When can I return to activities after angioplasty and stenting?

Recovery from angioplasty and stenting is typically brief and many patients are able to return to work within a few days to a week after a procedure.    Always follow your doctor’s instructions about the activity level appropriate for you. A general guide is:

• For the first five days, do only light activities. Walking, climbing stairs and taking care of routine activities are fine. After five days, you may resume moderate activities, but you should avoid over-exertion that leads to shortness of breath, tiredness or chest pain.

• If your doctor performed the procedure from a puncture in the groin (upper leg) area, do not sit in a bath tub, go swimming, apply powders or lotions to the area, or go to a sandy beach area for about one week after the procedure.

• Wait three to four weeks before lifting heavy objects or doing strenuous exercise. Get clearance from your doctor before very strenuous activity or manual labor.

If you underwent angioplasty to stop a heart attack, your doctor may ask you to take a stress (treadmill) test three to six weeks after your procedure. The results of the test will help guide your doctor in recommending an appropriate level of activity for you. The results may lead to a recommendation that you enroll in a cardiac rehabilitation program, which includes an exercise program supervised by health professionals. Supervised cardiac rehabilitation programs are designed to help you build a stronger heart and reduce risk factors for more blocked arteries in the future.