What is the life expectancy after a heart attack and subsequent stenting?
Life expectancy after a heart attack is lower compared to the rest of the population. About 5 to 10% of patients who have suffered a heart attack die within the next 2 years from sudden heart failure. The fact that it is necessary to insert a stent initially indicates that the blockage of the coronary arteries is already quite advanced.
For this reason, one should assume that life expectancy is lower than in comparable population groups. However, the insertion of a stent greatly reduces this high risk of another heart attack or sudden heart failure. If the stent fulfills its task completely and no new calcifications form in the vessel, the chances of increased life expectancy are very good.
In addition, patients with a stent should visit their physician more often. In this way, recurring risk factors can be prevented in time. However, other diseases should not be disregarded when estimating life expectancy, because the long-term prognosis is better or worse depending on the personal risk profile of each individual.
Heart attack, stent and alcohol – is it compatible?
New studies show that moderate alcohol consumption can have positive effects after stent implantation. Presumably, alcohol prevents the smooth muscle cells inside the blood vessel from growing uncontrollably. As a result, the stent usually remains open longer and the heart muscles are better supplied with blood. In general, however, alcohol consumption is not recommended if coronary heart disease exists, as too much alcohol leads to a faster progression of the disease.
Conclusion
Stenting is very often performed with good success in heart attack patients and is generally preferred to drug therapy. After stent implantation, it is necessary to inhibit blood coagulation to prevent the formation of clots on the stent. However, this medication is indicated anyway after a heart attack, so that no additional medication has to be taken in the long term for stent care after a heart attack.
