Heart Disease Community

OK, let me give you a few words from a non-medical person who has had 6 stents and 5 angioplasties plus one heart attack and is therefore Quite Interested in heart disease. You of course need to discuss your questions with the cardiologist who knows your brother and has a better handle on his particular condition. That said, and In My Opinion...

Heart disease has a genetic component, usually, so you would expect that he would be pre-disposed to it, based upon family history. (Both my dad and grandfather had heart disease and died from heart attacks).

Stents are safe and reliable (they don't move about in the body) and don't normally need to be replaced. They can and do clog, but most of the clogging will occur within one year of their initial installation. After that the body has pretty much adapted to them. However, arteries twist and turn, and if you have had one artery stented at spot X your next stent may have to be in the same artery in spot Y. It all depends on where the narrowing is. In some cases the cardiologist cannot reach the spot that has narrowed, and if that occurs a bypass may be necessary.

His cardiologist will prescribe a set of drugs for him to take, and it is important that he take them on schedule, establish an exercise program (walking is good) and watch his diet. In my case statins seem to have helped a lot - some people cannot take them.

Others on this board will give you advice on vitamins and eating programs that have helped them. Just remember that every individual is different in the way they respond to a particular program. The trick will be to get something that works for your brother and that he will stick with.

Hi Janice:

Bare-metal (BM) or drug-eluting stents (DES) lasts in the coronary artery for the life of the patient. After initially implanted, the stent is gradually incorporated (new tissue grows over and through the struts, drug-eluting somewhat delays this, hence possible blood clot problems) into the vessel wall, essentially becoming a permanent part of it.

The drug contained on a DES, which is gradually released, and the polymer coating that gradually releases it, only lasts for a limited period of time, as is designed to, is intended to do so.

SOMETIMES THOUGH, a problem can occur at the stented site, such as restenosis (renarrowing, in some cases, even with DES), or new or accelerated atherosclerotic plaque buildup, requiring another angioplasty and possible re-stenting or "stent sandwich" (placing a stent within a stent).

The bottom line

Coronary stents are just a Band-aid or spot treatment, as this does not address the underlying disease process and what drives the progression.

Most important, coronary artery disease (CAD) is a lifelong unpredictable (can exhibit periods of stabilization, acceleration, and even some regression) condition, requiring a continuum of care, as well as good doctor-patient/patient-doctor communication and understanding at ALL times.

Best of luck to your brother down the road of life.

Take care,

CardioStar*

WebMD member (since 8/99)

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Be well-informed

WebMD

Living with Heart Disease

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

CAD is a chronic disease with no cure. When you have coronary artery disease, it is important to take......

This is especially true if you have had an interventional procedure or surgery to improve blood flow to the heart....../It is up to you to take steps......

Recognize the symptoms......

Reduce your risk factors......

Take your medications......

See your doctor for regular check-ups......

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/living-with-heart-disease

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Coronary artery anatomy

Starting with left anterior descending (LAD), the most critical, next to the ultra-critical left main (LM)

http://www.heartsite.com/html/lad.html

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Good to know, for the primary and secondary prevention of heart attack and brain attack/stroke

Epidemiologic studies (EDS) have revealed risk factors for atherosclerosis (typically affecting the coronary, carotid, and peripheral arteries), which includes age, gender, genetics (gene deletion, malfunction, or mutation), diabetes (considered as being the highest risk factor), smoking (includes secondhand), inactivity, obesity (a global epidemic, "globesity") high blood pressure (hypertension), diet high in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol, high LDL, high Lp(a), high ApoB, high Lp-PLA2, high triglycerides, LOW HDL (less than 40 mg/dL, an HDL level of 60/65 mg/dL or more is considered protective against coronary artery disease), high homocysteine, and high C-reactive protein (CRP/hs-CRP).

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Quote!

"Be a questioning patient. Talk to your doctor and ask questions. Studies show that patients who ask the most questions, and are most assertive, get the best results. Be vigilant and speak up!"

- Charles Inlander, People's Medical Society