Exercise Advice for Bicuspid Aortic Valve

[Cameleopard]

Hi,

I was recently diagnosed with BAV and am currently being monitored annually via echocardiogram - my most recent aortic root measurement was 44 mm. and my only current symptoms are occasional breathlessness on going upstairs etc. To complicate matters, I broke my leg last year and have only just gotten back to full mobility, so not sure if the breathlessness is actually heart-related or just general lack of fitness.

I've been told to avoid 'lifting heavy weights ( defined as more than a third of my body weight by my consultant) and to avoid isometric exercise, but that's it. I wonder what advice other people have been given? I've seen some mentions of not allowing your heart to go above 130 bpm, for example.

I'm keen to get back to being as fit as I can (I'm 65 this year), but obviously don't want to cause any problems for myself, so reaching out to see how this community has managed this situation.

Thank you, and Happy New Year, I hope it will be as healthy as possible for all of us...

Viv

[Spin22]

Hi

I have a BAV (borderline moderate/severe regurgitation) and have been told no weight lifting/bench presses but to get “surgery fit” (which I found rather demoralising). I was told I could do cardio and was not given a heart rate limit to adhere to. From reading other posts, it seems that monitoring heart rate comes when the condition is more severe or you are waiting for surgery - I am sure others can comment on that.

I have been told the BHF information telephone line is helpful for things like this, so you may want to call them too.

[Cameleopard in reply to Spin22]

Thanks so much, that's really helpful. I shall give the BHF helpline a ring!

[NotanAstronaut]

see my article here: shaunoconnell.com/2023/08/1...

You don’t say your age or level of fitness/BMI. These will influence the advice I would have given but more importantly I think it depends on whether you have severe stenosis or not yet and if you have any ventricular hypertrophy (quite possibly not if regurgitation is the main problem). I believe exercising with severe aortic stenosis is dangerous and most patients would be on a waiting list for surgery if that were the case. I don’t think the aortic root measurement is overly relevant (and 44 is on the border of normal I think, though it depends on your measurements in the past). Please note I no longer have a medical licence as I have retired so this is not medical advice!

If you want more guidance I think you should write to your cardiologist or surgeon for it and ask for a telephone consultation asap. Lay folk here may advise wrongly and the consequences are not trivial. A heart rate of 130 was foolish I was advised but my stenosis was severe.

I hope this helps.

[Cameleopard]

Thank you so much - I will try to talk to my cardiologist before I start anything more energetic than my current walks. How are you now?

[NotanAstronaut in reply to Cameleopard]

Yeah, I’m doing fine thanks. I’m 17 months in. I only feel pain from the sternotomy after vigorous exercise or DIY/gardening. My INR is stable. Cardiologically I’m fine though I have some other health problems that are giving me grief. I will get round to finishing part 2, the post op recovery soon.