Alternative medical treatments to bypass surgery include taking prescription medications and undergoing catheter procedures. Some or all of these may have already been tried in your particular situation.

Taking medications may help improve the efficiency of each heartbeat, remove excess fluids, decrease the demands on the heart, and help control blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels and even smoking habits. However, medication can only help treat the symptoms of blocked coronary arteries, rather than help to fix them.

A catheter procedure called balloon angioplasty is another alternative. It does not require surgery, but it is invasive. During angioplasty, a balloon like device is used to expand the blockage in your artery and restore blood flow. However, your cardiologist may have already evaluated your condition and may think that you are not a candidate for angioplasty.

If you do have questions about any of these alternatives, you should discuss them with your doctor and decide which one, if any, is appropriate for you.