Arterial plaque is caused by cholesterol building up in the walls of the arteries, creating large, hard masses that reduce the pliability of arteries and narrow them. These plaques can raise blood pressure and also break, either causing arterial rupture or small clots to travel through the body where they can cause a heart attack or a stroke. Arterial plaque can be removed naturally by the body early on, because it is still unstable. In order for this to happen, however, more plaque must not be formed.
Step 1
Eat healthy. According to the Mayo Clinic, you can keep plaques from developing in your arteries by changing your diet so that you eat less fat and cholesterol and eat more whole grains, vegetables and fruits.
Step 2
Avoid smoking, as that can speed the rate of plaque formation, as well as drinking in excess (over one drink per day for women, more than two per day for men.)
Step 3
Exercise regularly (30 minutes at least three times a week). Try to do aerobic exercise, even if it is simply taking a brisk 30-minute walk. This will help your overall cardiovascular health.
Step 4
Take medications to lower your cholesterol and to optimize your lipid profile. Lowering your cholesterol levels will help prevent the plaques from forming, but, according to Medline, it is also important to lower your LDL cholesterol (colloquially known as "bad" cholesterol). Medications such as statins (which include lorvastatin) can be very effective at lowering your LDL levels, which helps prevent plaque formation. Statins have also been shown to help reduce plaque in the arteries. Other cholesterol-lowering medications include bile acid binders (such as cholestyramine) and medications that prevent cholesterol absorption (such as ezetimibe).
Step 5
Improve your blood pressure and blood sugar levels as well. High blood pressure and high blood sugar can both cause the formation and stabilization of plaque within your arteries. Keeping these factors under control will help your body get rid of arterial plaque. Blood pressure and blood sugar can both be lowered using diet and/or medications.
Step 6
Receive surgical intervention. If the plaque in your arteries is severe and you are in danger of having inadequate blood flow through that artery (or a rupture), there are a number of surgical options available. While these treatments cannot "reduce" plaque, they can help prevent the complications of atherosclerosis or remove the diseased tissue. In some cases, a small stent or an angioplasty (in which a small balloon is inflated in the affected artery) can be used to help expand a narrowed artery. Otherwise, bypass surgery can help route blood away from the plaque-filled artery using blood vessel grafts, which effectively removes the plaque-filled portion from circulation.
