Atherosclerosis Treatment & Prevention - Atherosclerosis Treatment

Treatment Options
I. Medications
1.
Cholesterol lowering drugs: Statins (Lovastatin, Pravastatin, Simvastatin, Atorvastatin and Fluvastatin), Niacin, Bile acid sequestrants (Cholestyramine, Colestipol and Colesevelam), Fibric acid derivatives (Gemfibrozil, Fenofibrate and Clofibrate) and Probuchol
2.
Hypertension lowering drugs: These drugs also lower the heart rate consequently reducing the workload or strain on the heart. Some of the examples of this type are Beta-blockers (Acebutolol, Atenolol, Metoprolol, Nadolol and Propranolol), Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (Benazepril, Captopril, Enalapril, Lisinopril and Ramipril), Calcium-channel blockers (Amlodipine, Felodipine, Nifedipine, Nicardipine and Verapamil) and Alpha/beta blockers (Labetalol)
3.
Blood Thinning Drugs are classified into three types:
1.
Platelet Inhibitors: Aspirin, Ticlodipine, Dipyridamole, Clopidogrel and Glycoprotein receptor agonists (Abciximab, Eptifibatide, Lamifiban and Tirofiban)
2.

Anticoagulants: Heparin and Warfarin
3.

Thrombolytics: recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator (rTPA), Streptokinase and Urokinase

II. Surgical and Non-Surgical Procedures:
Angiography is an X-ray examination of the blood vessels to ascertain an invasive or non-invasive procedure that needs to be performed depending on the location such as heart, brain or lower extremities and severity of atherosclerosis. Those procedures may include:

A. Surgical Procedures:
1.

Bypass Surgery: In this procedure, blood is rerouted of bypassed around the blocked arteries to improve the blood supply to affected areas such as heart and limbs.
2.

Minimally Invasive Bypass Surgery: In this procedure, a small incision is created in the chest wall to perform a regular bypass surgery.
3.

Endarterctomy: This procedure is performed to remove plaque in the carotid (which is a major artery located in front of the neck) or peripheral arteries.

B. Non-Surgical Procedures:
1.

Angioplasty: In this procedure, a catheter with a deflated balloon is inserted into a narrowed part of artery and the balloon inflated to widen the inner diameter of the blood vessel. The balloon is then deflated and the catheter removed. A permanent stent (wire mesh) may be placed to hold the artery wide open and improve the blood flow.
2.

Atherectomy: This procedure is performed to remove plaque from arteries using a laser catheter or a rotating shaver.
3.

Laser Revascularization: In this procedure, a laser creates multiple channels through the heart muscle into the main pumping chamber of the heart. The channels fill with blood from the pumping chamber, which then supplies oxygen and necessary nutrients to the heart muscle (1).

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com