When we think about blocked arteries, chances are that we are generally thinking about the small arteries that feed blood to the heart, and of course we know that when these small but vital arteries get blocked the result is going to be angina and a strong possibility of a heart attack.

If the blockage to these arteries is diagnosed in time, then the most likely outcome will be the recommendation of angioplasty.

Angioplasty is a technique used to dilate an area of arterial blockage with the help of a catheter that has an inflatable small sausage-shaped balloon at its tip. The balloon catheter is introduced into the femeral artery at the groin and then it is pushed along the femeral artery until it is in position to inflate at the site of the blockage. The travel of the catheter is monitored on an external screen to ensure correct placement.

Angioplasty physically opens the blocked arterial segment and restores blood flow. In some cases, the artery tends to close again immediately after the inflation and in these cases a small device shaped like a small coil spring is inserted to hold the section of artery open. This device is known as a stent.

Since angioplasty is performed through a relatively small incision in the groin it is much less invasive than full bypass surgery and can be repeated more often should the patient develop disease in the same, or another, artery in the future.

If the blockage is too severe, or in some cases the artery damage is too extensive, then full heart bypass surgery will need to be undertaken to graft some small sections of artery that have been almost simultaneously removed from the patients arm or leg to the coronary artery. This graft will start at one side of the blockage and end on the other side of the blockage. Hence the term – bypass.

After angioplasty or bypass, the recovery rate is usually very good and the patient sent home with a low fat diet regime and an exercise regime.

Now here is the flaw.

If you have managed to damage your arteries in the coronary area of your body to the extent that you needed surgery, it is a very strong possibility that you may also have blocked or partially blocked arteries elsewhere in your body.

If this is indeed the case, and my suggestion is that it is highly likely, then surely it should be a priority to do something to try to reverse this situation.

Strangely, the medical profession in general tend to tell you after successful bypass surgery that you need to do the right things to look after your heart for the future – all well and good. But they almost always stop short of implementing anything that might actually reverse the damage that may also still be happening at some other areas of your arterial system.

Athersclorosis – or as it is commonly called, blocked arteries – can be reversed. I am not claiming that this is easy or that there is a magic pill that will put everything right, but none the less, it is possible, and if you have suffered a heart attack, had angina attacks, undergone angioplasty or even been diagnosed with high high blood pressure, then you owe it to yourself and your family to do everything possible to ensure that you put your whole arterial system back on the road to recovery.