Exercise : Recently diagnosed with... - British Heart Fou...

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Exercise

Gooner1947 profile image
15 Replies

Recently diagnosed with aortic stenosis and am awaiting an angiogram. Still get breathless but is now a bit better since put on "water tablets" and betablockers increased to 2.5mgs.What sort of exercise is recommended to do. I do short walks around my local area. Don't push myself and take regular breathers. Hope that's OK. Thoughts?

I'm 77

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Gooner1947 profile image
Gooner1947
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15 Replies

Listen to your body as you go about your life. Daily walking is fine. Perhaps start small and work your way up until you find your limits. But certainly don't overdo it.

Gooner1947 profile image
Gooner1947 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more

Thank you. Wise advice

Ageingfast profile image
Ageingfast

I did as much walking as was comfortable. When I started to stumble forward, then things were bad so I had an aortic valve replacement. This procedure was brilliant, wonderful, life changing. Before the op I had annual scans, initially mild stenosis, then moderate stenosis then severe stenosis. At the severe ,level, that’s when the op was needed. If you don’t get the op then you become critical, which is best avoided.

It was a five year progression.

Good luck

sooty

Rhinos67 profile image
Rhinos67

What you are doing sounds perfect. I was told to stay active, but no running, climbing stairs, heavy lifting etc etc, so lovely strolls around my local park was all I could do.-Joanne

Gooner1947 profile image
Gooner1947

Thank you. Going upstairs occasionally is difficult to avoid. I just go up slowly.

HenryTudor profile image
HenryTudor

Walking is perfect. Depending on how you feel you can change your pace and distance. You’re in charge of how you feel.

Redkegs profile image
Redkegs

Definitely go slow building up. Walking is great and under rated exercise.

GoodHearty profile image
GoodHearty

Definitely walking is best, to your comfort levels. Might be an idea to get a smart watch that helps keep a log of your walks and heart rate etc.

May I ask - what are the symptoms and diagnosis for aortic stenosis? Just curious as it gets mentioned here quite often.

Vms49 profile image
Vms49 in reply to GoodHearty

Breathlessness , fatigue , bp up and down , chest pain were my symptoms diagnosed with stethoscope then confirmed with echocardiogram.

MoretonCross profile image
MoretonCross in reply to Vms49

Yep, exactly that! 💯

Gooner1947 profile image
Gooner1947 in reply to GoodHearty

Mine started with breathlessness when doing anything remotely strenuous. Had it for a while but thought nothing of it. Just a rest then I carried on.Then got a bit worse so I saw my doctor. After Xrays, blood tests, CT scan, ECG's and echocardiogram I was diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation.

Then referred to cardiologist who said it was Aortic stenosis and problem with main valve of heart.

I am now waiting for an angiogram where, I think, a TAVR will be performed.

Been told 3 month wait

Vms49 profile image
Vms49 in reply to Gooner1947

I had Tavi on the 12 th June

Spaghettinana profile image
Spaghettinana in reply to GoodHearty

I had moderate aortic valve stenosis apparently for a few years. Every Dr. would listen to my heart saying I had a heart murmur, I have had six month checkups since last heart cath in 2022. At recent appointment I told my Dr. that sometimes my jaw would hurt while walking fast. He asked some valve specialists for a second opinion. They said do another heart cath. This time they found my aortic valve was now at the severe level and my coronary artery had blockage. Within three weeks I had open heart surgery for the valve replacement and coronary artery bypass. It’s been three weeks after surgery. Please pay attention to any symptoms you may have that don’t feel normal. I never had any shortness of breath only fatigue for a long time. My blood pressure was being managed by two pills for years. I am no longer on them and my blood pressure readings every day are great. I no longer have a heart murmur! Don't delay going to your appointments. I think if I had not told my Dr, that weird symptom, he would have said see you in six months.

Gooner1947 profile image
Gooner1947

In the UK? How long was the recovery before you could live normally, so to speak?

Rhinos67 profile image
Rhinos67 in reply to Gooner1947

My recovery was about 5 months or so, although I also needed a pacemaker because I went into total heart block as a result of the surgery. I started Cardiac rehab then and despite being fit and active pre surgery I was at the bottom of the class on the sessions.. It took about 3 months or so for my fitness to improve

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