{"id":6672,"date":"2019-05-23T04:59:27","date_gmt":"2019-05-23T04:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=6672"},"modified":"2021-04-08T13:51:18","modified_gmt":"2021-04-08T13:51:18","slug":"10-things-they-dont-tell-you-about-angioplasty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/10-things-they-dont-tell-you-about-angioplasty\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Things They Don’t Tell You About Angioplasty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Angioplasty refers to a medical procedure that uses a balloon to open up blockages in and around the heart. Blockages in the arteries near the heart often become blocked with time due to atherosclerosis. Angioplasty can help to improve the flow of blood to the heart. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atherosclerosis occurs when plaque builds up throughout the inner walls of the heart. This may occur in any of the arteries. When it occurs in the coronary arteries it is referred to as coronary artery disease and it affects blood flow to the heart. Angioplasty is a very common medical procedure and is used to help improve symptoms of coronary artery disease. It is also used to help reduce the damage of the heart muscle caused by a heart attack. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heart attacks are caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart and angioplasty can help to restore blood flow through the artery that is blocked. Here are 8 things that you may not know about angioplasty. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. When is Angioplasty Needed?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Angioplasty<\/a>, specifically coronary angioplasty is used to help restore the blood flow to the heart when the arteries of the heart have become blocked or narrowed because of coronary artery disease. There are several steps a person can take in order to lower the risk of developing coronary artery disease. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes not smoking, being more physically active, and eating a healthy diet. Making these changes can result in an improvement in the symptoms of coronary artery disease. However, if these changes do not help alleviate the symptoms that you are experiencing from coronary artery disease, your doctor may recommend angioplasty. Another option that may be provided to you is a coronary artery bypass grafting, which is a type of open-heart surgery. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several factors to consider when considering which type of procedure might be right for your particular condition. Make sure that you ask about all of the options before agreeing to angioplasty. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Pros of Angioplasty over CABG<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are several factors to consider when deciding whether an angioplasty is the right choice for your particular condition. Typically, angioplasty is used when the blockage or narrowing of your arteries is not as severe. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other considerations include where the blockages are located and any other diseases that you may have. It also depends on when the blockage may be reached during the procedure. Angioplasty has fewer risks than coronary artery bypass grafting. Since it is not surgery<\/a>, a large cut is not necessary. In addition, with angioplasty, you will be provided with medication to help you relax and numb the area. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a CABG you will need to be put to sleep for a short amount of time. Since it is not surgery and a large cut is not required, the recovery time is much shorter with angioplasty as well. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Disadvantages of Angioplasty<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the disadvantages of angioplasty, when compared with a CABG, is that over time the artery can narrow again after angioplasty is performed. The chances of this happening lower when the surgeon places stents around the heart. Medicine coated stents tend to work the best at keeping clogged arteries open. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to note that stents do not come without risk. There are some cases where a blood clot<\/a> can form around the stents that are medicine coated and the clot can then cause a person to have a heart attack. If you are suffering from coronary artery disease or simply have plaque build-up in the arteries, it is important to discuss all of your options with your doctor. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure that you understand the options that are available to you and which one would be best for your particular situation. While angioplasty may be the best option in some cases, it is not the best choice for all cases. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Emergency Situations<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During a heart attack<\/a>, angioplasty is often done as an emergency procedure. When plaque builds up throughout the coronary arteries it can cause them to burst. This will create a blood clot on the surface. If the clot gets big enough it can mostly or totally block the blood flow to areas of the heart muscle. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being able to open up the blockage can help to lessen the damage to the heart when experiencing a heart attack. Opening up the blockage will restore the flow of blood to the heart muscle quickly. Using angioplasty during an emergency allows the surgeon to open up the artery, which makes it the best option when a person is experiencing a heart attack. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a heart attack occurs, damage to the heart can happen very quickly. For this reason, acting quickly to get the blood flowing back to the heart is extremely important. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Minimum Pain<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One concern that many people may have when considering angioplasty is how much it is going to hurt. According to the AHA, the procedure is not very painful to the patient. The procedure involves the placement of a catheter<\/a>. The area where the catheter is going to be inserted in the body will be numbed. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the procedure you may experience a bit of pressure, but not a lot of pain. During the procedure, you remain awake. However, most people are given some medication that will help them to relax while the angioplasty is being performed. After angioplasty, the area where the catheter was inserted may be painful to the touch and a bit bruised. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is quite normal. If any swelling or bleeding occurs in the area after the procedure it is important to let your doctor know right away as this could be the sign of an infection or some other health issue. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Angioplasty Preparation<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Angioplasty is not something that everyone needs and if you have been told by your doctor that it might be an option for you it is important to make sure that you research the procedure and ask any questions that you may have. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before determining whether or not to perform angioplasty your doctor will typically order an electrocardiogram, blood tests, and an x-ray. This helps the doctor determine whether or not you are a good candidate for the procedure. You will likely be told to fast for at least six to eight hours before getting an angioplasty. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to make sure that you tell your doctor about any medications <\/a>that you may be taking. It is especially important to let your doctor know if you have diabetes and you are taking medication for it. All of these things can affect the procedure, so it is important to be as truthful with your doctor about your habits as possible. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. The Procedure<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before angioplasty is performed, your doctor needs to know if the arteries are blocked and if they are blocked, where the blockages are and how severe the blockages are. An angiogram will be conducted along with an x-ray of the arteries in order to determine this. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the angiogram, a catheter with a balloon at the end will be placed in a large blood vessel<\/a>. It is threaded to the coronary arteries. The dye is then injected into the arteries and an x-ray picture will be taken. This picture will show any type of blockage, how many blockages there are, and where the blockages are located. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The balloon will be inflated in the blockage in order to push the plaque out. This will help to open up the artery further and improve the flow of blood. Often a stent will be placed in this widened area of the artery as a way to lower the risk of the artery narrowing once again. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. What to Expect<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have scheduled angioplasty and it is not being done as an emergency treatment<\/a>, before the procedure you will have time to meet with your doctor. The doctor will go over your entire medical history, conduct a physical examination, and then discuss the procedure with you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, your doctor may order some routine tests before the procedure. This includes blood work, an EKG, and a chest x-ray. All of these procedures will be done before the actual procedure takes place. Depending on what time your procedure is scheduled. Most of the time an angioplasty will be performed in the cardiac catheterization clinic. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cath lab provides the doctors with the tools they need in order to make the procedure go as smoothly as possible. The procedure will only take one or two hours. However, in many cases, the doctor will require an overnight stay in the hospital to monitor your reaction to the procedure. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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