Hardening of the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis, is a common condition where plaque builds up inside the arteries. This buildup causes the arteries to harden and narrow, which can restrict blood flow. Many people wonder if atherosclerosis can be reversed once it has developed.
What causes hardening of the arteries?
Hardening of the arteries is caused by a buildup of plaque inside the artery walls. Plaque is made up of cholesterol, fatty deposits, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin. Over time, plaque accumulates in the arteries and causes them to stiffen and narrow. This is known as atherosclerosis.
There are several risk factors that can lead to atherosclerosis, including:
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Unhealthy diet
- Family history
When the arteries narrow, less blood and oxygen can reach the heart, brain, and other organs. This can lead to serious problems like heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
Can atherosclerosis be reversed?
There is evidence that early-stage atherosclerosis may be partially reversible in some cases. However, once arteries become severely hardened, the damage is likely irreversible.
Here is an overview of what research says about reversing atherosclerosis:
- Making aggressive lifestyle changes like improving diet, exercising, and quitting smoking may slow, stop, or partially reverse plaque buildup in the early stages of atherosclerosis.
- Use of statin medications can slow or stop the growth of plaque.
- Procedures like angioplasty can widen narrowed arteries and improve blood flow, but do not reverse the plaque buildup itself.
- Advanced atherosclerosis with heavily calcified plaque is unlikely to be reversed. However, progression can be slowed with lifestyle changes and medication.
Overall, early intervention provides the best chance for partially reversing atherosclerosis. The earlier lifestyle changes are made, the more impact they can have on plaque buildup.
What lifestyle changes may reverse atherosclerosis?
Research shows that atherosclerosis is a dynamic process, and there are modifiable factors that can impact its progression. Making the following lifestyle changes as early as possible may slow, stop, or partially reverse plaque buildup:
- Improve diet – Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats like olive oil. Avoid saturated and trans fats, excess salt, added sugars, and processed foods.
- Exercise regularly – Get at least 30-60 minutes per day of moderate activity like brisk walking. This can help reduce plaque buildup.
- Quit smoking – Smoking damages artery walls and accelerates atherosclerosis. Quitting can slow this damage.
- Lose weight – Carrying excess weight strains the circulatory system. Losing weight can decrease plaque buildup.
- Reduce stress – Chronic stress contributes to inflammation and damage to blood vessels. Stress management helps.
- Monitor cholesterol – Keep total and LDL cholesterol levels in a healthy range through medication or lifestyle changes.
- Control blood pressure – Managing high blood pressure reduces strain on damaged blood vessels.
Studies show these types of lifestyle changes may stop the growth of plaque lesions, decrease the volume of plaque buildup, and reduce arterial wall thickness – leading to measurable reversal of atherosclerosis.
How medications can help reverse atherosclerosis
In addition to lifestyle measures, certain medications may help reverse atherosclerosis in its early stages. These include:
- Statins – Statins like atorvastatin (Lipitor) reduce LDL cholesterol production by the liver. They can lower LDL levels by 50-60% and slow plaque progression.
- PCSK9 inhibitors – New injectable cholesterol drugs like evolocumab (Repatha) may lead to plaque regression in as little as 18 weeks.
- Antihypertensives – Blood pressure medications help lower blood pressure and reduce strain on damaged arteries.
- Aspirin – Low-dose aspirin therapy decreases inflammation and may help stabilize plaque.
While medication alone does not reverse advanced atherosclerosis, early combination therapy along with lifestyle changes provides the best results for stopping and potentially reversing plaque buildup.
Can plaque buildup in arteries be removed?
Existing plaque buildup in the arteries cannot be completely removed or dissolved away. However, in the early stages of atherosclerosis, some regression of plaque lesions is possible through aggressive lifestyle and medication therapy. How this occurs is still being studied, but may involve:
- Reduction in size of fat or cholesterol deposits inside lesions
- Decrease in inflammatory cells and plaque instability
- Remodeling of the arterial wall to regain some open diameter
In advanced atherosclerosis, calcified plaque is extremely difficult to treat or reverse. Procedures like angioplasty can compress plaque to open the artery lumen, but cannot remove it. However, with early intervention, modest reductions in plaque volume and some reversal of arterial narrowing is possible.
What procedures may help reverse atherosclerosis?
Medical procedures like angioplasty and stenting can help improve blood flow in narrowed arteries. But they do not remove plaque buildup. Procedures that may reverse some atherosclerosis include:
- Angioplasty – Using a balloon catheter to compress plaque and widen the artery. This can stimulate arterial remodeling.
- Stenting – Implanting a tiny wire mesh tube called a stent to keep the artery open after angioplasty. Drug-eluting stents help prevent renarrowing.
- Atherectomy – Using a special catheter-based device to remove some plaque material and smooth the artery walls.
- Bypass surgery – Grafting a healthy blood vessel to bypass the blocked artery. This improves blood flow but does not treat the plaques themselves.
These procedures are invasive with some risks. They are not recommended for early-stage atherosclerosis. But alongside lifestyle and medication therapy, they may help reopen narrowed arteries and restore blood flow in more advanced disease.
Natural remedies
Some natural supplements and remedies have shown potential for reducing atherosclerosis risk factors like high cholesterol and inflammation. However, their ability to reverse plaque buildup is unproven. They should not replace standard treatment measures. Options include:
- Fish oil – The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil supplements help lower triglycerides and may reduce inflammation.
- Soluble fiber – Fiber from foods like oats, nuts, and beans can help lower LDL cholesterol.
- CoQ10 – An antioxidant that may provide some benefit for heart health.
- Garlic – Thought to have anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting effects.
- Gingko biloba – Herb with antioxidant effects that may help blood flow.
- Curcumin – Anti-inflammatory compound from turmeric.
Always consult a doctor before taking supplements, as they can interact with medications and cause side effects. More research is needed on their role in atherosclerosis treatment.
Can atherosclerosis be cured?
There is no known medical cure for atherosclerosis. Once arteries are severely hardened, the damage is irreversible. However, in the early stages of plaque buildup, atherosclerosis can potentially be stopped and partially reversed to open up blood flow. This involves:
- Making aggressive lifestyle modifications to diet, exercise, weight, smoking, etc.
- Taking medications as needed, such as statins, blood pressure medications, and aspirin.
- Undergoing selective procedures if revascularization is needed.
- Sticking to these treatment measures over the long-term.
While early atherosclerosis may be “cured” through plaque stabilization and modest reversal, the predisposition remains. Ongoing prevention efforts are needed to stop disease progression. With advanced atherosclerosis, the goal shifts from reversal to slowing further plaque buildup and avoiding complications.
Can arteries unclog themselves?
When arteries become clogged with plaque, they cannot spontaneously unclog or clean themselves out. The arterial walls and lumen become too damaged. However, in mild atherosclerosis, the body’s natural remodeling processes, along with treatment measures, can help reverse some narrowing.
Artery self-cleaning relies heavily on a healthy endothelium – the inner arterial lining. The endothelium produces nitric oxide which prevents clots and enables smooth blood flow. With atherosclerosis, the endothelium becomes damaged and less functional. This limits the arteries’ natural cleaning processes.
In early atherosclerosis, lifestyle changes and medications aim to reduce endothelium damage and improve its function. This supports the limited artery self-cleaning ability. But with severe blockages, medical procedures are eventually needed to restore blood flow.
How long does it take to reverse atherosclerosis?
There is no set timeline for reversing atherosclerosis. How quickly plaque buildup stabilizes or regresses depends on:
- The person’s initial atherosclerosis severity.
- How strictly they adhere to treatment lifestyle changes.
- How their biomarkers like cholesterol respond.
- Their genetic factors.
For those with mild plaque buildup and few risk factors, six months of optimal medical therapy may stabilize or reduce some plaque volume. But for those with longstanding disease, it may take up to two years to see measurable changes. Severely calcified plaques are unlikely to regress significantly even with years of treatment.
It takes intensive, lifelong effort to durably reverse or slow atherosclerosis. Even on optimal therapy, disease progression can resume if healthy lifestyle habits are abandoned. Consistency with treatment is key.
How to prevent atherosclerosis from advancing
Once atherosclerosis develops, ongoing prevention efforts are crucial to stop it from worsening over time. Steps to prevent atherosclerosis progression include:
- Adhering to the diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes recommended by your doctor.
- Taking all medications as directed, such as statins, blood pressure medications, and aspirin therapy.
- Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke.
- Working to achieve or maintain a healthy body weight.
- Monitoring cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure with regular medical checkups.
- Managing stress levels through meditation, therapy, social connection, or other means.
- Seeing your doctor promptly for any new cardiac symptoms.
Even if major reversal is unlikely, sticking to prevention measures can help stop atherosclerosis from progressing to the point of needing invasive interventions.
Can you reverse atherosclerosis without medication?
It may be possible to stabilize or slow early atherosclerosis using lifestyle measures alone, like:
- Following a very low-fat, whole food, plant-based diet.
- Engaging in frequent, vigorous physical activity.
- Reaching and maintaining an optimal body weight.
- Completely quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke.
- Practicing stress-reducing behaviors each day.
However, medication is typically needed to fully control contributing factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Used alongside lifestyle changes, medications provide greater benefit for halting plaque progression and potentially reversing some buildup.
Work closely with your doctor for guidance on the most effective atherosclerosis treatment plan for your individual health status and needs.
Conclusion
Reversing atherosclerosis is difficult but possible in the early stages through comprehensive lifestyle changes and medical therapy. The earlier treatment starts and the more aggressively it is pursued, the better the chances of halting plaque buildup and regaining some openness in the arteries.
While advanced atherosclerosis is unlikely to be significantly reversed, even then it is vital to prevent further progression. Ongoing healthy lifestyle behaviors, medication adherence, and medical monitoring can help avoid complications and the need for invasive interventions. Consistency with treatment is the key.
Though atherosclerosis cannot be cured, its progression can often be minimized for many years through diligent prevention efforts. Working closely with your medical providers will give you the best chance of successfully reversing or controlling this disease.