The best treatment is usually prevention, as removing plaque is much more difficult than preventing it from occurring. Eating a heart-healthful diet and regularly exercising can be powerful tools for preventing clogged arteries. These disciplines also make a person feel better as time goes on. The type of fat a person eats can affect plaque in the arteries.
This is because these kinds of fats contain high levels of LDL cholesterol, which is the main material of plaque in the arteries. Along with trans fats, saturated fats may also affect heart health, though the evidence for this is mixed. Saturated fats are mostly found in animal products, such as beef, pork, and dairy, but also in coconut oil and palm oil. One review of scientific studies found there was a small but possibly important reduction in the risk of cardiovascular issues when people cut down on saturated fats and replaced them with unsaturated fats.
Another review study suggests that people should avoid saturated fats because they increase LDL cholesterol in the body, which is a direct cause of heart issues. Unsaturated fats are the good fats. They contain HDL cholesterol, which can help to take bad cholesterol from the arteries before it turns into plaque. According to the AHA, unsaturated fats may help improve blood cholesterol when eaten instead of trans or saturated fats.
Drinking teas, such as green or black tea, rooibos tea, or ginger tea may be good heart-healthy substitutes for other beverages. A study from found that drinking 6 cups of rooibos tea per day for 6 weeks helped to lower the amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood in adults who were at risk for heart diseases. Green tea can also help. A review reported that green tea and its extracts could lower LDL cholesterol in the blood, though this did not affect HDL cholesterol.
Ginger supplementation may also improve significant markers that can lead to cardiovascular events, according to a study. Ginger root can be found as a supplement, but people can also brew it in hot water, and drink it as a tea.
A range of herbal teas is available for purchase online. Obesity is a risk factor for plaque buildup and heart disease.
In addition to eating a healthful diet, regularly exercising may help a person to lose weight and reduce their risk of heart problems. The point is to keep your heart rate up and stay as active as possible. Talk to your doctor about which exercises are safe for you. Tam: In addition to diet and exercise, you should also avoid smoking and excess amounts of alcohol. Men should have no more than two servings of alcohol per day and women should have no more than one serving a day. A serving of alcohol is equal to 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, or one-and-a-half ounces of distilled spirits.
We also recommend getting screened for sleep apnea if you believe you may have severe snoring or sleeping problems. Tam: Although heart disease is the number one killer of women and men in the U. You can make a big impact on your risk with what you do, how you eat, and how you live.
By starting with small steps every day, you can take control of your risk for heart disease. Your doctor will be able to make recommendations that fit your needs and lifestyle. Is it only a matter of time before you have another heart attack or cardiac issue? According to researchers and dieticians, the answer is no—heart disease can be reversed, and one of the best ways to reverse heart disease is through cardiac rehabilitation.
If you have the gumption to make major changes to your lifestyle, you can, indeed, reverse coronary artery disease. This disease is the accumulation of cholesterol-laden plaque inside the arteries nourishing your heart, a process known as atherosclerosis. To continue reading this article, you must log in. Already a member? Login ». As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.
Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift.
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