Blocked arteries, or atherosclerosis as it is technically called, is a major health issue that affects millions of people around the world. If you are one of those unfortunate people who have been diagnosed with blocked arteries, you may be wondering how long you can live with blocked arteries and what determines how long you can live with blocked arteries. Although blocked arteries can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems, with proper medical intervention and care, you can live a long and healthy life with blocked arteries. In this article, we will discuss what blocked arteries is, what causes blocked arteries, risks associated with blocked arteries, How Long Can You Live With Blocked Arteries, and how long you can live with blocked arteries.
What Are Blocked Arteries?
Blocked arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from your heart to the rest of your body. When fatty deposits, cholesterol, calcium, and other materials build up on the inner walls of your arteries, they form a hard material called plaque.
Blocked arteries can occur in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, carotid arteries that supply blood to the brain, and peripheral arteries that supply blood to the legs.
Causes of Blocked Arteries
There are several causes of blocked arteries or the formation of plaque that leads to blockage of the arteries. These causes include:
- High Cholesterol: When there is high cholesterol in the blood, high levels of LDL or “bad” cholesterol increase the formation of plaque, while high levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol decrease the removal of plaque.
- High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure can damage the artery walls and increase the formation of plaque.
- Smoking: Smoking can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of blockages.
- Diabetes: When blood sugar levels are high, they can damage blood vessels.
- Unhealthy Lifestyle: An unhealthy lifestyle can lead to blockages.
- Family History: Genetics can play a role in heart disease.
Plaque formation starts at a young age or during adolescence but can occur later in life when the blockages occur suddenly, i.e., during a heart attack or stroke.
Symptoms of Blocked Arteries
Blocked arteries may lie dormant for years. Often, people are unaware of the blockage in their arteries until a major heart-related incident strikes. The common symptoms of blocked arteries include:
- Chest pain or angina, particularly during physical activity
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue or weakness
- Heart palpitations
- Pain in the arms, shoulders, neck, or jaw
- Cold or numb feet in the case of PAD
- Sudden neurological symptoms like slurred speech, facial weakness, or weakness in one side of the face due to blockage in the carotid artery
It is worth noting that not all blocked arteries present any symptoms. That is where regular checkups come in handy, particularly for those who have risk factors for heart diseases.
Diagnosing Blocked Arteries
Doctors use different methods to diagnose blocked arteries. Some of the tests may include:
- Blood tests for cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) – heart rhythm test
- Echocardiogram or stress test
- Ultrasound test for carotid or peripheral arteries
- CT scan or MRI scan – to see the extent of the blockage
- Angiogram – to know the percentage of the blockage
Knowing the extent of the blockage helps the doctor decide the course of action.
How Long Can You Live With Blocked Arteries?
The question to be answered is how long a person can survive with blocked arteries. To answer this question, various aspects need to be taken into consideration:
- Severity of the blockage: If the blockage is minor, the patient’s life expectancy will not be greatly reduced. However, if the blockage is severe and occurs in a major artery like the left main coronary artery, the patient’s life expectancy will be reduced.
- Presence of symptoms: Patients who do not display any symptoms will be able to survive for a longer period.
- Lifestyle: A healthy lifestyle helps to increase the life expectancy of a patient with partially blocked arteries.
- Medical management: Patients with partially blocked arteries can survive for a long period with the help of drugs like statins, blood thinners, and blood pressure control agents.
- Age and health: Patients who are younger and healthier will be able to survive for a longer period compared to those who are older with a variety of other health problems.
Treatment Options
1. Lifestyle Modifications
Lifestyle modifications are the foundation upon which blocked arteries can be treated and longevity can be increased:
- Eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
- Avoid saturated fats, trans fats, processed foods, and added sugars.
- Engage in regular physical activity like walking, swimming, or cycling.
- Maintain a healthy body weight.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol.
- Manage stress with yoga, meditation, or counseling.
2. Medications
Doctors may prescribe the following medications to prevent the progression and the risk of complications from the disease:
- Statins to lower LDL cholesterol and stabilize plaque
- Blood thinners like aspirin to prevent the formation of clots
- Beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors to control high blood pressure
- Nitroglycerin to relieve pain in the chest
3. Surgical and Minimally Invasive Procedures
For severe conditions, surgical interventions to improve blood flow include:
- Angioplasty with stenting, where blocked arteries are widened
- Bypass surgery, which bypasses blocked sections of arteries
- Atherectomy, which removes plaque from arteries
Recent advances in non-invasive treatments such as **EECP** (Enhanced External Counterpulsation) can also be effective in improving blood flow for certain patients.
Lifestyle and Long-Term Outlook
Individuals can live full lives despite blocked arteries if they take the following proactive measures:
- Strict adherence to medication and doctor’s advice
- Continual improvements to lifestyles
- Continual checks on heart health
- Prompt actions to new symptoms that may appear
Studies have shown that aggressive control of cholesterol, blood pressure, and lifestyles can greatly increase life expectancy while reducing the risks of heart attacks or strokes.
Conclusion
Knowing how long you can live with blocked arteries depends on your knowledge of the condition, the importance of taking action, and the advice given by medical practitioners. Blocked arteries are life-threatening, but this is not always the case. Many people are living long, healthy lives, and this is due to the right advice, lifestyle, and knowledge.
FAQs
Can blocked arteries be reversed?
Yes, blocked arteries can be reversed using various medications and lifestyle changes.
How do I know if I have blocked arteries?
In some instances, people with blocked arteries may experience various signs and symptoms, including chest pain, difficulty in breathing, fatigue, and even brain dysfunction. However, it is worth noting that some people may not experience any signs and symptoms, and this is where regular check-ups are required.
Is surgery always needed for blocked arteries?
Not necessarily, as blocked arteries can be controlled through various lifestyle changes and even some medications.
Can I prevent blocked arteries?
Yes, blocked arteries can be prevented through a healthy diet, regular exercise, quitting smoking, controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and diabetes.
What lifestyle changes help extend life with blocked arteries?
A healthy diet, regular exercise, quitting smoking, stress control, and adherence to prescribed drugs are some of the factors that help in increasing life expectancy in people with blocked arteries.
