Stent: Benefits and How it Works for Heart Attack Patients

Heart Attack April 25, 2020

Stenting – Can It help Prevent another Heart Attack?

The mere thought of getting a cardiac arrest can make your heart beat faster for a moment. But today, even if a heart attack is a perilous event, there are many ways to circumvent the same.

Angioplasty or stenting can be a lifesaver option, mainly when performed right after a heart attack. Putting in a stent helps prevent the narrowing of arteries, which improves your blood flow and prevents further damage to your heart. Once patients are diagnosed with coronary artery disease many of them undergo angioplasty, because for two reasons: a doctor suggests it because of its high success rate and less invasive technique, and secondly, it improves the lifestyle significantly by reducing the risk of getting another heart attack.

Now, let us go deeper into understanding what these stents are and how can they help reduce further problems.

Stents are tiny mesh tubes inserted to keep arteries open post angioplasty. The coronary arteries are responsible for carrying blood and oxygen to heart muscle cells. A heart attack often occurs when plaque breaks open and causes the formation of a blood clot in a partially clogged artery, blocking the blood flow. This is when stenting comes in and is used and can be a lifesaver option. Stents come in various forms but DES (Drug Eluting Stent) is the most commonly used ones during Angioplasty worldwide.

After implantation, DES releases a drug from its outer coating to help in preventing blockage at the particular site. Hence, DES are preferred over BMS (Bare Metal Stent) for the majority of the patients as they prevent recurring blockages in the arteries. Also, the recent DES are termed to be at least as safe as BMS. However, there are chances blood vessels could again get blocked after stent placement. In the case of BMS, post-implantation as the vessel heals, tissue begins to grow around the stent but in some cases, the scar tissue overgrowth can lead to re-blockage of the vessel. A DES implantation can avoid this from happening as it prevents scar tissue formation thus maintaining proper blood flow. But, you will require to regularly take blood-thinning medicines to avoid blood clot formation in the stent and prevent the blood vessel from getting blocked again. There are various DES & BMS brands available and they come with their own set of benefits and a cardiologist may suggest one to you based on the requirement.

In other words, Drug-Eluting Stent is effective and can reduce the chances of future heart attacks to some extent. But, remember that stenting can be a life-saver option only if you continue with suggested medication and lifestyle modification like eating healthy food, regular exercise, etc. that your doctor has advised you to follow post the angioplasty.

Heart Attack April 25, 2020

Tips for a Heart-Healthy diet that speed up Recovery after Angioplasty

Want to adopt a heart-healthy diet post angioplasty, but aren’t sure where to start?
One way to begin is by giving a complete makeover to your current diet plan. Focus on making meal plans that emphasize vegetables, fruits and other necessary products with an adequate amount of proteins, carbohydrates and other nutrients. We know, that the main question here is about what exactly to consume and what to avoid post implanting a stent as you may not be that well versed with every food category and ingredients benefiting a person. Hence, we have stated below foods to intake and to avoid after implanting a stent.

Firstly, it is very important that you consult a doctor before jumping onto conclusions and making your diet plans, especially after angioplasty. It is important to understand that each one of us is built differently and one particular diet plan isn’t going to work for all of us. And, hence we believe that even minor differences in your diet post angioplasty can make a huge difference to your heart health. Now, let us read more about it.

Consume more whole-grain foods every day: Eating whole grains is associated with various benefits, including a lower risk of diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. They are rich in nutrients, minerals, fibers, antioxidants and has also proven to reduce the risk of a heart attack.
Eat more quantities and varieties of fruits and vegetables: People who eat more vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases like stroke, cancer, diabetes, influenza or any respiratory disease. They provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of your body.

Reduce salt and sugar intake: Salt and sugar are needed for health. However, we require very little of it to survive. While salt is essential for the transmission of nerve impulses and normal cell function, sugar is a real source of energy with glucose being the most important of all. But, due to rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles, dietary patterns have seen a major shift and processed foods are being consumed more which is indirectly increasing the risk of heart diseases and strokes due to the high amount of salt and sugar content in it. And, for a person who has just undergone Angioplasty, it becomes highly important to maintain a healthy balance of salt and sugar to avoid any further heart illnesses.
Cut down on the consumption of fatty foods, rich in LDL, trans fats and saturated fats: Eliminate fatty meats like pork, lamb or fried items, butter, or coconut oil from your diet. There are two main types of potentially harmful dietary fats, trans fat and saturated fat. These types come mainly from animal sources of food, such as red meat, poultry and full-fat dairy products especially whole milk. They raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good”) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol levels, which may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Include good fats in your diet: Dietary fats are important for your body as it is responsible for supplying energy and to support cell growth. They also help in protecting your organs and help in absorbing nutrients and produce important hormones. The simplest way to differentiate good and bad fats is, good fats remain in liquid form at room temperature. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats are known as “good fats” because they are good for your heart, cholesterol, and overall health. Some of these sources are nuts, olives, flax seeds, fish oils, etc. Bad fats are of two types, Saturated fat and Trans fat and these have been identified as potentially harmful to your health. Most of the foods that contain these types of fats are solid at room temperatures, such as butter, coconut/palm oil, margarine, beef or pork fat, etc.

Fish and lean meat are good options for individuals taking non-vegetarian meals: Lean meats and fish have relatively low-fat content and have high amounts of protein. Protein is an essential part of a balanced diet. Beyond protein’s essential roles in building and maintaining muscle and tissues in your body and helping regulate many body processes, it also promotes satiety fullness and may help in managing your weight.
Avoid consumption of red meat: Red meats (beef, pork and lamb) have more saturated (bad) fat than chicken, fish and vegetable proteins such as beans. Saturated and trans fats can raise blood cholesterol and make heart diseases worse.

Finally, remember that a healthy diet is a mixture of all foods you eat and not only power foods that you think are filled with necessary nutrients. Having the right mix of everything (protein, fats, carbohydrates and other nutrients) after Angioplasty is always regarded as healthy. So, speak to your cardiologist, get expert advice on it and work towards building meals that are aimed towards a better and faster recovery.

Heart Attack August 21, 2019

Stent Implantation Demystified: The Whats And The Whys

Undergoing a stent implant is daunting for most people, but having information at hand can demystify the process and make the situation a tiny bit less scary. While most of your questions can and should be answered by your cardiologist, here are a few things you should know about before getting a stent.

What is a stent made of?
After all, in some situations like metal stents, it is likely to be a permanent part of your body going forward. To understand what stents are made of, let us quickly go over what stents are and what they do. As the cardiologist may have already informed you, our hearts are supplied blood by a network of arteries known as coronary arteries. With age and improper lifestyle, these arteries narrow and become filled with plaque deposits which can lead to Coronary Artery Disease, heart attacks, or even death. A coronary artery stent is simply a small, self-expanding, metallic mesh tube meant to be inserted inside the artery post a procedure referred to as balloon angioplasty. The stent keeps the artery wide open and the blood flow, continuous. Now as to their make, stents were traditionally made of a metallic or plastic mesh-like substance; however, stent-grafts are manufactured from fabric. These metallic stents are classically composed of medical-grade metal alloys including stainless steel, nitinol (nickel-titanium alloy), cobalt-chromium alloys (L605). However, these stents are fast falling out of favor. The most common type of stents in use these days, in fact, the ones that are the standard of care presently, are DES or Drug-Eluting Stents. These stents are not only made of polymers that dissolve in one’s blood after a few years but are also coated with drugs that reduce the risk of blockages.

Why is DES the standard of care?
The biggest advantage of DES is that they have thinner struts which can be as thin as < 100 μm, with some ultrathin struts reaching approximately 60 μm. This is vital as the thinner the strut, the lesser chance there is of restenosis or the recurrence of abnormal narrowing of an artery. Thinner struts have also been found to cause a lower inflammatory response which could potentially lead to clotting.
The other benefits of these stents are that they allow the artery to return to its natural shape and curvature, promote early healing, and allows for flexibility and normal dilation and constriction.

Advantages of stents
1) First and foremost, stents literally save lives by alleviating the damage that happened to one’s heart muscles during the heart attack. It does so by replenishing blood flow to one’s heart.
2) Immediately relieve/decrease symptoms of heart disease.
3) Reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in the future.
4) Getting a stent placement may diminish the need to undergo a CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting).
5) Stenting is not only comparatively much less invasive versus CABG it also boasts of a much shorter recovery period.

Disadvantages of stents
1) One can get an allergic reaction from one’s stent
2) Angioplasty can result in hemorrhage of a blood vessel or even heart damage, or arrhythmia.
3) In rare cases, complications such as heart attack, stroke or renal failure can also occur.
4) Post-stenting scarring may occur that may require another procedure to remove it.
5) There is a risk of further blood clot formation; however, the cardiologist will already have you on blood thinners for prevention.
6) Stenting is not a cure for coronary artery disease. One needs to be vigilant about one’s diet and exercise while managing the contributing risk factors for coronary artery disease such as hypertension, higher body weight, diabetes, or high cholesterol.

So there you have it, a short primer on stents, how they are made and what you should be aware of while getting them implanted. Hope it has been of help!

Heart Attack August 20, 2019

Back Like a Champ: How to Bounce Back to Normal Life Post-Angioplasty

Angioplasties are increasingly recommended for uncomplicated cases with minimum blockages as they are less invasive and require shorter recovery time. However, as with any surgery, there are quite a few precautions that one must undertake to ensure a complication-free recovery. This handy primer is a supportive document to your cardiologist’s advice. In case of any doubts, consult your cardiologist. For your ease, let us break down the recovery period into what one can expect at the hospital after the procedure, the actual recovery, and general precautions.

What to expect at the hospital after the procedure:
1. In the case of groin catheterization, one will need to lie straight with unbent legs while the groin sheath is in place. In some situations, a sheet may be placed across your legs to help you keep them straight.

2. You are advised to stay lying in a flat position for at least 6 hours post sheath removal. This is to prevent hemorrhage. If you are uncomfortable, you can have your head elevated after 2 hours.

3. Moving out of bed will depend on the nature of your recovery and the nursing staff’s advice.

4. It is best to avoid consuming anything other than clear liquids while the sheath is in place. This will help prevent nausea. Remember to stick to a heart-healthy diet once the cardiologist gives the all-clear sign to resume solid food.

5. In case you experience chest pain, swelling, pain at the insertion site or bleeding; call your cardiologist immediately.

6. In case you have had a stent placed in your heart after your angioplasty, you will be required to take certain medicines to reduce the chances of blood clot formation.

7. In the case of arm catheterization, a specialized bandage will be placed to ensure proper healing.

During the recovery period:
1. In case your angioplasty was done without you undergoing a heart attack prior to it, you can be back in the driver’s seat just after 2 days. If you have had a heart attack though, you will need to wait till your cardiologist gives you the green signal.
2. Even though an angioplasty is less invasive, it is still a major procedure so take care and rest to avoid all strenuous activities. Avoid lifting heavy objects (more than 5 kg) preferably till 1 week after the procedure.
3. Getting enough rest does not mean that one can turn into a couch potato though. Regular exercises recommended by the doctor will not only speed up your recovery but also will help in preventing further cardiac incidences. Your diet will also play a major role in your recovery. Consuming a heart-healthy diet that is low in sodium and fats is crucial to your long-term wellbeing.

Do’s:
1. Don’t be in a hurry to resume your routine activities after your angioplasty and stent implantation. Resume them gradually to avoid strain.
2. One major point to remember is that angioplasty won’t cure your disease. It only serves to keep your arteries open. To truly prevent future incidence, you will need to change your lifestyle and diet.
3. Ensure that your diet mainly consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, etc. to decrease your heart disease risk.
4. Reduce and control your salt consumption as well as sugar intake.
5. Most importantly, do NOT skip or neglect your medication. Consume your prescribed medicines such as blood-thinners, lipid-lowering medicines, such as statins or anti-hypertensive as recommended by your cardiologist, depending on your condition.
6. Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy body weight.
7. Do follow-up regularly with your cardiologist.
8. Always carry a stent implantation card with you to avoid unforeseen problems.

Don’t:
1) Stop smoking immediately. Consume alcohol only if your cardiologist says it is ok to do so.
2) Avoid taking on too much stress.

Now that you are on the journey towards healing, here’s wishing you a happy and complication-free recovery period! Get well soon!

Heart Attack August 3, 2019

What next after open-heart surgery: A guide to life post-stent implantation

Increasingly recommended for those with minimum blockages and low complications, angioplasties are now the standard of care for those with coronary artery disease. As the cardiologist may have already explained to you, this minimally invasive surgery has the surgeon thread a stent bearing balloon catheter through a blood vessel in your groin or arm till it reaches the blocked artery. The balloon is then inflated to push the plaque to the sides of the artery and the stent is put in place. The balloon is then deflated and removed and a bandage or groin sheath is put in place to prevent the patient from bleeding out. The other alternative is open-heart surgery or Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting where arteries from one’s arms or legs are grafted on to the existing coronary arteries. As this surgery is more invasive and requires a longer rehabilitation time, it is advocated only for cases where there are multiple or severe blockages or other complications are present.

Recovery after your procedure

The road to recovery after your angioplasty or bypass surgery can be long and at times frustrating. However, with a little precaution and care, one can improve their recovery process and sometimes even speed it up. Remember, self-care is critical after your procedure.

Pain management: Dealing with the mental and physical after-effects of angioplasty or bypass can be aggravated by poor pain management. Therefore, staying on top your pain management schedule is vital for your recovery. Remember to regularly take your pain medication if so advised by your cardiac surgeon at the appointed times. Alleviating your pain can also help speed up the healing process.

Get enough sleep: The old adage that sleep is the best medicine holds for those who have undergone bypass or angioplasty. It may be difficult to fall asleep in the first few days or weeks after your procedure, but there are some things that you can try to get the optimum amount of shut-eye. Things, like staying on top of your pain medications and avoiding caffeine in the evenings, can go a long way in helping you relax.

1. 1. Seek help: Experiencing a cardiac event can be a traumatic event for even the strongest people. It is quite normal to find yourself feeling vulnerable, anxious or depressed. If your feelings don’t go away or start affecting your day to day life, then it is best to consult a psychologist.

1. 1. Go to rehab: Going to a properly designed and comprehensive rehab programme can do wonders for your recovery process. So sign up for one if available.

1. 1. Remember that your journey is unique: Undergoing a major surgery or procedure is a life-changing event. It is best to be patient and focus on your journey and milestones instead of focusing on someone else’s. Depending on your situation it may take you six months or even a year to fully recover from your procedure. Be patient.

1. 1. Exercise and modify your lifestyle: Surgery won’t cut down your risks of getting another blockage or experiencing another cardiac event. Exercise and modified dietary and lifestyle habits are the only things that can reduce your chances.

1. 1. Avoid smoking and limit your alcohol intake.

A point to note at this point is that an angioplasty is not a complete cure. Blockages may still occur if the proper precautions like following your doctor’s dietary and exercise recommendations are not followed. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, etc and low in salt, sugar and oil is the one to follow. Medications like blood-thinners, statins that lower lipids and hypertension drugs should be consumed as per advice and not discontinued at whim. Smoking should be cut out of your life and include a daily exercise regimen of minimum 30 minutes instead. This will help manage your weight and other co-morbid conditions like hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol too. A happy heart is a healthy one so keep stress at bay by taking up new hobbies and activities; these will elevate your mood and help your recovery process too. Last, but not least, don’t forget your regular check-ups with your cardiologist.

Undergoing a cardiac procedure is a huge event in one’s life. Taking the right precautions and care is a vital step towards one’s recovery and healthier life.