10 Things They Don’t Tell You About Angioplasty

Angioplasty refers to a medical procedure that uses a balloon to open up blockages in and around the heart. Blockages in the arteries near the heart often become blocked with time due to atherosclerosis. Angioplasty can help to improve the flow of blood to the heart.

Atherosclerosis occurs when plaque builds up throughout the inner walls of the heart. This may occur in any of the arteries. When it occurs in the coronary arteries it is referred to as coronary artery disease and it affects blood flow to the heart. Angioplasty is a very common medical procedure and is used to help improve symptoms of coronary artery disease. It is also used to help reduce the damage of the heart muscle caused by a heart attack.

Heart attacks are caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart and angioplasty can help to restore blood flow through the artery that is blocked. Here are 8 things that you may not know about angioplasty.

1. When is Angioplasty Needed?

Angioplasty, specifically coronary angioplasty is used to help restore the blood flow to the heart when the arteries of the heart have become blocked or narrowed because of coronary artery disease. There are several steps a person can take in order to lower their risk of developing coronary artery disease.

This includes not smoking, being more physically active, and eating a healthy diet. Making these changes can result in an improvement of the symptoms of coronary artery disease. However, if these changes do not help alleviate the symptoms that you are experiencing from coronary artery disease, your doctor may recommend angioplasty. Another option that may be provided to you is a coronary artery bypass grafting, which is a type of open heart surgery.

There are several factors to consider when considering which type of procedure might be right for your particular condition. Make sure that you ask about all of the options before agreeing to angioplasty.