forming. This medication is often prescribed at a low dose to be taken every day. The most common form of anti-platelet medication prescribed is: aspirin
- Blood pressure lowering medications - these medications are prescribed to lower high blood pressure, which is a known risk factor for damaging artery walls and causing atherosclerosis. Examples of these medications are: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics
- Cholesterol lowering medications - these medications help to lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol in the blood and are prescribed for people whose blood tests show a higher than normal level of LDL ("bad") cholesterol. The cholesterol lowering medications may help to reduce (or even reverse) the amount of fatty plaque build-up in the affected arteries, as well as ensuring other arteries are not clogged up too. Examples of cholesterol lowering medications are: bile acid sequestrants, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, fabric acid derivatives, niacin and statins. Statins are the most commonly prescribed medication for lowering LDL ("bad") cholesterol, as they have fewer side effects than the other types of medications and have few adverse interactions with other types of medications
Surgery
There are a number of surgical options, from the least invasive, to more invasive surgery that can be performed, usually as a last resort when medication and dietary and lifestyle modifications have not been successful and there is significant loss of quality of life, or if the condition is life threatening:
- Angioplasty - this procedure is used to help widen arteries that have narrowed. This involves insertion of a catheter with a deflated balloon into the narrowed part of the artery. Once inside the artery, at the point of narrowing, the balloon is inflated which widens the artery and helps enable better blood flow. Once the artery has been widened enough, the balloon is deflated and the catheter removed. Some people may require a permanent way to widen the artery. This involves placing a wire mesh (stent) during the balloon procedure which helps to hold the artery open wider so that blood flow is improved
- Atherectomy - this procedure involves the removal of the plaque blockage from the affected artery (or arteries) with the use of a laser catheter or rotating shaver. The catheter is inserted into the artery that is narrowed with the plaque build-up to remove it. After an atherectomy, an angioplasty is often performed, using just the balloon to widen the artery or using a stent for a more permanent widening
- Bypass surgery - this is serious open heart surgery that involves opening up the chest to perform the surgery. This surgery involves redirecting or bypassing the clogged up coronary artery with another healthy artery. The healthy artery can be on which is around the same area, or it could be a vein that is cut from the leg that is used (in more serious cases, where there are no healthy arteries around the heart). This surgical procedure helps to improve blood flow and oxygen to the heart. If more than one artery is clogged up, this surgery may need to be performed a number of times, until there is proper blood flow and oxygen flow around the heart
- Endarterectomy - this procedure involves removing plaque build-up in the carotid (neck) or peripheral arteries. This procedure significantly helps to reduce risk of stroke and is most beneficial in people with blockage of up to 60% in the carotid barberries
- Minimally invasive bypass surgery - this is a less invasive heart surgery which is performed when there are only one or two affected arteries with plaque build-up. This procedure uses a number of small incisions in the chest to enable the surgeon to re-route or bypass the clogged up arteries with healthier ones. This surgery is still in evaluation mode, so it is not yet the mainstream surgery recommended for bypass surgery
Advertisement
Sections: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
< 8: diagnosis 10: alternative treatment > Last reviewed: 27 October 2007 || Last updated: 12 March 2009
Related Articles
NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
