Doctors clear clogged arteries using minimally invasive procedures like angioplasty and stenting (using balloons and mesh tubes to widen arteries), surgical options like bypass surgery (creating new pathways for blood), medications (statins, antiplatelets), or advanced techniques like intravascular lithotripsy (sonic waves to break plaque), all aimed at restoring blood flow, often combined with lifestyle changes to manage atherosclerosis.
Atherectomy is a peripheral intervention that opens arteries blocked by plaque (atherosclerosis). During atherectomy, your provider uses a catheter (a long, narrow tube) with a sharp blade, laser, or rotating device on the end to scrape away, dissolve, or break up plaque without making a large incision.
Coronary angioplasty and stent placement.
This treatment opens clogged blood vessels in the heart. A tiny balloon on a thin tube, called a catheter, is used to widen a clogged artery and improve blood flow. A small wire mesh tube called a stent may be placed to keep the artery open.
Other signs you may have atherosclerosis (blocked arteries)
When arteries are slightly occluded, medication and lifestyle modification may be enough to restore optimal blood flow. However, more severe cases may require the placement of a stent or even full bypass surgery.
The arteries are normal and medications only. There are only minor blockages and medications only required. A blockage or blockages of more than 70% and a stent or stents are required.
PTAB is a minimally invasive approach that utilizes an endovascular technique using a patient's own blood vessels to create a bypass around the diseased or blocked area.
The symptoms of an artery blockage include chest pain and tightness, and shortness of breath. Imagine driving through a tunnel.
After 45, men may have a lot of plaque buildup. Signs of atherosclerosis in women are likely to appear after age 55. Plaque is dangerous because it can break off and form a clot that blocks your artery and stops blood flow to your heart, brain, or legs. That might cause a heart attack, stroke, or gangrene.
Skali emphasizes that regular exercise isn't just for those who are looking to prevent heart problems. It can help people whose heart muscle is already damaged. Although exercise can't clear existing plaque from clogged arteries, it can help prevent further accumulation.
The risk factors for atherosclerosis in the peripheral arteries are the same as those for atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. Smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are believed to lead to the development of plaque.
You get medicines to help you relax. The amount of sedation needed for coronary angioplasty and stenting depends on your health conditions and why you're having the procedure. Usually you are awake during angioplasty. But some people may need a combinations of medicines that puts them to sleep during the procedure.
Through angioplasty, our cardiologists are able to treat patients with blocked or clogged coronary arteries quickly without surgery. During the procedure, a cardiologist threads a balloon-tipped catheter to the site of the narrowed or blocked artery and then inflates the balloon to open the vessel.
Signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction include:
Fatigue.
McMaster-led study shows hidden fat contributes to artery damage, regardless of body weight. Hamilton, ON — October 17, 2025) — A new study led by researchers at McMaster University reveals that hidden fat deep inside the abdomen and liver may quietly damage arteries, even in people who appear healthy.
Blocked arteries are a serious condition, but they're not a death sentence. With early detection, the right treatment, and lifestyle changes, you can manage the risks and improve your quality of life.
It may seem counterintuitive, but it is entirely possible to have normal blood pressure while still having clogged arteries.
While you can't confirm a blockage yourself, these steps can help you stay proactive:
Unfortunately, plaque buildup in your arteries is a natural part of living. Even children and adolescents have early evidence of the process. However, diet and other lifestyle factors play an important role. High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and smoking can all worsen atherosclerosis.
Last week, Taylor Swift shared that her father, Scott Kingsley Swift, underwent quintuple bypass surgery after a nuclear stress test revealed severe coronary artery disease.
Most of the time, bypass surgery is open-chest surgery. Its risks include heart attack, stroke, and death. Recovery usually takes at least 2 months. Whether you have surgery or not, having a heart-healthy lifestyle and taking medicine give you the best chance of living a longer, healthier life.
Regular physical activity—at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week—is vital, along with maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, managing stress, limiting alcohol consumption, improving sleep quality, controlling blood pressure, monitoring cholesterol, and staying well-hydrated.