What Are the Precautions to Follow After Getting a Stent?

After stent placement, it is important to follow the doctor's instructions for regular medication, maintain a positive mindset and healthy lifestyle habits, and also pay attention to regular follow-up exams. As people age, various bodily functions decline, which can easily predispose them to cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases pose significant risks to physical health, especially to the heart. Typically, there are three main treatment methods for heart-related diseases: pharmacological treatment, bypass surgery, and stent therapy. For mild conditions, pharmacological treatment may be sufficient. However, if the heart's blood supply function is affected, stent placement or bypass surgery may be required.

1. Follow the doctor's instructions for regular medication. Although stent placement can quickly resolve coronary artery blockage, the stent remains a foreign object in the body, posing a risk of restenosis or thrombus formation within the stent postoperatively. If this occurs, it can lead to another interruption in coronary blood flow. Therefore, we generally recommend that patients take at least aspirin and clopidogrel dual antiplatelet therapy for at least half a year to a year after stent placement. Some patients may also need to take antihypertensive, hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, and heart-improving medications based on their individual conditions.

2. Maintain a positive mindset and healthy lifestyle habits. Post-stent patients should adhere to a low-salt, low-fat diet, avoiding high-salt, high-fat foods such as fried foods, high-salt foods, and animal organs. Instead, they should consume plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Additionally, they should maintain a positive mindset, abstain from smoking and alcohol, ensure good sleep quality, and avoid staying up late.

3. Regular follow-up exams are crucial. It is recommended that patients undergo regular follow-up exams at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. If no significant abnormalities are found, at least one follow-up exam per year is recommended. Coronary heart disease does not mean complete cure after stent placement. Therefore, regular follow-up exams are crucial for early detection and treatment of the disease.