Now playing: Surgery
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Medication
Your doctor might prescribe medication to give your body a hand, and protect your heart ... Play Video -
Prevention of risk factors
It's important to be aware of your risk factors the ones you're born with, and the ones you... Play Video -
Quitting smoking
Smoking raises your blood pressure, which means there is more force on your arteries as the... Play Video -
Lowering alcohol consumption
When it comes to alcohol -- as with most things in life -- moderation is key ... Play Video
Surgery
Since narrowed arteries can lead to a heart attack, your doctor may want to perform a surgery to improve the blood flow to your heart.
In coronary artery bypass surgery, the doctor will usually take a vein from your arm or leg, and use it to make a detour around the blocked artery.
Your blood gets to "bypass" the blocked area, and that's how the surgery got its name.
If the doctor does a bypass in more than one area, it's called a double-, triple-, or quadruple-bypass.
Last modified: 2012-03-06
