Having a heart attack can be extremely scary for those who have actually experienced it. You may have this feeling that life won’t be the same again, but that’s not the case. You can still live a fulfilling life, provided you take care of yourself, and follow a healthy regime as recommended by your cardiologist.
Today, I am going to give you some insights on how to take care of yourself after a heart attack, as well as for patients who have undergone angioplasty and stent placement after a heart attack.
Before that, let’s discuss the basic question.
How Do You Get A Heart Attack?
To put it simply, heart attacks happens when the blood flow to your heart is blocked. This cut off the oxygen supply to your heart and damage the heart muscle. A blockage can happen due to build-up of plaque (fat, cholesterol and other substances) in the arteries.
This plaque buildup sometimes gets unstable due to factors such as high blood pressure, inflammation, etc. and therefore, weakens and ruptures. When it ruptures, the plaque is exposed to the bloodstream, which triggers your body to form a blood clot to repair the rupture. However, this clot can block the artery completely, leading to a heart attack.
A heart attack must be treated immediately, without it, the affected heart muscle can die.
How A Heart Attack Is Generally Treated?
In most cases, medical experts give immediate medications such as aspirin and blood thinners to ease the pain, and prevent the clotting even further. Then an angioplasty is performed to open the blocked arteries and restore the blood flow followed by insertion of a stent to keep the artery open. These procedures are necessary to reduce the damage and promote recovery.
After the procedure, you need to follow your medications and make specific changes to your lifestyle followed by regular follow-up care to prevent further complications.
However, it’s also important to talk to your doctor before you make any lifestyle changes, especially when you have undergone a heart attack, and an angioplasty surgery.
Why Angioplasty and Stents Are Important After a Heart Attack?
As I have mentioned before, a heart attack is caused by a blood clot in your artery, and angioplasty is needed to open that artery, and restore the blood flow to the heart muscle. Most importantly, an angioplasty helps in relieving symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue and severe chest pain (angina) caused by a heart attack.
During angioplasty:
- A thin tube (catheter) with a small balloon at its tip is inserted into the blocked artery.
- The balloon is inflated to push the plaque (fatty deposits) against the artery walls, widening the artery and allowing blood to flow more freely.
While angioplasty opens up the artery, letting normal blood flow to the heart, stent is used to keep the artery open.
A stent is a small, mesh-like tube often placed during angioplasty to keep the artery open.
- Once the balloon widens the artery, the stent is positioned and expanded to hold the artery in place.
- The stent remains in the artery permanently to prevent it from narrowing again.
Together, angioplasty and stenting are highly effective in improving blood flow, reducing symptoms like chest pain, and lowering the risk of future heart complications.
Are There Alternatives?
- Medications: In some cases, clot-dissolving drugs (thrombolytics) are used, but they may not be as effective as angioplasty.
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG): For multiple severe blockages, bypass surgery may be considered instead of angioplasty.
What to Expect After an Angioplasty and Stent Placement?
Patients may feel a range of physical and emotional feelings after an angioplasty and stent placement. This includes:
A Sense of Instant Relief: That excruciating chest pain one might feel during a heart attack subsides soon after the surgery. The flow of blood to the heart makes the pain go away, and patients can take a sigh of relief.
A Little Discomfort: Some patients may feel some discomfort or a bit of pain (usually in the groin and wrist) at places where the catheter is inserted.
Fatigue: Undoubtedly one would feel tired and weak after going through a heart attack followed by surgery.
A Wave of Emotion: Heart Attack itself can wreak havoc on a patient mind. It’s common for patients to feel worried and overwhelmed with anxiety during the recovery period. Anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress can occur and if you feel any of these symptoms, you must seek professional help.
Gradual Improvement: Over time, as patients continue to recover, they may feel stronger and more energized. Following a doctor’s advice on lifestyle changes and medication is crucial to manage heart health moving forward.
Self-Care after an Angioplasty
After your angioplasty, you will usually to able to walk within 6 hours or even earlier if the procedure was done through your wrist. However, you cannot go overboard and should limit physical activity as stated by your doctor.
Full recovery generally takes about a week or less. In the meantime, make sure to keep the catheter insertion area dry for 24 to 48 hours.
If the catheter was put in through your groin:
- You can walk short distances on flat surfaces but try to avoid stairs more than twice a day for the first 2-3 days.
- Avoid activities like yard work, driving, heavy lifting, or sports for at least 2 days, or until your doctor says it’s safe.
If the catheter went in through your arm or wrist:
- Don’t lift anything heavier than 4-5 kg with the arm that had the catheter.
- Avoid heavy pushing, pulling, or twisting with that arm.
For all types of catheters:
- Avoid sexual activity for 2-5 days. Ask your doctor when it’s okay to resume.
- No baths or swimming for the first week, but showers are fine as long as the area where the catheter went in stays dry for the first 24 to 48 hours.
- If you don’t have a physically demanding job, you should be able to return to work in 2-3 days.
Remember that taking care of your incision during this phase is extremely important. You need to change the dressing exactly as suggested by your doctor.
You’ll need to take good care of your incision to help it heal properly. Your doctor will let you know how often to change the dressing. If you notice any bleeding or swelling, lie down and gently press on the area for about 30 minutes to stop it.
Taking Care After Angioplasty and Stent Placement
Angioplasty helps open up blocked arteries, but it doesn’t cure the cause of the blockage. Your arteries can get narrow again. To prevent this, you’ll need to:
- Eat a heart-healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Quit smoking (if you smoke)
- Manage stress
- Take any cholesterol-lowering medicines your doctor prescribes.
Most people will need aspirin plus another blood-thinning medicine like clopidogrel (Plavix), prasugrel (Efient), or ticagrelor (Brilinta) after the procedure. These medicines help prevent blood clots in your arteries and stent, which can lead to a heart attack. Don’t stop these medicines without asking your doctor!
Cardiac Rehabilitation:
Your doctor might suggest a cardiac rehab program. This will:
- Help you safely increase exercise levels
- Teach you to manage angina (chest pain)
- Guide you on self-care after a heart attack
When to Call Your Doctor?
Call your doctor immediately if you notice:
- Bleeding at the catheter site that doesn’t stop with pressure
- Swelling, redness, or pain at the incision site
- Cold, numb, or discolored arm or leg near the catheter site
- Chest pain or shortness of breath that doesn’t go away
- Irregular heartbeat (too slow or too fast)
- Dizziness, fainting, or extreme tiredness
- Fever over 101°F (38.3°C), chills, or coughing up mucus
- Trouble taking your heart medicines
Taking care of yourself after angioplasty and stent placement is key to staying healthy and avoiding further heart problems. Make sure to keep all follow-up appointments with your cardiologist!
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your cardiologist for proper diagnosis, treatment, and guidance. Avoid self-medicating.