When do you need a heart stent?

A stent can save your life during a heart attack, but can it help prevent one?

Image: © jauhari1/Getty Images

An estimated two million people get coronary artery stents every year, and if you have coronary artery disease, there is a good chance your doctor will suggest you get one.

But do you really need it? In 2013, the American Medical Association issued a report that said stents were one of the most highly overused medical interventions.