Exercise and moderately leaky aortic valve

[simplysal]

Morning all, happy Sunday!

I’d just like to ask, as some of you may know, I have a moderately leaky aortic valve. (Had a stent fitted to fix a 90% blockage in LAD last Nov).

I only found out about the valve issue in March this year so will have annual echo’s from now on.

Of course have been focussing on lifestyle changes since the stent. I stopped smoking last November.

I have since purchased a treadmill. Only second hand from Facebook marketplace but all in working order. It’s permanently set on a slight incline. Can’t be changed to flat.

Over the last four weeks, I’ve been going a 34 minute brisk walk gradually building up the speed. So 2 minutes warm up, 30 mins my max speed then 2 mins slow down.

At present time it’s 2mins at 4.5km/h, 30mins 6km/h then 2mins at 4.5km/h.

Slog when I do it but feel great, albeit red faced and sweaty afterwards lol!

I know that exercise is good, great for cardiovascular health and certainly a great lifestyle choice.

Just want to check that engaging in this won’t make a leaky valve worse tho? Or is it good for that too? I actually have no idea 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Thanks all, Sal.

[leach234]

My cardiologist told me 2 years ago that I had a moderately leaky aortic valve and I walk 7 miles daily with no problems.

[simplysal in reply to leach234]

That’s awesome! Huge thanks for letting me know. 7 miles daily is a great distance 👍

[simplysal]

Huge thanks for your lovely response. Yes I’ll adjust my warm up/cool down. It sounds reassuring that moderate exercise wouldn’t make my leaky valve situation worse.

I’ll keep doing it then ha!

I feel great when I get on the treadmill for the first seven minutes. I love say the last three minutes before slowing it down but that middle bit feels such a slog but I guess at some point it will feel easier.

I’ve only just gone up to 6km/h in the last three days.

Thanks again, Sal 🥰

[wischo]

I had a left coronary artery stent fitted in January 2019 and walk around 8klms on average daily. I am older than you but still average 5.5kph. I take the occasional day off if I feel tired< so maybe one day a week off. I think exercise is the best thing you can do for any heart conditions ( GPs approval of course).

[BHF_Nurse_Jo BHF Nurse]

Please check with your specialist or GP prior to changing your exercise levels if you have a valve problem. In most cases, continuing with present exercise levels will be fine but there will be instances where people are told to limit exercise levels.