Atherosclerosis
General Information
Atherosclerosis is a common heart disease in the U.S. As plaque builds up along the artery walls, the walls become stiff. Pieces of plaque can break off and create clots in your bloodstream, blocking blood flow to your body and vital organs.
Plaque buildup can also cause a blockage and restrict oxygen-rich blood flow. Both of these situations are life threatening, possibly causing a stroke or heart attack.
At first, you probably won’t notice signs of atherosclerosis. Eventually, you may experience chest pain (angina), high blood pressure, leg pain with activity and kidney failure.
At Goshen Heart & Vascular Center, we address your atherosclerosis symptoms with kindness and integrated care. If you’re at risk for heart disease, our experts can create a treatment plan that’s personalized to your unique needs.
How we treat atherosclerosis
The team at Goshen Heart & Vascular Center partners with our patients to help protect and restore their heart health through atherosclerosis prevention and treatment.
Our Rehabilitation Therapy often focuses on lifestyle changes, such as:
- Helping you quit using tobacco
- Eating a heart-healthy diet
- Losing weight if you are overweight
- Getting regular exercise
- Lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure
- Reducing your risk of developing a blood clot
We offer several resources to help you succeed in your goals, including support groups and weight loss and smoking cessation programs. Our exercise room is available to cardiac patients during normal business hours.
If lifestyle changes are not enough, your cardiologist may recommend:
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) – creates a new route for blood flow around the blocked arteries
- Coronary angioplasty – opens narrowed or blocked arteries
- Carotid endarterectomy – removes plaque that’s clogging the arteries
- Arterial bypass in your leg – takes a blood vessel from another limb and creates a new path to carry blood around a blocked artery
- Coronary Artery Angioplasty or Stents
We can help
Are you concerned about your heart health? It’s not too late to take steps toward change. Call (574) 537-5000 to get started.