Atherosclerosis

  Hi:
  Are blockages reaversible if life style and eating habits change as well as taking the blood pressure and cholesterol medicine prescribed

[CCF Cardio MD - MTR]

_
Dear Joe, thank you for your question. Cholesterol build-up in the coronary arteries (termed atherosclerosis) doesn't usually reverse with diet, exercise, blood pressure control, and lipid lowering medications.  However, there are clinical trials underway currently to determine if lipid lowering medications can cause regression of atherosclerosis.  But, these maneuvers certainly will help to prevent existing plaques from becoming worse and new plaques from forming.  Thus, all of these interventions are important to adhere to for the long-term for patients with atherosclerosis.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.  Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.   The Heart
Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.