There Are Various Coronary Heart Disease Treatment Options
A common question asked by many is what is the treatment for coronary heart disease? Coronary heart disease is a significant cause of death here in the United States and it impacts several million Americans. It is usually caused by a condition called atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries. This plaque hardens the arteries and impedes the flow of blood to the heart muscle. Without sufficient blood reaching the heart muscle it cannot get the oxygen and nutrients it requires for optimal functioning, which means blood cannot circulate to other areas of the body in the way that it should. Coronary artery heart disease also increases the risk of heart attack or stroke since a blood clot can form and totally block circulation to the heart.
Change Your Lifestyle
The simplest and most effective coronary heart disease treatment is to change your lifestyle in order to lower your cholesterol level and blood pressure and lose any excess weight. A calorie controlled diet which is low in salt, sugar and saturated fat can significantly lower the cholesterol and blood pressure. Regular cardiovascular exercise is another effective coronary heart disease treatment. Avoiding nicotine and excesses of caffeine and alcohol is also helpful, as is reducing your stress levels.
In the event that diet and exercise are not enough, you may have to consider other coronary heart disease treatment options. There are various prescription medications that can be taken to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure when lifestyle changes fail to address the problem. If you would like to try these prescription medications talk to your health care provider in order to determine whether or not they are safe for you.
Medical Procedures
With more severe cases of the condition coronary heart disease treatment may involve a medical procedure such as angioplasty or a bypass operation. An angioplasty is a medical procedure that involves opening up blocked coronary arteries so that blood can circulate to the heart muscle more efficiently. An angioplasty can also include the placement of a stent, which is a metal coil that stops the artery from becoming blocked again.
Bypass surgery is another coronary heart disease treatment option. A coronary artery bypass graft is a procedure that allows the blood to flow around a blocked section of artery. This procedure requires the use of a blood vessel from another part of the body. The flow of blood is then sent through this new vessel rather than the diseased artery. Such serious surgical procedures are only performed if lifestyle changes and prescription medications are not enough to counterbalance coronary heart disease.
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