Atherosclerosis is a condition characterized by the buildup of fat, calcium and other substances in and on the walls of arteries in the body. When these substances accumulate, they form a hardened material called plaque, which can partially or completely block off an artery and eventually lead to heart attack or stroke. There are several medical and surgical methods available to eliminate or reduce atherosclerotic plaques once they form.
Medication Options
According to the Mayo Clinic, you may be able to reverse the buildup of plaque in your arteries through aggressive reduction of your LDL ("bad") cholesterol. You may be able to add to this effect by raising your levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol. There are several classes of medication available to help you achieve these aims.
Statins work by preventing cholesterol production in your liver. Although their main benefit is lowering your LDL cholesterol, they also moderately raise your HDL cholesterol and lower harmful fatty triglycerides. Common examples include rosuvastatin calcium (Crestor), atorvastatin (Lipitor) and simvastatin (Zocor). Fibrates are helpful in lower your triglycerides and raising your HDL cholesterol. Common examples include gemfibrozil (Lopid) and clofibrate (Atromid-S). To gain benefits from lowered LDL cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe a fibrate in combination with a statin products.
Selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors prevent absorption of cholesterol in your intestines. They may also have some positive effect in raising your HDL levels and lowering your triglycerides. The main example in this category is ezetimibe (Zetia). Resins (bile acid sequestrants) lower your blood cholesterol by diverting it toward the production of digestive bile in your liver. Options here include cholestyramine (Questran, Prevalite) and colestipol (Colestid). Nicotinic acid (niacin) is a form of vitamin B that lowers your LDL and triglyceride levels and raises your HDL. Your doctor may recommend a prescription form of this compound, but you should not use nonprescription niacin supplements, which are not fully regulated for potency or effectiveness. Consult your doctor about any medication he may prescribe.
Surgical Options
You may also eliminate or reduce the effects of plaque through surgery. In an angioplasty, a surgeon will insert a thin tube called a catheter into your narrowed artery, then pass a deflated balloon through the catheter's interior. The balloon is then inflated, forcing plaque against the walls of your artery and increasing or restoring your blood flow. This passage is typically kept open with an artificial mesh placed inside your artery. In an endarterectomy, fatty plaque is surgically scraped from your artery's inner surface.
Chelation Therapy
Some alternative health practitioners promote the use of chelation therapy to reverse the effects of atherosclerosis. This technique, which is a standard treatment in cases of heavy metal poisoning, uses intravenous chemicals that bind to harmful substances and allow them to be excreted in urine. In cases of atherosclerosis, chelation is theoretically effective because of its ability to bind to calcium, a component of arterial plaque. Be aware that the American Heart Association cites lack of evidence for this theory, and does not support chelation as an atherosclerosis treatment.
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