Treatments for cardiovascular disease

• In coronary heart disease layers of fatty material build up inside the coronary arteries. This reduces the flow of blood through the coronary arteries. This can lead to a heart attack
• Statins are widely used to reduce blood cholesterol levels, which slows down the rate of fatty material deposit.
• Stents are used to keep the coronary arteries open.
• In some people heart valves may become faulty, preventing the valve from opening fully, or the heart valve might develop a leak
• Faulty heart valves can be replaced using biological or mechanical valves.
• In the case of heart failure, a donor heart, or heart and lungs, can be transplanted. Artificial hearts are occasionally used to keep patients alive whilst waiting for a heart transplant, or to allow the heart to rest as an aid to recovery