Treatment Options For Blocked Arteries
Blocked arteries have the potential to cause serious health problems including heart attacks and strokes. The arteries can become blocked if fatty deposits start to build up in the arteries. It is a disease that can not be cured once a person has it and so you should try to avoid getting it by eating a healthy diet.
However, there are several options for blocked artery treatment that can be successful in managing the symptoms that are associated with this condition.
Medication
If you only have mild symptoms of blocked arteries then these can usually be treated with medication. If you have problems with your heart then you may be prescribed medication that thins your blood such as aspirin. There are also a group of drugs called Vasodilators that help to widen the arteries and can also lower blood pressure. In some cases blocked arteries can also cause pain in the arms and legs and if this is the case then you may also be offered painkillers.
Lifestyle Changes
A change in lifestyle will almost certainly be recommended by your doctor as a treatment option. This may be recommended as a blocked artery treatment in its own right or as an accompaniment to another form of treatment. If your blocked arteries are caught early enough then this may be the only treatment option that you need.
The advice that you are given is likely to include stopping smoking if this applies to you. You may also be given general advice to help manage the condition and to improve your health in general such as cutting down on the amount of food you eat that is high in fat and sugar. You may also be encouraged to get more exercise.
Surgery
Surgery will only be offered as a treatment option in the most serious of cases. It is quite difficult to remove any build up that has occurred in the arteries but there are things that can be done to widen the arteries and improve blood flow. If you have already suffered from a heart attack or stroke, or have a high risk factor for either problem then surgery may be offered as a treatment option.
An angioplasty is the most common form of surgery that is offered to people with blocked arteries and this procedure involves opening up the arteries so that blood is able to flow through them more easily.
The exact blocked artery treatment that will be offered to you depends on a number of factors such as how much build up there actually is in your arteries, your age and your medical history. If you are worried that you may be suffering from blocked arteries then you should see your doctor who may be able to refer you for tests.
The more advanced the condition is, the harder it is to do anything about it so it is always worth trying to catch it early if possible. It is also a disease that can go undetected for many years as it does not present any symptoms until the arteries become really blocked.