I certainly know of athletes who return to all forms of endurance sport as well as weight-lifting after operations like yours. Hi Sean, 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. Dr. Larry, very helpful content. In 1997, he underwent surgery for a replacement valve made of his own pulmonic valve, which itself was replaced with a donor's. Yoga is not included in the classification of sports that is commonly used, but I suspect that yoga would have low to moderate static and dynamic components. however I have been getting pain (on the left side of my breast) and chest pain due to lack of oxygen. I like to practice MTB and running competitively in local races. BAV only has mild regurgitation. Many congenital heart defects cause few or no symptoms. Im due to have an exercise tolerance test soon, but from my dealings so far Ive lost faith in the level of competence of my current cardiologist. The studies on Irbesartan for Marfans(I dont have Marfans) are showing some positive outcomes; and. Hi Larry, Its conceivable that an echocardiogram a week afterwards could be abnormal simply because of the race. Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has achieved satisfactory outcomes in the selected patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), predominately type 1 BAV (~90%). Is that so, or can it be measured by the echocardiogram as well? We have contacted the Cleveland Clinic to learn more and will report back soon. Can you please shed some light on this is the sport performance supposed to gradually diminish (seems to go to zero for me) before the operation is needed? Ive been told by my cardiologist that they think I should probably avoid competitive rowing and weight lifting. He has mild AS and AR and is otherwise asymptomatic. Needless to say, the diagnosis was quite overwhelming. Their experiences have been variable, and perhaps for a variety of reasons. A cadaver if valve is then used to replace his pulmonary valve. And now my aortic root is 42 mm. Left Ventricular Mass (LV mass/BSA 93g/m2| 114 g/m2, Septal thickness 0.93 cm|1.0-1.1 cm, Posterior wall thickness 0.93 cm|1.0 cm). I will do whatever I can to make sure my mom is comfortable and has whatever she needs, she said. 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. He posed next to statues of Thomas Jefferson, Jesse Owens (whose family moved to Cleveland when he was nine, and who later attended The Ohio State University), and Abraham Lincoln. Palace Insiders Say Prince William Is Already Furious About Prince Harrys Memoir Leaks, Prince Harry alleges Prince William attacked him over Meghan Markle in a new excerpt from, Scene Stealer: The True Lies of Elisabeth Finch, Part 1, Rupert Murdoch Knees Trump in the Balls While Hes Doubled Over Coughing Up Blood, By BG017/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images. Looking through the reader comments here at the blog and reflecting on the athlete inquiries Ive received, I thought Id cover some of the major issues. Im not surprised that youve received a conservative recommendation about exercise. I went through the regiment of meds that are prescribed post AFIB. Thats always the concern with new techniques with limited follow-up data. We dont have a crystal ball, though. Congenital heart issues affect approximately 40,000 people born each year in the U.S. and are one of the most common types of birth defects. In addition to being patients, there are many celebrities who, like you, parent a child with CHD as well. However, many people will develop complications from their BAV and may need surgery in their lifetimeeither to repair or replace the aortic valve, the thoracic aorta or both. Jeffrey Howell didn't know he was born with a bicuspid aortic valve until December 2015. There are a lot of variables here, even from the short story youve shared. 2) According to your explanation I rather not do cycling sports, but can I have low intensity sport like cycling or swimming twice a week for 90 minutes each, or 3 times for 60 minutes? I do think that this condition can weigh heavily on patients minds, though, and in your case perhaps particularly so because of the experience of your mother. 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. Ed Helms - Actor - Undisclosed CHD. These operations can sometimes enjoy the benefits of each of the operations you mentioned.and avoid done of the down sides. There are several variations of this procedure that are applicable in specific situations. They are also predisposed to enlargement of the ascending aorta, the large blood vessel that carries blood flow away from the heart. Also he told me I can lift weights and do other activities. I was diagnosed age 4 and am now 35. If a large enough valve is implanted, there may be no noticeable impact on the ability of the heart to do extra work that comes with running (or any exercise). There is a risk of sudden death in individuals with BAV, probably related most to aortic stenosis or aortic dissection/rupture. There are many surgical options depending upon the particular circumstances. The echo in Jan asc aorta Diam 4.2 cm z-score 6.4. Although the vast majority in each group (97%) underwent TAVI via the transfemoral approach, bicuspid patients were less likely to receive conscious sedation (57% vs 62%) and more likely to be treated with the largest 29-mm valve size . He seen our family doctor that week who confirmed the murmur. I am now 60. Should I stop jiu-jitsu as it is a mix of anaerobic exercise (which I hear is bad) and aerobic exercise (which I hear is good)? I have had scans and echos for as long as I can remember and have never been on medication nor has this condition stopped me from doing anything I have wanted. In short, I consider myself to be a high level athlete. We generally limit weight-lifting (or other sports/exercise that have a high static component) for athlete patients with BAV and mild enlargement of the aorta. Some people with bicuspid aortic valve will have symptoms in early childhood. Or usually lead a normal life? There is not much scientific evidence about what to expect. BAV was diagnosed in 196 newborns (prevalence, 0.77%), with a male-female ratio of 2.1:1. my son has BAV he was born with. Rest pulse (70 bpm|50 bpm) Am I crazy? I feel like 95% of other people my doc sees are just happy to get back to their normal life which doesnt include pushing their bodies to extreme limits. Ive yet to feel like Im back to my previous racing fitness that I once had. Can you tell me what is to much, are push ups or pull ups heavy lifting, is 3 time per week 5 km running with 10-12 km/h pace to much? Only two cusps, commissures and sinuses are seen in the less common "pure" bicuspid aortic valve subtype. I have a St. Judes Bovine valve now. I dont doubt there is variability in recovery among athletes who have operation for AVR and aortic replacement. Barb. I am 6ft 3 . I suspect it had been leaking for a long time, as I felt no different; however, my recovery from long runs took longer than in the past (old age?). Theres a saying if you watch a group of kids running around, you would never know who had a heart defect unless they lifted their shirt. This list, which may shock you, includes Olympians, Athletes, Musicians and more, all with an invisible illness. It has a male predominance and often occurs in multiple members of the same family, suggesting that it may have an autosomal dominant inheritance, perhaps with variable penetrance. 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. In practice, the indications for aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis or severe aortic regurgitation are straightforward and uncontroversial. these conditions occur mostly during my exercises at the gym and Im left very lightheaded and shortness of breathe. 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. This has been true as long as I can remember in all sports I seem to have to put a lot more in to get the same out as others. Best to mention your participation in the marathon when you have the tests done. Barbara Walters - Aortic Valve Replacement. Parenthetically, it may be time for an update. I have 4 children and a great wife. The reason I ask is my Cardiologist said it looked fine in the echo imaging, but (and correct me if Im wrong please) I got the impression from what you said in this article that a CT or MRI is necessary for aortic diameter measurement. I have: Dont see why HIIT should be excluded. I had a scan done recently and they picked up a what they called a mild dilation of the aortic root at 47mm, ascending aorta 34mm, no other issues. . The use of a less invasive transcatheter therapy in this . The aortic valve allows oxygen-rich blood to flow from the heart to the aorta. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Would this constitute as too much in your opinion ? I would very much appreciate your opinion weather he can continue his regular football training or should stop it. Hi Larry, thanks for doing this website, I wish there were more like it. My son was also complaining of shortness of breath with stairs mild and feels tired more easily. At approximately three months I became very ill and was diagnosed with prosthetic valve endocarditis. Thanks for the enlightening article. In general, we recommend no weight lifting in patients with BAV if the aortic diameter is greater than 4.0 cm. Very likely an operation will be needed at some point in the future. Perhaps other readers will comment. For these individuals, provided there is no other relevant heart disease, it may be appropriate to have follow-up echocardiogram and/or CT scanning every 2 years. Okay, thats greatbut I left feeling uncomfortable with the diagnosis. Bethesda Conference reports), even though there is no certain link between sports and the aorta enlargement. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Is operation needed? Substitute valves. No aneurysm. Hes a 30-year-old 8th grade science teacher, a cyclist and outdoorsman, who is chronicling his story with BAVfrom diagnosis, to evaluation, to preparations for upcoming valve replacement surgery. Well, as it happens, the Cleveland Clinic has been recently rated the top heart hospital in the nation, and the number two hospital overall. I was having chest pain and flew to Thailand to see what the issues were and they found I had GERD and Esophagitis. For the last 7-8 years I didnt do too much sport (kids, family). I had AVR exactly 1 year ago to the date. I seen my cardiologist yesterday and this is the first year in 4 years that the aneurysm hasnt grown a mm. The lines are the edges of the valve leaflets that open and close to let blood through. Thank you for your time. Crossref Medline Google Scholar. Hey is a frustrated guy. I take bisoprolol (low dose) and my pressure is currently normal . In the simplest terms, a bicuspid aortic valve can be a serious heart valve disorder in which the valve only has two leaflets, or flaps, that control blood flow through the heart. Details of my condition: Rhm, 43, tragically lost two of her family members to heart issues. We use surveillance (you mention every 6 months) because usually problems with progressive enlargement of the aorta or with the valve itself can be picked up before there is any lasting harm. To me, you know your own body and what you can manage whilst straining as little as possible. It makes the heart work harder than it should. Seven months ago I had emergency AVR due to a BAV that was severely compromised by endocarditis. 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. Dear Doctor, Currently, it is estimated that about 5% of those with bicuspid aortic valve disease will experience aortic dissection. that suffer from heart valve disease along with a link to the reference story about heart valve disease and their Twitter handle to tweet on and promote the Valve Disease Day. I realise that I will eventually need the valve replaced again and just hope that things go as well next time. The potential downside relates to durability. Like you point out, its always wise to be vigilant after surgery for things that might be amiss.and get checked out. I can tell my story. Medical therapy may be useful to slow or halt the progression of aortic valve disease and aortic enlargement by reducing the blood pressure and the blood pressure across the aortic valve. Thus far shes had only minor bruising (shes 6ft and has a solid build). Im a 57 year old male who had aorta repair and porcine valve surgery 3 years ago. Good to hear that youre doing well. I asked my surgeon and also the echocardiographist about my sports performance after full recovery, about 6 months after the surgery. What are my chances of being able to go back to marathon running after surgery? BAVD is a malformation of the aortic valve present at birth that leaves you with two flaps instead of three, tripping up blood flow to the aorta. Stress echo revealed hypercontractile with normal response in all LV segments, no LV cavitary dialiation. I have moderate to severe regurgitation and the heart is enlarged as far as I understood. It has served me well enabling me to live the vigorous, full, complete life you are all so familiar with. TAVR is a relTively new technology where a new heart valve, shrunk onto a catheter, can be threaded through the bloodstream (usually through a leg artery) to where your current valve sits.and then expanded inside the current valve, pushing it aside. Down side: durabilitythe borrowed valve doesnt last forever; it will deteriorate and need re-replacement at some point. My resting HR is 60-70 BP 110-70, according to doctors have no tissue problems, never had hypertension and was told that I was born with weak threskupid valve. I currently run 40 -50km a week and do two 2 hour intensive yoga sessions a week. Finally, many patients are able to return to their sports after successful operation. 3. I was training for a marathon when I was 62 years old and diagnosed with BAV with severe regurgitation. Review of the clinical records of 152 patients aged 20 years and older found to have a bicuspid aortic valve at autopsy revealed aortic stenosis in only 28 percent. Sadly, most school/sports physical exam programs dont include echocardiogram.and the absence of a heart murmur in a child wouldnt preclude the diagnosis. An early indicator of BAV is a heart murmur, which is an abnormal sound caused by the turbulent . Follow up for development of these functional lesions is indicated. The value of CT/MRI comes when a millimeter or two makes a difference in treatment, restrictions, surgery, etc. 24 HOUR GYM No stenosis or regurgitation, aorta 27 mm at the time. BAV is the most prevalent congenital heart defect, but can go undetected for years - even into adulthood. Activities are not usually restricted for athlete patients with mild aortic stenosis. I have been given no restriction to date in any physical exercise as my valve is in decent condition. Im a 29yo CrossFit addicted man who just found out I have BAV while applying for the defence force here in Australia. Tetyana. When the aorta is enlarged in the setting of BAV, there are a couple possibilities: the valve needs to be replacedor it doesnt: Valve repair. I was shocked. I am a 60 yo female who has been active my whole life. His favorite sports are football and baseball. Thank you for your ideas and I apologize for my gramma errors (English is not my first language). No operation to replace/repair the aortic valve and yo replace the ascending aorta is minimally invasive. Thats just a marketing gimmick. Thoracic aortic aneurysm, an abnormal bulge in the part of the aorta located in the . Should I be doing push-ups/pull-ups? The various artificial valves are a little bit less efficient that the valve were born with. Over the past 3 years, my endurance has declined significantly, and now I cannot run a lap on the treadmill without some walking; however, my numbers from the semi-annual utrasound have not changed much. In patients needing valve replacement because of stenosis or regurgitation, the aorta should be repaired or replaced if the aortic diameter exceeds 4.5 cm. Im doing cardio as they said thats fine and I was lifting free weights tonight of 10kg. I have appointment with a cardiologist on Friday but in the meantime i would like to know weather in case of surgery a replacement of the valve is definitely necessary or my condition still allows some options for a surgery without replacement. The typical symptoms are fatigue or shortness of breath, particularly with exertion. (Have you heard of the studies by Dr. "I Googled 'womens' heart attack symptoms,' " her blog post continued. http://www.energystretch.com I would just like to share my experience of having a Aortic Valve replacement. The valve can gradually become harder to open or leakier . Obviously, mild to moderate would be somewhere in between. It is two to three times more common in males than in females. Okay to wait? Post 2 years and Ive yet to get back to my high level of racing fitness and wanted to see what should be expected. Some information about myself: Im 28, 186 cm, 77 kg, max pulse 194, rest 50 bpm, live in Russia. I have an OnX mechanical valve. Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and congenital aortic stenosis are two types of heart defects that may be present at birth. "Weve gotten a lot closer and weve learned each other on a whole different, deeper level, she told PEOPLE in 2015. I have been doing this for the last 5-6 years now and am hopeful it can continue. The procedure was performed at the Cleveland Clinic. Business, Economics, and Finance. Sign up to receive an email when I add new content. To list down the names of celebrities including entertainers, musicians, politicians, TV personalities, sports figures, etc. Coarctation of the aorta is a narrowing that may produce an increase in the blood pressure in the upper extremities. Thanks for sharing. When you start seeing changes with regurgitation does it progress quickly? Thank you for answering these questions. (I am on a low dose beta blocker) I have a few questions because I was instructed not to lift more than 10 lbs and that I could resume surfing in a year. I cant wait to be back, completely rested with my heart recharged, my passion for the work ahead purposeful and my joy at lifes pleasures high," the statement continued. Aortic regurgitation (also called aortic insufficiency), which is a leaky valve. Im 39 also diagnosed with BAV when I was 31. All severe aortic stenosis patients who are experiencing symptoms should ask for a TAVR evaluation. First, a disclaimer.My practice is devoted to adult patients. Im a 30 year old male who is currently living in Asia with family. Aortic dissection, a tear in the wall of the aorta. Since Im not close to good medical care, are their specific things that I will start to notice if my heart valve is causing a problem? My heart seems to heal, so that speaks well for my future.. Almost 15 years ago skilled surgeons replaced my aorta valve with a new replacement valve. Sory but I dont speak very vell english. Doctors at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center's Comprehensive Aortic Program have . I probably get more inquiries from athletes with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) than any other single heart problem. Reply. Or is the real risk related to further deterioration of the heart in the longer term that would be picked up by 6 monthly monitoring, which may indicate the need for surgery but not an immediate risk of dying suddenly? Bobbie. Many endurance athletes are able to return to their sports after operation for BAV. This is true at rest and may be even more so during exercise. I dont want to do any damage or compromise my homograft as the last surgery was a very difficult recovery. In 1997, Dr. Starnes led a team of three surgeons who replaced the aortic valve in then-actor Arnold Schwarzeneggers heart. Would you recommend taking beta-blockers at this stage? He would be devastated to never be able to play again. I know that there can be complication with Dacron graft or even aorta aneurysm building up but Ill stay on positive side since I have no tissue disorder and its highly unlikely that with properly working aortic valve I would develop another one in that short period of time. Thank you to every doc and nurse on my team.". Im in Philly today but Im from Central NY.