Final answer:
Angioplasty is the procedure to alleviate symptoms of atherosclerosis, which includes using a balloon catheter to widen the vessel and often involves inserting a stent to maintain vessel openness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The procedure done to relieve the symptoms of atherosclerosis is angioplasty. In angioplasty, a catheter with a balloon-like tip is inserted into the narrowed blood vessel. During an angioplasty, a catheter with a balloon at its tip is inserted into a narrowed vessel. Once the balloon reaches the point of occlusion, it is inflated to push the plaque against the artery walls, which widens the vessel and improves blood flow. Often, a stent is also inserted to help keep the artery open and prevent re-narrowing. Other treatment methods for atherosclerosis include lifestyle changes, medications, endarterectomy, or coronary bypass grafting (CABG) depending on the severity of the condition.