A heart stent is a metal mesh scaffolding used to keep your narrowed or blocked arteries open and to prevent restenosis (re-narrowing of the arteries). With the use of a catheter, during the medical procedure called angioplasty, the stent is placed at the blocked area to restore healthy blood flow to the heart. Stents effectively reduce symptoms of various obstructive artery diseases, including chest pain, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
Types of Stents Include:
- Drug-eluting Stent:
These metal mesh stents are coated with medicine that keeps the arteries from getting narrower.
- Bare Metal Stent:
As the name suggests, these metal alloy stents are often made of nickel-titanium alloy, cobalt-chromium, or stainless steel and do not have any medicine coated on them.
- Biodegradable Stent:
These new types of stents gradually dissolve in the arteries and leave no implants in the body.
- Polyester Fabric and Metal Stent:
Commonly known as a graft, these metal mesh stents are covered with fabric and are used to re-strengthen narrowed areas in the bigger arteries.
Who Needs a Stent: Why a Stent is Placed in the Heart
Patients with Coronary Artery Disease need stents in their heart’s coronary arteries to improve the blood flow to their heart, and also to help prevent or even recover from a heart attack or its symptoms.
How Fast Does The Patient Recover After Angioplasty
The recovery is fast, as most patients can resume their daily activities within 24 hours of the procedure. Post-procedure, however, it is crucial to strictly observe the antiplatelet-drug therapy, as there is an increased risk of clotting after stenting.
Heart-healthy lifestyle modifications, including diet and exercise, smoking and alcohol consumption and avoiding physical and mental stress, can prevent further plaque build-up and therefore improve long-term outcomes.
Benefits of Stents:
- Stents improve the blood flow
A stent opens the artery and allows regular flow of the oxygen-rich blood to the heart through the narrowed or blocked spot, minimising the chances of a heart attack.
- Stents improve symptoms of various heart diseases
The moment the heart gets a proper supply of blood, the symptoms of heart diseases, including chest pain and chest tightness, also improve.
- Stents prevent restenosis
Post-procedure, in the absence of a drug-coated stent, scar tissue grows around the treated area that gradually narrows the artery again. A suitable drug-coated stent, however, can minimise the chances of that, keeping the artery open and regulating the optimal blood flow.
- Minimally invasive procedure
The modern angioplasty does not require large incisions; through a very small, almost painless incision, a catheter is inserted inside the body to guide the stent to the narrowed spot in the artery. The minimally invasive procedure ascertains shorter hospital stays. faster recovery and better outcomes.
Risks of Stents:
While the benefits are many, the risks are rare and less. Some patients may experience serious complications after stent placement. If the patient fails to observe the post-procedural medication, they might have a blood clot inside their stent. Bleeding at the treated spot is another risk that a few patients might experience. Some might also experience abnormal heart rhythm.
Average Age for Stent
Based on the underlying condition and the seriousness of the heart disease, the average age of heart stents varies. Recent data shows that a greater number of people who get stents are over the age of 65. However, the trends also showcase younger people with heart diseases getting stents.
Why is Age a Big Factor for Stenting
Ageing causes considerable changes in our hearts, including cardiovascular diseases, reduced elasticity of the blood vessels, heart stiffness, and plaque build-up in the arteries over time. These changes might require stent placement to improve the blood flow to the heart.
While younger patients heal and recover faster, older patients might take more time to recover fully, given their body strength, which reduces over time.
Conclusion: Stent Placement is More Common Than We Think it is
It is obviously more common in older adults, but sometimes even young patients need them for a better life. It is crucial to understand the health considerations and stents thoroughly. Stents can not replace heart-healthy lifestyle choices, but they certainly give you a second chance to fix the heart. It is always advised to get your heart health checked regularly and consult a cardiologist to know more about the stenting procedure.
