Can the effects of artherosclerosis be reversed?

Question

When an artheroma has developed is it possible to decrease it in size/completely get rid of it in any way, or just it just continue to build until it clots?

Answer 1

Cass,

Can atheromas be reduced? Most certainly. They have been. Eliminated? That's rather more difficult.

Usually, atherosclorosis can be reversed. Not in all people, apparently, especially in those whose atheromas have calcified, but the artery-narrowing fatty deposits can be and have been reversed.

Dean Ornish indeed is a pioneer here, but his work has been confirmed and coroborated by others, also, by Caldwell Esselstyn (author of "Heart Attack Proof"), and by T. Colin Campbell, whose book, "The China Study" shows that rural Chinese, who eat very little fat at all, have very low rates of heart disease and certain cancers.

At a conference recently, in fact, Caldwell Esselstyn had a fellow on stage with him who said that his heart disease was reversed by following Dr. Esselstyn's dietary recommendations.

Can all atheromas be completely removed? Probably not, but they can be reduced and their growth stopped by eliminating fat from our diet.

And don't listen to cranks who claim that cholesterol isn't the enemy. It is one of several. We've known this since the 1960s.

And my homocysteine levels are near zero because I am a vegetarian. They weren't before, but they are now. There is some hogwash being slopped about here.

For anyone who suffers from heart disease I would strongly recommend a low-fat vegetarian diet. It has done wonders for me.

Answer 2

Atherosclerosis is caused by a build up of cholesterol in the arteries leading to the heart the only way to relieve this is by coronary bypass or in certain cases by inserting stents to widen the arteries I have had both done my first by pass lasted 14 years my second was not so successful and I had a few stents inserted these have been very successful .Incidentally one of your contributers advocated the eating of red meat as a means of preventing atherosclerosis I was a butcher for 30 years and lived almost exclusively on a diet of red meat far from prevention it almost certainly contributed to my problem

Answer 3

I must respectfully disagree: atherosclerosis can be reversed. Several researchers (Dean Ornish is the best known) have shown that a very low-fat vegetarian diet plus lifestyle changes will reverse coronary artery disease. Here is a web site that discusses it more:

http://www.pcrm.org/health/prevmed/chol_heartdisease.html

I think this is fantastic news, it has been shown by other researchers as well, yet somehow it is not in the mainstream of medical practice yet. Hopefully it will be soon.

Answer 4

It can be prevented but when it has developed to levels where it has started to seriously effect the way the blood circulated the only way it can be treated is through surgery.
A coronary bypass would be preformed to redirect the blood passed the blockage and if that did not solve the problem then the patient would be put on the donor list awaiting a replacement heart (this would be a very very last option)

Answer 5

Atherosclerosis cannot be reversed, but it can be prevented. Your arteries already have hardened plaque built up inside them, and the best way to stop the additional plaque buildup is lifestyle modification. The NUMBER ONE way to stop this is by quitting smoking(if you smoke, of course) as well as exercise. Before you start exercise, go over a routine with your doctor.

Answer 6

Yes it is methods are surgical removal though and can be inherently dangerous, and leaves you without some of your arteries, not to be entered into lightly. See heart surgery operations etc for more details. Not always that succesful though. Best bet is to reduce risk factors such as reduce colesterol.

Answer 7

Vegetarianism is NOT healthy. Vegetarian do not eat the MOST NUTRIENT DENSE SUBSTANCE KNOWN TO MAN - RED MEAT



Vegetarians have higher levels of ARTERY DAMAGING HOMOCYSTEINE


Anthony Colpo addresses this misguided NONSENSE


As for Ornish it violated a fundamental rule of scientifc reserach CONTROL YOUR VARIABLES

ORNISH WAS A MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS

A MULTIPLE RISK FACTOR INTERVENTION TRIAL .

TO ATTRIBUE ANY MILD SUCCESS HE HAD TO LOW FAT IS DOWNRIGHT UNscientific

patienys were advised to STOP SMOKING LOWER WEIGHT LOWER BLOO DPRESSURE, EXCERCISE, aAND TO REDUCE STRESS DRASTICIALLY


ALONG with the UNfounded low fat diet


FURTHERMORE ORNISH'S TRIAL WAS NOT TIGHTLY CONTROLLED

IT WAS NOT DOUBLE OR SEMI BLINDED


THE TRIALS COLPO CITES ARE TIGHTLY CONTROLLED

THE LYON DIET HEART STUDY, ONE OF THE 18 CLINCIAL DIETARY INTERVENTION TRIALS THAT COLPO CITES WAS TIGHTLY CONTROLLED AND SHOWS HOW THE LIPID HYPOTHESIS IS NOT VALID




BEFORE ORNISH CLAIMS TO THE WORLD THAT RESTRICTING FAT AND AVOIDING MEAT WILL REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF HEART DISEASE HE - OR PREFERABLY SOME NUETRAL PARTY SHOULD CONDUCT PROPERLY CONTROLLED TRIALS THAT ACTUALLY DEMONSTRATE THIS CONTENTION IN OTHER WORDS, ARE YOU LISTENING VEGAN??? , TRIALS IN WHICH

*TWO GRPOUPS EAT A DIET IDENTICAL IN EVERY RSPECT EXCEPT ON EDERVIES ITS PROTEIN CONTENT FORM MEAT : THE OTHER ONE FROM PLANT FOODS


*BOTH GROUPS EAT A DIET IDENTICAL IN EVERY RESPECT EXCEPT THAT ONE IS MUCH LOWER IN FAT ( ESPECIALLY ANIMAL FAT0 THAN THE OTHER


UNTIL SUCH TRIALS ARE CONDUCTED ORNISH AND HIS LIKE MIONDED VEGETARIAN COLEAGUES SHOULD REFRAIN FROM SLANDERING MEAT AND ANIMAL FAT


TO DO SO WITHOUT ANY TIGHTLY CONTROLLED EVIDENCE TO FALL BACK ON IS TO SHOW A COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR THE SCIENTIFC METHOD

Answer 8

It can't be reversed really but its effects can be minimised. If good advice is followed it will not continue to build but will not completely disappear either.

Answer 9

Yes, for your kind information, it can be reserved by strict dieting, and having diet rich in omega 3 protein e.g. fish.
Change your lifestyle to brief and sweet.

Answer 10

it can be reduced but can't reversed. Healthy foods and exercise help a bit, see a doctor for better help.