A reader’s husband, who is in his seventies, had triple bypass surgery two and a half years ago and has been taking aspirin and statins ever since. Recently, because of pain in his arm and increasing breathlessness, he took a treadmill test and is suspected to have more blocked arteries.  His wife is desperate to know if there is any way to clear the plaque form his arteries by natural means and prevent future problems.  Currently, he follows a vegan diet (and has done for the past 25 years), with no saturated fats apart from margarine (Suma Organic Sunflower Spread).  He takes a multivitamin/mineral supplement along with a B complex supplement, B12, and folic acid.  His alcohol intake is three to four glasses of red wine per day, with an occasional whiskey.  Can anyone offer advice?

Several readers point out that the statins could be causing your husband’s symptoms of muscle pain and breathlessness.  Check the patient information leaflet that comes with the medication, or speak to your GP, they suggest.  One reader explains that she experienced muscle pain and weakness from taking the statin drug Lipitor.  The pain disappeared once she stopped taking it and hasn’t reappeared since. 

Other readers believe that your husband’s vegan diet could be to blame for his artery problems.  “A vegan diet, with too many sugars (alcohol included), other carbs and a sedentary life style, is never a good idea and will cause atherosclerosis,” says one concerned reader.  It’s also likely he’s getting too much omega-6 and too little omega-3, says another.  “We need an equal ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. To help achieve this, stop the margarine intake, find a good quality coconut oil, and, if he won't take fish oil then use flaxseed oil to ensure an adequate intake of omega-3s.”

Another reader recommends a complete dietary overhaul (see a qualified nutritionist for advice), along with a regime of professionally supervised, sensible exercise.

In addition to looking at his diet and lifestyle, your husband may also want to look into chelation therapy – recommended by a number of readers as an alternative method for clearing clogged arteries.  Chelation therapy is a process involving the use of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body, but it is being employed by a growing number of physicians to reverse the process of atherosclerosis through the removal of the calcium content of plaque from the artery walls.

One woman describes her husband’s experience with chelation therapy: “My husband had a heart bypass operation in 1993 when he was not yet 50 years old.  He was prescribed statin drugs and the quantity of these escalated as the years progressed, with almost no change in his cholesterol levels.  He was not at all happy taking these prescription drugs and began chelation therapy in late 2001, which was initially administered intravenously for three months, when we were living in London.  Once we returned home it was not possible to get this type of therapy, but in early 2003 we had found out about Detoxamin (www.detoxamin.com), chelation by suppository, which he has used ever since. You need to take a good vitamin/mineral supplement at the same time.  His arteries have been monitored and the latest results, in July 2006, showed that his arteries are clearer than 60 per cent of the male population of his age.  He has taken neither statins, nor aspirin since 2001 and is in very good health, not something which could have been expected after his heart bypass in 1993.”

Another idea is to try serrapeptase, a proteolytic enzyme with powerful anti-inflammatory properties.  According to one reader, it can clear the arteries in 12-18 months, depending on their condition.  For more information see www.serrapeptase.info. 

Finally, a couple of readers recommend high-dose vitamin C for blocked arteries.  To find out more about how this vitamin can reverse heart disease click here.