By R. Sheeler, M.D. Next Level Concierge Care

Would you believe that it is possible to suffer no damage even if one of your coronary arteries becomes totally blocked? Turns out it is possible if you have built up a network of collateral arteries that bypass the blocked area.

Collateral vessels are one or more small arteries that take on the task of delivering blood around an area of one of your key arteries that becomes narrowed or blocked over time.

The process of atherosclerosis can lead to narrowing of arteries in the heart. It can be relentless unless addressed aggressively with medications and exercise.

The key to effective collateral vessel circulation is a response to gradual obstruction of a major artery. If the obstruction is sudden then growth of collateral vessel circulation is too slow to save the downstream heart muscle that was supplied by the obstructed artery. If however, the obstruction is gradual then the network of collateral vessels can supply blood to the area of the heart at risk by bypassing the obstructed area.

If you have an area of a key blood vessel that has had a slowly progressing blockage which stimulated the formation of collateral circulation, then total obstruction of that artery may not cause a heart attack which damages the heart muscle. That’s because collateral circulation has already assumed the task of carrying blood to the downstream area of the heart at risk.

The same process of forming collateral circulation can happen in the limbs, typically from narrowing or blockage of arteries to the legs and in the brain. Collateral circulation can improve blood flow to the legs and thus improve walking or even save the leg from amputation. Similarly collateral circulation in the brain can limit damage caused by a stroke.

Exercise can be key in stimulating the formation of collateral circulation vessels in the heart and in peripheral vascular disease where the blockage occurs in the legs.

THINGS THAT CAN HELP BUILD COLLATERAL CIRCULATION: