You can't fully "unclog" arteries, but you can significantly reverse plaque buildup and stop progression with intensive lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, no smoking) and medications (like statins) that lower cholesterol, effectively shrinking soft plaques, stabilizing them, and preventing heart attacks or strokes. While severe blockages need medical procedures (angioplasty, stents), managing risk factors is key to improving vessel function and preventing worsening disease.
In addition to chest pain, symptoms of a clogged artery may include:
Sometimes referred to as hardened, blocked or clogged arteries, atherosclerosis can be a complex condition. But the good news is that atherosclerosis is highly treatable when diagnosed early. Atherosclerosis symptoms can begin as early as childhood and usually progress more rapidly between ages 40 and 50.
While you can't confirm a blockage yourself, these steps can help you stay proactive:
Although exercise can't clear existing plaque from clogged arteries, it can help prevent further accumulation.
While some studies suggest statins may reduce plaque volume, the reduction is small even with the use of high-dose statins. Due to this small change in plaque volume, other effects of statin therapy on plaques have been proposed.
Nearly half of all Americans have one of the three major risk factors for coronary artery disease: smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. High blood pressure is often called “the silent killer” because you may have it without experiencing any symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction include:
Symptoms
Top Foods Cardiologists Want You to Avoid for Heart Health
Oatmeal. Both doctors cited oats as their regular favorite breakfast. Oatmeal contains lots of fiber, vitamins and minerals, and studies associate it with lowering cholesterol and helping with weight control, according to the American Heart Association. “My go-to is really oatmeal,” Freeman says.
Certain actions and foods can help open blood vessels immediately. Deep breathing exercises, stretching, and light physical activity like walking can stimulate blood flow. Consuming foods rich in nitric oxide, such as beets, garlic, spinach, and dark chocolate, helps dilate blood vessels.
Bananas and avocados — foods that are rich in potassium — may help protect against pathogenic vascular calcification, also known as hardening of the arteries.
Improve Circulation
Women who walk 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of stroke by 20%, and by 40% when they stepped up the pace, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.
The underlying heart condition should be considered when developing an exercise plan. “For example, if someone has coronary artery disease, meaning furring, or blockage, of the arteries due to cholesterol, then overexercising may cause chest pain and increase the risk from the underlying condition,” Dr. Behr says.
What is the 3 Minute Step Test? The 3 Minute Step Test is a simple, cost-effective assessment that evaluates cardiovascular fitness based on heart rate recovery following a 3-minute stepping exercise. The test involves stepping up and down on a 12-inch bench at a rate of 96 beats per minute, facilitated by a metronome.
Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort, called angina. Shortness of breath. Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper belly or back. Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in the legs or arms if the blood vessels in those body areas are narrowed.