As we age, the likelihood of heart failure increases. That’s why cardiac care is so important especially if you have coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes. A coronary artery stent is a small, metal mesh tube that is inserted in a narrowed or narrowing artery. It can be lifesaving, as without the stent your heart cannot function properly.
Haym Salomon Home for Nursing & Rehabilitation in NY has lots of experience treating and caring for patients who have had a stent implanted. We encourage lifestyle changes to help patients live longer and healthier lives. These may include quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and physical therapy and other rehab therapy. The right exercises, properly supervised, can improve heart and lung function and overall health.
What follows is general advice and information about coronary artery stents. Always talk to your personal physician for advice relevant to your own circumstances.
How Long Do Coronary Artery Stents Last?
Narrowed arteries may restrict the supply of oxygen-rich blood that can be pumped round the body. By keeping an artery open, in an operation called an angioplasty, a coronary artery stent is designed to be permanent. Very occasionally, further narrowing of the artery may require the stent to be replaced or a second stent added.
Stent implants have a good track record of success. There is just a 2–3 per cent risk of the artery narrowing again after surgery. This can usually be picked up in the first few months and action taken to deal with the situation.
How frequently should a heart stent be checked?
Patients who have had a coronary artery stent implanted should have check-ups every three to six months. This would be a minimum requirement and more frequent visits to the doctor may be necessary. Careful monitoring of coronary heart disease and your overall health is key to preventing any complications.
How long do you have to take blood thinners after a stent?
Some stents contain medicine that emits tiny quantities of a drug that helps keep the artery open. More commonly your doctor will prescribe aspirin or other drugs to help thin the blood. Blood thinners stop platelets in your blood coming together to form clots, which can be dangerous.
Clots that occur inside the coronary artery stent can lead to heart failure, so preventing them from forming is important. The aim of anti-platelet therapy is to reduce the risk of blood clots while minimizing the risk of bleeding. Exactly how long you stay on blood thinning medication is something you should discuss with your doctor. Frequently, however, patients remain on blood thinners for at least 12 months after an angioplasty.
Contact us for more information about our medical care and rehab therapy services in Brooklyn NY. Our aim is compassionate care combined with actions to ensure that a coronary artery stent remains effective. Call us or walk in to see things for yourself. We are here to talk to you and answer any questions you may have. Let us know your concerns. Our Admissions office staff are here to help with insurance issues and smooth out the admission process.