Coronary artery disease treatment

If you've been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, you should know that making changes in your lifestyle can go a long way in treating your disease. At Novant Health UVA Health System, we will work with you to explore all your options to get your heart healthy again. We can help you identify the changes you need to make reduce your chance for a heart attack and keep the disease from getting worse.

Treatments for coronary artery disease include:

Medications

Various medications can be used to treat coronary artery disease. Speak to your Novant Health UVA Health System provider to learn if one of the following works for you and your condition:

• Cholesterol-modifying medications to decrease the amount of “bad” cholesterol in the blood.
• Aspirin to thin the blood to reduce the risk of blood clots.
• Beta blockers to slow your heart rate and decrease your blood pressure to reduce your risk of heart attack.
• Nitroglycerin to control chest pain by temporarily dilating your coronary arteries and reducing your heart's demand for blood.
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).

Find a Novant Health UVA Health System location near you.

Find a Novant Health UVA Health System location near you.

Procedures

In some cases, it may be determined that you need more than medication and your doctor may recommend one of the following:

• Angioplasty and stent placement (percutaneous coronary revascularization). This uses a catheter and balloon to compress the deposits against your artery walls. A stent is often left in the artery to help keep the artery open. Some stents slowly release medication to help keep the artery open.
• Coronary artery bypass surgery. A surgeon creates a graft to bypass blocked coronary arteries using a vessel from another part of your body. This redirects blood to flow around the blocked or narrowed coronary artery.

Find a Novant Health UVA Health System location near you.

Lifestyle changes

A commitment to healthier living can go a long way towards promoting healthier arteries and limiting the effect of symptoms on your life. Your Novant Health UVA Health System provider will discuss ways you can make changes to better your health.

These changes may include:

• Losing excess weight.
• Quitting smoking.
• Eating healthy foods.
• Exercising regularly.
• Reducing stress.

Find a Novant Health UVA Health System location near you.