What Gets Rid of Calcifications? Understanding Treatments and Reversal

September 24, 2025 •

4 min read

According to research published by the National Library of Medicine, calcification of the arteries impacts a significant percentage of the aging population.

Understanding what gets rid of calcifications requires a nuanced approach, as the appropriate treatment depends entirely on their specific location and underlying cause.

Quick Summary

The approach to eliminating or managing calcifications is highly location-specific, involving strategies that can range from medication and lifestyle adjustments to targeted medical procedures or surgery.

Key Points

Location-Specific Treatment: Treatment for calcifications varies greatly depending on where they are located, such as in arteries, joints, or kidneys.
Lifestyle is Foundational: For arterial calcification, significant lifestyle changes like a healthy diet, exercise, and quitting smoking are vital for prevention and slowing progression.
Medications Manage Risk Factors: Prescription drugs can help control underlying conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol that contribute to calcification.
Shockwave Therapy for Specific Deposits: Procedures like extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) can be used to break up calcium deposits in joints (tendinitis) or kidneys (kidney stones).
Advanced Intervention for Severe Cases: Severe arterial calcification may require advanced procedures like intravascular lithotripsy, stenting, or bypass surgery.
Consult a Doctor for Diagnosis: Self-treating calcifications is not advised; a medical professional can provide an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.

Understanding the Different Types of Calcifications

Calcification is the accumulation of calcium salts in soft tissues, where they don’t normally belong. While calcium is essential for bone health, its buildup elsewhere can lead to significant health issues. These deposits can form in various parts of the body, including arteries, joints, and organs, and the treatment strategy is determined by the type and location of the calcium buildup.

Arterial Calcifications

Arterial calcification, or vascular calcification, is a major marker of atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries. It is strongly associated with a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. The treatment here is generally focused on managing the underlying risk factors and, in severe cases, using procedural interventions.

Lifestyle Changes for Arterial Calcification

Diet: A heart-healthy diet is crucial. This includes limiting intake of cholesterol, saturated fats, and sodium, while increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Exercise: Regular physical activity helps improve cardiovascular health, manage weight, and control blood pressure.
Smoking Cessation: Quitting smoking is one of the most impactful changes to slow the progression of arterial calcification.
Limit Alcohol: Reducing alcohol consumption can help manage blood pressure and overall heart health.
Supplementation: Some studies suggest certain vitamins, like K2, can help move calcium from arteries to bones. However, always consult a doctor before starting new supplements, as excessive Vitamin D, for example, can be detrimental.

Medical Treatments for Arterial Calcification

Medical treatments aim to control risk factors and, in advanced cases, to restore blood flow.

Medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications to control blood pressure (beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors), lower cholesterol (statins), or manage blood sugar (anti-diabetic drugs).
Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL): A newer, minimally invasive procedure using sonic pressure waves to break up calcified plaque in arteries, making them more pliable for stent placement. This has shown promising results in treating severely calcified coronary lesions.
Coronary Stenting: A stent is a small mesh tube inserted during an angioplasty to hold an artery open after plaque has been compressed.
Bypass Surgery: For severe blockages, surgeons may perform bypass surgery to reroute blood flow around the blocked arteries.

Joint Calcifications

Joint calcifications, such as calcific tendinitis, involve calcium deposits forming in tendons and other soft tissues around joints, most commonly the shoulder. These can cause pain and restrict movement.

Nonsurgical Options for Joint Calcification

Rest and Physical Therapy: These are often the first line of treatment to manage pain and restore range of motion.
Pain Relievers: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help reduce pain and inflammation.
Steroid Injections: Corticosteroid injections can provide significant, though temporary, pain relief.
Percutaneous Needling: Guided by ultrasound, a doctor uses needles to break up and aspirate the calcium deposit.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT): A device delivers shock waves to the affected area to break down the calcium deposit. The mechanical energy helps to dissolve the deposits and stimulate healing.

Kidney Calcifications (Kidney Stones)

These calcium deposits are a common form of kidney stone. Depending on their size and location, they may pass on their own or require intervention.

Treatments for Kidney Stones

Hydration: Drinking plenty of water is the most common and effective way to help small stones pass.
Medication: Certain medications, like diuretics, can help reduce the amount of calcium in your urine.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL): Uses sound waves to break large kidney stones into smaller pieces that can pass more easily.
Ureteroscopy: A thin, lighted scope is passed through the urethra and bladder to remove or break up a stone in the ureter or kidney.

Comparing Calcification Treatments


Feature	Lifestyle Adjustments	Medications	Shockwave Therapy	Surgery	Chelation Therapy
Invasiveness	Non-invasive	Non-invasive	Minimally invasive	Highly invasive	Minimally invasive
Target Area	Whole body	Targeted	Localized	Specific vessels/joints	Whole body (systemic)
Effectiveness	Prevention/slowing	Depends on condition	High for specific sites	High for severe cases	Debated, limited evidence
Risk Level	Very Low	Low (side effects)	Low (complications)	High (recovery, complications)	Low (side effects)
Recovery Time	Immediate	Immediate	Quick	Long	Immediate
Best For	Early prevention	Managing underlying conditions	Joint/Kidney stones	Severe arterial disease	Controversial, not standard

The Controversial Topic of Chelation Therapy

Chelation therapy is a treatment that uses chelating agents to remove heavy metals or, in this context, excess minerals like calcium from the body. While it has been explored for vascular calcification, it remains controversial and is not widely recommended by mainstream medical organizations for this purpose. The National Institutes of Health has conducted studies on its efficacy for treating atherosclerosis, but results have been mixed and the long-term benefits are still debated.

For more information on the current status of clinical trials and established treatments, you can consult an authoritative source like the American Heart Association.

Conclusion: Personalized Approach is Key

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to what gets rid of calcifications. The treatment approach is highly personalized and depends on the location, severity, and underlying cause of the deposits. Early intervention with lifestyle modifications and managing chronic conditions can often prevent or slow the progression. For established calcifications, a variety of medical and surgical procedures offer effective solutions. It is crucial to consult with a healthcare provider to receive an accurate diagnosis and develop a tailored treatment plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

While a heart-healthy diet can slow the progression of arterial calcification and help manage underlying conditions, it generally cannot reverse existing deposits. Diet is a preventative and supportive measure, not a cure for established calcification.

For removing calcium deposits related to atherosclerosis, chelation therapy is controversial and not a standard medical treatment. Mainstream medical bodies do not widely endorse it due to limited and mixed evidence regarding its efficacy.

Some studies suggest that Vitamin K2 may help transport calcium from soft tissues, like arteries, to bones. However, it should only be taken as a supplement after consulting a healthcare professional to ensure it is appropriate for your specific health needs.

Natural approaches are primarily focused on prevention and risk factor management through diet and lifestyle. Once formed, calcifications generally require medical intervention, as there is no proven natural method for complete reversal.

No. For severe cases, surgery may be an option, but many calcifications can be managed with less invasive medical procedures like intravascular lithotripsy, shockwave therapy, or medication, depending on the location.

Some types of calcifications, such as small kidney stones, may pass on their own with proper hydration. However, most established calcium deposits, particularly in arteries and joints, do not dissolve or disappear without targeted medical treatment.

Most breast calcifications are benign and require no treatment, but they are monitored via mammograms. If a pattern of calcification appears suspicious, a biopsy may be needed to rule out cancer. Treatment is only necessary if malignancy is confirmed.