Can heart disease be reversed?

Progression can be halted and plaque can regress modestly with aggressive LDL lowering, intensive lifestyle change, blood pressure control, and smoking cessation. Symptoms and risk improve substantially; complete reversal of established disease is not realistic.

Intensive LDL lowering — typically to below 55-70 mg/dL after a stent — can produce modest plaque regression and clearly reduces further events.

Cardiac rehabilitation programmes improve survival and quality of life after a stent, yet are widely underused. Ask your cardiologist for a referral.