I like to thank you in advance for reviewing my question and also, thank you for such a great blog. Youve got the right idea, though. Thank you very much for writing such a thorough and well informed article. Robbie Benson - Actor/Director - Bicuspid Aortic Valve. The CVTI is waging war against the leading cause of death among American men and women - heart disease. For those same patients, we recommending avoiding strenuous dynamic exercise line swimming, running, soccer, tennis, cross-country skiing, etc. Sometimes it comes even when not exercising. He told me to carry on as normal and to take 300mg Irbesartan per day. His cardiologist said, i am sure he can play a full game with new issues but I have to go with new guidelines and indirectly left it up to me to make the decision which moved him to mild /moderate and put right at the Borderline. Thats important to keep in mind. Like you mention, one theory is related to the aortic blood flow. If echo shows a normal size, thats probably okay. Also hypertension in both arms. He was very talented at football. Bicuspid aortic valve (aka BAV) is a form of heart disease in which two of the leaflets of the aortic valve fuse during development in the womb resulting in a two-leaflet (bicuspid) valve instead of the normal three-leaflet (tricuspid) valve. At my last evaluation, my aorta measured between 4.3-4.5 cm, depending on where the measurement was taken, and the regergitation was classified in the moderate range. Regarding activity restrictions, you would do best to rely on the advice of your sons doctor(s) who will be in the best position to know the relevant specifics. I would not want yo distinguish between the various forms of static exercise that you mention. Thank you for your expert opinion. Weight-lifting is only one example, but others would include golf, bowling, shooting, etc. Also I lift weights . I realise that I will eventually need the valve replaced again and just hope that things go as well next time. A faulty aortic valve isn't something you want to have considering that it helps blood flow out of the heart and through the rest of the body. ), Your email address will not be published. The aortic valve allows oxygen-rich blood to flow from the heart to the aorta. After an MRI, Ive been diagnosed with BAV and mild aortic coarctation. In 1997, he underwent surgery for a replacement valve made of his own pulmonic valve, which itself was replaced with a donor's. Also he told me I can lift weights and do other activities. E. G. I could bench 50lbs with no need to strain and hold my breath, which wouldnt result in a massive spike in blood pressure, but if I tried to bicep curl 50lbs it would do. I was also advised that it is really the static weight-lifting that could pose a problem. Very often, follow-up CT scans and echocardiograms are needed every 6-12 months to keep track. I have been doing as much research as possible on what are the advantages/disadvantages of each replacement. If so, how quickly? This can cause the valve to malfunction and prevent blood from flowing correctly from the . The video is just 1 min 42 sec long. Surgeon Q&A: What is TAVR Valve-in-Valve? I cant imagine life without CrossFit, but I wont be able to continue will I? This almost seems like an off the shelf answer and Id therefore be really keen to find out your thoughts? 1) Son has to stop football training as well as any physical activity, even at school (P.E. I dont know what to do .. I am concerned about removing the coronary arteries and re attaching them again etc. Any person in my family there was no problem with the heart. Most probably not pericarditis cause I had it once so I know that pain type, but again, maybe its some other type. 2. In your experience how long are we talking before I have to have surgery and do beta blockers really help in prolonging the need for surgery. A 2019 report suggests that bicuspid aortic valve disease is the most common congenital heart valve problem, affecting between 0.5 and 2 percent of the general population. I do not do any kind of sport and I want to have healthy life at make sure my situation not getting worse and I weight 90 kg. Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a heart problem present at birth and the most common congenital cardiac anomaly, with an estimated incidence of 0.5 percent to percent in the general population. As of Monday, my BP at the echo appointment read 115/66. Rather than just sit there and do nothing about how much I missed [my mother], I put all of that pain, sorrow and longing for my mother into helping educate and make people aware. Dear Dr. Creswell, Although we still dont have very long term results tracked (15+ years), in the short term the results seem to be much superior to regular bentall de bono option (and its variations). My question is: is it okay for me to participate in weight lifting with BAV? I look forward to hearing from you. Theo Wargo/Getty. However, my most recent scan in October revealed all Stenosis and LV thickening had gone completely (Doctor said this was a very positive result perhaps due to excercise and medication). "I had many of them, but I thought, 'Nah.' Hes gained 25 pds . I would really like for people to not have to experience what I had to experience, she continued. In this case, would it be an overwhelming pain? My primary question relates to sports. The Best Amazon Presidents' Day Deals of 2023. It is believed that Schwarzenegger had a bicuspid aortic valve which led to a Ross Procedure operation performed in 1997. I found a cardiologist with whom Im quite happy with. With the blood thinning needed for a mechanical valve, serious bleeding may occur with injuries. My questions are: I do not have Julys echo results yet. 6 weeks later Im still experiencing symptoms that (in the back of my mind) have me thinking about the BV issue. On Monday the 13th, I had my annual echo. It is two to three times more common in males than in females. Aortic valve stenosis: Your aortic valve narrows, reducing blood flow through it. Hi Larry, Could he be over-cautious? Average STS score was 1.7%. The worse the narrowing, the greater will be the difference in blood pressure between the arms and the legs. I am wondering if you know anything about these drugs and how they can impact aortic growth? I am 38 and very active (running, cycling, strength training etc). Eventually I will need valve replacement. Now, five months after surgery Im gradually returning to sport with 5km runs and kettlebell routine, push ups and pull ups (still feeling pressure in breast bone) no heavy lifting. Down side: durabilitythe borrowed valve doesnt last forever; it will deteriorate and need re-replacement at some point. Compared to our own native valve, all of the available prosthetic substitutes have a small degree of aortic stenosis built in, unfortunately. Bethesda Conference reports), even though there is no certain link between sports and the aorta enlargement. There is very little scientific evidence to guide us here. In late March, Schwarzenegger was heavily involved in a chess tournament with his donkey Lulu. It has allowed me to do the thing I enjoy doing in life. Should I increase amount of weight? At this time, it is not known whether Arnold received the new valve using a surgical aortic . They all cause a small bit of obstruction to blood flow as it leaves the heart. When I had my valve replaced I was told that it would have a 20 year ish life but I think it should exceed that. March 15, 2023. Very often, the specialists office will make note of the patients problem and make appropriate decisions about whether routine or urgent appointment scheduling is needed. I have ramped up my walking to 30 minutes, keeping my heart rate under 100 bpm. There are many causes of light-headedness and chest discomfort that are not related to the heart. Youll need to rely on your doctors for advice about your condition. This makes the aortic valve a tricuspid valve. Yes, I am aware of the work by Dr. Dietz. Glad to hear that youve found a surgeon and settled on a plan. California Governor and movie star of films including The Terminator and The Predator, Arnold Schwarzenegger marked the 10-year anniversary of his heart surgery at USCs Health Science Campus. As I restart my resistance (weight training) program what should be my upper limit weights? Log in, September 26, 2013 By Larry Creswell, MD 155 Comments. Search for heart hospitals that specialize in heart valve treatment. This was 7 months ago. To the extent that any operation fixes the stenosis or regurgitation, we might expect better efficiency from the heart. Measurements of aortic diameter can be made with echocardiogram. Aortic Stenosis I would like nothing more than to have this repaired so I can return to my lifestyle, I cant understand why I cant have it fixed as it is my choice to have surgery. I had it replaced in 2014 and am now 16. Enlarged ascending aorta 42-43 mm On said it wont make a real difference, the other said oh yes, that was like a blockage, you will feel the difference. Is this true that you wont be symptomatic with only mild AR? Ordinarily, athlete patients with mild degrees of valve regurgitation can continue to participate in their sports. Athletes with BAV who have no stenosis or regurgitation of the aortic valve AND have no enlargement of the nearby aorta may participate fully in their sports. They all cause a small bit of obstruction to blood flow as it leaves the heart. There are certainly athletes whove returned to their sports after valve (and aorta) repair/replacement. In addition, I will get a random bout of lightheadedness when standing or sitting in a awkard position. This valve repair option is one that might best be pursued at a center that specializes in this problem. Got rheumatic heart disease in my childhood and now have fibrosis of the aortic valve with regurgitation (1-2), mitral valve prolapse with regurgitation (1-2) and tricuspid valve regurgitation (1). ", Braxton is a survivor of pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. My problem is with cardiologists stating do not lift anything over 50lbs. Now I wanted to start again (also due to the 8kg I accumulated in the meanwhile:( ) and I discovered that I can barely run 5K in 30 min and I generally find it very difficult to run. The truth is that there is not much scientific information about what happens to such athletes if they do return to endurance sports. On Aug 30, 2017 I passed out at the gym and subsequently airlifted due a large abscess and valve dehisence and underwent another operation and now have a homograft. On Ocotber 23, 2020, we learned that Arnold Schwarzenegger had a third heart valve procedure, a re-replacement of his aortic valve replacement. Susp. You can see my post above, from 26th of april. After 5 years of amateur competitive rowing, I had no problems keeping up with my peers whilst training at lower intensities. I was diagnosed age 4 and am now 35. To save nice heart the best would be doing nothing (! I am now down to seeing my doctors every 3 years or so and have been doing very well. What he did say is there are no signs of stenosis, and my heart looks very strong. Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a genetic condition that causes the aortic valve to have two leaflets instead of three. Ed Helms - Actor - Undisclosed CHD. Business, Economics, and Finance. In March 2019, media outlets hailed two new studies on transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) as potentially signaling the beginning of the end of open heart surgery for aortic stenosis. I certainly know of athletes who return to all forms of endurance sport as well as weight-lifting after operations like yours. Who Qualifies for TAVR. Several contemporary elite triathletes have BAV and Ive written about their stories in: Examples from other sports would include Arnold Schwarzenegger, among others. Youre right, though. Aortic dilatation is a common feature of BAV with a prevalence ranging from 20 to 84% , due to differences in assessment techniques, study population, aortic size thresholds, and heterogeneous nature of the . She was originally under the impression she felt the way she did simply because she was exhausted. Im 39 also diagnosed with BAV when I was 31. Its a hard thing to describe to my cardiologist that my legs and HR are not cooperating when the pace picks up. In large-scale pre-participation cardiac screening programs for young, competitive athletes, BAV is one of the most commonly identified abnormalities. Given my age and activity level, do you think it would be beneficial, or even prudent, to explore a valve repair surgery as you described above? And any valve substitute (with valve replacement) is clearly not as efficienteven if the substitute is better than a diseased valve. Film star, former California governor, and seven time winner of the Mr. Olympia title Arnold Schwarzenegger published positive images to his social media platforms on Friday as he recovered from heart surgery. Sheer brutality and trauma caused Myasthenia Gravis. Want to get a head start on your Oscar predictions? Seems unlikely to me that there would be lingering effects that would make an EKG or chest x-ray abnormal. Those figures are funny to me because before I was doing three or four times more intense training beside my job (air force pilot). No other issues. I was just curious if there any way to know if my valve is affecting my times at all? Sign up to receive an email when I add new content. What have I observed and learned in the quarter century since? I certainly know runners, cyclists, and triathletes in that circumstance who are active and doing well. What Is Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease? Barb. Very likely an operation will be needed at some point in the future. There has been a slight increase in the measurements over the last several years, but I am still below the threshold which would require surgical intervention. BAV was diagnosed in 196 newborns (prevalence, 0.77%), with a male-female ratio of 2.1:1. I had to take time off gym, when I returned I only did light weights and only walking on the 4x a wk and the same issues where still there. Im guessing that my muscles are building up again and since everything was messed up, especially on left side, maybe some scar tissue or damaged nerves are coming up. Baldwin Publishing, Inc. strongly suggests that you use this information in consultation with your doctor or other health professional. This international evidence-based nomenclature and classification consensus document is intended for universal use by clinicians, imaging specialists . I just thought it was muscle strain., My body cleared the blockage itself, said the game show host, who credited the aspirin he was taking for what he thought was simple muscle pain. I have BAV with an ascended aorta and heart murmur. That said, the recommendations dont address WHEN that screening should occur. I had a David Tirone Operation a couple of weeks ago to repair a BAV with aortic dilatation (49mm), and a small leakage. They can occur separately or together. Am I crazy? Because BAV may be an inherited condition, Athletes with BAV, no significant valve stenosis or regurgitation, and an aortic diameterless than 4.0 cm can participate fully in their sport(s), Athletes with BAV and enlargement of the aorta to between 4.0 and 4.5 cm can participate safely in only low and moderate intensity sports (this would. Health eCooking is a registered trademark of Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Cook eKitchen is a designated trademark of Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein without the express approval of Baldwin Publishing, Inc. is strictly prohibited. Thank you so much for your explanations, Im 30 years old with BAV 2 instead of 3 leaflets since birth, doctors recommended me to have Echocardiography test each year and so. Also is it possible to never need surgery to replace the valve and that the AR stays stable, or even goes away ? I will update you all after his Friday appointment. "The 1997 heart valve replacement was never meant to be permanent," stated Daniel Ketchell, a spokesman for Arnold. Ever since undergoing open heart surgery in 2010 for her surprise diagnosis of heart disease, Jones has worked as a national ambassador for the American . I am a cycling Masters racer (Cat 2) for last 25 years . Since then I completed several 10k races and one half-marathon. That said I have a resting HR of ~40 (always have). This year he was told he couldnt do heavy lifting but all other sports are still ok. My son seems to sprain his ankles or have other injuries often that last longer than others kids, I also played sports and had injuries but they never lasted as long as his do. Sadly, most school/sports physical exam programs dont include echocardiogram.and the absence of a heart murmur in a child wouldnt preclude the diagnosis. with an efficiency of 69%, I have an appointment with a specilaist next week and am just wanting some, even if vague, answers. I cant imagine life without activity, but Im not fool to risk my life, not any more anyway :). If youre uncertain about any advice youve received about exercise, you might try to seek a second opinion that may provide some extra confidence about exercise. If I ever need surgery to replace my root , I understand that there is an element of complexity for such surgery, but after surgery, is life expectancy for individuals assumed to be shortened at all ? She said it could still be 6 months to a year just depending on if there are any more changes to this next echo. To continue to live this amazing life so full of challenges and friends, including so many of you in the audience, I have chosen to replace the valve with a new one. Yes, there are certainly patients with BAV who never need operation. Your site has been helpful in provided a sense of peacebut an extra insight would be super encouraging. Athletes in this circumstance should collect opinions from their doctor(s) and make very careful considerations before returning to exercise. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. Or its the result of the cumulative effect of the aortic and mitral valve leakage? I would defer to Dr. Dietz since youve already contacted him. Males are about twice as . He seen our family doctor that week who confirmed the murmur. The other theory is that there is a structural problem that leaves the aortic wall weak. New guidelines from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) were published just this week. O'Donnell suffered a heart attack in 2012, and wrote about her experience on her blog. Thanks for sharing your sons story with BAV. For those with moderate aortic stenosis, the guidelines suggest restricting activities. An article at Endurance Corner about Normann Stadler, A blog post about elite triathletes and heart problems, Aortic stenosis and bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), http://www.athletesheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Classification-of-Sports-300217.png, https://academic.oup.com/ejcts/article/50/3/400/2197426, If there is enlargement of the beginning portion of the aorta to greater than 4.0 cm, the individual should have a.