Once fatty plaques begin to cause symptoms such as chest pain, you may have to undergo an operation to prevent your condition becoming worse. Angioplasty is a commonly performed procedure, which works by expanding the narrowed arteries from inside the blood vessel itself.

A) A tube known as a ‘catheter’, with a balloon on the end is passed from a
blood vessel in the thigh into the blocked artery.

B) The balloon is inflated which applies pressure to the plaque and opens the
blocked artery. This procedure is sometimes referred to as ‘balloon dilation’.

C) In approximately 30% of people, the artery narrows again within six months. The procedure can however be repeated and a wire mesh support may be placed in the artery to help keep it open. Or the wire mesh support can be placed in the artery at the same time as the balloon dilation.

If you have several large fatty plaques in the arteries supplying the heart muscle you may have to have major surgery, such as bypass surgery.

If you do require treatment for fatty plaque build-up, it is likely that you will also be given other drugs as well as your high cholesterol medication. They may be given to:

• Reduce your high blood pressure
• Prevent or reduce blood clots forming.

Again it is important to take any medication given to you by your doctor to
reduce cardiovascular risk. Even if you have already had an operation for fatty plaque build-up, it is still important to take your cholesterol lowering medication to prevent further fatty plaque build-up in other parts of the body.

	Fatty plaque build-up can occur in any artery of your body and therefore it is important to take your cholesterol lowering medicine.