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What are stents made up of?

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Angioplasty is the procedure in which a stent is placed in the arteries of the heart. This stents are small tube-like structures which helps in maintaining the proper blood flow from heart to different part of the body. The majority of stent implants are made up of wire mesh and is permanent in nature. Some stents which are used for bigger blood vessels are composed from fabric and are termed as stent grafts. Then there are also stents which are manufactured from materials that get dissolved or absorbed over time in the body. These stents are coated with medicines that get released in the blood over a period of time and helps in preventing your arteries to get clogged again. These stents are now most commonly used as compared to bare metal stents which were being used earlier. The cost of the Bare metal stents is on the cheaper side but they have a have a high restenosis rate and they can develop thick scar within the stent, in the span of a year or less. The Drug elu...

Are stents effective in reducing chance of another heart attack?

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  Stents are required after a person suffers a heart attack . Stents are nothing but tiny mesh tubes inserted to keep arteries open after the angioplasty. Drug - eluting stents  also known as DES prevent a coronary artery from narrowing again. They are  coated  with medicine that prevents scar tissue from growing into the artery. DES releases a drug gradually from their outer coating to aid in preventing blockage at the particular place in the heart. Hence, these stents are preferred over Bare-metal stent  which are without a coating or covering . The recent DES is termed to be at least as safe as BMS.  However, blood vessels could again get blocked after stent placement. In case of bare metal stents, post implantation as the blood vessel heals over period of time, tissue begins to grow around the stent. In some cases, scar tissue overgrowth can lead to again re-blockage of arteries. Therefore if the DES stents are used, they avoid plaqu...

Cardiovascular Diseases Facts

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I t is always important to know about the cardiovascular diseases facts . It is the leading cause of deaths in the United States of America. More than six hundred thousand in the US die of heart disease each year.  It is not necessary that the adults are at the risk of getting cardiovascular diseases.  Anyone, including children, can develop heart disease.  The root cause of the heart disease is the build up of the substance called plaque in the arteries which carry blood to the heart.  This results in narrowing down of the arteries and this happens over a period of time reducing blood flow to the heart.  The factors that lead to such condition is sedentary lifestyle, smoking, unhealty diet and not doing enough exercise. These factors results in the onset of Cardiovascular diseases. Once a person suffers from Cardiovascular disease, it may eventually lead to a heart attack which may endup in hospitalisation.

What are the dos and don'ts after hip replacement?

  Total Hip Replacement surgery's success depends largely on how well you follow the doctor's instructions during the recovery period, especially during the initial few weeks post-surgery. 1) Wound care : You might have sutures or staples at the surgical site till approximately 2 weeks post-surgery. Till then, don't let the wound get wet until it gets completely sealed and dried. Preferably, continue bandaging the wound to prevent irritation from clothes or stockings. 2) Diet: Generally, you might feel some loss of your regular appetite. Taking a balanced diet, many times with an iron tonic is vital for promoting regular healing of tissues and regaining muscle strength. Ensure drinking lots of fluids. 3) Physical Activity: Exercise is a crucial part of care at home, especially during the initial few weeks post Total Hip Replacement Surgery . You should gain the capacity to resume the majority of your normal activities that are the light within 3-6 weeks after surgery...

Is total hip replacement possible?

  A total hip replacement is readily possible.  It provides reliable pain relief and sizable functional improvement in arthritis patients suffering from intense pain and restrictive movement.  The main steps involved in total hip replacement are as follows: 1 ) The damaged ball of the hip joint is taken out and replaced with a metallic stem and is placed into the femur's hollow center. The stem could either be cemented or "press-fit" into the bone.  2 ) A metal or ceramic ball then replaces the worn out femoral head which was removed. This artificial ball is positioned on the stem's upper part. 3 ) The cartilage surface of the socket which is damaged gets replaced with a metallic socket. To hold the new socket in place, screws or cement is used. 4 ) Finally, a metallic or plastic spacer is positioned between the new implants to permit a smooth gliding surface for frictionless movement of the joint.   There are other major benefits too of getting the hip r...