Is atherosclerosis reversible?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Dhankecha Dineshbhai

General Practitioner

MBBS
6+ Yrs

Consult Now

Various drugs, low fat diet and exercise can slow the effect of atherosclerosis but once a plaque is formed it is mostly not reversible. A person ahs to undergo procedures for removal of atherosclerotic plaque.

Dr. Dhankecha Suggests...

Consult a Cardiologist

Find a Cardiologist

Answered 04/07/2025

Ask Apollo

AI powered Health Chatbot

Continue Chat

Atherosclerosis Overview:
- Atherosclerosis involves artery narrowing due to plaque buildup.
- It is typically progressive but can be managed effectively.
Lifestyle Modifications:
- Adopt a heart-healthy diet and engage in regular exercise.
- Quit smoking and manage stress to reduce plaque buildup.
Medications:
- Medications may be prescribed to control cholesterol and blood pressure.
- These can stabilize plaques and reduce complications.
Reversibility:
- Complete reversal is challenging, but improvement in artery function is possible.
- Consistent management is key to achieving better outcomes.
Regular Monitoring:
- Ongoing medical follow-up is crucial for assessing heart health.
- Adjust treatments as needed to maintain artery health.

While full reversal is difficult, proactive care can significantly enhance quality of life.

More Cardiology Health Queries

View all

Question

I'm really concerned about my mom who's dealing with a lot of health issues like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease. Her doctor has prescribed quite a few meds like Dytor, Monit GTN, Orfer XT, Planep, Cardace, Rosucor, Ecosprin, Pantocid, and even insulin and the duolin inhaler. Now, she's been given tryptomer 10 mg, and I'm worried about whether it's really safe for someone with heart failure to take this. Can you help shed some light on this for me?

Question

I've had a bit of a scare recently while doing the dishes. I accidentally cut my finger on a piece of glass. Initially, it seemed alright after rinsing it with water, but then things got weird. I started feeling short of breath, my head went all dizzy, and just as I grabbed a napkin for the wound, my vision went dark like I couldn't see anything. I almost collapsed but managed to lie down on my bed, and then it all just went away. Does this sound like a serious issue to you?

Question

I'm a bit worried about my cholesterol levels. My latest reading is 202 mgdL, triglycerides are at 167, HDL is 46, and LDL is 112. What steps can I take to keep these numbers in check?