The inner walls of your coronary arteries have a smooth, delicate lining (the endothelium) that allows blood to flow like a liquid through the arteries.
Stent placement inevitably causes some trauma to the inner walls of the artery. As your body takes time to repair the damage and restore the endothelium’s natural smoothness, you can take blood thinners to keep blood moving efficiently through the arteries. Without blood thinners during the healing period, your blood will flow too slowly, increasing your risk of blood clots and, in turn, heart attacks or strokes.
To ensure a full and speedy recovery after a stent procedure, talk to your cardiologist about an appropriate blood thinner treatment plan.
