How does stent work: How many times can one person get it placed?

The heart is the most important organ of the human body that functions throughout the life of an individual without any rest, constantly pumping but blood to various organs via tubular channels known as arteries. Our arteries are like narrow passages and are very delicate. Sometimes the arteries of a person get blocked due to access accumulation of impurities like cholesterol. Cholesterol is one of the leading cause of various heart diseases including heart attacks and heart valve diseases. Cholesterol gets accumulated on the inner lining of the arteries, hence preventing the free flow of blood to the lungs and various other organs. Reports by one of the leading surgeons for Angioplasty and stent placement show that obese people are more prone to develop such problems as they have very high cholesterol levels in their bodies.

The main symptoms that indicate that you might be suffering from artery blockage and need Angioplasty and stent placement surgery are chest pain, irregularity in breathing, uneven heart rate, palpitation, cold sweats, swelling of hands, feet and toes, fatigue, light-headedness, dizziness and nausea. In case you experience any of these symptoms, consult a doctor as soon as possible.

One of the best methods to treat a blocked artery is angioplasty. It involves the use of a catheter and a balloon like structure. A narrow tube-like structure called sheath is inserted inside the patients artery through the groin or a small cut on the arm or chest. The catheter is then introduced inside the artery via this sheath. After this, an x-ray is taken to ensure whether the doctors need to perform the angioplasty or not. In case it is decided that the angioplasty needs to be done, the doctor slowly and steadily moves the catheter towards the blocked artery. The balloon is then inflated to perfectly fit inside the artery and once the stent is in position the balloon is again deflated and removed from the patient's body. The stent might even be induced with some medicines that help to prevent the blockage of the artery in future.

Angioplasty and stent placement helps to remove any kind of blockage in the artery hereby promoting the free flow of blood. The patient does not feel any pain or discomfort and his heartbeats become even. The swelling on the limbs and toes also vanishes gradually and the person is able to live a healthy life and perform his day to day tasks without and discomfort and pain.

Although there is no specific number of stents that a person can receive but on an average person can receive 10 to 15 stents. Doctors can even place 2-3 stents in a single procedure depending upon the need of the situation.

 After the surgery the patient needs to take complete bed rest for a span of time and make sure to follow all the instructions given by the doctor. Physical therapy such as physiotherapy and exercising may help in the process of recovery but excess exercising can worsen the patient's condition. Hence, it is advisable to consult a physiotherapist or a personal trainer to help you exercise properly. Unhealthy fats should be avoided as much as possible as they contain cholesterol which is a leading factor responsible for blockage in the artery. Instead of these green leafy vegetables should be consumed. Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol should be avoided as this may hinder the patients healing process. The patient should take all the prescribed medications on time and in case of any pain or discomfort, consult a medical expert. It should be made sure that the patient should be kept away from any kind of stress and strain as the may directly affect his recovery. 

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