How much exercise is too much for someone with a functional BAV? I think you understand the guidelines correctly. Many endurance athletes are able to return to their sports after operation for BAV. My Dr is almost certain that these symptoms are caused by issues that are not cardiac related, and that with at the stage my BAVD is at, it would not produce symptoms. Thanks very much for this Dr, it is really helpful to get someone elses opinion on the subject and Ill definitely raise those points with my cardiologist next time we meet. Could you express your opinion on this issue? Very helpful. She said not until it gets to 5cm. I am 46 years old today, 22x marathoner, 4x Ultra (50 miles) and 5x natural fitness competitor. Defects can involve the walls or valves of the heart, or they may affect the arteries and veins near the heart. I like to practice MTB and running competitively in local races. I see Im not alone. An early indicator of BAV is a heart murmur, which is an abnormal sound caused by the turbulent . Currently complete in 5-a-side football and have done for life. If you havent yet seen a surgeon, perhaps a visit would all wan opportunity to talk about these issues, even if operation is not yet needed. Like you mention, one theory is related to the aortic blood flow. 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. Maybe you can help me with some questions. They dont know they have it [It] leaks blood. I had my AVR almost one year ago. Hi. Thank you for the blog that addresses the athletes point of view, and feelings. Im followed by a cardiologist who only says not too much weight lifting.. Index to blog posts and online articles, Filed Under: Heart problems Tagged With: aorta, aortic aneurysm, arotic valve, bicuspid aortic valve, congenital heart disease, heart, heart surgery. Always best to heed the advice of your doctor(s) who will be in the best position to offer advice about safe forms of exercise. What are my chances of being able to go back to marathon running after surgery? We dont know what to do. I used to do HIIT and moderate to heavy weight 5 days a week before my physical complications. These differences of opinion may be legitimate. About a year ago a pulmonologist discovered a grade 2/6 heart murmur during a workup for a sleep study. My cardiologist gave me green light for everything except strenuous exercise (used to train for ironman and similar challenges). Aortic stenosis and bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) 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. 1) What kind of sports are recommend to me according to my situation? Rose underwent the procedure last week, and said he would be going home to rest for a couple of weeks before returning in March. Hector V. Ive never heard about a mechanical aortic valve becoming loose because of high HR. Thats the main reason for choosing a tissue valve in my case. Interesting situation Sean Miller. I did cardio training 3 times a week and weight training twice a week for 60 years. I was shocked. Thanks for sharing the article about the PEARS technique. An abnormal aortic valve develops during the early weeks of pregnancy, when the baby's heart is developing. Your sons doctors are undoubtedly experts at pediatric patients. You might be wondering, with no disrespect to the great people of Cleveland, why Schwarzenegger, who surely has access to the finest hospitals under the sun, would choose to have surgery there. Do you have any info or recommendations about this? I have no proof this may be causing my less than stellar performance or if perhaps I should have more patience. Thanks for sharing your sons story with BAV. Also hypertension in both arms. No other issues. I know it can be frustrating when you get conflicting opinions regarding the safety of exercise. I used to be very muscular prior surgery and 3 mounts ago I started with 5 km runs, push ups and pull ups 3 days a week, slowly progressing. Bicuspid aortic valve with Marfan and other HTAD when the ascending aorta is dilated >45 mm. View HelpingHeartsCharitys profile on Facebook, View @HelpingHeartsMDs profile on Twitter, View HelpingHeartsCharityMDs profile on Instagram. Im hoping you can help with some guidance. Replacement of the aortic valve with either a cryopreserved human homograft (the aortic valve from a human cadaver) or with the patients own pulmonary valve results in the least obstruction to blood flow. He is very athletic. Your site has been helpful in provided a sense of peacebut an extra insight would be super encouraging. From your standpoint (and your sons), it will be important to have that dialog to sort out whats safe. No stenosis, no calcification. I am 51 and leaning towards a tissue valve because of my activities and that I am a firefighter. It may cope adequately for a few years if the person leads a sedentary life, but the longer crucial surgery is delayed, the more damage there will be to . It is two to three times more common in males than in females. My son is 12 years old. My last CT scan in November showed a change from 4.3 (May) to 4.5 (November) however I was only given these results yesterday. "I feel fantastic and have already been walking the streets of Cleveland enjoying your amazing statues. Robbie Benson - Actor/Director - Bicuspid Aortic Valve. Heart disease and stroke are the number one killers of women, Streisand, 74, told PEOPLE about why she helped found the organization. I am a keen weightlifter, which is the basis of this post. In addition, I will get a random bout of lightheadedness when standing or sitting in a awkard position. Thanks for sharing your experience, Randy. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today. Im wondering if you can advise me. Hi . It is unclear however if there are cardio thoracic surgeons who perform minimally evasive repairs yet. It sounds like youre off to a good start with your recovery. I had a cardio version to correct the AFIB. After an MRI, Ive been diagnosed with BAV and mild aortic coarctation. I have been doing this for the last 5-6 years now and am hopeful it can continue. They are able to see my son this Friday, which i am much more comfortable with! 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. For many patients, I recommend no heavy lifting (>10 pounds) for the first month after conventional heart surgery. OPTIMUM HEALTH, INC Dwayne E. Russell Also twice a week I try to do 40-minute workouts like planks, pushups and so on (with my bodyweight). My question here is what is the damage I can cause to my heart, mechanical valve, if I keep my heart rate at hi intensity levels? Anyway, it has slowed to 1 mm per year, and, via email, Dr. Dietz has suggested we may consider a switch to 300 mg Libersartan? I get the fact that lifting excessively can cause a spike in blood pressure, but only under certain conditions (i.e. I had a Bentall with mechanical valve done in Feb 2017. I take BP medication namely Amlodopine & Ramipril which has lowered my BP. Also he told me I can lift weights and do other activities. Also is it possible to never need surgery to replace the valve and that the AR stays stable, or even goes away ? Hamilton mother of twins, Cherie was diagnosed with bicuspid aortic valve disease (BAVD), a disease where the valve has only two leaflets. Thats important to keep in mind. On the bright side, there is ample evidence that, in the modern era, life-expectancy is not shortened for individuals with BAV compared to the general population. There is a risk of sudden death in individuals with BAV, probably related most to aortic stenosis or aortic dissection/rupture. And, of course, its important to monitor over time the function of the prosthetic aortic valve and the size of the aorta. Their experiences have been variable, and perhaps for a variety of reasons. The HAART 200 is an innovative device that helps in the repair of BAV, allowing patients to avoid aortic valve replacement. My 25 year old son was just diagnosed with BAV AR (3+). Hope to hear back soon. Athletes in this circumstance should collect opinions from their doctor(s) and make very careful considerations before returning to exercise. Here is a link to a diagram that categorizes sports according to their dynamic and static components: http://www.athletesheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Classification-of-Sports-300217.png. looking forward for healthy life without surgery any possibilities??? His aorta is lightly enlarged. The aortic valve allows oxygen-rich blood to flow from the heart to the aorta. Is it like keyhole surgery? I wouldnt put you in the position of giving me your opinion in a public in forum but just let me know if based on the following, you think Im crazy or not. No thrombus, vegetation were noted 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. Ive seen several cardiologist and they are divided in recommendations. Needless to say, the diagnosis was quite overwhelming. My cardiologist said that sometimes it remains stable and never grows anymore. Unanswered questions include: Can a bioprosthetic valve wear out more quickly than expected? If you wont we can share experiences about healing and progress, its pretty much same situation. For those same patients, we recommending avoiding strenuous dynamic exercise line swimming, running, soccer, tennis, cross-country skiing, etc. I would like to get back into it, but obviously I have been having some concerns. no symptoms yet please help. First, youre not alone! We saw cardio in April again and my sons symptoms are the same and no progression on the aortic regurgitation. I do not have Julys echo results yet. I am an having trouble seeing the difference in the ross procedure and the bioprospthetic valve replacement as far as benefits go? As chemist mostly works in a lab not in the field. 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. Still it puzzles me that for you as for me it seems to degrade more after the diagnosis for a condition we have since birth. 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 Heart Association to raise awareness. Again, thank you and bless you for taking the time to talk with us here! 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. Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease does not usually cause symptoms. Ive not found any programs for evaluating repaired athletes unless something exist with a physiologist research lab. A bicuspid aortic valve is a congenital condition, meaning that people are born with two rather than the normal three cusps on their aortic valve. We go back in 3 months for another echo. There are simply no reports that describe the experience of athletes returning to ECer ise (or training) after aortic dissection. Would this constitute as too much in your opinion ? It usually consists of three flaps of tissue what are called valve cusps. My son was just told he made the varsity basketball team as a freshman. Its now 8 months after surgery and Im pretty much back in my every day life, was even granted to attend my pilot medical tests which are due in 2 weeks. I get sporatic tingling in my left hand and footand every so often in my left cheek bone. Thank you to every doc and nurse on my team.". Hey was born with BAV and moderate regurgitation and stenosis, and dilatation of his ascending aorta. I am considered elite in my age division. Most patients (like me), however, start to experience problems during their 30s, 40s, and 50s. Celebrities With Heart Disease - Celebrity Heart Health Survivors. She partnered with the American Heart Association to encourage others to get CPR training that could potentially be life-saving. Advertisement. Is strength training that involves only using ones own body weight ok with mild BAV issues, or is all strength training out? In this case, would it be an overwhelming pain? There are 2 broad categories of heart valve substitutes that can be used to replace the human aortic valve: mechanical valves or bioprosthetic (tissue) valves. Could I continue to train and just cut out the blood chokes? In some cases a particular arrhythmia that is responsible for your feelings of palpitations or light-headedness could be identified.and options for treatment could be presented. Shes quite the athlete. Or, is it something that can wait until they get sports physicals in their teens? The flaps are called cusps. More difficult questions relate to what are acceptable sports/exercise if operation is not (yet) needed. The 72-year-old soap oprea legend started feeling a tightness in her chest in Fall 2018, but waved it off until the end of October, when she had to be rushed to the hospital. My son is desperate to be able to play sports without any restrictions. This have affected my son psychologically since he loves playing soccer what should I do. Unfortunately, I really cant point you to such studies. Seems unlikely to me that there would be lingering effects that would make an EKG or chest x-ray abnormal. People can live normal lives with Congenital Heart Defects. In general, we recommend no weight lifting in patients with BAV if the aortic diameter is greater than 4.0 cm. Onside rations would be needed for hose with Marfans syndrome or other diseases of the aorta. 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. Or its the result of the cumulative effect of the aortic and mitral valve leakage? which seems to suggest that he has returned successfully to the sport. Ive done so much research and there are lots of young people who have went on to play sports and lead normal lifes. After an echo and an MRI with and without contrast, I found out that I have a BAV with mild aortic and pulmonic valve regurgitation. This is an unfortunate situation for the athlete patient because the consensus guidelines do not yet recommend operation, yet advise against strenuous sports activities. What should I do ? 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. A few hours after helping the woman, she began to experience chest aches, soreness in both arms, nausea and clammy skin. I have normal aortic size, mildly dilated aortic sinus (39 cm), and trace aortic regurg. Thats the reason we try to place the largest possible substitute valve in patients who need replacement. Thus far shes had only minor bruising (shes 6ft and has a solid build). Perhaps the doctor could contact the specialist and request an earlier appointment, if that made sense. . I now take diltiazem daily. Ive heard from a fair number of endurance athletes after having aortic valve operations of one sort or another. But, three heart valve surgeries! Crossref Medline Google Scholar. Im highly considering this option, after 4 months of research and appointments with doctors. Finally, many patients are able to return to their sports after successful operation. She advised us we should start to consider surgery but would follow up with us again in 3 months. From your reading, or even just here at the blog, youll know that its not an unusual story. James Cameron checks in from Pandora with a status report. The doctor said she would see if she could talk about his case with the surgical panel but she said even if he did have surgery he couldnt have a career in sports??? Are we being foolish? Substitute valves. She was originally under the impression she felt the way she did simply because she was exhausted. His story is typical. His BAV is causing very little back flow. The surgery involved a replacement heart valve made from a transplanted tissue sourced from his pulmonic valve. Do you think running 40 minutes five times a week at that level of beats can increase the aorta rate of growth ? He has been restricted from playing contact sports since hey was 10. Best for athletes like you to have a discussion with their doctor(s) and settle on a defined, mutually acceptable course of action about which sports activities are safe. Sometimes my cardiologist says there is minimal change and he thinks my aorta had slightly enlarged by 1-2mm. These operations can sometimes enjoy the benefits of each of the operations you mentioned.and avoid done of the down sides. Yes, I am aware of the work by Dr. Dietz. Ordinarily, athlete patients with mild degrees of valve regurgitation can continue to participate in their sports. There are several variations of this procedure that are applicable in specific situations. Fox News anchor Bret Baier has a . Is this a normal side effect of the heart condition or not? Sory but I dont speak very vell english. Tetyana. Your doctors will be in the best position to offer advice because they will be most familiar with your case. If echo shows a normal size, thats probably okay. Ive been affected by heart disease practically my whole life, she said. Valve replacement with either a tissue (bioprosthetic) valve or a mechanical valve is, by far, more common. The guidelines do not address the frequency of surveillance for individuals with BAV and no enlargement of the aorta. Yesterday, for example, I spoke with a 71-year old patient who just had aortic valve replacement surgery due to this . A 2nd opinion might help by bringing another set of eyes and ears to your problem. The issues of when, how, what sports are safe, etc. However, there are few reports about the safety and efficacy of TAVI in type 0 BAV. I found myself in emergency surgery 12 months ago with 50% leakage, an enlarged heart and an ejection fraction of 30. I would very much appreciate your opinion weather he can continue his regular football training or should stop it. Up until this time shes played volleyball, basketball and has even run track in elementary. I took it up 7 years ago. This is the way I can help. He wants to be normal. I think its reasonable to think of things this way. I applaud your efforts to search out information to help you decide on a course of action. To make matters worse, I had a bout of AFIB, about 6 months ago. We just dont know. Details of my condition: On said it wont make a real difference, the other said oh yes, that was like a blockage, you will feel the difference. With aortic root 39mm. This makes the aortic valve a tricuspid valve. Hi dr. Most children with BAV will remain without symptoms until adulthood. This international evidence-based nomenclature and classification consensus document is intended for universal use by clinicians, imaging specialists . Hi Dr Creswell, Thats an issue to pursue with your sons doctor(s). What advise can you give to someone in my position? Can you advise and or recommend a specialist? 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. I had a good childhood being very active in sports and physical activity, I had just had to watch out for contact due to warfarin. 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).