Put on unnecessary heart rings, what are the risks?

What are heart stents or rings?

A stent or heart ring is a small tube made of metal or plastic and is composed of wire like a net. The placement of this heart ring can help open blocked coronary arteries in the heart so that the heart can again receive an adequate blood supply. In the end, it is hoped that this will reduce a person's chances of having a heart attack.

The danger of placing a heart ring that is not really needed

Most cardiologists report that patients who are placed on a heart ring tend to feel better and appear healthier. Even some of his patients believe, the procedure to put a heart ring can prevent him from heart attack and death.

However, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2007, insertion of stents is not guaranteed to prevent heart attacks. Although it is hard to believe, many similar studies have begun to prove it.

Reporting from the New York Times page, a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2012 observed three patients in stable condition after experiencing a heart attack and five other patients who experienced stable angina but had not had a heart attack.

As a result, installing a heart ring did not have any impact, even did not help prevent heart attacks in patients with stable coronary heart disease. However, in this study, it is difficult to know whether a heart ring can relieve pain.

Although indeed many people think that placing a heart ring can prevent heart disease in healthy people, experts say differently. Experts say that putting a heart ring on a person who doesn't have heart disease will only interfere with blood flow and heart function.

Risks that arise can range from severe bleeding to allergic reactions after the ring is placed. Instead of being useful, put on a heart ring that is not as needed can actually endanger you.

Consider this first before deciding to install a heart ring

If the doctor does recommend you to install a heart ring, the doctor will certainly explain various things about the heart ring in detail. You as a patient also have the right to ask a number of questions before agreeing with the doctor's recommendation.

Therefore, first ask your doctor about three things to make sure you are more sure before placing a heart ring:

1. Am I at risk for a heart attack?

Before deciding to put on a heart ring, first ask your doctor about your possibility of having a heart attack. If you are in the early stages of an acute heart attack, it is necessary to put on a heart ring immediately to stop the damage to the heart muscle.

In addition, the procedure for placing a heart stent can also help reduce heart defects and lower the risk of death. If this question is answered with "yes", immediately ask the next question below.

2. Do I have acute coronary syndrome?

If you have acute coronary syndrome (ACS), your doctor will record your heart using an electrocardiography. If the results of the heart record lead to a diagnosis of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), then you need immediate medical action by placing a heart ring.

Install the heart ring serves to keep blood flow normal, so that heart function will not be disturbed. If this question is answered with "yes", then it is certain that you need a heart ring insertion procedure, without having to continue to the next question.

3. Are there other alternative treatments that you can take?

If you have gone to question number 3, then this means that you have not had an acute heart attack. In other words, you have coronary artery disease (CAD) that is stable enough that you don't need to place a heart stent in the near future.

So, you may still have plenty of time to consider your treatment options.