The medical term for this type of pain is angina. Angioplasty is one of the methods that can be used to treat the poor circulation that results from atherosclerosis. Angioplasty is a procedure that helps to open up narrow or blocked arteries by expanding or stretching the narrowed artery. A special catheter is inserted into the narrowed artery. A balloon at the tip of the catheter is then inflated, expanding the artery.
Blood can then flow more easily through the opened artery.
Stents A newer method of angioplasty uses a stent to open up narrowed arteries. A stent is an expandable mesh tube, made of a high quality stainless steel. The stent is placed over the same type of balloon used for angioplasty. When the balloon is inflated, the stent expands and is pressed into the artery wall. The balloon is then deflated and removed while the stent remains permanently in place, keeping the artery wide open.