We live in a fast-paced society that is constantly nurturing the concept of competition. As we struggle to live in such a society, we make certain changes to our lifestyle that ultimately have some dire consequences.

The need to be constantly moving leaves us with a severe lack of time, even to properly take care of ourselves. As a result, we feed our bodies a variety of foods that don’t provide many health benefits.

Fast food, lack of exercise, and undue stress can take a heavy toll on our bodies, especially when it comes to the heart. A combination of these factors often leads to the development of clogged arteries which is a condition that 1 in every 20 Americans suffers from.

Clogged arteries are a sign of danger because more often than not, they result in heart attacks.

A clogged artery is treated with the help of a procedure known as angioplasty. In this procedure, clogs in arteries are removed by using a balloon-like instrument. Following this, a coronary stent is placed in these arteries to keep them open to enable proper blood flow. A coronary artery stent can alleviate the blockage significantly.

What Is A Coronary Artery Stent?

A coronary artery stent is a mesh-like expandable device that is placed in the arteries soon after an angioplasty. This device keeps the arteries open and prevents blockages. The mesh-like structure of the stent is what helps it to stay put within the undulating structure of the arteries. The meshes are created very precisely by cutting a solid, hollow tube at specific angles using lasers.

The placement of a stent takes no longer than an hour or so and is performed under local anesthesia.

What Are The Different Types Of Coronary Artery Stents?

Stents are broadly classified into two types. One is the bare metal stent while the other is called the drug-eluting stent.

The Bare Metal Stent

These stents have a mesh that is made of metal. They keep the blood vessels open after an angioplasty. The stent is held in place by the tissue that grows around it when the blood vessels that were repaired during the surgery starts healing.

The Drug-Eluting Stent

As the name suggests, these coronary artery stents release certain drugs into the blood vessels. The mesh has a coating that is made of polymer and the coating is what emits the specific drug into the area surrounding it.

Who Is Eligible To Undergo A Coronary Artery Stenting?

A person who exhibits symptoms of coronary artery clogging such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and a constant pressure in the chest is eligible to undergo coronary stenting. Patients whose coronary artery is obstructed more than 70 percent are also eligible to undergo this procedure.

Coronary artery stenting is not suitable for everyone. Cardiac surgeons determine whether you are an ideal candidate for the procedure through a series of tests and x-rays.

Contact Our Office

At the Houston Cardiovascular Institute, we can help identify underlying cardiovascular issues and provide you with a course of treatment that will help you live a healthy and long life. Contact our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Shehzad Sami today.