Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLifestylePrescriptionsOver-the-Counter TherapiesSpecialist-Driven ProceduresFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Coronary Artery Disease GuideWhat Is Coronary Artery Disease?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Lifestyle
Prescriptions
Over-the-Counter Therapies
Specialist-Driven Procedures
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Coronary Artery Disease Guide
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Coronary artery diseasedevelops over time, and you can adapt some of your habits to slow the progression ofatherosclerosisandcholesterolbuildup. These lifestyle changes have even been shown to help decrease the degree of disease over time.Moreover, other treatments for CAD are unlikely to be helpful in the long term unless you also take the following steps.
1:35Watch Now: 6 Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Coronary Artery Disease
1:35
Watch Now: 6 Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Coronary Artery Disease
If you have CAD, there is a very high chance that you may need to take one or more prescription medications. Some of these medications treat CAD itself, actually preventing the disease from worsening inside the blood vessels.
Other medications, while they do not directly treat CAD, are necessary to reduce the chances of having a heart attack or a stroke, or to help in dealing with the consequences and complications of the condition.
For example, medications may help prevent blood vessel constriction (narrowing) if you have high blood pressure or may help your heart function if you have a damaged heart muscle from a heart attack.
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Reducing CAD Progression
Your healthcare provider may opt for one or more of the following.
Preventing Blood Clots
Blood clotscan cause heart attacks and strokes if you haveatherosclerotic disease. Prescriptions that can help prevent blood clots include the following.
Improving Heart Function
This goal is centered around helping to prevent complications related to CAD. Prescription options include the following.
For Heart Failure or Arrhythmia Due to CAD
While you can get aspirin without a prescription, you should still consult with your healthcare provider before taking it. Do not start taking aspirin based on the advice of a friend or something you may have read.
If lifestyle changes and medications aren’t effectively treating your CAD, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery or specialized procedures.
Procedures are especially useful when you have an area of severe CAD in your arteries. If you have not had a heart attack or a stroke, surgical treatment can prevent you from having one. However, even if you have experienced a heart attack or a stroke, interventional treatment is often necessary to prevent additional events resulting from your CAD.
Options that may be considered include the following.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAtherosclerosis is plaque build-up in the inner walls of arteries from cholesterol and fatty deposits. Atherosclerosis can cause coronary artery disease, which is the narrowing or blockage of arteries that supply blood to the heart.With treatment and significant lifestyle changes, you can reverse or slow progression of coronary artery disease. Your healthcare provider can help you with a plan that may include medication and specialized procedures to reduce your risk of a heart attack and improve your heart health.
Atherosclerosis is plaque build-up in the inner walls of arteries from cholesterol and fatty deposits. Atherosclerosis can cause coronary artery disease, which is the narrowing or blockage of arteries that supply blood to the heart.
With treatment and significant lifestyle changes, you can reverse or slow progression of coronary artery disease. Your healthcare provider can help you with a plan that may include medication and specialized procedures to reduce your risk of a heart attack and improve your heart health.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Goodwin L, Ostuzzi G, Khan N, Hotopf M, Moss-Morris R.Can we identify the active ingredients of behaviour change interventions for coronary heart disease patients?A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(4):e0153271. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0153271Theo Vos., Medina-Mora M, Ramanan Laxminarayan., Tarun Dua., Dan Chisholm., Vikram Patel.Disease control priorities, third edition (volume 4): mental, neurological, and substance use disorders.The World Bank Group; 2016.Sacks F, Lichtenstein A, Wu J et al.Dietary fats and cardiovascular disease: A presidential advisory from the American heart association.Circulation. 2017;136(3). doi:10.1161/cir.0000000000000510Kerley C.A review of plant-based diets to prevent and treat heart failure.Card Fail Rev. 2018;4(1):1. doi:10.15420/cfr.2018:1:1Bruning R, Sturek M.Benefits of exercise training on coronary blood flow in coronary artery disease patients.Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2015;57(5):443-453. doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2014.10.006Yao B, Meng L, Hao M, Zhang Y, Gong T, Guo Z.Chronic stress: a critical risk factor for atherosclerosis.Journal of International Medical Research. 2019;47(4):1429-1440. doi:10.1177/0300060519826820Tuso P.A plant-based diet, atherogenesis, and coronary artery disease prevention.Perm J. 2015:62-67. doi:10.7812/tpp/14-036Nambi V, Agha A.Inclisiran: A game changer in a changing game?.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021;77(9):1194-1196. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.01.008Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.Fibrates for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke.Ferrari R, Camici P, Crea F et al.A ‘diamond’ approach to personalized treatment of angina.Nature Reviews Cardiology. 2017;15(2):120-132. doi:10.1038/nrcardio.2017.131Maron B, Leopold J.Aldosterone receptor antagonists.Circulation. 2010;121(7):934-939. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.109.895235American Heart Association.Avoid daily aspirin unless your doctor prescribes it, new guidelines advise.American Heart Association.Prescription omega-3 fatty acid medications effectively lower high triglycerides - American Heart Association Science Advisory.Medline Plus.Angioplasty and stent placement - heart.Additional ReadingAmerican Heart Association.Cardiac Medications.American Heart Association.Cardiac Procedures and Surgeries.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Goodwin L, Ostuzzi G, Khan N, Hotopf M, Moss-Morris R.Can we identify the active ingredients of behaviour change interventions for coronary heart disease patients?A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(4):e0153271. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0153271Theo Vos., Medina-Mora M, Ramanan Laxminarayan., Tarun Dua., Dan Chisholm., Vikram Patel.Disease control priorities, third edition (volume 4): mental, neurological, and substance use disorders.The World Bank Group; 2016.Sacks F, Lichtenstein A, Wu J et al.Dietary fats and cardiovascular disease: A presidential advisory from the American heart association.Circulation. 2017;136(3). doi:10.1161/cir.0000000000000510Kerley C.A review of plant-based diets to prevent and treat heart failure.Card Fail Rev. 2018;4(1):1. doi:10.15420/cfr.2018:1:1Bruning R, Sturek M.Benefits of exercise training on coronary blood flow in coronary artery disease patients.Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2015;57(5):443-453. doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2014.10.006Yao B, Meng L, Hao M, Zhang Y, Gong T, Guo Z.Chronic stress: a critical risk factor for atherosclerosis.Journal of International Medical Research. 2019;47(4):1429-1440. doi:10.1177/0300060519826820Tuso P.A plant-based diet, atherogenesis, and coronary artery disease prevention.Perm J. 2015:62-67. doi:10.7812/tpp/14-036Nambi V, Agha A.Inclisiran: A game changer in a changing game?.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021;77(9):1194-1196. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.01.008Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.Fibrates for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke.Ferrari R, Camici P, Crea F et al.A ‘diamond’ approach to personalized treatment of angina.Nature Reviews Cardiology. 2017;15(2):120-132. doi:10.1038/nrcardio.2017.131Maron B, Leopold J.Aldosterone receptor antagonists.Circulation. 2010;121(7):934-939. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.109.895235American Heart Association.Avoid daily aspirin unless your doctor prescribes it, new guidelines advise.American Heart Association.Prescription omega-3 fatty acid medications effectively lower high triglycerides - American Heart Association Science Advisory.Medline Plus.Angioplasty and stent placement - heart.Additional ReadingAmerican Heart Association.Cardiac Medications.American Heart Association.Cardiac Procedures and Surgeries.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Goodwin L, Ostuzzi G, Khan N, Hotopf M, Moss-Morris R.Can we identify the active ingredients of behaviour change interventions for coronary heart disease patients?A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(4):e0153271. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0153271Theo Vos., Medina-Mora M, Ramanan Laxminarayan., Tarun Dua., Dan Chisholm., Vikram Patel.Disease control priorities, third edition (volume 4): mental, neurological, and substance use disorders.The World Bank Group; 2016.Sacks F, Lichtenstein A, Wu J et al.Dietary fats and cardiovascular disease: A presidential advisory from the American heart association.Circulation. 2017;136(3). doi:10.1161/cir.0000000000000510Kerley C.A review of plant-based diets to prevent and treat heart failure.Card Fail Rev. 2018;4(1):1. doi:10.15420/cfr.2018:1:1Bruning R, Sturek M.Benefits of exercise training on coronary blood flow in coronary artery disease patients.Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2015;57(5):443-453. doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2014.10.006Yao B, Meng L, Hao M, Zhang Y, Gong T, Guo Z.Chronic stress: a critical risk factor for atherosclerosis.Journal of International Medical Research. 2019;47(4):1429-1440. doi:10.1177/0300060519826820Tuso P.A plant-based diet, atherogenesis, and coronary artery disease prevention.Perm J. 2015:62-67. doi:10.7812/tpp/14-036Nambi V, Agha A.Inclisiran: A game changer in a changing game?.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021;77(9):1194-1196. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.01.008Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.Fibrates for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke.Ferrari R, Camici P, Crea F et al.A ‘diamond’ approach to personalized treatment of angina.Nature Reviews Cardiology. 2017;15(2):120-132. doi:10.1038/nrcardio.2017.131Maron B, Leopold J.Aldosterone receptor antagonists.Circulation. 2010;121(7):934-939. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.109.895235American Heart Association.Avoid daily aspirin unless your doctor prescribes it, new guidelines advise.American Heart Association.Prescription omega-3 fatty acid medications effectively lower high triglycerides - American Heart Association Science Advisory.Medline Plus.Angioplasty and stent placement - heart.
Goodwin L, Ostuzzi G, Khan N, Hotopf M, Moss-Morris R.Can we identify the active ingredients of behaviour change interventions for coronary heart disease patients?A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(4):e0153271. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0153271
Theo Vos., Medina-Mora M, Ramanan Laxminarayan., Tarun Dua., Dan Chisholm., Vikram Patel.Disease control priorities, third edition (volume 4): mental, neurological, and substance use disorders.The World Bank Group; 2016.
Sacks F, Lichtenstein A, Wu J et al.Dietary fats and cardiovascular disease: A presidential advisory from the American heart association.Circulation. 2017;136(3). doi:10.1161/cir.0000000000000510
Kerley C.A review of plant-based diets to prevent and treat heart failure.Card Fail Rev. 2018;4(1):1. doi:10.15420/cfr.2018:1:1
Bruning R, Sturek M.Benefits of exercise training on coronary blood flow in coronary artery disease patients.Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2015;57(5):443-453. doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2014.10.006
Yao B, Meng L, Hao M, Zhang Y, Gong T, Guo Z.Chronic stress: a critical risk factor for atherosclerosis.Journal of International Medical Research. 2019;47(4):1429-1440. doi:10.1177/0300060519826820
Tuso P.A plant-based diet, atherogenesis, and coronary artery disease prevention.Perm J. 2015:62-67. doi:10.7812/tpp/14-036
Nambi V, Agha A.Inclisiran: A game changer in a changing game?.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021;77(9):1194-1196. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.01.008
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.Fibrates for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Ferrari R, Camici P, Crea F et al.A ‘diamond’ approach to personalized treatment of angina.Nature Reviews Cardiology. 2017;15(2):120-132. doi:10.1038/nrcardio.2017.131
Maron B, Leopold J.Aldosterone receptor antagonists.Circulation. 2010;121(7):934-939. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.109.895235
American Heart Association.Avoid daily aspirin unless your doctor prescribes it, new guidelines advise.
American Heart Association.Prescription omega-3 fatty acid medications effectively lower high triglycerides - American Heart Association Science Advisory.
Medline Plus.Angioplasty and stent placement - heart.
American Heart Association.Cardiac Medications.American Heart Association.Cardiac Procedures and Surgeries.
American Heart Association.Cardiac Medications.
American Heart Association.Cardiac Procedures and Surgeries.
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