Heart Artery Plaque Reversal: Many people believe that once plaque builds up in the heart’s arteries and a blockage forms, it can never be reversed. Doctors often say the same – “Once you have a blockage, it will stay for life.” But a real story shared by Dr Saleem Zaidi from a major hospital in Delhi shows this may not be entirely true.
Back in 2010, a 57-year-old patient was admitted under my care as an RMO. He was fit, exercised regularly, followed a plant-based diet, and did not smoke or drink. Naturally, he expected his heart to be perfectly healthy. But a routine CIMT (Carotid Intima Media Thickness) test surprised everyone. The report showed plaque in two areas, and his arterial age was estimated at 73 years (20 years older than his actual age).
Seeing plaque in arteries is a shock for someone who has lived healthily. The question was – how could plaque form despite such a clean lifestyle?
Understanding Heart Artery Plaque
Arteries have two main layers – the intima (innermost) and the media (middle layer). Normally, LDL cholesterol cannot penetrate the intima. But chronic inflammation weakens this lining, allowing LDL particles to enter and get trapped. Over time, this accumulation forms plaque.
Many people assume danger comes only with a blocked artery. In reality, a heart attack can occur even before a 50% blockage. The real risk is unstable or HOT plaque, which is soft and liquid-like. When the immune system attacks plaque to repair it, white blood cells release enzymes that liquefy it. Contact with blood can then form a clot (and over 90% of heart attacks happen because of these clots, not the plaque itself).
DON'T MISS
In this case, the patient’s plaque was stable (not hot), which meant he had no chest pain or heart attack.
Heart Artery Plaque Reversal: How Change Is Possible
Genetic factors were part of the problem. The patient had a family history of heart disease and genes linked to heart attack, diabetes and atrial fibrillation. He also had undiagnosed insulin resistance. His lifestyle was already good, so only fine-tuning was needed.
The plan included cutting high glycaemic carbs, adding omega-3-rich foods like fish, chia and flaxseeds, and including anti-inflammatory foods such as turmeric. Lean protein and niacin (vitamin B3) sources were suggested. Ayurveda was also used. Arjuna strengthened the heart, guggul broke down deposits, triphala improved digestion and guduchi and amla reduced deep inflammation.
Simple habits like warm water with raw garlic in the morning, early light dinners, stress management with pranayama and deep breathing, and proper sleep routines were added.
Over time, follow-up CIMT tests showed remarkable improvement. Arterial age dropped from 73 to 59, and later stabilized around 52. This shows that plaque can naturally reverse when the root causes like inflammation and metabolic imbalance are addressed.
Every body is different and results vary. Always consult your doctor before starting any program, whether Ayurvedic or allopathic. Heart artery plaque is not just about cholesterol. Inflammation and insulin resistance play major roles. With the right approach, heart artery plaque reversal is indeed possible.
