How to Cure Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease is a condition that involves the narrowing of the arteries that carry oxygen and blood to the heart. This narrowing occurs as a result of plaque buildup in the arteries. There are a number of factors that contribute to coronary artery disease, including high blood pressure, obesity, smoking and high cholesterol.
- Make the decision to quit smoking and avoid any tobacco products, which can greatly increase your chances of getting coronary artery disease. It is also important to limit your exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Schedule an appointment with your health care provider to have your blood pressure and cholesterol checked. If you suffer from high blood pressure or high cholesterol, your doctor may discuss ways to lower them or prescribe medications to keep them under control.
- Try to consume foods that are good for your heart. Limiting your intake of foods that are high in saturated fat and increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables can help treat coronary artery disease.
- Aim for a healthy weight. Being overweight can cause insulin resistance and elevated blood sugar levels, which can eventually damage the walls of the coronary arteries and contribute to coronary artery disease.
- Ask your health care provider if you should take a daily aspirin. Aspirin serves as a blood thinner and reduces the risk of blood clots forming, which can lead to blocked arteries.
- Get some form of daily cardiovascular exercise. Daily exercise, such as walking or swimming, helps strengthen the heart, lower blood pressure and raise the levels of good cholesterol in your blood.
- Discuss the options for treating coronary artery disease with your health care provider. Depending on the severity of the disease, treatment options may include medication, an atherectomy or bypass surgery. An atherectomy is less invasive, and involves removing some of the plaque buildup within the arteries. Bypass surgery is more invasive, and involves taking an artery from another part of the body and implanting it into the heart muscle to allow blood to flow.