Advanced stages of atherosclerosis require immediate treatment. In the case of a heart attack, different medications are immediately available. Digitalis is a drug that increases the heart muscle contractions, and therefore increases output. Calcium entry blockers allow vascular muscle cells to relax, resulting in a lowered blood pressure and a lowered myocardial oxygen demand. These drugs can be very effective, but there are also surgical techniques out there that will do just as good.
Coronary angioplasty is one effective surgery used to open congested arteries.
Angio is defined as vessel, and plasty is defined as repair. A small balloon is inserted into the artery and then inflated. This compacts the plaques to open a larger passage area. Bypass surgery is actually more effective than the angioplasty surgeries in people suffering from diabetes-induced heart disease. She needs to come and talk to you.