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To some extent, the body will protect itself by forming new blood vessels around the affected area.

Medications may be recommended to reduce fats and cholesterol in your blood. These include cholestyramine, colestipol, nicotinic acid, gemfibrozil, probucol, lovastatin, and others. Aspirin, ticlopidine, and clopidogrel (inhibitors of platelet clumping) or anti-coagulants may be used to reduce the risk of clot formation.

Balloon angioplasty uses a balloon-tipped catheter to flatten plaque and increase the blood flow past the deposits. The technique is used to open the arteries of the heart and other arteries in the body. Another widely used technique is stenting, which consists of implanting a small metal device inside the artery (usually following angioplasty) to keep the artery open.

Surgically removing deposits (endarterectomy) may be recommended in some cases. A bypass graft is the most invasive procedure. It uses a normal artery or vein from the patient to create a bridge that bypasses the blocked section of the artery.

Prognosis

The outcome varies. All people begin to develop atherosclerosis at birth, and in some people, it leads to complications.

Complications

Coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis of arteries to the heart) where the blood supply to the heart is insufficient due to obstruction (ischemia). A symptom is angina, or chest pain.

Heart attack.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke.

Insufficient blood supply to the limbs (mainly the legs and feet) due to obstruction.

Damage to organs.

Atherosclerosis and obstruction of bypass grafts.

Call Your Health Care Provider If:

Call for an appointment with the health care provider if you are at risk for atherosclerosis, particularly if symptoms of complications occur.

Ency. home > Disease > A > Atherosclerosis

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