After getting a stent, you must avoid Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) due to increased heart attack/stroke risk, decongestants, and some herbal supplements, while never stopping prescribed blood thinners (like aspirin, clopidogrel) without a doctor's guidance, as this can cause dangerous clots; always check with your doctor before taking any new OTC drugs, supplements, or herbal remedies.
It generally takes most people a couple of weeks to start returning to their normal activities after angioplasty/stenting. Before you leave hospital, you'll be given detailed instructions for exercise, medications, follow-up appointments, ongoing wound care and resuming normal activities.
Walking short distances on a flat surface is OK. Limit going up and down stairs to around 2 times a day for the first 2 to 3 days. Don't do yard work, drive, squat, carry heavy objects, or play sports for at least 2 days, or until your health care provider tells you it is safe.
Use acetaminophen (Tylenol®) as needed for pain, fever, colds or headaches. or herbal supplements may interact with the medications that help protect your stent.
After getting an artery stent, you will need antiplatelet medicines, or blood thinners, to prevent blood clots from forming. You may need to take blood thinners for more than a month after you get a carotid or peripheral artery stent or for more than a year after getting a coronary stent.
Stopping aspirin a year after receiving a stent recently became standard practice. In fact, it actually may be safer than the previously recommended practice of stopping the clopidogrel rather than the aspirin.
You should not drive for at least a week after having an angioplasty and stent - longer if you also had a heart attack. Check with your doctor to see how soon you can drive after having a heart attack and stent. You may need to wait up to 4 weeks.
Post-coronary stent care is an important aspect of recovery for patients who have undergone a PCI. Patients should avoid strenuous physical activity such as heavy lifting, as well as follow a heart-healthy diet after the stent placement, the most preferred would be the Mediterranean diet.
Keep an eye on it to check it's healing properly. Your chest may also feel tender after the procedure, but this is normal and usually passes in a few days. If necessary, you can take paracetamol to relieve any pain.
* When these patients need pain relief, consider TYLENOL®: Won't increase the risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke the way ibuprofen or naproxen sodium can. Won't interfere with aspirin heart therapy (AHT) the way ibuprofen can.
Yes, the Ornish Lifestyle Medicine program, and even exercise alone, decreases the risk of stent clogging and improves the outcome following stent placement. Lifestyle changes, including exercise programs have been shown to decrease restenosis and decrease future events by almost 50%.
Symptoms like fatigue, chest pain or shortness of breath can indicate in-stent restenosis. If you experience symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider. Newer, safer drug-eluting stents can lower your risk of developing in-stent restenosis.
After stent placement, you need to rest in bed for up to 24 hours, so expect to stay overnight at the hospital. This ensures that your medical team can monitor you and that you don't experience any complications.
Fatigue: Feeling more tired than usual is also common after coronary angioplasty. Your body has undergone a significant event and it needs time to recover. Rest assured that this fatigue is temporary and should improve as you progress through your recovery journey.
At least one fruit or vegetable should be part of every meal and can be eaten as snacks in between. Though saturated fats should be avoided, healthy fats are safe for your post-heart attack and stent diet. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in salmon, lake trout, herring, sardines, and tuna, are essential to heart health.
Your symptoms (chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue) come back or get worse. Finding it harder to exercise or climb stairs. Your doctor wants to check blockages that were not severe enough to treat when your stent was inserted. Your doctor can do this with a single test.
For an emergency stent after a heart attack, you might have to wait between 2 and 6 weeks. An elective stent can let you get on a plane in less than 14 days. The primary reason to wait before flying is that your heart still needs sufficient healing time.
Blood clotting in a stent can cause a future blockage, called restenosis, and may lead to a heart attack.
Managing Stent Pain
Cardiologists generally advise avoiding processed meats, sugary drinks and sweets, and foods high in trans fats and sodium, like most fried foods and salty snacks, because they raise bad cholesterol, blood pressure, and inflammation, significantly increasing heart disease risk. Focusing on whole foods and limiting these culprits is key for heart health.
Do not take over-the-counter drugs, nutrition supplements or herbal therapies unless you first ask your doctor or nurse.
Risks of Stent Placement
Tell them details about your health condition, recent procedures, allergies and specific medical needs before boarding your flight. This information helps medical providers administer the most effective care if a complication occurs. It's also important to ensure you carry your stent card with you at all times.
This shows that treatment can vary a lot. A study in a top cardiology journal found that patients with many stents do well. This is if their other health factors are good. Having 4 stents in heart is also common.
Studies say the average age for coronary stent implantation is about 65 years. This number changes based on heart disease rates and new medical tech.