Lifestyle Tips for After Your Stent Procedure

You already know that good habits and a healthy lifestyle are important to maintaining a healthy heart. When people are diagnosed with heart disease, they sometimes feel helpless, and like their body has let them down. But there are things that you can do to help you achieve and maintain good health.

Reduce Fats

If you reduce fats and cholesterol in your diet, you may be less likely to develop a re-blockage (restenosis) in the treated area of the artery. In addition, you may avoid developing new blockages in other blood vessels.

Animal products such as meat, butter and cheese can be high in fat and are high in “bad” cholesterol. A low-fat, low-cholesterol diet can lower the levels of fat in your blood and reduce your risk. Plenty of vegetables and fruits, nuts, whole grains, and lean protein such as beans, tofu or fish are essential to a healthy diet. Eating these foods in the right portions will also help you to maintain or achieve a healthy weight, which is important to slowing the progression of heart disease.

Your doctor can provide you additional guidance on how to reduce your cholesterol.

Quit Smoking

In addition to a healthy diet, it is extremely important to avoid smoking. Smoking not only increases your risk of heart disease, but it increases the chance that you will develop restenosis. If you’re struggling with quitting, ask your doctor for help.

Decrease Stress, Increase Exercise

Other factors that can contribute to heart disease, such as stress and lack of exercise, are also under your control.

Make it a priority during your recovery to take steps to reduce the stress in your life. And have your doctor, or an exercise specialist, help you develop a reasonable and effective exercise program.

Lifestyle programs proven to reduce, and even reverse, heart disease are available through many hospitals. They may even be reimbursed by Medicare and/or your insurance companies. Be sure to contact your doctor or healthcare provider if you have any questions or need assistance regarding lifestyle modifications.