Understanding the lifecycle of a stent in the heart
Whenever there is a new implant in your body, several questions can arise in your mind. Often people think if the implant can cause any adverse reaction in the body or if it can prove to be fatal. That's why it is crucial to understand every aspect of different implants, including the stents added to the heart or the blood vessel.
It is one of the most common surgical procedures to remove the heart block and restore blood flow. Unlike the traditional angioplasty, where a balloon is used, the stent is a metal mesh tube left in the blocked region to keep the vessel distended and allow proper blood flow.
Although a stent is considered permanent, it has a particular lifetime. The word "permanent" is associated due to its maximum longevity over other objects used in different types of angioplasty. Many people do not understand the proper lifecycle of the stents. Therefore, this blog describes everything you need to know about the stent lifecycle or longevity once placed in the heart.
How is a stent installed in the heart or the blood vessels?
First, the proper location of the clot is detected as it can be resent in the coronary artery, the aorta, or any other blood vessel, and the valves present in the heart and at the base of two blood vessels leaving the organ. Once the location is detected, a catheter is inserted from an incision in the wrist. It is pushed further inside the blood vessel until it reaches where the block is present.
The metal mesh tube, called the stent, is released into the location. As soon as it is released, the metal tube adheres to the inside of the blood vessel and enlarges it. Since the blocked area is opened wide, blood flows properly. The tube is left behind, and the catheter is taken out. Unlike the balloon or any other angioplasty component, the stent can last for a long, ensuring maximum longevity and an almost permanent system of block removal in the blood vessels.
On what factors will the stent’s longevity depend?
The stent's longevity depends on several factors. If you do not follow the doctor's instructions correctly, the stent is likely to suffer damage or lead to stenosis. For this reason, you should be aware of the factors that decide how long the stent can stay in the blood vessels and function just the way it should.
1. You need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It would help if you refrained from lifting heavy objects, be it a large water jar or weights. Lifting heavy weight can cause further problems while causing the stent to get displaced from its position.
2. If the doctor has used a bare stent, its longevity is slightly less than that of the chemical or drug-coated stent.
3. It would help if you did not smoke or drink alcohol. These can adversely impact your health, causing the stent to perform abnormally. Besides, you will be at a higher risk of heart attack or stroke.
4. It would help if you got enough sleep, and depression or stress will affect your health. So, be very sure about the sleep routine you are following.
5. Diet is another factor on which the stent’s lifetime depends. For instance, you need to follow a proper diet that will not have too many fats, especially unsaturated ones. You can take the mono-saturated fatty acids as they are helpful and lower the LDL amount in your blood.
So, the lifetime of the stents and the factors on which it depends are described briefly above. You should follow your doctor’s instructions without thinking about anything. If you face any difficulty, like chest pain, do not wait much and immediately take medical assistance. you can also visit Medipulse hospital or can consult with our Doctors to get the best and most updated information.