Can Heart Disease Be Reversed?

It's a known fact that heart disease can be treated or prevented. Most causes of heart disease can be reversed. Most causes of heart disease are caused by something called atherosclerosis-- or plaque buildup within the arteries.

Heart failure is one type of heart disease, and it's typically the inability of the heart to pump the way that it should. And there's a lot of causes for heart failure. The first one, or the most common one, is a heart attack. Hypertension is another very common cause of congestive heart failure-- or heart failure. And then the third one that's very common is a faulty heart valve.

There are things that you can do. The first thing that we always recommend is know what numbers are. So know what your cholesterol is. Know what your blood pressure is.

If you have some condition that puts you at risk for heart disease, such as diabetes, take the steps that you need to take to control your blood sugar. That will reduce your risk of heart disease. And if you're overweight, whether you smoke, or whether you're inactive-- that's a good opportunity to work with your physician, your health care provider, to help you take the steps that you need to reduce your risks.

You may have the disease, but certainly there are things that you can do to treat-- even prevent-- it. And in some cases, you can reverse the condition as well.