How to Clear Blocked Arteries Without Surgery

You may be able to stabilize and partially reverse buildup of plaques in clogged arteries with medication and lifestyle management, including diet and physical activity.

Arteries are a major part of your circulatory system.

These tubes move blood that contains oxygen through your body. They help fuel all your body’s functions. When blood vessels are clear and open, blood flows freely.

However, plaques of cholesterol, fat, and other materials can build up inside your blood vessels. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. It may slowly narrow your arteries over time.

Treatment depends on how bad your plaque buildup is and where it is. Research from 2024 shows that reversing atherosclerosis requires managing all major risk factors. This includes reducing high cholesterol, lowering high blood pressure, and quitting smoking if you smoke.

Diet, physical activity, and stress management may also help you unclog your arteries. However, procedures like angioplasty with stenting or bypass surgery may be needed to prevent or manage serious problems.

Keep reading to learn more about what you can do to help unclog your arteries.

What foods can help unclog your arteries naturally?

Recent studies have raised questions about whether eating lots of saturated fats directly affects cholesterol levels.

However, there is a long history of proof that replacing saturated fat with better fats can lower heart disease risk. These better fats include polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats.

One possible choice is the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension eating plan. This diet focuses on vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. It limits or avoids saturated fat, sugar, and salt.

There is proof that healthy eating patterns like this diet may lower LDL cholesterol and reduce plaque.

In a 2021 study, test subjects joined the Dietary Intervention to Stop Coronary Atherosclerosis in Computed Tomography program. This program combined the DASH diet with personalized nutritionist help and counseling.

Researchers found that a mix of dietary changes and more physical activity slowed atherosclerosis growth. This worked better than the control group.

A 2024 study confirmed that inflammation helps arterial plaque grow. Foods that cause inflammation may play a role in heart problems.

Here are some foods to think about including in your eating plan. There are also foods to think about limiting or avoiding. This can help prevent artery clogging or help unclog your arteries.

Eat:

• Unsaturated fats
• Grains
• Legumes
• Beans
• Oats
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Dietary fiber

Limit or Avoid:

• Highly processed foods
• Trans fats
• Saturated fats
• Added sugars
• Excess sodium

The DASH diet recommends lean meats, fish, poultry, and low fat dairy products. Eggs are high in dietary cholesterol. But research is not clear if they increase heart disease risk.

Aiming for a healthy eating pattern is important. Include a variety of fiber rich fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and legumes. This may be a more helpful way to focus efforts. It’s better than seeing a diet as removing foods you enjoy.

At what age do your arteries start clogging?

The risk of getting atherosclerosis increases in males after age 45. In females, the risk goes up after age 55. This is according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

That said, plaque can start building up even during childhood. This is also according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

A 2019 research review states that having high cholesterol as a younger adult raises your risk. This increases your chances of getting heart disease later in life.

Tips for lifestyle changes

Aside from following a heart healthy eating plan, here are some extra tips. These may help you unclog your arteries and prevent plaque buildup.

Move more

Staying physically active can improve your heart health. Regular exercise helps prevent heart problems.

Slowly build up your routine and stamina. Make staying physically active a part of your weekly routine. Aim for at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate activity each week. Or do 75 to 150 minutes of hard physical activity. You can also mix both types.

Walking is a great way to get moving.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends muscle strengthening activities. Do these two days per week. Target all muscle groups. These may include yoga and activities with exercise bands, weight machines, or handheld weights.

Speaking with a doctor before starting a new activity is important. This includes an exercise routine. They can help you create the best physical activity plan. This includes the right intensity level. Some types of exercise may be unsafe if you have certain chronic conditions.

Manage cholesterol levels

The link between cholesterol and atherosclerosis formation is complex. In general, high low density lipoprotein levels are linked with atherosclerosis. They’re also linked with problems like heart attacks and strokes.

Certain subtypes of LDL have a stronger link. These include small, dense LDL particles. However, these subtypes are measured less often.

In general, lowering your LDL and raising your high density lipoprotein levels may help. This can stabilize plaque, slow growth, and even partly reverse plaque buildup in your arteries.

In a simple view of cholesterol, high LDL levels are called bad cholesterol. They float through the blood and may deposit in artery walls. High density lipoprotein, or good cholesterol, can help remove cholesterol deposits. This fights plaque formation.

A doctor may prescribe medications to help lower your LDL cholesterol. These medications also prevent plaques.

Researchers in a 2020 study noted stabilization of existing plaques in people with atherosclerosis. This happened within 30 days of taking high cholesterol medications. Plaque shrinkage was seen one to two years later. A large body of proof confirms how well cholesterol lowering medications work.

Maintain a moderate weight

Following a heart healthy eating plan and staying physically active may help you lose weight. This is if that’s your goal. It can help you maintain a moderate weight. Not maintaining a moderate weight can lead to a rise in your LDL cholesterol. This may raise your risk of plaque buildup.

If you are overweight or have obesity, reducing your body weight by three to five percent can provide health benefits. For example, it may help lower your cholesterol.

Quit smoking and reduce alcohol intake

Smoking helps atherosclerosis grow. This makes it more likely that plaques will form. It also increases their overall growth rate. Smoking also affects the aorta. This is the main artery in your body.

There is not a lot of research on plaque reduction after quitting smoking. But quitting smoking has huge health benefits for the heart system.

If you smoke, the day you quit, your health is helped right away. For example, quitting smoking may help raise your HDL levels. Speak with a doctor if you need help quitting smoking. They can recommend smoking programs and other helpful resources.

The CDC offers a hotline to quit smoking at the number 1 800 QUIT NOW.

Drinking too much alcohol can also affect the heart. If you drink alcohol, the NHLBI recommends limiting intake. Women should have no more than one drink per day. Men should have no more than two drinks per day.

Alcohol can also hurt your cholesterol levels.

Manage stress

Your mental and emotional health can directly affect your physical health and overall well being. It’s important to identify and manage stress as best as you can. You might think about taking time to relax each day. Or seek support from a therapist if you need help managing issues you might face every day.

Take prescribed medication

If you have been told you have atherosclerosis or have risk factors, talk with a doctor. Discuss your options. In general, medication along with lifestyle changes are recommended. Some people may need special procedures.

These medications are made for use with other heart healthy steps. This includes following a heart healthy eating plan and staying physically active.

Statin medications are a common choice. Doctors prescribe them for adults at higher risk of getting a stroke or coronary artery disease. Other cholesterol lowering medications may include:

• PCSK9 inhibitors such as evolocumab or alirocumab
• bempedoic acid
• ezetimibe

Be sure to take your cholesterol medication as prescribed. It’s important to continue a heart healthy eating plan and regular physical activity. This is true even if you’re taking a cholesterol lowering medication.

How the BaleDoneen Method Can Help

The BaleDoneen Method is a science-based approach to preventing heart attacks and strokes. It focuses on detecting and treating the root causes of arterial disease early, often before symptoms appear.

Rather than waiting for plaque to grow large enough to block an artery or require surgery, this method uses advanced testing to identify silent risks. These include hidden inflammation, arterial wall thickness, and dangerous plaque that might not show up in standard exams.

Once risks are found, a personalized plan is created. This may include:

• Testing for arterial inflammation and genetic markers
• Imaging to measure plaque in the arteries
• Individualized plans to manage cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure
• Targeted nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle guidance
• Medications if needed to stabilize or shrink plaque

The goal is not only to prevent events like heart attacks and strokes but also to help the body heal and stop disease from progressing. For people with early or moderate plaque buildup, the BaleDoneen Method may offer a non-surgical path to better artery health.

Talk to a provider trained in the BaleDoneen Method if you want to understand your artery health and lower your risk in a personalized way.

Treating clogged arteries

If you’ve received a diagnosis of arterial blockage, now is the right time to think about ways to stabilize or reverse plaque. You also want to prevent more buildup.

Some lifestyle changes may help prevent your condition from getting worse. However, you may need medical help if one or more of your arteries has a worse blockage.

A doctor may recommend surgery to remove plaques or bypass the blockages. This includes bypass surgery, angioplasty, and carotid artery surgery.

Complications

If you have clogged arteries, working with a doctor to create a treatment plan is important. If blockages stay untreated, you could have serious health problems. These include:

• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Chronic kidney disease
• Acute limb events leading to limb loss
• Aortic aneurysm formation
• Aortic dissection

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way to unclog your arteries?

There is no fast way to unclog arteries once plaque has built up. The best proof for stabilizing and reducing plaque is with a mix of cholesterol lowering medications. These include statins along with healthy lifestyle habits.

Eating a heart healthy diet, getting regular physical exercise, and managing stress may help lower your risk of problems from atherosclerosis. In some cases, procedures with angioplasty and stenting or bypass surgery may be needed.

In some cases, medications or surgery may be needed.

What are the warning signs of clogged arteries?

Chest pain, also called angina, is one of the most common symptoms of a clogged artery. Angina has been described as a squeezing tightness or heaviness in your chest. Pain may start in the area of your breastbone. It may spread to your left arm or shoulder. It may also spread to your jaw or upper back.

Angina pain from a clogged coronary artery is felt when you’re working hard. It usually goes away with rest. Other symptoms may include:

• dizziness
• feeling like your heart is racing
• nausea or indigestion
• shortness of breath
• sweating
• weakness

Symptoms of clogged arteries happen differently. This depends on where the plaque is.

For instance, symptoms of plaque in the carotid artery include vision problems and stroke symptoms. Plaque in the lower legs leads to tiredness and cramping of the leg muscles after activity.

Can you reverse plaque buildup in your arteries?

It is possible to stabilize and partially reverse plaque in your arteries. Taking cholesterol lowering medications and following a healthy lifestyle is the best way to start reducing plaques. This includes a heart healthy diet and physical exercise. Quitting smoking can also help lower your risk of problems from atherosclerosis.

What foods help clear arteries?

Foods rich in fiber, unsaturated fats, whole grains, beans, vegetables and fruits help support vascular health. Avoid high‑sugar, high‑salt, processed and high‑saturated‑fat foods.

Is exercise enough to remove plaque?

Exercise helps lower risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, weight) and can support plaque shrinkage. But it works best with diet and medical care.

What is functional versus anatomical reversal of plaque?

The aim is less about “turning back the clock” completely and more about stabilizing existing plaque so it does not rupture and cause a heart attack or stroke.

Takeaway

Plaque buildup may clog your arteries. Though diet and lifestyle are major causes of arterial blockages, your risk of atherosclerosis may also go up with age.

Following a heart healthy eating plan and staying physically active may help reduce plaques. These habits prevent them from getting worse. These health promoting lifestyle changes are also important if you have a procedure to remove plaques. They’re also important if you bypass a heavily clogged artery.