A supportive life can also be a wonderful life!

Author: Guo Lei Harbin Second Hospital

Reviewer: Yu Chunling, Chief Physician, Harbin Second Hospital

With the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, coronary artery stents (referred to as "coronary stents") have become the "lifesaver" for many patients with coronary heart disease. After these patients have coronary stents implanted in their bodies, their "stent life" begins.

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Coronary arteries are blood vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients to myocardial cells. When atherosclerosis occurs in the coronary arteries, plaques will form on the blood vessel walls, gradually leading to narrowing or even blockage of the blood vessels. This is like a city's water supply pipes. When the inner wall is rusted and scaled, the water flow will become obstructed or even cut off. Once the coronary arteries are severely narrowed or blocked, myocardial cells will suffer from ischemia and hypoxia, which can cause angina pectoris or even myocardial infarction, which is a very dangerous condition. If the patient suffers from a sudden acute myocardial infarction, the coronary artery needs to be unblocked in time. If the hospital is equipped for interventional surgery, the doctor will advise the patient to undergo surgery as soon as possible to save more myocardial cells and save lives.

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A coronary stent is like an umbrella that is specially opened for the coronary artery. It is a tiny mesh metal tube that can be placed in the narrowed or blocked coronary artery through interventional surgery. During the operation, the doctor will puncture the patient's blood vessels at the wrist or thigh root, send a catheter with a stent along the blood vessel to the lesion, and then release the stent. After the stent is opened, the originally narrow blood vessel cavity will be expanded, blood can flow smoothly, and myocardial cells can regain sufficient blood supply. This process is like placing a support in a blocked pipe, allowing the water flow to resume smoothly.

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For patients, after undergoing coronary stent surgery, their "stent life" begins, and postoperative life management is crucial.

In terms of drug treatment, patients need to take antiplatelet drugs for a long time to prevent thrombosis in the stent, because the stent is a "foreign body" to the human body after all, and platelets tend to aggregate on its surface, thus forming thrombi. In addition, patients may also need to take lipid-lowering, blood pressure-lowering, and blood sugar-lowering drugs according to their own conditions to control the risk factors of coronary heart disease. If the patient has high blood pressure, high blood lipids, diabetes and other diseases, actively controlling these diseases can reduce the risk of recurrence of coronary artery lesions.

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In terms of lifestyle, patients need to make reasonable dietary adjustments, reduce the intake of high-fat, high-cholesterol foods (such as animal offal, fried foods, etc.), and increase the intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other foods rich in dietary fiber. Moderate exercise is also indispensable. Under the guidance of a doctor, you should choose the appropriate exercise according to your physical condition, such as walking, jogging, Tai Chi, etc. Exercise can improve heart function, promote blood circulation, and enhance the body's resistance. It is also important to quit smoking and limit alcohol. Harmful substances such as nicotine in tobacco can damage vascular endothelial cells and aggravate coronary artery lesions, and excessive drinking can also have adverse effects on the heart.

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Of course, the impact of psychological state on "stent life" should not be underestimated. Some patients will feel anxious and fearful after stent placement, worrying that there will be problems with the stent or that the disease will recur. At this time, it is very important to maintain a positive and optimistic attitude and believe that you can live a normal life through scientific treatment and management. Regular check-ups are necessary. Doctors can use various examinations to evaluate the condition of the stent and the patient's overall heart function, so as to detect potential problems in a timely manner and deal with them accordingly.

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Coronary stents provide patients with coronary heart disease with hope of regaining a healthy life, and active postoperative management of patients is the key to ensuring the quality of "stent life". It should be emphasized that the implantation of coronary stents only dredges the blood vessels and cannot cure coronary heart disease. As long as patients can strictly follow the doctor's advice and adjust their lifestyle, they can enjoy a better life under the protection of this "protective umbrella"!