Heart stent- 6 Care tips to follow after angioplasty stent placement
Heart stents
are placed during or immediately after angioplasty procedure. Cardiovascular
diseases can lead to partial or total blockage of coronary arteries.
Consequently, angioplasty is performed to prevent the fatal consequences of a
decrease in blood supply to the heart, due to a coronary artery blockage.
The
angioplasty procedure is executed to widen the lumen diameter and to avoid the
re blockage of the artery. This technique is done with or without placement of
stents.
![]() |
Angioplasty Stent placement- Picture source: https://centralgaheart.com/need-know-heart-stent/ |
Utmost care
is essential in patients with heart
stents. We gathered 6 care tips to alleviate risk factors of re stenosis
after angioplasty stent placement.
1. Smoking will
cancel out the purpose of heart stents
The sole
purpose of heart stents is to keep
the diameter of the coronary artery, widened enough to allow blood to pass
through. Any restriction in the blood supply to the heart results in "ischemia",
which simple means insufficient blood supply to an organ. Ischemia of the
heart, often leads to cardiac arrest.
Tobacco in
cigarettes, accelerates fat deposition in the arteries and increases the risk
of ischemic injury to the heart. It is, therefore, highly condemned to continue
smoking after an angioplasty stent placement.
2.
Medications are to be taken accordingly
Patients
with heart stents need to take anti platelet medications or anti platelets to
eliminate the chances of blood clot arising due to the placement of stents.
Stents
installed in the coronary artery,
are a tiny mesh work of wire. These are of two types: Bare metal and Drug
eluting stents. A long term blood thinner medication is mandatory to be administered, in patients
with drug eluting stents, as there is a high chance of blood clot formation,
with such stents. Blood thinning medication like aspirin, have to be consumed
for at least a year after installment of
drug eluting stent.
The choice
of stent depends on the existing blood profile of a patient. By this, we mean
that drug eluting stents are contraindicated in patients with bleeding
disorders. Individuals with bleeding tendencies cannot sustain the effects of
blood thinners and hence are discouraged to go for Drug eluting stents.
3. Be aware
of the negative symptoms
Every
patient who has undergone a heart stent angioplasty, needs to know the possible
alarming symptoms after the surgery, and reach the physician without any delay.
The symptoms include:
- · Pain
and discomfort around the area of catheter insertion
- ·
Any
sign of infection: swelling, redness, fever, drainage
- ·
Shortness
of breath
- ·
Chest
pain
- ·
Lethargy
- ·
Easy
fatiguability
- ·
Weakness
4.
Associated ongoing comorbidities must be kept in control
Cardiovascular
diseases are the chief cause of death in non communicable diseases. Around 31% of
people succumbed due to an existing heart disease, in 2012 .
Heart patients with associated chronic
conditions like diabetes or hypertension are characterized by elevated chances
of mortality, poor quality of life and more use of health services.
Thus, it is
paramount for patients with heart stents,
to keep their chronic conditions in control and visit physicians regularly.
5.
Incorporate exercise in your routine
The benefits
of exercise have been advocated since the advent of the medical field. Many
patients are concerned about the effects of heavy resistance exercises after a heart stent surgery.
However, It
is advised that the patients consult their physician before starting strenuous
exercises like weight lifting. If symptoms of angina, become apparent on
practicing heavy exercises, immediate medical must be sought.
Often after
a heart surgery, a cardiac
physical therapy team is employed, to guide patients in the right direction
and help them with any queries regarding their condition.
6. Maintain
a balanced BMI
BMI is an
abbreviation of Body Mass Index and denotes the measurement of ideal body
weight. Obese people, with BMI of
greater than 30 and associated co morbidities like high sugar or high blood
pressure, are at greater risks of developing heart diseases.
Both these
conditions are extremely hazardous for a patient with an ongoing heart problem.
In obese people, the levels of LDL (low density cholesterol) are dangerously
high. Such peak amount of bad cholesterol, has the tendency to deposit in the coronary artery and hence cause
shrinkage of the lumen diameter.
On the
contrary, malnourished individuals are at a greater risk of developing atrophy
(reduction in size) of heart muscles. Hence, it is recommended to maintain
weight according to the BMI value.
Getting a heart stent installed is a life saving procedure,
but requires adequate care to be functional for the long term. People with
stents are expected to take good care of their nutrition, lifestyle and
psychological health, in order to receive maximum benefits.
No comments
Post a Comment