Arteries become blocked when plaque builds up inside, which can result in many serious consequences for the heart. Many look for methods to remove arterial plaque, hoping it will cure years of bad choices or inherited risk. But the situation is more difficult than that. In this guide, we will discuss how to dissolve arterial plaque, the symptoms of arteriosclerosis, the dangers of blocked arteries, and evidence-supported ways to reduce plaque.
What Is Arterial Plaque and Why Does It Matter?
Sticky fats, cholesterol, calcium, and several other materials create arterial plaque inside the arteries. This buildup, called atherosclerosis, makes arteries narrow and stiff, preventing proper blood movement to important organs. Eventually, it may result in severe health problems such as coronary artery disease, heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease.
Arteriosclerosis Symptoms: What to Watch For
Arteriosclerosis means your arteries become thicker and harder due to plaque accumulation. Common signs of heart attacks are found regardless of the affected artery, but they can be more severe or different depending on that artery.
- Chest pain or pressure (angina), especially during exertion
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue or weakness
- Pain in the arms or legs (especially during activity)
- Numbness or weakness in limbs
- Confusion or difficulty speaking (if brain arteries are affected)
- Vision loss in one eye
Many times, artery blockages build up over time without symptoms until they become serious and lead to a serious condition like a heart attack or stroke.
How Arterial Plaque Forms and the Risks of Blockages
If cholesterol and other blood substances gather at a point of injury or inflammation in the artery, it forms plaque. Eventually, the fat in the arteries starts to narrow them, reducing how much blood can pass through. A plaque that ruptures may set off a blood clot that fills the artery and leads to a heart attack or stroke.
Risks of Blockages of Arteries:
- Heart attack (if blockages occur in the coronary arteries)
- Stroke (if blockages occur in the brain arteries)
- Peripheral artery disease (if blockages occur in limbs)
- Chronic kidney disease (if blockages occur in the kidney arteries)
Can You Dissolve Arterial Plaque?
Determining how to deal with the buildup in arteries or arterial plaque is not simple. Today, there is no way to completely remove plaque from your arteries with medications or procedures. Yet, researchers have found that it is possible to lessen and control plaque, which helps lower the chances of problems from the plaque breaking and bleeding.
What Does “Dissolving” Plaque Mean?
- Shrinking Plaque: When you change your lifestyle and take cholesterol-lowering drugs, plaque cholesterol levels drop, and the plaques become more secure within your artery walls.
- Preventing Trouble: By stabilizing the plaque, we can stop the rupture that can result in the formation of clots.
Evidence-Based Approaches to Managing Arterial Plaque
Lifestyle Changes
The primary strategy for dealing with arterial plaque is to adapt your lifestyle:
- Healthy Diet: Focus on choosing foods that contain little of these fats and cholesterol. Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats (found in nuts and olive oil).
- Regular Exercise: Daily cardiovascular exercise (such as walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling) helps your heart and lowers the risk of new blockages.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking is dangerous because it speeds up plaque in your arteries and can damage your blood vessels. Taking a puff from a cigar is very risky for your heart.
- Weight Management: Keeping your weight under control reduces work for your heart and helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Stress Reduction: Continual stress can worsen blood pressure and inflammation. Yoga, meditation, or deep breathing can be very helpful.
Medications
Medications are essential in lowering the risk and controlling plaque buildup in the arteries.
- Statins: Statins are prescribed to decrease LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, which helps form plaques. Taking statins can slow the progress of existing plaque in your arteries.
- PCSK9 Inhibitors: A drug introduced recently that lowers LDL cholesterol and is sometimes used both by itself and with statins for high-risk patients.
- Blood Pressure Medications: Keeping blood pressure controlled by medicine can help prevent more damage to your arteries.
- Aspirin and blood thinners: Aspirin and blood thinners can reduce the chance of clotting on unstable plaques.
Medical Procedures
If the arteries are severely blocked and either symptoms appear or blood flow becomes very low, procedures might be needed.
- Angioplasty and Stenting: A blocked artery can be opened using angioplasty, which uses a balloon and a thin mesh tube called a stent to hold the artery open.
- Bypass Surgery: Surgeons take blood vessels from another part of the body to move blood around the blocked artery.
- Atherectomy: If plaque is identified in an artery, sometimes equipment is used to remove it from the vessel.
Preventing Further Blockages in the Arteries
It’s always best to prevent a problem rather than treat it when it happens. Even if you have a little plaque already, you should take action to stop it from building up in your arteries.
- Monitor Blood Pressure and Cholesterol: Regular check-ups of blood pressure and cholesterol can find problems early.
- Manage Diabetes: Manage your diabetes, as letting your blood sugar rise damages your arteries and causes more plaque to develop.
- Stay Active: Work out at a moderate pace every week for at least two and a half hours.
- Eat Heart-Healthy Foods: Avoid junk foods, eliminate added sugar, and eat less salt.
The Risks of Ignoring Arterial Plaque
Blockages inside the arteries that are not treated can endanger your life. Heart attacks, strokes, and unexpected death from heart disease are all related to advanced atherosclerosis. Even little blockages can cause frequent symptoms such as chest pain or pain in the leg, which can decrease how much you enjoy life.
Myths and Misconceptions
Numerous products and natural remedies are promoted as fast plaque dissolvers. Yet, no research indicates that supplements, cleanses, or alternative methods can help eliminate plaque in your arteries. Essential lifestyle changes and doctor-recommended medicine are the only effective ways to deal with the problem.
The Future: Can We Ever Truly Dissolve Plaque?
Studies are investigating whether intense cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins and PCSK9 inhibitors could reverse the beginning stages of plaque in the arteries. According to research, reducing cholesterol to an extremely low level over many years may help the body repair its arteries, yet this idea is still under investigation.
If you’re concerned about blockages in the arteries or experiencing symptoms of arteriosclerosis, consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice and treatment. Early action can save lives and dramatically improve the quality of life.