Can Heart Disease Be Reversed?
Coronary
heart disease ("
heart disease") is simply a condition wherein the arteries that supply blood to the heart (coronary arteries) become clogged with fatty deposits known as
plaque. Heart disease slows or stops the blood flow to parts of the heart, causing chest pain (
angina) or even a
heart attack. About 13 million people in the United States have heart disease, and it is the number one killer of both men and women. Each year, more than half a million Americans die from heart disease.
"Is reversing heart disease possible?" That's a common question asked by people with and without heart disease. In some respects, if the answer to this question was yes, it would be considered the holy grail of medicine, given the huge impact of heart disease on our society.
In reality, we are not sure whether or not reversing the disease is possible. Recently, a study was published that showed a
cholesterol medication could "reverse heart disease" by showing that plaque buildup was decreased. It did not, however, examine the effects of this plaque decrease on heart attacks and
strokes. We also know that by adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, the risk of heart disease can drop dramatically, although heart disease in a lot of these cases is prevented from becoming worse rather than reversed.
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