1. HOW LONG WILL I HAVE THE STENT ?

You should plan on having a stent for the rest of your life. Stents are designed to remain with in your coronary artery permanently to provide lasting support.

2. WILL I FEEL THE STENT ?

No. You will not feel the stent inside of you. (Though you will probably feel betterafter it has been implanted and blood flow in your coronary artery has been restored.)

3. CAN THE STENT MOVE?

Once the stent is opened and presses into the inside wall of your coronary artery,it will remain in place permanently. Vessel tissue will grow around the stent and hold it in place.

4. IS IT SAFE TO HAVE MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI). MAMOGRAM, CT SCAN,            XRAY or NUCLEAR SCREEN TEST?

Before having any tests, be sure to tell the doctor treating you that you have a stent, Mammography, CT Scanning, X-rays and nuclear screen tests are safe for people with stents. However, If you need magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thetechnician will need to operate the machine within certain limits.

5. WILL I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH AIRPORT METAL DETECTORS OR SECURITY        CHECKPOINTS IN STORES?

Going through a metal detector or security checkpoint will not trigger the alarm and will not harm your stent.

6. HOW LONG SHOULD I TAKE MY MEDICATIONS?

The most important things that you can do to minimize the risk of stent thrombosis is to take the medcations your doctor prescribes. Do not stop taking these medicines until your cardiologist tells you to, even if you are feeling better.If you have a drug-eluting stent, you may need to take your medication for an extended period of time, perhaps a year or longer. Follow your doctor’s instructions exactly.WILL EXPERIENCE THE SYMPTOMS OF CORONARY ARTERY DIEASE AGAIN, SUCH AS CHEST PAIN?It is possible that you will experience symptoms again, either because of anew blockage in the treated coronary artery or a new blockage in a different place. If you experience these symptoms, notify your doctor immediately.

7. HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY ARTERY RENARROWS?

Although the stents are intended to reduce restenosis, it is still possible for your artery to renarrow. If this happens, you may experience symptoms similar to those experienced when you first noticed you had coronary artery disease or before your stent procedure. These symptoms may include chest pain or shortness of breath, especially during physical activity. If you experience pain, inform your doctor immediately.

8. What ‘s the Link Between Smoking and Heart Disease?

About 30% of deaths from heart disease in the U.S are directly related to cigarette smoking. Smoking is a major cause of atherosclerosis.

Among other things, the nicotine in smoke causes:

- Less oxygen to the heart
- Higher blood pressure and heart rate
- More blood clotting
- Damage to cells that line coronary arteries and other blood vessels

9. What Are the Risk factors for coronary artery Disease?

There are some risk factors that you can’t do anything about. These include:

- Being male
- Being woman who is past menopause
- Being older
- Having a family history of heart attack or coronary artery disease.
- Smoking
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Lack of exercise
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Unhealthy diet
- Stress

By improving your habits, you can cut your risk of heart attack or angina.

10. What should I Do If I Have Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Disease?

You can do several things to cut your chances of heart disease. If your arteries are already clogged, you can slow the damage with a healthier diet, exercise, quitting smoking, and reducing stress. With life style changes, you can stop or even reverse the narrowing of arteries. While this is important for those with risk factors for the disease, it is even more important if you have had a heart attack or procedure to restore blood flow to your heart or other areas of your body.

11. What Dietary Changes Can I Make to Reduce My Heart Disease Risk?

Eating right is a powerful way to reduce or even eliminate some heart disease risk factors. A heart healthy diet can help cut total and LDL(“bad”) cholesterol, lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar, and help you shed pounds.

Try these tips:

- Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
- Cut trans facts from your diet. Swap saturated facts for unsaturated ones.
- Eat lean sources of protein, such as chicken, fish, and soy. Avoid red meat,as this tends to be high in fat and cholesterol.
- Eat complex carbohydrates such as whole grain bread, rice, and pasta andlimit simple carbohydrates such as regular soda, sugar, and sweets.
- Cut down on salt.
- Exercise regularly

12. What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy material made in the liver. It’s in foods such as egg yolks, milk fat, organ meats, and shellfish.You can lower your high cholesterol levels by eating foods low in saturated fats, sugar, and calories.

13. HOW COMMON IS HEART DISEASE AMONG WOMEN?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women over 40 years old, especially after menopause. Once a woman reaches the age of 50(about the age of natural menopause), the risk for heart disease increases dramatically. In young women who have undergone early or surgical menopause, the risk for heart disease is also higher, especially when combined with other risk factors such as:

- Diabetes
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol, especially high LDL or “bad” cholesterol
- Obesity
- Lack of exercise

- Family history of heart disease
- Problems during pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, high blood pressure