Beta blockers are frequently prescribed in the circumstance you describe, but in truth we dont know if they will be effective in delaying surgery for any given patient. Thank you to every doc and nurse on my team.". I was diagnosed with BAV about four years ago now by fluke whilst looking into my high blood pressure (I was only 24 at the time so I underwent a lot of testing due to my age and HBP the conclusion was it is hereditary, with many members of my family with HBP). which seems to suggest that he has returned successfully to the sport. Ad Choices, Blood molecules as they exit the left ventricle: I'll be back., The 42 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, The 25 Best Shows on Netflix to Watch Right Now. The valve can gradually become harder to open or leakier . While it was anticipated that a minimally invasive, transcather device would be used during the procedure, a surgical valve was ultimately used during an open-heart procedure using a median sternotomy. Thanks for sharing the article about the PEARS technique. I feel fantastic and have already been walking the streets of Cleveland enjoying your amazing statues. Thanks. His BAV is causing very little back flow. And, if so, how did things go? Sadly, most school/sports physical exam programs dont include echocardiogram.and the absence of a heart murmur in a child wouldnt preclude the diagnosis. I am healthy, strong, and active. Do you have any info or recommendations about this? She learned she needed an aortic valve replacement in 2009 and underwent open heart surgery, receiving a mechanical valve to replace her damaged aortic valve. After 5 years of amateur competitive rowing, I had no problems keeping up with my peers whilst training at lower intensities. But, while doing my cardio stress test they discovered that I have a Bicuspid Aortic Valve. Surgeon Q&A: What is TAVR Valve-in-Valve? I can tell my story. Ive done the Philly a Marathon a coup,e times and know that its a terrific event. I was physically examined by a medical board at new Delhi for the post of a chemist in geological servey of India but they declared me unfit as I have BAV . Im 53. Thanks for sharing your sons story. I certainly know of athletes who return to all forms of endurance sport as well as weight-lifting after operations like yours. Ive thought that the next visit to the pediatrician would be a good opportunity to discuss the issue. This is thought to occur at a rate of about 0.1% per year in adults. Perhaps meeting with a heart surgeon now, even if operation is not yet needed, might provide a forum for discussion about the options for surgery, the technical issues, and recovery. I had a ventricle septum defect patched up shortly after birth with no further follow up and a full recovery. She was originally under the impression she felt the way she did simply because she was exhausted. The CVTI was created under the leadership of Dr. Vaughn Starnes, chair of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and surgeon-in-chief at the Keck Medicine of USC. I believe that many Cardiologist are not as experienced regarding how to advise high-performing athletes (even older ones like us). My cardiologist said that sometimes it remains stable and never grows anymore. Im 33 from UK and have known about my BAV since I was around 18. Mild aortic valve disease without symptoms may only require frequent health checkups. Holding breath during lifts valsalva). The numbness/tingling has me constantly worriedand the slight chest pains have me always thinking is that my BV or Aorta causing issues?. 1) What kind of sports are recommend to me according to my situation? Unfortunatly that`s pretty much all the advice i`ve been given so far, so little out there on what i can actively do and what i can`t. Activities are not usually restricted for athlete patients with mild aortic stenosis. In practice, the indications for aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis or severe aortic regurgitation are straightforward and uncontroversial. http://www.24hourgym.us. Kimberly was born with an abnormal valve, but didn't begin to develop symptoms until her 40s. Bicuspid aortic valve: A bicuspid aortic valve only has two leaflets, increasing the risk of circulatory problems and heart conditions. He is very athletic. Hi Larry, thanks for doing this website, I wish there were more like it. The aortic root is moderately dilated (max 46mm sinus to opposite commissure but you can measure 48off axis). The aortic valve is between the left lower heart chamber and the body's main artery, called the aorta. Barbara Walters - Aortic Valve Replacement. Everyones symptoms are different but I felt compelled to share mine. Have completed an excercise stress test and signed off as ok on reaching level 13. I used to do quite some running 10 years ago (still at amateur level), I was doing lots of 10k and 20k and even I managed a marathon in 3h:26min (but at that time I didnt know about the BAV). In 2017, there were 3,046 deaths due to rheumatic valvular heart disease and 24,811 deaths due to non-rheumatic valvular heart disease in the United States. Business, Economics, and Finance. My cardiologist (London Heart Hospital) gave me green light to moderate sport activities (no marathon and weight lifting). Have you considered meeting with a heart surgeon to talk about the situation? All severe aortic stenosis patients who are experiencing symptoms should ask for a TAVR evaluation. We live at 6,500 ft (elevation) so Im not sure if its affecting my blood pressure when doing normal things. However, I always performed poorly when it came to the top end fitness tests e.g. Down side: must take blood thinners to prevent blood clots from forming on mechanical valve. Schwarzenegger visited USC on April 16, 2007 and saluted the new Cardiovascular Thoracic Institute (CVTI), according to a press release issued by The Keck School Of Medicine at USC. The doctor looked at the results and told me to limit physical activity (running), because it can lead to heart failure in future. However, some people are born with an aortic valve with only two leaflets, known as a bicuspid aortic valve. Star Jones. I would pose these questions to your doctor(s) since they are most familiar with the details of your situation. I wonder if there is also a psychological factor involved. There is a readable section related to BAV. In fact, like most people, the 25-year-old had never heard the term before. Instead, even with continued sports participation, the progression of both valvular and aortic disease is no different from that in the general population. Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital cardiovascular anomaly, occurring in 1-2% of the population. While the defective valve may be easy to see, the defect also causes changes in the tissues of the aorta and the heart. What a great resource! The issue of how much (& what types of) exercise after surgery is difficult because we dont have good studies (& evidence) upon which to base recommendations. After finding out about her heart disease, Braxton stopped eating unhealthy foods at night. We all appreciate it. I am a keen weightlifter, which is the basis of this post. There are a multitude of patient-specific circumstances that must be considered when deciding if and when operation is needed. I had an exercise tolerance test recently and they seemed happy with my results so fingers crossed thats a good indication I can carry on training hard! What he did say is there are no signs of stenosis, and my heart looks very strong. I have been given no restriction to date in any physical exercise as my valve is in decent condition. So I saw an incredible surgeon and we are going for the Ross Procedure in Feb. Now that we know the type of surgery does this improve my chances or one day returning the CrossFit addicted life I miss? 1. Any words you have for us would be greatly appreciated. Zdenko . Do you think the jiu-jitsu (e.g. 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. "Women are the natural caregivers; we take care of everyone else under the sun," she says. What does heavy weights mean? My questions are I am 38 and very active (running, cycling, strength training etc). Thoughts. I would think that moderate would be a good term for 8-12 rep range, pullups (unassisted), and pushups. Thats about as specific as he got. He has been restricted from playing contact sports since hey was 10. Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease does not usually cause symptoms. In fact, in some people they can go undiagnosed for years. I have no symptoms that I would notice, e.g. For most athletes with only mild enlargement of the aorta and no problems with the aortic valve, there should be no activity restrictions. March 15, 2023. Moreover, there is a myriad of operations that such patients may have had, each with its on set of considerations. I dont want to do any damage or compromise my homograft as the last surgery was a very difficult recovery. It makes the heart work harder than it should. 1) Son has to stop football training as well as any physical activity, even at school (P.E. The fusion (sticking together) of the valve leaflets causes abnormal valve opening and closing. For example, his spurt in enlargement happens to coincide with his spurt in growth. This year (her junior year) her Cardio doc is saying that she cant in good conscious clear her for basketball (the sport my daughter LOVES). It is very frustrating as my doctor would prefer to see me live the rest of my life with restrctions and have the aneurysm stabilized rather than take a chance on surgery and possibly returning to my normal lifestyle. Enjoy! Bicuspid aortic valves can accumulate calcium deposits more easily than tricuspid aortic valves. Kim Kardashian Doja Cat Iggy Azalea Anya Taylor-Joy Jamie Lee Curtis Natalie Portman Henry Cavill Millie Bobby Brown Tom Hiddleston Keanu Reeves. Youre right, though. There is a risk of sudden death in individuals with BAV, probably related most to aortic stenosis or aortic dissection/rupture. 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. We go back in 3 months for another echo. In 1997, Dr. Starnes led a team of three surgeons who replaced the aortic valve in then-actor Arnold Schwarzeneggers heart. My son will seek a repair when his conditions deteriorate. Valve replacement with either a tissue (bioprosthetic) valve or a mechanical valve is, by far, more common. But for those WITH such problems, we do recommend curtailing either static or dynamic activities, or both. Im a 30 year old male who is currently living in Asia with family. How are you? Best to continue to work towards identifying cause(s) and getting any needed treatment. I realize that appointment availability for medical specialistsin your case, the pediatric cardiologistcan be tight. Many of us are not familiar with the many types and facets of the martial arts. Tetyana. Can you direct us to ANY research on the effect of endurance sports on AVR patients? I asked my surgeon and also the echocardiographist about my sports performance after full recovery, about 6 months after the surgery. In both echocardiographic cohorts and surgical series, pure aortic regurgitation is significantly less common than stenosis. Sheer brutality and trauma caused Myasthenia Gravis. I had my AVR almost one year ago. Coarctation of the aorta is a narrowing that may produce an increase in the blood pressure in the upper extremities. I look forward to hearing from you. Could you please give me an insight into what else could be causing these chronic episodes of shortness of breathe, lightheadedness and off-on chest pains. my son has BAV he was born with. Most children with BAV will remain without symptoms until adulthood. Im a 57 year old male who had aorta repair and porcine valve surgery 3 years ago. From your reading, or even just here at the blog, youll know that its not an unusual story. I am young with many years ahead, I dont want to accept this just yet when I know theyre is possibilty of repair. Okay, thats greatbut I left feeling uncomfortable with the diagnosis. and my valve is working quite well (mild aortic regurgitation). While I no longer due very strenuous activities, I still play softball, golf, kayak, ski, and do play hockey every now and again. He sees his cardiologist every year. I did cardio training 3 times a week and weight training twice a week for 60 years. Im not surprised that youve received a conservative recommendation about exercise. I dont believe this has been well studied. I just want to know what things I will see change so that I dont look past the change in my valve and miss my window to get the valve replaced. The worse the narrowing, the greater will be the difference in blood pressure between the arms and the legs. I am now in no mans land of not needing immediate surgery (per the pressure number in left ventricle) and not being able to run more than 30 min. My primary question relates to sports. What Is Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease? He had a mild BAV and was told that he can play with no restriction. I know that heart surgery can be scary.but I also know that for the vast majority of patients with these conditions, surgery goes well and the outcomes are good. Could he be over-cautious? I have found out I have a BAV last year. Im just going to do my very best to stay the course and have annual echoes to track my valve. Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Governator) - Heart Valve Replacement. ODonnell, now 54, said her heart attack began after she helped an enormous woman struggling to get out of her car in a parking lot. Operation is needed if there is severe aortic valve stenosis, severe valve regurgitation, or significant enlargement of the aorta. Enlarged lv 37/58 mm rf 65 fs 36 Many thanks. My cardiologist Said to not lift heavy weights. Ive starting going to the gym again and doing cardio with weights to tone up. Is it right to declared someone having BAV unfit for the post of a chemist? 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. Finally some solid information about exercise and life post AVR, thank you very much for that. Most people require treatment once symptoms develop. (liver cysts noted). The false lumen extending into the abdominal aorta was left since the point of origin in the ascending aorta was repaired. Defects can involve the walls or valves of the heart, or they may affect the arteries and veins near the heart. I cant think like a nurse where hey is concerned. My son was diagnosed with BAV, by chance, when he was 7. Who Qualifies for TAVR. He loves sports and is wanting to do more and more. celebrities including musicians, actors, TV personalities, politicians, entertainers, and sports figures, etc. I cant distinguish if its muscle pain or somewhere inside chest, its not sharp or dull, somewhere in between. Since I started running, I lost about 8 kg, my blood pressure decreased from 140/90 to 120/80-70. Down side: durabilitythe borrowed valve doesnt last forever; it will deteriorate and need re-replacement at some point. Yes, there are certainly patients with BAV who never need operation. I have almost everyday all day shortness of breath which follows with chest pain and discomfort. I have also had a stress test, which showed no issues at all. All aorta is normal, valvula normal funkcion only sinus valsava 35-37mm. Today, echocardiography (ultrasound) for screening or diagnostic purposes for some other heart problem is the most common way that BAV is detected. Nonetheless, I think theres considerable confusion about this condition, in terms of diagnosis, implications for the athlete, and its treatment. I met an old guy once after a run and he described me very well his running experience; he said when I accelerate, Im the only one to know. At issue are the potential long-term effects of repeated episodes of high heart rate and high blood pressure that accompany intense exercise. Dietz?) We are wondering is there a science to knowing when he should have the surgery? Advances in treatment have allowed many babies with known congenital heart disease to survive well into adulthoodand many people who have congenital heart disease go on to live long, productive lives. I was just curious if there any way to know if my valve is affecting my times at all? 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).