Can Heart Disease be Reversed?

by Eric Smith

Overview

Heart disease refers to many diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Heart disease may be partially or fully reversed through different types of treatment. Heart disease may be prevented with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Cardiovascular Disease

According to the Mayo Clinic, patients may be able to open blocked arteries through drug treatment to reduce high blood pressure, thin the blood and lower cholesterol levels. A medical procedure called an angioplasty may be performed to open an artery with a balloon and a stent.

Heart Arrhythmias

Patients with abnormal heartbeats may experience improvement with anti-arrhythmic drug treatment, a cardiac ablation procedure or the implantation of a pacemaker.
Heart Defects

Some people are born with heart defects that may correct themselves without treatment or may require medications, catheterization techniques or open heart surgery.
Cardiomyopathy

Thickened heart muscle can interfere with heart functioning and may require drugs that increase the heart's pumping ability, a special pacemaker or a heart transplant.
Heart Infections

Antibiotics may be used to fight bacterial infections of the heart and other medications may be required to regulate a patient's heartbeat.
Valvular Heart Disease

Patients with malfunctioning heart valves may benefit from medications that open blood vessels or they may need surgery to repair or replace a heart valve.