The logic of identifying blockages in the coronary arteries and opening them with either a stent or surgical bypass makes a lot of sense. However, logic does not always turn out to provide the correct answer. We do nearly 1 million stent procedures to open blocked arteries every year in the US but unless we do them in the acute setting of a heart attack they don't improve survival better than medications alone. They may improve angina, congestive heart failure and even heart rhythm abnormalities. too many MDs continue advising stents or bypass surgeries despite this data. What is not considered seriously is the benefit of lifestyle medicine for heart disease.
