Since I started running, I lost about 8 kg, my blood pressure decreased from 140/90 to 120/80-70. Athletes should have detailed discussion with their doctors about any prudent limitations to exercise after operation and settle on a mutually agreeable plan. Any guidelines? Apparently this can work better than Losartan? I asked her when I get my valve replaced(it will have to be replaced sometime in the future) will they repair my aneurysm and to my surprise she said no. We all appreciate it. Ive got my results from my recent echo and a lot of normals on there but main things were regurgitation and stenosis were mild with the aorta measuring about 33mm. Typically, the aortic valve has three cusps (tricuspid aortic valve), but some people are born with an aortic valve that has two cusps (bicuspid aortic valve). Aaron Boone (@AaronBoone), famous baseball player suffered from Bicuspid Aortic Valve. Not sure I have something specific to suggest for additional reading.and I dont know where to steer you about a knowledgeable trainer in the UK. Like I said, peoples experiences are all different. I had AVR 3 years and 4 months ago. As I restart my resistance (weight training) program what should be my upper limit weights? Arnold Schwarzenegger's Heart Valve Surgeries (2020 Update) Over time, these patients need to be monitored for continued proper function of both the pulmonary valve (that was borrowed) and the new substitute for the pulmonary valve. However, my surgeon told me that he could fit a tissue valve and so would not need to be on warfarin. Celebrity. Required fields are marked *. Four necropsy series5, 6, 8, 20 provide the only basis we have for estimating the incidence of bicuspid aortic valve in the adult population, as diagnosis by auscultation is insufficiently accurate and no relevant echocardiographic study has been published. That would include weightlifting. Thats an issue to pursue with your sons doctor(s). Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment - Healthgrades Shes quite the athlete. Push for earlier date? The procedure was performed at the Cleveland Clinic. His cardiologist said he cant play. Think to report back to let us know how things go for you, personally. So it's got the Rock and Roll Hall of fame and great doctors. If so, how quickly? I cant do that justice here. Questions about Bicuspid Aortic Valve!! I have 6 years to go to retirement at the very least. While I do expect to have a replacement done later in life, the repair was the best decision I could have made. Rose underwent the procedure last week, and said he would be going home to rest for a couple of weeks before returning in March. Bicuspid Aortic ValveA Common Form of Structural Heart Disease Prevalence of Bicuspid Aortic Valve in Newborns i.e. Im not sure how those two problems would be related. 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. His doctor said his heart look very healthy and no other issues. A lot of people have it, she told Access Hollywood in 2009. 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. There have been reports of lingering effects (decreased function of the left or right ventricles) for several days after marathon runs. "Schwarzenegger's pulmonic valve was successfully replaced.". I am an having trouble seeing the difference in the ross procedure and the bioprospthetic valve replacement as far as benefits go? My exercise is limited to 30 minutes of moderate carido, with no weights. I would like to get back into it, but obviously I have been having some concerns. Search for heart hospitals that specialize in heart valve treatment. PS: I noticed that the option Notify me of follow-up comments by email doesnt seem to work. Thanks, I played competitive amateur football (soccer) on Saturday and Sunday from age 16. An echocardiogram last June revealed a function BAV. There are just so many causes of shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and chest pain.even besides the heart-related causes. I was only diagnosed with BAV after a routine examination and only because my company has increased in size above a threshold at which all employees are supposed to be subjected to this examination (weird law in Belgium). Diagnosed last year while looking at something else. Aortic stenosis, the narrowing of the aortic valve. Get on with it. However, some people are born with an aortic valve with only two leaflets, known as a bicuspid aortic valve. People can live normal lives with Congenital Heart Defects. Who Qualifies for TAVR | Eligibility and Treatment Guidelines 1, 2 Much of the data relating to its complications derive from necropsy studies since reliable . Its a lot harder in the UK to see your cardiologist so you cant get the answers quickly. The average lifespan for a cow valve or pig valve is about 10 to 15 years, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Very likely an operation will be needed at some point in the future. She says now it is stable and I dont have to see her for 2 years. Yes, I am aware of the work by Dr. Dietz. I look forward to hearing from you. Heart failure, where the heart weakens from working too hard to pump blood. I know I will need it replaced. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. To help correct the regurgitation, the cusps of the patients valve leaflets can be tailored, with the valve leaflets left in place. An abnormal aortic valve develops during the early weeks of pregnancy, when the baby's heart is developing. Doctors at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center's Comprehensive Aortic Program have . He is very athletic. Its also clear-cut that patients with significant enlargement of the aorta to greater than 5.0 cm need operation for replacement of the aorta. Hi dr. Perhaps your primary care doctor or cardiologist could help you find another specialist in your area who could help with thatlook over all of the pertinent information and share an opinion about whats safe. In my practice, we often do such second opinions (about all sorts of issues) and I have found that athlete patients usually value the information that comes from such visits. Perhaps a cardiac surgeon would be able to provide even more detailed information about things like various options for operation that might be applicable in your case as well as thoughts about when operation should be performed. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. Frequency of congenitally bicuspid aortic valves in patients 80 years of age undergoing aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis (with or without aortic regurgitation) and implications for transcatheter aortic valve implantation.Am J Cardiol. Valve replacement with either a tissue (bioprosthetic) valve or a mechanical valve is, by far, more common. No LA, RA, RV, chamber dilation November Cover Star Gal Gadot Is in a League of Her Own A First Look at Diana and Margaret Thatcher in The Crown Season Four Celebs Roast Trump in Rhyme for John Lithgows Trumpty Dumpty Book Brace Yourself for George Clooneys Apocalyptic Movie The Midnight Sky The Best Shows and Movies Streaming This October Inside Netflixs Latest Binge-able Escape, Emily in Paris The Crowns Young Stars on Prince Charles and Princess Di From the Archive: How Hollywood Sharks, Mafia Kingpins, and Cinematic Geniuses Shaped The Godfather Not a subscriber? I am a 36 yo male who was first diagnosed with BAV at the age of 17. On March 30, 2018, we learned that Arnold Schwarzengger required a second heart surgery. Call 911. 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 ? Thanks. It has served me well enabling me to live the vigorous, full, complete life you are all so familiar with. Again, this is a topic that is not yet well-researched. In both echocardiographic cohorts and surgical series, pure aortic regurgitation is significantly less common than stenosis. I had a Type A aortic dissection of the ascending aorta that extended into the descending aorta terminating near the femoral arteries. This can lead to stretching apart of the valve leaflets and leakage at the valve, known as regurgitation. 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. Star Jones. Maybe you can help me with some questions. Yes, there are certainly individuals with BAV who go a lifetime without needing valve replacement or aortic surgery. Currently complete in 5-a-side football and have done for life. Activities are not usually restricted for athlete patients with mild aortic stenosis. Dr. Creswell Thank you,dr Creswell, Im in Philly today but Im from Central NY. 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. This is such an interesting blog, I wish I had known of it sooner. A bicuspid aortic valve: Most people are born with an aortic valve that has three leaflets (a tricuspid aortic valve). There are a lot of variables here, even from the short story youve shared. And my doctor do not give me responsive and exact answer to my questions regarding sports. My son was just told he made the varsity basketball team as a freshman. BAV only has mild regurgitation. May 10, 2010, 4:50 PM. This was 7 months ago. 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. 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). When first diagnosed with BAV I just nodded and smiled it was only the following day that reality hit home and I thought of all of the questions that I would have liked to have asked the cardiologist! I seen my cardiologist yesterday and this is the first year in 4 years that the aneurysm hasnt grown a mm. I had a Medtronic Freestyle valve fitted in May 2002, did exactly as directed regarding exercise etc. 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. I have been advised not to run any more marathons or half-marathons, but that I can still compete at up to 10km races. An early indicator of BAV is a heart murmur, which is an abnormal sound caused by the turbulent . It is two to three times more common in males than in females. But thats just anecdote. Some information about myself: Im 28, 186 cm, 77 kg, max pulse 194, rest 50 bpm, live in Russia. I get sporatic tingling in my left hand and footand every so often in my left cheek bone. We were to see them in 3 months. Please refer to this article if not: https://academic.oup.com/ejcts/article/50/3/400/2197426. Arnold Schwarzenegger Helped Greta Thunberg Get a Tesla, Where to Watch the Biggest 2023 Awards Contenders. 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. My name became public 25 years ago this week. Reply. Make no mistake, though. Your sons cardiologist would seem to be in the best position to offer specific advice. What should I do ? To much info to much detail so much information and advice. Interestingly, bicuspid valves are one of the most common forms of heart valve disease. I am 38 and very active (running, cycling, strength training etc). No aneurysm. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today. I was to the understanding that the aneurysms caused in bav patients was due to the problematic bav valve causing uneven blood flow to cause uneven pressure on the aorta. If the valve does not close completely, blood can leak into the heart. Join Vanity Fair to receive full access to VF.com and the complete online archive now. My cardiologist tells me that I need to be monitored yearly and that I should exercise without limitation (for cardio) I have symptoms however that include chest pain and shortness of breath and palpitations. One doctor to told me just to control it and train as I like but the other one said that with those hearts parameters I will have only 1-2% to have operation in the future but if I will continue to do triathlon for sure I will have to have one. 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. The valve will become healed (scarred) into the surrounding heart tissues with the passage of time. At approximately three months I became very ill and was diagnosed with prosthetic valve endocarditis. I wouldnt hesitate to register your concern with your sons doctor about waiting a few weeks. I would prefer not to stop. It would be great to know what happens to groups of patients after AVR and aortic replacement that have returned to their various sports. We dont have a crystal ball, though. The important considerations in athletes with BAV are the degree of regurgitation of the valve and the degree of enlargement of the aorta. At 4.0 cm, its important to be thoughtful about activities. Is that so, or can it be measured by the echocardiogram as well? They seem very busy and its taken almost a year to get to this stage. I am perfectly happy to stick to the 10km max distance for races, but my key concern is that if I do run some faster training sessions then I might have a sudden death. My father has struggled with heart disease since he was 50, and I lost him [in 2008].. There were some procedural differences between the bicuspid and tricuspid groups. In 1997, Dr. Starnes led a team of three surgeons who replaced the aortic valve in then-actor Arnold Schwarzeneggers heart. "Weve gotten a lot closer and weve learned each other on a whole different, deeper level, she told PEOPLE in 2015. My son at 11 months was diagnosed with BAV. The doc states that basketball is a contact sport in her medical books and we would need to consult with another doctor to possibly get approval. Im a 51 year old male who had aortic repair (5.8 cm) and bovine valve replacement AVR surgery 2 years ago. I feel fantastic and have already been walking the streets of Cleveland enjoying your amazing statues. Dear Dr. Creswell, 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. 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. To save nice heart the best would be doing nothing (! Perhaps the doctor could contact the specialist and request an earlier appointment, if that made sense. PDF Bicuspid aortic valve: Basics and beyond - Cleveland Clinic Journal Of Keep us posted! Obviously, I underwent emergency surgery to replace the aortic valve (Medtronic open pivot mechanical valve) and have the aneurysm repaired with a dacron graft. It makes the heart work harder than it should. I wouldnt be happy just running I want to be the best that I can be at it. I did run 1-2 times/week for a 1.5 months now, the situation is getting a little better but still I feel like a 80 years old. To quickly review, individuals with BAV have an aortic valve with 2 unequalinstead of the usual 3 equal sizedleaflets. Thank you very much for your answer. In fact, one young man died 5 years after operation (from other non related causes) and the study on his aorta tissue revealed that the device helped it to heal, presenting a healthy histology. Guidelines suggest that athletes with BAV, normal size aorta, and no more than mild aortic regurgitation or stenosis can participate in all sports, without restriction.provided that they do not have an inherited connective tissue disorder like Marfan's's syndrome. 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. View HelpingHeartsCharitys profile on Facebook, View @HelpingHeartsMDs profile on Twitter, View HelpingHeartsCharityMDs profile on Instagram. Defects can involve the walls or valves of the heart, or they may affect the arteries and veins near the heart. The cardiologist doesnt do the surgery we have to go to another province to have surgery. 1. He wasnt real worried about me and I have regurgitation (mild) and (mild) aortic root dilation.. Do u think it would be OK to lift weights and if so maybe u could give me a better understanding. Aortic enlargement in patients whove had valve replacement for BAV can be a vexing problem. From the outside, these people look healthy, and some are, while others are not. Our only tool to keep track of aortic enlargement is repeated measurements with CT or echo. One situation that seems particularly ripe for differences of opinion is that of the athlete with BAV, no significant stenosis or regurgitation, but with an aortic diameter of 4.5 to 5.0 cm. After finding out about her heart disease, Braxton stopped eating unhealthy foods at night. diagnosed wid BAV AND AS WITH AR lifting a max bench of 150 lbs I would not want yo distinguish between the various forms of static exercise that you mention. Bicuspid Aortic Valve | Johns Hopkins Medicine They may also disrupt the normal flow of blood through the heart. Athletes with mechanical or bioprosthetic heart valves may participate in low and moderate intensity sports, Athletes who are taking blood-thinning medications should avoid sports where bodily injury, with potentially life-threatening bleeding, might occur. Or, is it something that can wait until they get sports physicals in their teens? You have a good understanding of the issues. I was just curious if there any way to know if my valve is affecting my times at all? Aortic Valve: Function, Location & Anatomy - Cleveland Clinic In January 2021, she underwent open heart surgery to install an aortic valve. This blog helped me a lot in my panic days, it put me at ease when I was worrying to much, just to see and to know your enemy and to realize that you are not alone is great help. New guidelines from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) were published just this week. In April of this year (2016), I discovered I had a BAV in the worst manner possible. And, if so, how did things go? Im a 30 yr old male, training 5 times a week rowing and strength training. My cardiologist is not concerned. I suspect (and hope) you will say that the latest recommendations say no restrictions for someone like me but I havent seen yoga specifically mentioned. You didnt mention your age, but obviously youd hope that whatever operation is performed.lasts a lifetime. However, is there any advantage to having them screen in their first decade of life, if they are not showing any symptoms? Again, thank you and bless you for taking the time to talk with us here! I am healthy, strong, and active. 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? Benefits: long-term durability. The doctor said it wasnt serious, but that I should keep watch on it every year. However, I absolutely love being competitive at running, and dont want to jeopardize that either. Questions currently remain about how long such repairs will last and whether patients might require re-operation at some point in the future. I have 5 children, so I dont want to drop dead and leave my poor wife with them all to look after on her own. If I had to choose a valve for AVR, Id choose a tissue valve. Soccer is his only sport and his passion- he plays on his high school team and a travel team. Thats the main reason for choosing a tissue valve in my case. Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common form of congenital aortic valve disease, in which the valve has only two leaflets instead of the usual three; it affects up to 2% of the population. triangle chokes, other blood chokes) could be putting pressure on my heart and cause my aorta diameter to increase? 2) He can lead a normal life & can continue his training with regular echocardiography control (once in a year). You already have a cardiologist looking after you. Nwankwo Kanu (@papilokanu), the Olympic Gold Medalist (Soccer) suffered from Aortic Valve Defect. 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. Thats the reason we try to place the largest possible substitute valve in patients who need replacement. However, there are few reports about the safety and efficacy of TAVI in type 0 BAV. , Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease, Acquired Valve Disease. Others won't have symptoms until adulthood, if ever. Im not looking forward competitions nor marathons. I was diagnosed age 4 and am now 35. I took it up 7 years ago. http://games.crossfit.com/athlete/39565 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. Center for Bicuspid Aortic Valve Diseases | Penn Medicine Substitute valves. I am 46 years old today, 22x marathoner, 4x Ultra (50 miles) and 5x natural fitness competitor. In short, is it too early for me to start talking to a surgeon to identify available options? 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. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dr. Larry Creswell on athletes and heart health. Now at 74, and after having AVR I am 10 weeks into the dont lift more than 10 pounds restriction. I have a call in to his doctor but what do you think? Bobbie. Periodic re-evaluation with echocardiogram and/or CT scanning is used for most patients in this circumstance. No one loves life more than I do, read the statement. The doctor allows me to do moderate sport defined by her like not 20k each day; 20k per week should be fine.