It can take decades for an artery to become blocked. However, once a blockage exists, symptoms like shortness of breath and chest pain can signal reduced blood flow to the heart, a symptom of coronary artery disease. Treatments depend on the degree of blockage, overall heart function, whether other conditions exist and a patient's history. Lifestyle changes, medications and surgical procedures are examples of treatment options.
Lifestyle Modifications
Doctors assess the extent of a patient's coronary artery blockage with a procedure called cardiac catheterization. By examining images of the coronary artery, the doctor is able to see the amount of cholesterol that is blocking the arteries. MayoClinic.com reports that if only one artery is affected by a coronary blockage, lifestyle changes may be recommended. Changing eating patterns and eliminating unhealthy habits like smoking can help slow the progression of coronary artery disease. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, making the heart's job more difficult, and carbon monoxide decreases the oxygen in the blood and damages the blood vessels. A healthy diet helps reduce the waistline, as well as cholesterol and blood pressure levels, which is essential for patients with coronary artery disease.
Medications
Various medications are available to treat coronary artery blockage, ranging from mild over-the-counter drugs to more potent prescription medications. Nitroglycerin opens up the coronary arteries and reduces chest pain. Beta-blockers slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure. Calcium channel blockers help increase blood flow to the heart by relaxing muscles around the coronary arteries. An aspirin regimen helps reduce blood clotting, which may prevent an obstruction. A doctor will decide which medication, or combination of medications, are suitable for treatment.
Angioplasty
Doctors perfume coronary angioplasty by stringing a tube with an attached balloon in the narrowed artery, and then expanding the balloon at the site of the blockage. A metal coil called a stent is typically placed in the clogged artery to prevent it from narrowing again.
Bypass Surgery
If lifestyle changes and medications are not effective, or if angioplasty did not widen the artery enough, a doctor may recommend bypass surgery to treat coronary artery blockage. With this procedure, a surgeon attaches a portion of the patient's leg vein or artery from the chest or wrist to the coronary artery, which allows the blood to bypass the blockage.
