exercise and aortic dilation

Did you ask the doctor about your exercise program? Honestly, you can't always rely on Dr. Google.

Good Luck,

Sharon

Hi! I have congenital heart disease, Bicuspid Aortic Valve disease to be exact. My aorta is dilated to about 3.9 currently. I had my natural valve replaced 5 years ago with a bio-prosthetic aortic valve. They couldn't repair my aortic dilation as I had endocarditis at the time.

So nice to meet a fellow exercise addict! I work out 7 days a week, some times twice a day. I'm also a weightlifter and HIIT enthusiast. And I prefer to lift heavy Now I'm a small female, age 42, so I can't throw more that 100# overhead, but I am 5'2, 125, squat 155# and I do it with zero worry. I'm checked every year and my dilation has not grown since I've been lifting. BUT.... I do have that fancy new valve to help me out.

I would say that someone with a AAA and has never lifted, would be totally different that someone that has been lifting, as the strain would be much greater for a newbie.

Now that being said, I maintain low blood pressure and my resting heart rate is about 65. I did take beta blockers when I began working out after my valve replacement. I have been off of them for a little over a year now and LOVE being able to get my HR up to peak levels.

I do take pre-workout as well with a little pump. I do either caffeine pump OR nitric oxide, but not the two together.

I go hard and stay happy. Now I've known about my heart stuffs my entire life, so I'm probably more at ease with it, but I refuse to let it stop me. I am followed at a very good Adult Congenital heart Clinic and I trust my docs and am honest about my lifestyle and how I want to live. They follow me and try to keep me in the game.

Post Edited (jdiane) : 8/8/2017 8:30:08 AM (GMT-6)

Hello,I also have a bav & my stenosis (calcification) is now moderate. I also have an ascending aorta of 4.3 cm this is considered an aneurism
I found out about this forum through an article about the pilot that had a heart attack then a stent put in but still had major artery blockage so started taking vit k2 & D3 & it cleared it right up
I am also taking these now as I have read so many articles on this vitamin helping with calcium build up. It’s too bad doctors & cardiologists don’t tell there patients about it
I am on a few fb bav groups & some are taking it. I am trying to get an appointment with my cardiologist to talk to him but most doctors don’t know much about it & always think it is k1 that affects blood thinning
I am also very active & fit & have been doing hiit training but I always increase my heart rate & blood pressure slowly over 10 min & try not to increase my heart rate above my average.
I don’t push weights though as this is dangerous I was told told. My cardiologist says excercise is fine but not sure to what limit
Do you know why your heart rate went so high? Was it just from hard cardio push?
I am trying to be careful not to push too much until I talk to my cardiologist or my doctor
I also know that we need to keep our blood pressure as low as possible to reduce our aneurism growing
Do you have an aneurism or a dialated aorta? How are you feeling now as your post was a few years ago