What To Avoid After The Stent?

Coronary angioplasty is the kind of procedure that is commonly or fairly common and is often carried with stenting. The procedure helps to fight the management of blocked coronary arteries. This is the procedure that many experienced cardiologists perform worldwide. However, there is still the extent of understanding that many people need to follow after this procedure. You cannot directly resume your activities after the procedure. There are many things to take care of. Before we jump to What to avoid after the stent? Let us discuss what stenting means.

What is a stent transplant?

A stent is a small mesh tube commonly used to hold open passages in the body, such as weak or narrowed arteries. Usually, the stent remains in the artery permanently and helps to improve blood flow to your heart. Stents are used to treat conditions such as - 

• Narrowed airways in the lungs
• Coronary arteries provide the heart with oxygen-rich blood such as Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) condition.
• Aneurysm, which is an artery-related problem, causes bulging in the walls.

Also, Read Cardiovascular Diseases - Does Age or Gender Matter?

What are the different types of stents available?

Stents are used for different purposes depending upon their type. Generally, stents are made from several types of materials, depending on where they will go in the body. Stent tubes can be made of small metal mesh, fabric, silicone, or combinations of materials. 

Types of stents are - 

#1 Coronary or carotid artery stents (CAS)

Stents are used for the correction of coronary artery diseases and help you with the inflation of the vessels. This type of stent procedure helps to reduce the chances of stroke.

#2 Aortic aneurysm stents

Fabric stents, also called stent grafts, are used in larger arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood to your body, such as the aorta. 

#3 Airway stents

Here, the stents are made to be used for the lungs, and the stent used is made of silicone. This type of stent procedure helps patients to breathe properly.

What are the chances of complications of the stent placement procedure?

Stenting helps to keep your coronary artery from getting too narrow again. In the worse case, some serious complications may rarely happen during angioplasty and stent placement.  Possible risks or complications of the stent placement procedure include:

• Bleeding
• A blood clot inside your stent
• Infection
• A reaction to the stent itself or perhaps the drug coating on it
• A tear inside your artery
• Restenosis (your artery gets narrow again later)
• Stroke.

Also, See Life after Coronary Angioplasty.

What to avoid after the stent?

Stenting is a minimally invasive procedure, pointing out it is not considered a major surgical procedure. After having a stenting procedure or planned (non-emergency) coronary angioplasty, a patient normally can leave the hospital after two days of hospitalization. If you have a stenting procedure first, arrange for someone to take you home. Before you leave the hospital, you should be advised to follow on.  This may include -

• Follow the prescribed medication you need to take during your recovery, such as aspirin and other antiplatelet medicines that prevent cells in your blood from forming clots.
• Follow a healthy fiber diet plan and lifestyle changes during your recovery
• A follow-up appointment to check on your progress. You may also be given a specific date for a follow-up appointment.
• Restriction on regular activities, driving, work, and active sex.

Additionally, you may also be instructed on wound care and hygiene advice. Sometimes, the wound can become infected during recovery. Try to keep an eye on it to prevent infection and focus on healing properly.  If you experience any chest pain or tenderness after leaving the hospital, this is normal and usually passes in a few days. If necessary, you can take paracetamol medication to relieve any pain.

Following restrictions after having a stenting procedure

#1 Activities

Most patients will be advised to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activities for about Two weeks, or until the wound has healed. In most cases, your surgeon or hospital nurse staff can usually advise you how long it will take to recover. And, if there are any activities such as washing clothes, you need to avoid them in the meantime.

#2 Driving

You shouldn't drive a car for two weeks after having a coronary angioplasty and stenting procedure. For instance - If you drive a heavy vehicle for a living, such as a lorry, truck, or bus, you must inform the organization where you work or DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) that you have had a stenting procedure or coronary angioplasty. They will arrange a further driver before you can return to work. You should be able to drive again as long as you meet the requirements of the medical test as prescribed by surgeons and you don't have another disqualifying health condition.

#3 Work

In most cases, patients had a planned (non-emergency) coronary angioplasty. However, if you have had an emergency angioplasty following a heart attack, it may be several weeks or months before you recover and can return to work. Otherwise, you should be able to return to work after a two-week rest.

#4 Sex

Having sex exertion after angioplasty and the stenting procedure is not safe. This may cause chest pain or heart attack (myocardial infarction). Try to avoid sexual activity after the angioplasty and stenting procedure. 

Also, Read Indian Diet after Angioplasty: What to Eat and What to Avoid.

#5 Lifestyle changes to prevent future problems

The main causes of heart disease are consumption of excess alcohol, smoking, and being overweight due to a lack of physical inactivity. Both of these causes make heart treatment less likely to perform. Regular exercise helps to lead a healthy lifestyle for patients who have undergone stenting or coronary angioplasty procedures. Improving your diet and lifestyle is an important step to reducing the risk of having further problems in the future.  This may include:

• Trying to lose weight if you are fat or overweight
• Stop consumption of alcohol
• Try to quit smoking if you excessively smoke
• Eating a healthy fiber diet meal with low levels of fat and salt
• Being active and exercising regularly helps to maintain body balance
• Take medications as prescribed by your doctor

What can you expect your life to be after the stenting procedure?

Stent placement is a common procedure that may help you with coronary artery diseases. You need to be experienced or should/must have held a degree to perform stenting. During the process, the interventional cardiologist helps you hold the coronary artery open. During the process, your cardiologist will use a stent mounted with a balloon, which is then inflated, and pushed back into the unique deposit helping the artery to radiate outward inside. A coronary stent is a wire mesh-like structure that is made of a biocompatible medical-grade metal. It helps in widening the narrowed arteries and opening recurrent blockages after the patient has undergone angioplasty. Once the stent is fitted into the artery of the patient, it remains in the patient's artery permanently. Stenting is a minimally invasive procedure that you can expect to be combined with other medical and heart-related procedures. Life after stenting needs to have a slight change, for example, you cannot lift heavy objects and cannot eat spicy food. Moreover, other things you need to take care of, are:

• Taking regular medicines
• Moderation diet
• No ignorance of symptoms and signs that may be related to your heart problems
• Moderate exercise (even if it is about performing small household chores)
• Go for a regular follow-up with the doctor

Conclusion - 

Being successful with the procedure of stenting is what tells you about the experiences & the hard work of the cardiologist. You may have to strictly follow the diet before and after the stenting procedure. You must take care of your lifestyle immediately after stenting. Now, when you know how to manage and "What to avoid after the stent?", you can appreciate the errors & implementations. Your healthcare provider may advise you on the daily consequences of performing every task. You need to be careful with what you are doing or what your duties are. If you are concerned about stents and their preventive measures, you must consult the best cardiologist in Delhi.