Coronary artery disease or atherosclerosis is diagnosed when plaque builds up along the walls of the arteries. This reduces the amount of blood and oxygen that can reach the heart and/or brain. If the heart does not get the blood and oxygen it needs a heart attack can occur. If the brain is deprived the result may be a stroke. The good news is that there are treatments for coronary artery disease that can improve the quality of life. With this condition, however, treatments must be life-long in order to prevent complications.
Diet
Eating high amounts of fat or cholesterol can contribute to coronary artery disease. When too much fat and cholesterol is consumed, it can be stored in the body and may circulate in the bloodstream. Over time, this can lead to plaque buildup and a narrowing of the arteries.
To help counteract this, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends eating a diet low in fat and cholesterol. This should be combined with consuming just enough calories to maintain a healthy weight or reducing caloric intake to shed any extra pounds. Fat should make up no more than 35 percent of your daily calories, with saturated fat being no more than 10 percent and trans fat no more than 1 percent. Cholesterol consumption should be no higher than 300mg a day. In the long term, the focus should be on eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, fiber and whole grains.
Exercise
Regular exercise plays a large role in the both the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease, claims the American Heart Association. Exercise, especially aerobic exercise such as walking, biking and swimming, can lower triglyceride and LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels, increase “good" or HDL cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and help with weight loss. Aerobic exercise makes the heart and lungs stronger and more efficient at delivering blood and oxygen to the body. After getting a physician's OK to exercise, the AHA suggests aiming for 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week for life.
Meditation/Stress Management
Managing stress is another essential component in long-term control of coronary artery disease. There are many forms of meditation including basic forms where the attention is kept on the breath or a calming word, guided imagery and many others. The Cleveland Clinic states that meditation can help to control feelings of anxiety, lower blood pressure and heart rate and reduce stress levels. While practicing meditation can not remove plaque from the artery walls, it can teach techniques to successfully manage stress. This in turn can reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke when it is used as part of an overall healthy lifestyle plan.
Medications
Sometimes lifestyle changes alone are not enough to fully manage coronary artery disease. In these cases, lifestyle changes may need to be combined with taking medications. MayoClinic.com suggests talking to a doctor about medications that are designed to lower cholesterol. The most commonly prescribed medications are statins which can inhibit the body from making cholesterol. Statins may or may not be used in combination with other medications to lower blood pressure and manage any other symptoms that may be occurring alongside coronary artery disease.
