Stents help prevent arteries from becoming narrow or blocked again in the months or years after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), sometimes referred to as coronary angioplasty. However, stents aren’t a cure for atherosclerosis or its risk factors.  Making lifestyle changes can help prevent reoccurrence of a blockage.

NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood institute

Risks

Risks include the standard risks of an interventional, catheter-based procedure, which should be specifically discussed with your doctor. Lesions treated with stents can “restenosis” (re- narrow with in weeks to months after the procedure) similar to restenosis associated with angioplasty. This is why patients after having a stent put in they are on a medication for example like Plavix for life to prevent this occurrence from happening. It is a anti platelet medication, meaning it doesn’t allow clotting to happen in the stent so blockage doesn’t reoccur through clotting.

Many new technologies are being tested to reduce the problem of restenosis. These technologies include coating and coverings for the stent, new materials, and radiation. These new technologies are primarily experimental at this point and will reach soon to the market if not already. Technology allows the medical field to continuously expand and this will be replaced at one point but isn’t yet. Just give it time. At one point we had no CABG (coronary artery bypass) but now the stent in certain cases is replaced by angiograms to further expanding to angioplasties and stents furthering allowing the surgery to take place 1x hopefully if the patient is compliant in diet, exercise, and following the doctors orders with meds, activity and follow up visits (which are so vital).   A lot is up to the patient in caring or themselves to prevent having this take place again.

Follow up Instructions

Your doctor will recommend blood thinning medications following your stent procedure. These agents are usually given for one month post procedure along with aspirin and then continued indefinitely. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics for a period of time after the stent procedure, to be taken anytime you have a medical or dental procedure. Preventing infection.

MRI tests should not be done for at least eight weeks without your doctor’s approval. Metal detectors do not present a problem. Stents appear to be safe in the long-term; there are no long-term complications associated with a permanent stent.

Diabetics who suffer a heart attack may be better off receiving a coated or “drug-eluting” stent than a cheaper bare-metal model, according to one study.

AHA

A stent is a wire mesh tube that is used to help hold open an artery. To simple understanding this concept think of a plumber or a mechanic. With a plumber sometimes they have to replace a certain area of a pipe that connects the water or like a mechanic replacing a certain area of piping (like the muffler piping connected infront of the muffler than can either can be replaced or just welded with piece of piping welded just to save money. Well a stent opens the artery that was clogged and its put in that place to reinforce that area of the artery to remain open to allow blood to get to that heart from that coronary artery and it will stay there life to keep the artery permanently patent to prevent the blockage from happening again with the synthetic mesh piece.

Description

Stents are used to hold open diseased coronary arteries (these arteries supply blood to the heart), as well as diseased arteries of the peripheral vascular system (PVS). Peripheral means away from the heart the PVS is the arteries that supply blood to the rest of the body (again away from the heart all the way down to the hands and feet).

There are variety of stents currently available.

For a surgeon to find out if you even need one, first usually a angiogram is performed and this is a catheter simply from the femerol artery or from your arm to the coronary arteries. If the MD sees you show a blockage 80% or more an angioplasty is performed which is a balloon at the end of this catheter that blows up and decompresses to give the effect like punching gloves. The balloon inflates and deflates over and over again till the blockage breaks open free and then a stent is put in that area to help keep it open permanently (patent).

Some stents have been compressed onto the outside of an angioplasty balloon catheter and delivered by inflating the balloon in the desired location. Other stents are “self- expanding” spring-loaded devices, which expand automatically upon deployment.

Stents remain in arteries permanently. The tissue lining the arteries actually grows over the metal mesh to cover the inner lumen of the stent.

Stent procedures have become very common like tonsillectomies were in childhood. Stents are sometimes used as an alternative to coronary artery bypass surgery, if the patient is a candidate. Stents are often used in combination with balloon angioplasty. One leads to the other depending on what the angioplasty displays for the surgeon on the T.V. in when they are doing the procedure and if the come up to a blockage high enough to perform the angioplasty followed with a stent it will be done.

Stents are used in cases of “restenosis”, which refers to the re-closing of arteries after balloon angioplasty. In carefully selected patients, the use of stents can dramatically reduce restenosis following balloon angioplasty or other catheter-based procedures. Stents are used frequently to hold open the arteries that have been damaged, torn, or dissected by balloon angioplasty or other catheter-based procedures. Like plumber or mechanic, get it.

Stents allow angioplasty to be done in patients with severe and long-segment obstruction of coronary arteries. As soon as the I initial part of the block is widened, a stent is place, which holds it open allowing further opening to proceed. Stents have also allowed angioplasty to be performed in patients with blocks of multiple vessels, and in multiple blocks in a single artery.

“Experts say the vast majority of heart attack patients have several common warning signs just days leading up to their attacks that if known, could possibly save someone’s life.”

Kim Love (author with http://rmhealthy.com/10-signs-heart-attack)

“Learn about your risks for heart disease and stroke and stay heart healthy for yourself and your loved ones.”  American Heart Association (AHA)

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic disorder resulting from an inflammation of the membranes or tissues that line the joints, typically in the hands and feet, that generally develops in an individual between the ages of forty and sixty. Over time, rheumatoid arthritis can destroy the cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and bone surrounding the joint.

alothealth.com

Osteoarthritis vs Rheutmatoid Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. (Arthro=joint / itis = inflammation)

The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms are joint inflammation that comes from pain, warmth, and swelling. The inflammation is typically symmetrical that is occurring on both sides of the body at the same time (such as hands, wrists, or knees). Other signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis include joint stiffness that is particularly in the AM upon awakening or after periods of inactivity; ongoing fatigue, and low-grade fever. Signs and symptoms come about gradually over years but can come on rapidly for some other people.

The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is usually caused by normal wear and tear, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. Other types of arthritis can be caused by uric acid crystals, infections or even an underlying disease, such as psoriasis or lupus.

Treatments vary depending on the type of arthritis. The main goals of arthritis treatments are to reduce signs or symptoms and improve quality of life through Occupational or Physical Therapy and/or through medications, the old way.

Things that make arthritis worse: 1.) conventional medicine through doctors ordering medications (see Dr. David Brownstein’s website for his Natural Way to Health (with his book) to overcome arthritis). Drugs rarely CURE things. We are trained to believe doctors have all the answers with medications or surgeries in resolving our health problem. NOT THE CASE ALWAYS. It’s unnatural with arthritis and many other diagnoses. Natural therapies and good foods are not taken seriously by enough people in America in regards to helping a condition, like arthritis, or even prevention (which should be your first intervention, don’t wait for the diagnosis).

2.)Infection – check if a bacterial infection started your arthritis. If that is the cause antibiotics, low dose some doctors have given to people in studies and have worked. You would think this would be used more often, at least in testing for before just prescribing anti-inflammatory or analgesics meds. If its infection you need to kill the bacteria and the only way to do that it is with an antibiotic which kills a bacterial infection.

3.)DIET – Too many sugars or chemical preservatives and sweeteners which is in the standard American diet. Processed Foods are BAD.  The same foods that cause obesity, diabetes and coronary artery disease can easily cause arthritis. Increase your fruits and nuts in your diet. Vitamin C and E are good for you. Pomegrante extract also.

4.) Dehydration- main causes of arthritis. Many simplify the problem. Your joints need water and if not enough it will cause an auto immune response=inflammation and get worse with processed foods.

5.) Heavy metal toxicity-Mercury, Arsenic and Nickel it includes. Not a fluke and mercury is one of the worst metals to have toxic in your body. Fish is the second worst source of heavy metal food. Few things you can do now, eat tuna occasionally. Silver malcum fillings have your dentist remove. Have your doctor do a heavy metal toxicity test on you if you never had one done and with arthritis.

6.) Low or imbalances of hormones=headache, faster aging, fatigue/lethargy, skin wrinkling sooner in life. Synthetic hormones don’t perform as well in your body and can lead to problems. Female hormones   can increase your chance to breast cancer for example.

ACT America and one way to do that is go to Dr. David Brownstein website and check out Reverse your Arthritis to deal with your arthritis naturally and reading his books with bonuses.

 Diet and bodyweight impact on arthritis

Experts say that eating a well-balanced diet is vital when you have arthritis. Not only will you be receiving critical nutrients, you will also be either maintaining or arriving more quickly at a healthy bodyweight. If you are overweight you will be adding extra pressure on weight-bearing joints. Many patients have found that losing just a few pounds made a significant difference to their quality of life. Doctors and nutritionists are more frequently advising arthritis patients to keep sugary and/or fatty foods to a minimum – such as red meat, cream and cheese. You should make sure you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, as well as whole grains. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are thought to relieve to some extent the symptoms of arthritis. A common source of Omega-3 fatty acids is oily fish, such as sardines, herring, trout, and salmon. Many of us tend to place large portions on our plate. If you reduce the size of the portions you may lose weight more effectively. Make sure that vegetables and fruit make up a large part of your portion.   Those who need a little help in knowing how to lose weight with knowing the 4 food groups including 3 subgroups to each food group telling you what is lean or leaner or the leanest to eat of that food group. You get this through Dr. Anderson’s book “Dr A’s Habits of Health” and myself as your health coach with you deciding on all the foods you want to eat even foods through my website. If you’re interested in getting healthier and want to lose weight with knowing how the body works with food and in proportions than click on my website and go to healthyusa.tsfl.com and be a part of making yourself and America a healthier home by spreading the good news. Our people in this country need to go back in that direction to decrease disease/illness in percentage; join me and many others who have taken the step. So far I have lost 22 lbs., if I can do it so can you it just takes discipline and interest to make America now and in the future a better place to live. The healthier our country gets the better our health care system will turn out for everyone.

Tailbone pain, also called coccydynia or coccygodynia, usually goes away on its own within a few weeks or months.

Roger W. Harms, M.D.

A coccyx injury results in pain and discomfort in the tailbone area (the condition is called coccydynia). These injuries may result in a bruise, dislocation, or fracture (break) of the coccyx. Although they may be slow to heal, the majority of coccyx injuries can be managed with cautious treatment.

The coccyx is the triangular bony structure located at the bottom of the vertebral column. It is composed of three to five bony segments held in place by joints and ligaments.

The majority of coccyx injuries occur in women, because the female pelvis is broader and the coccyx is more exposed.

Tailbone Injury Causes

Most tailbone injuries are caused by trauma to the coccyx area.

• A fall onto the tailbone in the seated position, usually against a hard surface, is the most common cause of coccyx injuries.
• A direct blow to the tailbone, such as those that occur during contact sports, can injure the coccyx.
• The coccyx can be injured or fractured during childbirth.
• Repetitive straining or friction against the coccyx (as happens in bicycling or rowing) can injure the coccyx.
• Sometimes, the cause of coccyx injuries is unknown.
• Less common causes of coccyx injuries include bone spurs, compression of nerve roots, injuries to other parts of the spine, local infections, and tumors.

Tailbone Injury Symptoms

•  Severe localized pain and tenderness may be felt in the tailbone area.
• If the injury is traumatic, a bruise may be visible in this area.
• The pain is generally worse when sitting for prolonged periods of time, or with direct pressure to the tailbone area.
• Bowel movements and straining are often painful.
• Some women may experience pain during sexual intercourse.

• Most coccyx injuries are accidental (such as a slip on ice) and therefore cannot be entirely avoided.
• Wear proper protective padding when participating incontact sports that can potentially lead to coccyx injuries

Coccyx injuries are often extremely painful, so home care is aimed at controlling pain and avoiding further irritation to the coccyx.

HOME REMEDIES:

• Avoid sitting down for long periods of time. When on hard surfaces, alternate sitting on each side of the buttocks. Also, lean forward and direct your weight away from the tailbone.
• For traumatic injuries, apply ice to the tailbone area for 15-20 minutes, four times a day, for the first few days after the injury.
• Use ibuprofen (Advil), or a similar pain medicine, as directed on the label for pain control.
• You can purchase a “doughnut” cushion or pillow to sit on. This cushion has a hole in the middle of it to prevent the tailbone from contacting the flat surface.
• Eat foods high in fiber to soften stools and avoid constipation.

TREATMENT:

In addition to home care, a physician may be able to provide further relief of pain with other medical and, rarely, surgical interventions.

• Stronger pain medications may be prescribed at the discretion of your physician.
• Stool softeners may be prescribed to prevent constipation.
• Injections of local anesthetics or corticosteroids into the coccyx area are sometimes required to treat continuing pain.
• Rarely, the coccyx may surgically removed.