Treatment of coronary artery disease usually involves lifestyle changes and appropriate medications and some medical procedures.
Changes in lifestyle
Make a commitment to change a healthy lifestyle can go a long way toward promoting healthy arteries:
Stop smoking.
Eat healthy foods.
Exercise regularly.
Lose excess weight.
Reduce stress.
Drugs
Several medications can be used to treat coronary artery disease, including:
Cholesterol-modifying drug. By reducing the amount of cholesterol in the blood, especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol levels, these drugs reduce the base material of the coronary arteries of deposits. Increase your high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol), may also help. Your doctor may choose a variety of medications, including statins, niacin, fibrates and bile acid sequestrants.
Aspirin. Your doctor may recommend taking a daily aspirin or other anticoagulants. This can reduce the tendency for clotting of your blood, which can help prevent the blockage of coronary arteries. If you have had a heart attack, aspirin can help prevent future attacks. There are some cases where aspirin is not appropriate, as if you have a bleeding disorder you are already taking another blood thinner, so ask your doctor before taking aspirin.
Beta-blockers. These drugs slow the heart rate and reduces blood pressure, which reduces the oxygen of the heart. If you had a heart attack, beta-blockers reduce future attacks.
Nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin tablets, sprays and patches can control pain in the chest through the opening of the coronary arteries and reduce the demand for blood for the heart.
Converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and receptor antagonists blockers (ARBs). These similar agents reduce blood pressure and may help prevent progression of coronary artery disease. If you have had a heart attack, the ACE inhibitors reduce the risk of future attacks.
Calcium channel blockers. These drugs relax the muscles surrounding the coronary arteries and cause blood vessels to open, which increases blood flow to the heart. They also control high blood pressure.
Procedures to restore and improve blood circulation
Sometimes more aggressive treatment is needed. Here are some options:
Angioplasty and stenting (percutaneous coronary revascularization). In this procedure. The doctor inserts a long thin tube (catheter) into the narrowed artery, a wire with a deflated balloon is passed through the catheter to the narrowed area. The balloon is then inflated, compressing the deposits against the walls of your arteries. A stent is often left in the artery to keep the artery open. Some stents slowly release medication to help keep the artery open.
Coronary artery bypass surgery. A surgeon creates a graft to bypass blocked coronary arteries using a vessel from another part of your body. This allows blood to flow around the blocked or narrowed coronary artery. Because this requires open heart surgery, it is usually reserved for cases of multiple narrowed coronary arteries.
Changes in lifestyle
Make a commitment to change a healthy lifestyle can go a long way toward promoting healthy arteries:
Stop smoking.
Eat healthy foods.
Exercise regularly.
Lose excess weight.
Reduce stress.
Drugs
Several medications can be used to treat coronary artery disease, including:
Cholesterol-modifying drug. By reducing the amount of cholesterol in the blood, especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol levels, these drugs reduce the base material of the coronary arteries of deposits. Increase your high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol), may also help. Your doctor may choose a variety of medications, including statins, niacin, fibrates and bile acid sequestrants.
Aspirin. Your doctor may recommend taking a daily aspirin or other anticoagulants. This can reduce the tendency for clotting of your blood, which can help prevent the blockage of coronary arteries. If you have had a heart attack, aspirin can help prevent future attacks. There are some cases where aspirin is not appropriate, as if you have a bleeding disorder you are already taking another blood thinner, so ask your doctor before taking aspirin.
Beta-blockers. These drugs slow the heart rate and reduces blood pressure, which reduces the oxygen of the heart. If you had a heart attack, beta-blockers reduce future attacks.
Nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin tablets, sprays and patches can control pain in the chest through the opening of the coronary arteries and reduce the demand for blood for the heart.
Converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and receptor antagonists blockers (ARBs). These similar agents reduce blood pressure and may help prevent progression of coronary artery disease. If you have had a heart attack, the ACE inhibitors reduce the risk of future attacks.
Calcium channel blockers. These drugs relax the muscles surrounding the coronary arteries and cause blood vessels to open, which increases blood flow to the heart. They also control high blood pressure.
Procedures to restore and improve blood circulation
Sometimes more aggressive treatment is needed. Here are some options:
Angioplasty and stenting (percutaneous coronary revascularization). In this procedure. The doctor inserts a long thin tube (catheter) into the narrowed artery, a wire with a deflated balloon is passed through the catheter to the narrowed area. The balloon is then inflated, compressing the deposits against the walls of your arteries. A stent is often left in the artery to keep the artery open. Some stents slowly release medication to help keep the artery open.
Coronary artery bypass surgery. A surgeon creates a graft to bypass blocked coronary arteries using a vessel from another part of your body. This allows blood to flow around the blocked or narrowed coronary artery. Because this requires open heart surgery, it is usually reserved for cases of multiple narrowed coronary arteries.
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