I have high blood pressure (usually over 140g systolic, and below 80 for diastolic). Recently been diagnosed with a moderate leaking bicuspid aortic valve. I have some chest discomfort but it doesn't stop me from doing things.
Can anyone give any advice?
Hello, have you had the scans you told us about in your previous post? And do you know when you’ll get the results? In the meantime, based on my husband’s experience with a bicuspid valve, I’d say try not to worry too much...easy to say and difficult to do I know. Things will progress and settle, albeit slowly.
Best wishes to you and your loved ones.
Many thanks. I’m a worrier and I have anxiety too. Even before all this. I’m not going to lie. I’ve broken down once or twice so far. I’ve not yet had my results from the TTE and I go for a cardiac MRI scan tomorrow. I was diagnosed with a moderate leaking bicuspid aortic valve from an a standard ECHO. I have high blood pressure, but I see a marked difference between systolic and diastolic. Often my BP is 160/65.
I don’t think that is good. More annoyingly, I complained to my GP two years ago about HBP and he done nothing about it.
I appreciate your reply so thank you very much again.
I spoke with my cardiologist today after getting freaked out after mri scan. I went for an MRI scan this morning and was fine during the whole procedure. As I exited the machine it said something like possible LVD failure. Not sure if it was checking for that or whether than was diagnosis, hence my severe apprehension. I immediately phoned my cardiologist who called me back after a little while and said there is no way I have heart failure.
He said my TOE showed I have a slightly enlarged heart due to being so athletic, and that I have a leaking bicuspid aortic valve, however ejection fraction is in normal range. He said it will take two weeks for him to read MRI scan and plan treatment.
I hope that concludes any concerns re HF. I read online that you can have HF with a normal ejection fraction. However I assume my cardiologist will be well aware of this and that the TOE & echo would have shown this.
That’s all positive news. Best wishes.
I hope so. I’m paranoid thinking my cardiologist has missed something and that I could have HF.
There are some very good treatments for hypertension, with leaking valves it is important to keep blood pressure down. I have leaking valves and take several pills to keep BP down. Cut out salt, alcohol, caffeine and walk for at least 30 mins a day, it makes a big difference. to BP. I would have thought a cardiologist or good GP would have sorted you out with some suitable meds? If not, then it's time to ask them to do so.I get chest discomfort but my cardiologist is "not concerned " as I am "on the correct treatment". I still worry though, you can't help it! John
Many thanks for your reply John.
Do you mind me asking why valves are leaking and what is the severity?
I have been diagnosed with a moderate leaking bicuspid valve. I have some chest discomfort and high blood pressure. Systolic rate is usually above 160 and diastolic normally in between 60 & 100. I have a visible apex beat and strong pulse in my neck. Very visible.
I complained to my GP about two years ago about HBP and he did nothing, despite repeated requests. I think I had an infection back in March 2020 (in hindsight I thought it was Covid), but I now think I might have had endocarditis. I don’t know this though.
I’m going to talk to my cardiologist about HBP treatment. Not sure how it all works when I’ve got a leaking bicuspid aortic valve.
Many thanks for your time and advice. Much appreciated. All the best to you.
Hey.
I have issues with my aortic valve (stenosis and leaking) and I used to have palpitations.
I am on the lowest dose of bisoprolol (1.25mg) which took about a year to get used too. It stops my heart working as hard, which brings down your BP and stops palpitations.
Im being monitored for my condition with trips to the valve clinic every 18 months.
To begin with, I was very anxious. I was about 36 when being diagnosed and prescribed meds and I thought my life was coming to an end. I hated the palpitations even though they are relatively harmless.
You can take steps and make changes. It will take effort.
Google Mediterranean diets and how they reduce hypertension, reduce your salt intake, stop smoking, cut down on recreational drugs and alcohol, lose weight and try to get 10,000 steps in a day.
Many thanks for this. Very helpful. Glad to hear you’re doing well and I very much understand how you felt when diagnosed.
I’ve been in a complete state of mind for the last month and I’m only 32. It’s a horrible state to be in as your mind takes you so many places. It did for me anyway.
I am looking forward to getting something to control blood pressure as I’ve had HBP for a while and haven’t been prescribed anything for it.
All the best to you.
I had a bicuspid aortic valve also. After several months of various tests, the cardiologist said that it was calcified and screwing everything up and I needed it replaced. I didn't have health insurance for a while and only bought a cheap policy in case I was in a car wreck, so all of this stuff came as quite a shock to me. At 57, I had to wonder why I was just then finding out that my aortic valve was bicuspid. Anyhow, before I started seeing a doctor, my blood pressure was averaging about 200/120, and I felt completely normal! The damage from HBP takes place over a span of years and decades, so at your age, I don't think you have to worry too much about your HBP for now. My BP is much better now, but I'm not sure if it's because of my artificial aortic valve or all the meds I take, maybe a bit of both. If I don't take the meds, it shoots back up but no higher than about 170/100. I do think the big pharmaceutical agencies want to hype up these problems to assure that people keep buying their drugs. I've heard that 140/90 used to be considered a perfectly normal reading for adults over 50 until big pharma coerced the "authorities" into stating otherwise. I guess my point is that you shouldn't be worried about your BP at the moment, but you might have to do something about that bicuspid valve at some point. I never really had any chest discomfort tho, but everybody is different... OH, btw, that "cheap" insurance turned out to be much better than I thought it was; I had an annual out-of-pocket max of about $8,500, but the bills for all those tests and then the open heart surgery came to roughly half a million dollars! They paid all of it except for that $9,000, plus my monthly premiums, which were about $100. They've since gone up to $170 but I feel I can hardly complain after them spending half a million on me!
Glad to hear you’re doing well. Thanks for sharing so much info. I really appreciate it. Best wishes.
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