What Should You Avoid After a Heart Stent?

Stents are small metallic mesh tubes that are used to open blocked heart arteries. They’re placed by a heart specialist (cardiologist). If you have a heart attack, you may need a stent to prevent permanent damage to the heart. But you might also get one if you have a partial blockage that causes heart symptoms like angina. 

Your cardiologist will place the stent in a procedure called cardiac catheterization. They put a tube (catheter) into an artery in your wrist or groin, and use this to get the stent to your heart. Special imaging helps them know where to go. 

After placing the stent, your cardiologist will prescribe certain medications. You’ll also need to take some precautions after the procedure. In this article, we’ll go over what you can expect after a stent and ways to optimize your recovery.  

What can you expect when recovering from a heart stent?

People who are recovering from a heart attack usually have to spend at least a couple of nights in the hospital. But if your stent was a scheduled procedure, you may go home on the same day. 

When you leave the hospital, your healthcare team will give you detailed instructions. It can be helpful to have a family member or friend present at this time. That way, any questions you or they might have can be cleared up before you leave. 

Pain

Most of the time, you won’t feel any pain in the chest area after a stent. In fact, you may feel better right away. But it’s common to have some discomfort at the entry site, where the catheter was inserted in your artery. This discomfort shouldn’t get worse after you go home.

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Entry site

At the hospital, your nurse will watch the entry site for bleeding or bruising. Some people get a larger bruise or have bleeding under the skin while in the hospital. This is called a hematoma. The discoloration may spread out over time, taking a few weeks to go away. But you shouldn’t experience any bleeding or increase in swelling after leaving the hospital. 

Often you’ll have a small bruise or a firm bump under the skin. That may last for a week or more.

Medications

Your medications are likely to change after you get a stent. That’s because the stent treats the problem, but it doesn’t cure it. Medications will help to keep you safe and prevent new heart problems from arising. These commonly include:

• Blood thinners (including aspirin), which are necessary to prevent blood clots from forming inside the stent

• Blood pressure and cholesterol medications, if needed

• Medications to strengthen your heart, such as a beta blocker

You’ll get a list of your medications at the time you’re discharged from the hospital. If you have any questions, be sure to ask them before you go home. 

When to get care

Your care team will tell you what to watch for when you go home. It usually includes the following: 

• Bleeding from the entry site 

• Swelling, numbness, cramping, or discoloration of your arm or leg

• New chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or other concerning symptoms

If you notice any of these, follow your cardiologist’s instructions or go to the nearest emergency room. 

What should you avoid after a stent?

Below are common instructions for what to avoid after a stent. But each person is different. If these don’t line up with what you were told by your healthcare team, always check with them before making any changes.

Activity

After a stent, you’ll usually be up and walking pretty soon. How soon, and how active you can be, depends on the catheter site. Before getting back to your daily routine, the puncture site on your arm or groin needs to heal. The good news is that most people can get back to normal after about a week.

Here are some common instructions for recovery at home:

If the stent was placed through your wrist: 

• Avoid pushing, pulling, or lifting with that arm for the first several days.

• Stay away from vibrating handheld machinery like lawn mowers and motorcycles for 1 week.

If the stent was placed through the groin:

• Avoid or limit stairs as much as possible for the first 3 days.

• Avoid straining with bowel movements for the first 3 days.

For all stents:

• Take at least 2 days off of work, and more if your job involves heavy activity.

• You can usually drive after a couple of days.

• Avoid lifting anything over 10 lbs for 1 week.

• Don’t push or pull heavy objects for 1 week.

• Avoid strenuous exercise for 1 week, including sex.

• Keep your catheter site clean but don’t rub the area.

• You can usually shower the next day if you keep the entry site covered and dry.

• Don’t soak in a tub or swim for 1 week.

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing until your wound has healed.

Supplements 

If you’re taking any supplements, check with your cardiology team before restarting them. You may need to avoid some. That’s because they can affect your bleeding risk or interact with medications. 

The healthcare team will also let you know if you should stop any of your old medications. Always check with your cardiology team before stopping a medication after a stent, even if another healthcare professional tells you to do so.

Smoking

It’s also important to avoid tobacco products. Smoking may put you at risk for problems with your stent. It also greatly increases your risk for ongoing heart disease.

There are many options to help you quit smoking. It’s not easy, so if you need help quitting, ask your healthcare team.

Foods

Food that supports your heart health is an important part of your recovery. But some foods can be counterproductive to a healthy heart. 

It’s best to limit these options:

• Red meat and processed meats

• Ultra-processed foods 

• Salt (especially if you have high blood pressure or heart failure)

• Sugary snacks

• Sodas, including those with artificial sweeteners 

• Butter

Avoiding certain foods and adjusting to a more balanced and nutritious diet may take some time, so try to be patient with yourself. Ask for help if you need it. And if you prefer to follow a specific plan, a Mediterranean diet or DASH diet is a great heart-healthy choice. 

When can you return to work after a stent procedure?

If you have a desk job, you can usually get back to work after 2 to 3 days. But if your job involves a lot of walking, lifting, or physical labor, then it’s best to wait a week. Of course, if you had any complications at the entry site, then check with your cardiologist first.

There’s one important exception. If you’re recovering from a heart attack, then you may need to take a few weeks off of work, even if the stent was successful. That’s because your heart may need more time to heal. Your cardiologist will give you personalized recommendations tailored to your own situation.

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Written by:

Sarah A. Samaan, MD

Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC, FACP, FASE is a board-certified cardiologist who practiced clinical cardiology for nearly 30 years. She is a member of the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Physicians, and the American Society of Echocardiography.

Edited by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined her interests in clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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