Treatments for Atherosclerosis

Treatments for Atherosclerosis

The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Atherosclerosis includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

• Lifestyle changes
  • Control weight
  • Healthy diet
  • Low fat diet
  • Regular physical activity
  • Control high blood pressure
  • Low salt diet
  • Control diabetes
  • Control cholesterol
  • Low cholesterol diet
  • Quit smoking
  • Control stress
• Surgery
  • Angioplasty
  • Coronary angioplasty (balloon angioplasty)
  • Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (bypass surgery)
  • Artery stents
• Vitamin B3
• Follow a healthy eating plan to prevent or reduce high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol and to maintain a healthy weight
• Increase your physical activity
• Lose weight, if you're overweight or obese
• Reduce stress
• Medications - Statins

Atherosclerosis: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available for Atherosclerosis:

• Dieting & Weight management: products & offers »
• Heart health products & offers »
• High cholesterol
• more product offers...»

Curable Types of Atherosclerosis

Possibly curable types of Atherosclerosis may include:

• Dyslipoproteinemia related atherosclerosis
• Diabetes related atherosclerosis
• Stroke related atherosclerosis
• Coronary heart disease related atherosclerosis
• more curable types...»

Atherosclerosis: Research Doctors & Specialists

• Cholesterol Specialists:
  • Clinical Lipidology (Cholesterol/Triglycerides)
  • Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism
• Cardiac (Heart) Specialists:
  • Cardiology (Heart specialists)
  • Pediatric Cardiology (Child Heart Specialists)
  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
  • Interventional Cardiology
• more specialists...»

Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Drugs and Medications used to treat Atherosclerosis:

Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment or change in treatment plans.

Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Atherosclerosis include:

• Advicor
• Pravastatin
• Lin-Pravastatin
• Pravachol
• Garlic

Unlabeled Drugs and Medications to treat Atherosclerosis:

Unlabelled alternative drug treatments for Atherosclerosis include:

• Cilostazol - mainly used to control atherosclerosis in type II diabetics
• Pletal - mainly used to control atherosclerosis in type II diabetics
• Diltiazem
• Albert Diltiazem CD
• Apo-Diltiaz
• Alti-Diltiazem
• Cardizem
• Cardizem CD
• Cardizem SR
• Cartia XT
• Dilacor XR
• Diltia XT
• Diltiazem ER
• Med-Diltiazem SR
• Novo-Diltiazem
• Nu-Diltiaz
• Pharma-Diltiaz
• Syn-Diltiazem
• Teczem
• Tiamate
• Tiazac
• Felodipine
• Plendil
• Altace plus Felodipine
• Lexxel
• Logimax
• Renedil
• Verapamil
• Alti-Verapamil
• Apo-Verap
• Calan
• Calan SR
• Chronovera
• Covera-HS
• Dom-Verapamil SR
• Gen-Verapamil
• Isoptin
• Isoptin SR
• Med-Verapamil
• Nu-Verap
• PMS-Verapamil
• Tarka
• Verelan
• Verelan PM
• Epoprostenol
• Flolan

Latest treatments for Atherosclerosis:

The following are some of the latest treatments for Atherosclerosis:

• Oxygen
• Coronary artery bypass graft
• Stent
• Drug eluting stent
• Angioplasty
• Atherectomy
• Statins

Hospital statistics for Atherosclerosis:

These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Atherosclerosis:

• 0.066% (8,480) of hospital consultant episodes were for atherosclerosis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 85% of hospital consultant episodes for atherosclerosis required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 61% of hospital consultant episodes for atherosclerosis were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 39% of hospital consultant episodes for atherosclerosis were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• more hospital information...»

Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Atherosclerosis

Research quality ratings and patient incidents/safety measures for hospitals and medical facilities in specialties related to Atherosclerosis:

• Heart Health (Cardiac Care) -- Hospital Quality Ratings
• more hospital ratings...»

Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »

Choosing the Best Treatment Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to Atherosclerosis, on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:

• 50 Best Hospitals Report
• Women's Health Best Hospitals
• Patient Safety
• Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence Study (2009)

Medical news summaries about treatments for Atherosclerosis:

The following medical news items are relevant to treatment of Atherosclerosis:

• Aspirin and Bextra combination may increase heart risk
• Chinese herbal company has released natural alternative for cholesterol reduction
• Combination therapy causes significant reduction in risk of heart attack
• Control of blood pressure improves memory
• Diabetic women don't fare as well as diabetic men following a stenting procedure
• Emergency heart attack surgery
• Heart suffers from diet pill
• Loss of limbs from artery disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease link
• Vioxx to prove that short term use not harmful
• More news »

Discussion of treatments for Atherosclerosis:

If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high blood cholesterol, these conditions can be treated as well. Lowering your blood cholesterol level can slow, stop, or even reverse the buildup of plaque. Cholesterol lowering can reduce the cholesterol content in unstable plaques to make them more stable and less prone to rupture.

One of the most important ways to have healthier arteries is to make lifestyle changes. Adopt a healthy diet, balance healthful eating with regular physical activity, don't smoke, and lose weight if you are overweight. If you have high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, follow your treatment plan. Making lifestyle changes can also help control these health problems. (Source: excerpt from ATHEROSCLEROSIS: NWHIC)

Book Excerpts: Treatment of Atherosclerosis

• Treatment - Hypertension
• Treatment - Hypertension
• Treatment - Hypertension
• Treatment - Arterial occlusive disease
• Treatment - Pregnancy-induced hypertension
• Treatment (Tx) - Hypertensive crisis
• Treatment - Pulmonary hypertension
• Treatment - Renovascular hypertension
• Treatment - Cardiovascular disease in pregnancy
• Patient counseling - Blood pressure increase [Hypertension]
• Treatment - Hypertension
• Treatment - Arterial occlusive disease
• Treatment - Hypertension, pregnancy-induced
• Treatment - Pulmonary hypertension
• Treatment - Cardiovascular disease in pregnancy
• Nursing considerations - Blood pressure, increased [Hypertension]

Treatments of Atherosclerosis: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the treatments of Atherosclerosis.

Hypertension: Treatment
(In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)

• Essential hypertension: Lifestyle changes are the initial interventions unless significant hypertension, end-organ damage, or diabetes is present (smoking cessation; dietary changes, e.g., DASH diet =low in sodium, rich in potassium and calcium; increased exercise)
• Pharmacologic therapy usually begins with a diuretic or β-blocker (ACE inhibitor in diabetics)
  –Diuretics are usually first-line agents, especially in CHF, diabetes, and risk of coronary artery disease
  –Use ACE inhibitors in patients with CHF, MI, renal disease, and diabetes
  –Use β-blockers in CAD, recent MI, angina, CHF, atrial fibrillation, migraines, hyperthyroidism
  –Additional drugs may include angiotensin receptor blockers (especially in patients with cough when using ACE inhibitors), calcium channel blockers, and β-blockers
  –Preferred drugs in pregnancy include methyldopa, β-blockers, and vasodilators (do not use ACE/ARBs)

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: In a Page: Signs and Symptoms, 2004

Hypertension: Treatment
(In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms)

• Treat the underlying disease when possible
• Stop smoking and illicit drug use
• Avoid the offending drug when possible
• Limit competitive sports and highly static exercises in patients with severe hypertension only until their BP is controlled and there is no evidence of end organ damage
• Salt restriction (4–5 g/day), weight loss, and exercise are part of most regimens
• Essential hypertension can usually be resolved with weight loss, moderate exercise, and dietary modifications
• For other etiologies, many medications are used to control blood pressure
  –IV: Nicardipine, sodium nitroprusside, labetalol
  –Oral: Captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, amlodipine, nifedipine extended release, propranolol, clonidine, hydralazine

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms, 2007

Hypertension: Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The National Institutes of Health recommend the following approach for treating primary hypertension:

❑ First, help the patient initiate necessary lifestyle modifications, including weight reduction, moderation of alcohol intake, regular physical exercise, reduction of sodium intake, and smoking cessation.

❑ If the patient fails to achieve the desired blood pressure or make significant progress, continue lifestyle modifications and begin drug therapy.

❑ For stage 1 hypertension (systolic [SBP] blood pressure 140 to 159 mm Hg, or diastolic blood pressure [DBP] 90 to 99 mm Hg) in the absence of compelling indications (heart failure, postmyocardial infarction, high coronary disease risk, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or recurrent stroke prevention), give most patients thiazide-type diuretics. Consider using an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, beta-adrenergic blocker, calcium channel blocker (CCB), angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB), or a combination.

❑ For stage 2 hypertension (SBP ≥ 160 mm Hg, or DBP ≥ 100 mm Hg) in the absence of compelling indications, give most patients a two-drug combination (usually a thiazide-type diuretic and an ACE inhibitor, ARB, CCB, or beta-adrenergic blocker).

❑ If the patient has one or more compelling indications, base drug treatment on benefits from outcome studies or existing clinical guidelines. Treatment may include the following, depending on indication:

–  Heart failure — diuretic, beta-adrenergic blocker, ACE inhibitor, ARB, or aldosterone antagonist

–  High coronary disease risk — diuretic, beta-adrenergic blocker, ACE inhibitor, or CCB

–  Diabetes — diuretic, beta-adrenergic blocker, ACE inhibitor, or CCB

–  Chronic kidney disease — ACE inhibitor or ARB

–  Postmyocardial failure — ACE inhibitor, beta-adrenergic blocker, or aldosterone antagonist

–  Recurrent stroke prevention — diuretic or ACE inhibitor.

Give other antihypertensive drugs as needed.

❑ If the patient fails to achieve the desired blood pressure, continue lifestyle modifications and optimize drug dosages or add additional drugs until the goal blood pressure is achieved. Also, consider consultation with a hypertension specialist.

Treatment of secondary hypertension focuses on correcting the underlying cause and controlling hypertensive effects.

Typically, hypertensive emergencies require parenteral administration of a vasodilator or an adrenergic inhibitor or oral administration of a selected drug, such as nifedipine, captopril, clonidine, or labetalol, to rapidly reduce blood pressure. The initial goal is to reduce mean arterial blood pressure by no more than 25% (within minutes to hours) then to 160/110 within 2 hours while avoiding excessive falls in blood pressure that can precipitate renal, cerebral, or myocardial ischemia.

Examples of hypertensive emergencies include hypertensive encephalopathy, intracranial hemorrhage, acute left-sided heart failure with pulmonary edema, and dissecting aortic aneurysm. Hypertensive emergencies are also associated with eclampsia or severe gestational hypertension, unstable angina, and acute myocardial infarction.

Hypertension without accompanying symptoms or target-organ disease seldom requires emergency drug therapy.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Arterial occlusive disease: Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Treatment depends on the obstruction’s cause, location, and size. For mild chronic disease, supportive measures include elimination of smoking, hypertension control, and walking exercise. For carotid artery occlusion, antiplatelet therapy may begin with ticlopidine or clopidogrel and aspirin. For intermittent claudication of chronic occlusive disease, pentoxifylline and cilostazol may improve blood flow through the capillaries, particularly for patients who are poor candidates for surgery.

Acute arterial occlusive disease usually requires surgery to restore circulation to the affected area, for example:

❑ Atherectomy — Excision of plaque using a drill or slicing mechanism.

❑ Balloon angioplasty — Compression of the obstruction using balloon inflation.

❑ Bypass graft — Blood flow is diverted through an anastomosed autogenous or Dacron graft past the thrombosed segment.

❑ Combined therapy — Concomitant use of any of the above treatments.

❑ Embolectomy — A balloon-tipped Fogarty catheter is used to remove thrombotic material from the artery. Embolectomy is used mainly for mesenteric, femoral, or popliteal artery occlusion.

❑ Laser angioplasty — Use of excision and hot tip lasers to vaporize the obstruction.

❑ Lumbar sympathectomy — An adjunct to surgery, depending on the sympathetic nervous system’s condition.

❑ Patch grafting — This procedure involves removal of the thrombosed arterial segment and replacement with an autogenous vein or Dacron graft.

❑ Stents — Insertion of a mesh of wires that stretch and mold to the arterial wall to prevent reocclusion. This new adjunct follows laser angioplasty or atherectomy.

❑ Thromboendarterectomy — Opening of the occluded artery and direct removal of the obstructing thrombus and the medial layer of the arterial wall; usually performed after angiography and commonly used with autogenous vein or Dacron bypass surgery (femoral-popliteal or aortofemoral).

❑ Thrombolytic therapy — Lysis of any clot around or in the plaque by urokinase, streptokinase, or alteplase.

Amputation becomes necessary with failure of arterial reconstructive surgery or with the development of gangrene, persistent infection, or intractable pain.

Other therapy includes heparin to prevent emboli (for embolic occlusion) and bowel resection after restoration of blood flow (for mesenteric artery occlusion).

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Pregnancy-induced hypertension: Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Therapy for preeclampsia is designed to halt the disorder’s progress — specifically, the early effects of eclampsia, such as seizures, residual hypertension, and renal shutdown — and to ensure fetal survival. Some physicians advocate the prompt induction of labor, especially if the patient is near term; others follow a more conservative approach. Therapy may include complete bed rest to increase placental perfusion, reduce hypertension, and evaluate response to therapy. Antihypertensive therapy doesn’t alter the potential for developing eclampsia. Diuretics aren’t appropriate during pregnancy.

If the patient’s blood pressure fails to respond to bed rest and sedation and persistently rises above 160/100 mm Hg, or if central nervous system irritability increases, magnesium sulfate may produce general sedation, promote diuresis, and prevent seizures. Cesarean birth or oxytocin induction may be required to terminate the pregnancy.

Emergency treatment of eclamptic seizures consists of immediate administration of magnesium sulfate (I.V. drip), oxygen administration, and electronic fetal monitoring. After the seizures subside and the patient’s condition stabilizes, delivery should proceed with induction of labor or cesarean birth, depending upon the circumstances.

Adequate nutrition, good prenatal care, and control of pre-existing hypertension during pregnancy decrease the incidence and severity of preeclampsia. Early recognition and prompt treatment of preeclampsia can prevent progression to eclampsia.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Hypertensive crisis: Treatment (Tx)
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, diazoxide, hydralazine, methyldopa

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Pulmonary hypertension: Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Treatment usually includes oxygen therapy to decrease hypoxemia and resulting pulmonary vascular resistance. It may also include vasodilator therapy (nifedipine, diltiazem, or prostaglandin E). For patients with right-sided heart failure, treatment also includes fluid restriction, cardiac glycosides to increase cardiac output, and diuretics to decrease intravascular volume and extravascular fluid accumulation. Treatment also aims to correct the underlying cause.

Some patients with pulmonary hypertension may be candidates for heart-lung transplantation to improve their chances of survival.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Renovascular hypertension: Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Surgery, the treatment of choice, is performed to restore adequate circulation and to control severe hypertension or severely impaired renal function by renal artery bypass, endarterectomy, arterioplasty or, as a last resort, nephrectomy. Balloon catheter renal artery dilation is used in selected cases to correct renal artery stenosis without the risks and morbidity of surgery. Symptomatic measures include antihypertensives, diuretics, and a sodium-restricted diet.

Medications that may be used in an attempt to control blood pressure include diuretics, beta-adrenergic blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers, and alpha-adrenergic blockers. Diazoxide or nitroprusside may be given in the hospital if symptoms are acute. Response to medications is highly individual and the dosage or specific drug used may need frequent adjustment.

Lifestyle changes may be recommended, including weight, exercise, dietary adjustments, smoking cessation, and avoidance of alcohol. These habits add to the effects of hypertension in causing complications.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Cardiovascular disease in pregnancy: Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The goal of antepartum management is to prevent complications and minimize the strain on the mother’s heart, primarily through rest. This may require periodic hospitalization for patients with moderate cardiac dysfunction or with symptoms of decompensation, toxemia, or infection. Older women or those with previous decompensation may require hospitalization and bed rest throughout the pregnancy.

Drug therapy is often necessary and should always include the safest possible drug in the lowest possible dosage to minimize harmful effects to the fetus. Diuretics and drugs that increase blood pressure, blood volume, or cardiac output should be used with extreme caution. If an anticoagulant is needed, heparin is the drug of choice. Cardiac glycosides and common antiarrhythmics, such as quinidine and procainamide, are often required. The prophylactic use of antibiotics is reserved for patients who are susceptible to endocarditis.

A therapeutic abortion should be considered for patients with severe cardiac dysfunction, especially if decompensation occurs during the first trimester. Patients hospitalized with heart failure usually follow a regimen of cardiac glycosides, oxygen, rest, sedation, diuretics, and restricted intake of sodium and fluids. Patients in whom symptoms of heart failure don’t improve after treatment with bed rest and cardiac glycosides may require cardiac surgery, such as valvotomy and commissurotomy. During labor, the patient may require oxygen and an analgesic, such as meperidine or morphine, for relief of pain and apprehension without undue depression of the fetus or herself. Depending on which procedure promises to be less stressful for the patient’s heart, delivery may be vaginal or by cesarean birth. Forceps may augment vaginal delivery to minimize the need to push, which strains the heart.

Bed rest and medications already instituted should continue for at least 1 week after delivery because of a high incidence of decompensation, cardiovascular collapse, and maternal death during the early puerperal period. These complications may result from the sudden release of intra-abdominal pressure at delivery and the mobilization of extracellular fluid for excretion, which increase the strain on the heart, especially if excessive interstitial fluid has accumulated. Breast-feeding is undesirable for patients with severely compromised cardiac dysfunction because it increases fluid and metabolic demands on the heart.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Blood pressure increase [Hypertension]: Patient counseling
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))

Encourage the patient to lose weight, if necessary, and to restrict sodium intake. Suggest that he participate in an exercise or stress management program as well. Then teach the patient how to monitor his blood pressure so that he can evaluate the effectiveness of drug therapy and lifestyle changes. Have him record blood pressure readings and symptoms, and ask him to share this information on his return visits.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006

Hypertension: Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)

Secondary hypertension treatment focuses on correcting the underlying cause and controlling hypertensive effects.

The National Institutes of Health recommend the following approach for treating primary hypertension:

❑ First, help the patient initiate necessary lifestyle modifications, including weight reduction, moderation of alcohol intake, regular physical exercise, reduction of sodium intake, and smoking cessation.

❑ If the patient fails to achieve the desired blood pressure or make significant progress, continue lifestyle modifications and begin drug therapy.

❑ For stage 1 hypertension (systolic [SBP] blood pressure 140 to 159 mm Hg, or diastolic blood pressure [DBP] 90 to 99 mm Hg) in the absence of compelling indications (heart failure, postmyocardial infarction, high coronary disease risk, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or recurrent stroke prevention), give most patients thiazide-type diuretics. Consider using an angioten-sin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), beta-adrenergic blocker (BB), calcium channel blocker (CCB), or a combination.

❑ For stage 2 hypertension (SBP ≥ 60 mm Hg, or DBP ≥ 100 mm Hg) in the absence of compelling indications, give most patients a two-drug combination (usually a thiazide-type diuretic and an ACEI, ARB, BB, or CCB).

❑ If the patient has one or more compelling indications, base drug treatment on benefits from outcome studies or existing clinical guidelines. Treatment may include the following, depending on indication:

❑ Heart failure — diuretic, BB, ACEI, ARB, or aldosterone antagonist

❑ Post myocardial infarction — BB, ACEI, or aldosterone antagonist

❑ High coronary disease risk — diuretic, BB, ACEI, or CCB

❑ Diabetes — diuretic, BB, ACEI, ARB, or CCB

❑ Chronic kidney disease — ACEI or ARB

❑ Recurrent stroke prevention — diuretic or ACEI.

Give other antihypertensive drugs as needed.

❑ If the patient fails to achieve the desired blood pressure, continue lifestyle modifications and optimize drug dosages or add additional drugs until the goal blood pressure is achieved. Also, consider consultation with a hypertension specialist.

UNDER STUDY: Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids used in the treatment of hypertension significantly reduce total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Clinical tip  The treatment for renal artery stenosis includes the use of ACE inhibitors and renal artery stents.

Hypertensive emergencies

Examples of hypertensive emergencies include hypertensive encephalopathy, intracranial hemorrhage, acute left-sided heart failure with pulmonary edema, and dissecting aortic aneurysm. Hypertensive emergencies are also associated with eclampsia and severe pregnancy-induced hypertension, unstable angina, and acute MI.

Typically, hypertensive emergencies require parenteral administration of a vasodilator or an adrenergic inhibitor or oral administration of a selected drug, such as nifedipine, captopril, clonidine, or labetalol, to rapidly reduce blood pressure.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003

Arterial occlusive disease: Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)

Effective treatment depends on the cause, location, and size of the obstruction. The goal of medical management is to impede progression of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. For mild chronic disease, supportive measures include elimination of smoking, control of hypertension, and initiation of a walking program. For carotid artery occlusion, antiplatelet therapy may begin with aspirin. For intermittent claudication of chronic occlusive disease, pentoxifylline may improve blood flow through the capillaries, particularly in patients who are poor candidates for surgery. Exercise also plays a vital role in treatment for claudication.

Acute arterial occlusive disease usually requires surgery to restore circulation to the affected area. Possible procedures include the following: