Preventing Plaque Buildup in the Arteries

Many people go to the dentist regularly to remove plaque buildup from their teeth. But did you know that dental plaque is not the only kind of plaque in your body? There is also a type of plaque in your blood called arterial plaque. This plaque is a waxy substance produced by the body that is made up of cholesterol, cellular waste, calcium, and a protein called fibrin. Plaque builds up over time along artery walls, which puts people at risk for coronary artery disease, blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. 

While it’s not possible to completely eliminate plaque buildup in the arteries, there are treatment options to reduce the amount of plaque and to stabilize it. The best approach, however, is to prevent plaque buildup in the arteries before it happens. 

What causes plaque buildup in arteries?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood that is necessary for building cells. Unfortunately, people often have too much cholesterol in their blood, which can cause a range of health problems. When cholesterol lodges itself in arterial walls, the body responds by sending white blood cells to encapsulate the cholesterol. This process causes inflammation and turns into plaque. 

How do you prevent plaque buildup?

Preventing plaque buildup in the arteries is important to long-term health. There are several lifestyle changes that can help prevent plaque from ever forming or at least slow its progression.

Diet is a big factor in preventing plaque buildup, as the food and drink we consume can contribute to excess cholesterol in our bodies. Aim to reduce saturated fats, cholesterol, and salt in your diet. Increase the amount of fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and lean meat consumed.

Other lifestyle factors that can help prevent plaque buildup include:

• Exercising to maintain a healthy body weight and raise HDL, the healthy form of cholesterol. Choose your favorite aerobic activity and aim for 30 minutes, 5 times a week. 
• Quitting smoking, as smoking damages arterial walls and can make it easier for plaque to build in the arteries. The good news is quitting smoking can prevent future damage and encourage healing. 
• Getting routine health checkups plus taking medications as prescribed. Caring for your body in this way can help monitor risk factors and allow for early interventions.

Treatment options

For those who have a history of plaque buildup, there are several options available for treatment.

One approach to treatment is prescribing medications that reduce low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, the type of cholesterol that leads to plaque formation. Statins are a commonly prescribed medication that block the enzymes in the liver that tell the body to produce cholesterol. Other medications that may be prescribed help block the absorption of cholesterol in the body.

If plaque buildup is severe, doctors might recommend a surgical option. There are varying procedures aimed at removing plaque or using other approaches to restore proper blood flow. One option is the placement of a stent, which is a metal mesh tube placed inside an artery that expands and holds the artery open. 

For severely clogged arteries, sometimes bypass surgery is used. In bypass surgery, doctors remove a portion of unclogged artery from elsewhere in the body and graft it around the blocked portion of artery to restore proper blood flow.

If you are worried about plaque buildup in your arteries and want to learn more about how you can prevent plaque buildup, call Oklahoma Heart Hospital to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists today.