What Is Atherosclerosis? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

The course of treatment that your doctor recommends for atherosclerosis will depend on how severe it is and which arteries are affected.

Treatment for the condition may be especially critical if blood flow to the heart or brain is substantially restricted.

Proven treatments for atherosclerosis include lifestyle measures, prescription drugs, and surgical procedures.

Lifestyle changes are often the first recommended treatment and are likely to help even if you need other treatments.

Drug treatments for atherosclerosis can lower your blood pressure, improve unhealthy cholesterol levels, and reduce your risk of developing dangerous blood clots.

Surgery is usually recommended only if your condition is especially severe or if you don’t respond well to drug treatments. (2,3)

Medication Options

Your doctor may prescribe drugs to treat different causes or effects of your atherosclerosis:

Cholesterol Medications These drugs, which include statins and fibrates, are designed to lower your levels of total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.

Antiplatelet Medications These drugs, including aspirin, reduce your risk of developing a dangerous blood clot that could block an artery.

Blood Pressure Medications These drugs, some of which may also relieve chest pain, include beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics.

Pain Medications If you experience leg pain with activity, your doctor may advise you to take an over-the-counter pain reliever or prescribe something stronger. (3)

Alternative and Complementary Therapies

Changing your lifestyle is an important part of addressing atherosclerosis. Important changes may include:

• Getting more aerobic exercise
• Following a heart-healthy diet
• Losing extra weight
• Managing stress
• Not smoking (1,3)

A number of different foods and dietary supplements may also help lower your cholesterol or blood pressure, including the following (talk to your doctor before taking any supplement):

• Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
• Barley
• Black or green tea
• Calcium
• Cocoa
• Cod liver oil
• Coenzyme Q10
• Fish oil
• Folic acid
• Garlic
• Oat bran
• Psyllium (3)

Surgical Procedures

If lifestyle measures and medication aren’t enough to improve your symptoms, or if your atherosclerosis is advanced, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following procedures:

Angioplasty and Stent Placement This procedure involves opening up a blocked section of an artery by inflating a tiny balloon and inserting a stent, a mesh tube that’s left in place to hold the artery open.

Endarterectomy This procedure involves surgically removing plaque deposits from the artery wall. This may be done in the carotid arteries of your neck.

Fibrinolytic Therapy Your doctor may use a clot-dissolving drug at the site of an acute blood clot to break it up.

Bypass Surgery In this surgical procedure, doctors graft a section of blood vessel from another area of your body around a blocked or narrowed artery. (2,3)

Learn More About Treatment for Atherosclerosis

Prevention of Atherosclerosis

If your atherosclerosis is still at an early stage or if you haven’t been diagnosed with the condition yet, lifestyle measures can go a long way toward preventing plaque from forming in your arteries. These include:

• Not smoking
• Following a heart-healthy diet
• Getting enough aerobic exercise
• Maintaining a healthy weight (3)

Not smoking is probably the most important factor in limiting your risk, followed by diet and physical activity.

A heart-healthy diet is based on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein sources, and healthy fats. It’s important to limit sodium, refined carbohydrates, and saturated and trans fats.

Getting enough exercise generally means 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity most days of the week. But more exercise yields more benefits, and some is better than none at all.

Losing excess weight can help improve your cholesterol levels. If you’re overweight, losing just 10 percent of your body weight can make a substantial difference. (1,3)

Learn More About Preventing Atherosclerosis