Answers for heart patientsతెలుగులో చదవండి
How many days of rest after a stent?
For most people, one week of rest at home is enough after a stent. That is Dr Muralidar’s advice, if the heart is pumping well. Rest does not mean lying in bed all day.
- Day 0 or 1Home from hospital. Someone else drives you.
- Week 1Rest at home. No heavy lifting. Short, easy walks every day.
- After 1 weekBack to your normal day. Back to work, for most people.
If the heart is pumping weakly, your doctor may ask you to rest longer. Home and work times: the NHS. One week of rest: Dr Muralidar’s advice.
The first week
You may have a bruise where the thin tube went in. It can be sore for a few days. Your chest may feel tender too. This is normal and passes in a few days.
For about a week, do not lift heavy things. Do not do hard work. Wait until the wound has healed.
The NHS in the UK says not to drive a car for a week. Ask your doctor what is right for you.
Why not rest for longer?
Dr Muralidar sees this often. Weeks at home in bed make the mind turn to fear and sad thoughts. Many visitors say “poor you”. That can make you feel weaker than you are. Getting back to your normal day helps the mind as well as the heart.
Rest is not bed rest
Heart experts say the best way to start is gentle walking. Even two minutes is a start. Walk every day until it feels easy. Then walk a little longer.
Going back to work
If your stent was planned, most people go back to work after a week.
If you had the stent in an emergency, after a heart attack, it is different. It may take several weeks or months before you are ready.
Watch the wound
Call the hospital or your doctor if the pain or swelling around the wound gets worse.
Call 108 at once if the wound keeps bleeding after 10 minutes of firm pressing. Also call if the arm or leg on that side goes cold, numb or changes colour.
Feeling worried is normal
Many people worry about moving again, or about going back to work. This is normal. Talk to your doctor about it. You do not have to hide it.
What happens at Cardiac Rehab
- A doctor checks you first.
- You get an exercise plan made for you.
- You exercise for 90 minutes, 3 times a week, while the doctor’s team watches.
- Step by step, the exercise gets harder as you get stronger.
Why it helps with this
Dr Muralidar sees many people rest too long after a stent, because no one tells them what is safe. His advice: supervised exercise at cardiac rehab can start as early as 1 week after a stent.
A 2026 review of 107 studies looked at people after a heart attack, a stent or bypass. Those who did cardiac rehab had 28% fewer heart attacks. They had 35% fewer hospital stays.
Heart guidelines in the US (AHA and ACC) and in Europe (ESC) give cardiac rehab their highest grade: Class I, Level A.
Cardiac Rehab, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad runs these sessions.
Frequently asked questions
When can I have sex after a stent?
The NHS says you may be able to, as soon as you feel ready. Sex puts about the same strain on the heart as climbing two flights of stairs. If you are worried, ask your doctor.
Do I have to take medicines after a stent?
Yes. Most people take two blood thinners for up to a year. After that, most keep taking aspirin for life. Stopping early raises the risk of a heart attack by a lot.
What if my old chest pain comes back?
Tell your doctor soon. The artery can narrow again, and you may need another procedure. If the pain is bad and does not stop with rest, call 108.
This page is general advice. Your own doctor knows your heart. If your doctor has told you something different, follow your doctor.
Written by Dr. Muralidar Babi, MBBS, MD (CMC Vellore), Cardiac Rehab Physician.