Lifestyle Changes
All cases of heart disease are treated with recommendations for changes in the patient's lifestyle. MedlinePlus notes that a number of different modifications may be suggested. Patients who smoke will be told to quit. Patients will also be told to begin an exercise program. Women's Health notes that 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week can help reduce cholesterol and lower blood pressure. Eating a heart healthy diet is also important. A heart healthy diet is low in sodium, saturated and trans fats, as well as cholesterol. Exercise and dieting also can help patients lose weight, which is another key lifestyle change for treating heart disease.
Medication
There are a number of different medications that can treat heart disease. Commonly used medications for treating heart disease include cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins, states the Mayo Clinic. Nitrates (which include nitroglycerin) increase the blood flow to the heart. Blood thinners (such as low doses of aspirin) can also decrease the risk of a heart attack. Many drugs for high blood pressure are also effective for treating heart disease. Beta-blockers, for example, reduce the strain that is placed on the heart. Calcium channel blockers expand the arteries, which also makes it easier for the heart to work.
Surgical Treatments
For severe cases of heart disease, such as a blocked coronary artery, doctors may recommend more invasive treatments. Sometimes, arteries that are beginning to be blocked off can be opened using a stent or a small balloon that is inflated inside the artery, helping to relieve the blockage (angioplasty). Sometimes, doctors will bypass a blocked coronary artery by rerouting blood around the blocked artery using a blood vessel graft. These procedures are designed to keep blood flowing to the heart because blocked coronary arteries lead to heart attacks.
