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Can arteries be flushed out?

There are no quick fixes for melting away plaque, but people can make key lifestyle changes to stop more of it accumulating and to improve their heart health. In serious cases, medical procedures or surgery can help to remove blockages from within the arteries.

medicalnewstoday.com - How to unclog arteries: Treatment and preventing blockages

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We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we: Medical News Today only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. In this article, we take a close look at how to prevent plaque buildup, along with risk factors and complications when someone’s arteries are clogged. In serious cases, medical procedures or surgery can help to remove blockages from within the arteries. A doctor may also prescribe medication, such as aspirin , or cholesterol-reducing drugs, such as statins. A person’s arteries can become clogged by a buildup of a substance called plaque. There are no quick fixes for melting away plaque, but people can make key lifestyle changes to stop more of it accumulating and to improve their heart health. The best treatment is usually prevention, as removing plaque is much more difficult than preventing it from occurring. In many cases, people can prevent a plaque buildup and atherosclerosis. Some medical treatments are available to help clear the arteries, but they are invasive. Clogged or blocked arteries can stop fresh blood from reaching parts of the body, which can put a person at risk of a heart attack , heart failure , or stroke . Plaque is a mixture of fat, calcium , cholesterol , and waste from the cells in the body. This mix can stick to the walls of the arteries, making these blood vessels narrower. When this happens, it is called atherosclerosis . Eating a heart-healthful diet and regularly exercising can be powerful tools for preventing clogged arteries. These disciplines also make a person feel better as time goes on.

People can prevent clogged arteries with the following lifestyle changes:

Avoiding trans fats

The type of fat a person eats can affect plaque in the arteries. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommend that a person limits their intake of saturated fats and trans fats. This is because these kinds of fats contain high levels of LDL cholesterol, which is the main material of plaque in the arteries.

Foods that are high in trans fats include:

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fried foods

processed packaged foods

cakes, pies, and pastries

cookies and biscuits

margarine or butter substitutes

vegetable shortening

products with partially hydrogenated oils, otherwise known as trans fats

Along with trans fats, saturated fats may also affect heart health, though the evidence for this is mixed. Saturated fats are mostly found in animal products, such as beef, pork, and dairy, but also in coconut oil and palm oil. One review of scientific studies found there was a small but possibly important reduction in the risk of cardiovascular issues when people cut down on saturated fats and replaced them with unsaturated fats. Another review study suggests that people should avoid saturated fats because they increase LDL cholesterol in the body, which is a direct cause of heart issues.

Eating more unsaturated fats

Unsaturated fats are the good fats. They contain HDL cholesterol, which can help to take bad cholesterol from the arteries before it turns into plaque. According to the AHA, unsaturated fats may help improve blood cholesterol when eaten instead of trans or saturated fats.

avocado

olives

walnuts

some vegetable oils including sunflower and olive

fatty fish, including trout, herring, and salmon

Following other dietary tips

The AHA recommend that people aiming to lower their LDL cholesterol eat a diet rich in:

whole fruits and vegetables

nuts

whole grains

low-fat dairy

fish

poultry

They also recommend limiting sugary foods, red meat, and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Drinking herbal teas

Drinking teas, such as green or black tea, rooibos tea, or ginger tea may be good heart-healthy substitutes for other beverages. A study from 2011 found that drinking 6 cups of rooibos tea per day for 6 weeks helped to lower the amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood in adults who were at risk for heart diseases. Green tea can also help. A 2011 review reported that green tea and its extracts could lower LDL cholesterol in the blood, though this did not affect HDL cholesterol. Ginger supplementation may also improve significant markers that can lead to cardiovascular events, according to a 2016 study. Ginger root can be found as a supplement, but people can also brew it in hot water, and drink it as a tea.

A range of herbal teas is available for purchase online.

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Exercising regularly

Obesity is a risk factor for plaque buildup and heart disease. In addition to eating a healthful diet, regularly exercising may help a person to lose weight and reduce their risk of heart problems. Taking part in cardiovascular exercise, otherwise known as cardio, on a regular basis may also help strengthen the heart and reduce plaque.

Simple cardio activities that raise the heart rate include:

jogging

cycling

running

brisk walking

swimming

playing tennis

doing aerobics

A person should aim to do 30 to 60 minutes of exercise that raises the heart rate for a good workout. A doctor may recommend a specific exercise routine to fit an individual, based on various lifestyle factor.

Other ways to prevent clogged arteries

Stop smoking. According to the AHA, smoking is a major risk factor . It directly damages the arteries and can make fatty deposits grow faster and become larger. Stress reduction. Psychological stress levels may also cause a reaction in the body. Stress-reduction techniques, including yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises may help some people relax during a hectic day.

Medical treatments

When prevention methods are not effective, a person may need medical intervention to try and alleviate the effects of clogged arteries. A doctor may recommend medications to lower LDL cholesterol to use alongside dietary changes. These actions should be seen as an additional help rather than as solutions. Similarly, a blocked artery may require surgical treatment. This could involve inserting a tube into the artery to remove the plaque while leaving behind a stent to support the artery walls and increase blood flow. With severe blockages, doctors may perform surgery called a heart bypass to make sure the blood can get around the obstructed artery. Below is a 3-D model of atherosclerosis, which is fully interactive. You can explore this model using your mouse pad or touchscreen.

medicalnewstoday.com - How to unclog arteries: Treatment and preventing blockages

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