Atherosclerosis
Alternate Names : Arteriosclerosis, Hardening of the Arteries, Plaque Buildup - Arteries
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Atherosclerosis Treatment
To some extent, the body will protect itself by forming new blood vessels around the affected area. This is called developing "collaterals".
Medications may be recommended to reduce fats and cholesterol in your blood; low-fat diet, weight loss, and exercise are also usually suggested. Control of high blood pressure is also important.
Medications include cholestyramine, colestipol, nicotinic acid, gemfibrozil, probucol, atorvastatin, lovastatin and others. Aspirin, ticlopidine, and clopidogrel (inhibitors of platelet clumping) or anti-coagulants may be used to reduce the risk of clot formation.
Balloon angioplasty uses a balloon-tipped catheter to flatten plaque and increase the blood flow past the deposits. The technique is used to open the arteries of the heart and other arteries in the body. Another widely used technique is stenting, which consists of implanting a small metal device inside the artery (usually following angioplasty) to keep the artery open.
Surgically removing deposits (endarterectomy) may be recommended in some cases. A bypass graft is the most invasive procedure. It uses a normal artery or vein from the patient to create a bridge that bypasses the blocked section of the artery.
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