Myths About Angioplasty and Stent Placement: What You Need to Know

Introduction

Angioplasty is an effective way to increase the supply of oxygenated blood to your heart, and it’s generally safe for most people. However, if you have several blockages in your arteries or a prevailing kidney disease, you may need a more complicated procedure like stent placement to treat your condition. Angioplasty and stent placement are two of the most popular treatments for heart disease. 

Myth 1: Smoking is Acceptable

If you’re a smoker, you’re at a heightened risk of experiencing arterial blockages. Smoking doubles the risk of developing atherosclerosis, which can lead to artery blockages. 

Fortunately, quitting smoking can greatly reduce your risk of developing coronary artery disease. If you want to quit smoking, talk to your doctor about effective methods for reducing your risk of arterial blockages.

Myth 2: Angioplasty is a Slow Procedure

When it comes to angioplasty or stent placement, patients may have a few common myths. It can be done as an emergency (such as a heart attack) or an elective procedure (if your doctor believes you need it).

It is not a slow procedure, as performing takes around half an hour to 2 hours. One must start taking prescribed blood-thinning medication in the months after the angioplasty procedure. These heart drugs reduce the chances of developing another blood clot and can prevent from having a heart attack. It is also important to exercise as much as possible while recovering from the procedure. This will strengthen muscles and stamina to prevent another clot from forming.

Myth 3: Angioplasty is Painful

Angioplasty and stent placement are not painful procedures. However, you may feel a little sore after a procedure, and the area where the catheters were inserted may be tender or swollen.

When the x-rays show the artery is narrow, your doctor will guide a balloon inside the blockage to make it wider. This will improve blood flow to the heart muscle and reduce symptoms such as chest pain.

The stent may help reduce the number of times your artery narrows after angioplasty, and it helps prevent future heart attacks.

You’ll be able to walk around after the procedure without pain, but you should avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity until the insertion site is healed. Depending on the type of stent, you may need some rest to recover completely.

You’ll need to take some medicine to prevent blood clots, and your doctor may prescribe exercise as part of a cardiac rehabilitation program after the procedure.

You may also need to change how you take some medications, such as diuretics or insulin, before your angioplasty and stent placement. 

Myth 4: Angioplasty is Dangerous

This is the most common myth about heart treatment, as many think it is dangerous. But the truth is angioplasty and stent placement are among the safest heart treatment options. If you have a blocked coronary artery, angioplasty can help open the clogged blood vessel and reduce damage to your heart. Your doctor will decide if angioplasty is the best treatment for you and may use more than one technique to widen the artery. Your doctor might also place a tube called a stent in the artery during angioplasty. 

The stent helps to prop the artery open and prevent it from narrowing again after angioplasty. Stents quality is medically built, usually a drug that prevents blood clots. A cardiologist or heart specialist performs it, and a team of specialised cardiovascular nurses and technicians in a special operating room called a cardiac catheterisation laboratory. So, it’s a safer procedure to treat blocked heart arteries.

Myth 5: Angioplasty is a Permanent Solution

Angioplasty and stent placement are among the most successful treatments to treat narrow blockages in your arteries, but it does not fix heart disease. One must still make lifestyle changes to prevent further artery blockages, including a healthy diet and regular exercise.

During angioplasty or percutaneous coronary intervention, the doctor can see the clogged arteries in the coronary artery and decide if the treatment option is required. 

When to Consult a Doctor

You can also get in touch with the expert cardiology doctors at Narayana Healthcare based in your city to get immediate attention and medical support during a sudden health concern.

• • Best Cardiologists in Delhi
  • Top Cardiologists in Ahmedabad
  • Best Cardiologists in Bangalore
  • Top Cardiologists in Jaipur
  • Best Cardiologists in Kolkata

Conclusion

There are no hard and fast rules about angioplasty and recovery, but you should avoid strenuous activity for a few days after your procedure. You can get an angioplasty and stent placement for various reasons, from avoiding chest pain to having a heart attack or arteriosclerosis. While there are a few myths about angioplasty, the truth is that this treatment has helped millions of patients around the world.

FAQs About Myth about Angioplasty and Stent Placement

Q. What are the two dangers of angioplasty?
A. There are two dangers of angioplasty – bleeding and re-stenosis. Bleeding can happen when the doctor uses a balloon to open up a blockage in the arteries. The balloon may burst and cause blood to flow out of the artery. Restenosis is when the artery becomes too narrow after being opened up by the doctor. This can lead to heart problems, stroke, and even death. You must know about these risks to ensure that angioplasty is right for you.

Q. What are the restrictions after having a stent put in?
A. After a stent is inserted into a coronary artery, the restrictions may include limiting the person’s salt intake, avoiding aspirin, and avoiding heavy lifting. After recommended recovery and rest, the person can resume daily normal activities.

Q. What are the dos and don’ts after angioplasty?
A. There are a few things you should do after angioplasty and a few things you should avoid. Here are the dos and don’ts:

Do eat a balanced diet. Angioplasties can enlarge blood vessels, so eating healthy foods will help keep your arteries healthy and functioning properly.

Don’t indulge in high impact exercise. Spending time outdoors or working out regularly helps keep your heart healthy and strong, but indulging in high impact exercises can be counter productive.  

Q. Is there any chance of heart attack after angioplasty?
A. Yes, there is a small risk of a heart attack after angioplasty. It’s important to know about the risk and understand your options if you experience any heart attack symptoms following angioplasty.

Q. Can you live a long life after angioplasty?
A. Research has shown that patients who have undergone angioplasty have a lower risk of developing heart disease or stroke later than those who have not had the procedure. Additionally, many studies have shown that angioplasty can reduce the risk of death from any cause.

Q. Can angioplasty be done with 100% blockage?
A. Yes! Angioplasty can help in removing 100% plaque deposition in arteries.

References

• https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/angioplasty-recovery-guide/myths-facts/
• https://medigence.com/blog/coronary-angioplasty-and-stent-insertion-recovery-diet-facts-and-myths/
• https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/10-myths-about-heart-disease