How is a blocked artery treated?

As a medical professional with expertise in cardiovascular health, I can provide you with an overview of how a blocked artery is treated. There are several methods to treat a blocked artery, including lifestyle changes, medication, and surgical procedures. Lifestyle Changes: The first line of treatment often involves making changes to one's daily habits. This can include improving diet, increasing physical activity, quitting smoking, and managing stress. These changes can help reduce the risk of further blockages and improve overall heart health. Medication: Doctors may prescribe various medications to help manage the symptoms and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. These can include antiplatelet drugs, anticoagulants, cholesterol-lowering drugs, and medications to control high blood pressure. Surgical Procedures: If lifestyle changes and medications are not sufficient, or if the blockage is severe, surgery may be required. One common surgical procedure is coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). During CABG, a surgeon creates a graft using a vessel from another part of the body to bypass the blocked coronary artery. This new pathway allows blood to flow around the blocked or narrowed section, improving blood flow to the heart muscle. This type of surgery is typically reserved for cases where there are multiple narrowed coronary arteries. Another less invasive procedure is angioplasty and stenting. In this procedure, a catheter with a small balloon is inserted into the blocked artery. The balloon is inflated to open the artery, and a stent may be placed to keep the artery open.

A surgeon creates a graft to bypass blocked coronary arteries using a vessel from another part of your body. This allows blood to flow around the blocked or narrowed coronary artery. Because this requires open-heart surgery, it's most often reserved for cases of multiple narrowed coronary arteries.