Atherosclerosis is defined as hardening of the arteries, an early form of heart disease in which plaque builds up inside the arteries. The Plaque seals your arteries, causing them to become narrow, which makes it difficult for the blood to flow. The blood flow was limited to some major organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys, and to the pelvis, spine, arms, fingers, legs, toes, etc. Atherosclerosis usually doesn’t cause any symptoms till blood supply to an organ is reduced. The cause of arteriosclerosis is not known. However, certain features, conditions, or habits may raise your risk for the disease. Also, depending on the severity, doctors will recommend some surgeries or treatment for Atherosclerosis. Hence, read the complete article to know the best Atherosclerosis Treatment.
Also Read: Symptoms of Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis Treatment
Atherosclerosis or Arteriosclerosis can cause heart failure, stroke, aneurysms, chronic kidney disease, back pain, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral artery disease. Some people who have atherosclerosis have no signs or symptoms. They may not be diagnosed until after a heart attack or stroke. It is a slow and complex disease which may start in childhood. It develops faster as you age. Even people who don’t have any symptoms of the cardiovascular disease may be developing silent, progressive atherosclerosis as they grow older. If you experience any one of the symptoms of atherosclerosis or related medical condition, contact a doctor immediately. Your doctor may recommend the treatment of atherosclerosis.
The main treatment for atherosclerosis is lifestyle changes. You also may need medicines and medical procedures. These treatments, along with ongoing medical care, can help you live a healthier life.
Diagnosis for Arteriosclerosis
Doctors will diagnose the Atherosclerosis or Arteriosclerosis based on the history of the patients, test results, and a physical exam. During the physical exam, your doctor may find the signs of narrowed, enlarged or hardened arteries such as decreased blood pressure in an affected limb or a weak or absent pulse and some whooshing sounds over the arteries. Depending on the results of the exam, your GP may suggest you one or more tests as follows.
Must Read: Causes, Symptoms of Atherosclerosis
Blood Tests
The Blood tests help to measure how much sugar, fat, and protein were present in your blood. These Lab tests can detect the increased levels of cholesterol and blood sugar that may increase the risk of atherosclerosis. You’ll need to go without eating or drinking anything but water for nine to 12 hours before your blood test.
Doppler Ultrasound
A special Ultrasound device is used for coronary artery disease treatment. Doppler ultrasound measures the blood pressure at various points of your body along with your arm or leg. These measurements can help your doctor estimate the degree of any blockages, as well as the speed of blood flow in your arteries.
Ankle-brachial Index
Your doctor may compare the blood pressure in your ankle with that of your arm. This is known as the ankle-brachial index. An unusual difference may indicate peripheral vascular disease, which is usually caused by atherosclerosis. This test tells that if you have atherosclerosis in the arteries in your legs and feet.
Also Read: Tips to Prevent Heart Attack
Electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram also known as ECG records the electrical signals as they travel through your heart. An ECG can often reveal the signs of a previous heart attack. If your signs and symptoms occur most often during exercise, your doctor may ask you to walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike during an ECG.
Cardiac catheterization and Angiogram
This test shows that if your coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked. Under this test, a liquid dye is injected into the arteries of your heart through a long, thin tube (catheter). It was usually fed through an artery in the leg to the arteries in your heart. As the dye fills your arteries, the arteries become visible on X-ray, revealing areas of blockage.
Physical Exam
Doctors will listen to the arteries using a stethoscope to check if there is an unusual “whooshing” sound reflecting the disturbance of flow which is called a bruit. If they heard a bruit then it means there is a plaque obstructing the blood flow.
Computed Tomography Scan
A Computed Tomography Scan or CT scan is used to find the arteries that are hardened and narrowed. This type of test uses some X-ray images to create the detailed pictures of the inside parts of your body.
What is the treatment for Atherosclerosis?
Since there is no cure for atherosclerosis, providing the correct treatment can slow or halt the worsening of the disease. The goal for the treatment of Atherosclerosis is that symptoms never develop and vital organs are never damaged. It also prevents the significant narrowing of the arteries. You can control most risk factors and even prevent or delay atherosclerosis by following a heart-healthy lifestyle, the right foods, and taking medicines. The Surgeries and Procedures for the Atherosclerosis treatment are mentioned below.
Medications for Atherosclerosis
Medicines for Atherosclerosis Treatment were used for preventing the build up of plaque or blood clots. Hence, after diagnosing the cause of the disease, the doctor will prescribe medications to lower the cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol that was not controlled by diet and exercise, then some drugs may be necessary. The best medicine to lower cholesterol is a statin, also known as an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. Statins block an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase, which controls the production of cholesterol in the liver. But the side effects may include Muscle pains and increased risk of diabetes mellitus.
Some of the atherosclerosis treatment drugs that usually lowers the total cholesterol are
- Lovastatin.
- Simvastatin.
- Pravastatin.
- Fluvastatin or Lescol.
- Atorvastatin.
- Rosuvastatin (Crestor).
- Niacin.
- Genfibrozil.
Atherosclerosis Treatment Surgery
If you have a blockage or severe symptoms that threaten muscle or skin tissue survival, then doctors may suggest for one of the following surgeries. These Surgical procedures for Atherosclerosis of aorta treatment may involve the use of some medical devices such as a stent and drug-eluting stent or a cardiac angioplasty or atherectomy device.
Angioplasty and Stent Placement
Under this Angioplasty surgery, doctors will insert a long and thin tube, i.e., a catheter into the blocked or narrowed part of the artery. Then the second catheter with a flattened balloon on its tip is passed through the catheter to the narrowed area. Finally, the balloon is inflated and compresses the deposits against your artery walls. Sometimes a mesh tube (stent) is usually left in the artery itself to keep the artery open even after the procedure. Also, this surgery improves the blood flow to the heart, relieve chest pain, and prevent a heart attack.
Carotid Artery Surgery
The Carotid artery surgery is used for the Atherosclerosis treatment to remove the plaque build-up from the carotid arteries in the neck, also opens the arteries and improves blood flow to the brain.
Fibrinolytic Therapy
If your artery was blocked by a blood clot, your doctor may use a clot-dissolving drug to break it apart by using this therapy.
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
CABG is the best surgery for the Arteriosclerosis Treatment. It is a type of surgery in which the arteries or veins from other areas in the body are used to bypass the narrowed coronary arteries. Also, it improves the blood flow to your heart, relieves chest pain, and possibly prevents a heart attack.
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Bypass Surgery
Doctors will create a graft bypass using a vessel from another part of your body or a tube made of synthetic fabric. Hence, it allows your blood to flow throughout the blocked or narrowed artery.
How to Treat Atherosclerosis Naturally
Living a healthy Lifestyle may also help you to get rid of Atherosclerosis. Hence, by following one of these helpful tips, one can prevent from the Arteriosclerosis. Lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising, are often the most appropriate Treatment of Atherosclerosis.
Also Read: Healthy Eating Tips
- Avoid Smoking.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Include vegetables and fruits in your diet.
- Use Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated oils for cooking and Avoid Saturated, trans fats.
- Control your High Blood pressure.
- Finally, Exercise regularly.