how often should blocked arteries be checked?

Nancy Ryan,

Thanks for your question. 

Doctors do not routinely employ angiography to keep an eye on the status of a patient's coronary artery disease.  Instead, periodic stress testing is used to monitor a patient's status, as well as routine follow-up with the doctor who inquires about any changes in symptoms.  Should there be a change in the stress tests, or a patient develops symptoms of coronary artery disease, then a repeat angiogram would be considered.

Cardiac catherization (coronary angiogram) has some risks associated with it such as bleeding, perforation of an artery,  and possible adverse affects of the dye on the kidney.

If stable, your husband should be getting stress tests on a yearly basis, but this may vary depending on his individual situation.  In addition, he should be on medications to keep his cholesterol levels low, which some studies have shown, can actually decrease the blockages.  Also, he should be doing everything possible to reduce any risk factors for coronary artery disease:  no smoking; weight control; healthy, low fat diet; blood pressure control (if necessary); good sugar control if diabetic; and a regular exercise program.

I hope this has been helpful.  Best wishes.

Martin Cane, M.D.