There are many kinds of heart disease. Sometimes damage to the heart can be reversed with treatment. Sometimes the problems that led to the damage cannot be reversed.

The most common type of heart disease is blockage of the coronary arteries. These blood vessels provide nourishment to the heart muscle. If they are blocked, the heart muscle may be injured or die. If the heart muscle dies, this is called a heart attack. When heart muscle dies, it will form a scar. Scars can not be reversed.

Even if scars of the heart muscle can not be changed, we know that blockage of the coronary arteries can be changed. Persons who have had a heart attack can decrease their chances of a second heart attack by lowering cholesterol and fats in the diet, by exercising, by stopping smoking, and if necessary, by taking medicine to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. There is also evidence that a vegetarian diet, with very low levels of cholesterol and fat, can actually reverse disease in the coronary arteries. This type of diet is sometimes recommended to persons who have had a heart attack.

There are other treatments for coronary artery disease. These include surgery to bypass blockages and opening of blockages. These treatments reverse the immediate heart problem. But, they do not change the causes of the problem. To changes the causes of coronary artery disease, you need to lower the amount of fats and cholesterol in the blood.

Heart disease can also be caused by infection, damage to the heart valves, drugs, and birth problems. If the heart muscle has not died, some of the damage caused by these problems can be reversed. For example, a damaged heart valve can put a great deal of strain on the heart muscle. If the valve is repaired by surgery, the heart muscle can return to almost normal. If medications damage the heart, sometimes the damage will be reversed if the medication is stopped.

For more information, contact your American Heart Association office or call (800) 242-8721.

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