Discussion Topic

[MikeHeim]

I just got to wondering the other day, what is the relative severity of the risk factors for valve problems, both before and after surgery? In one place or another, I've seen each of the following listed as something to stay away from if you have valve-related heart disease (either before or after surgery):

1. Sodium Intake (sustained high blood pressure)
2. Power Weightlifting (acute high blood pressure)
3. Smoking
4. Caffiene Intake
5. Alcohol Intake
6. Being overweight
7. High-Intensity Exercise (over 70% of max HR for sustained period)
8. Stress

Not sure if I'm going to get any clear answers here, but I thought it would be interesting to know how damaging these can be in relation to each other. For instance, is smoking worse than weightlifting? Is high-intensity exercise more dangerous than having a high-sodium diet? Feel free to add in any others that you may have heard.

The reason why I think it's important to have an idea of the dangers of each of these is it helps people keep focus on what's the most important. If a doctor told me that Power Lifting was the single biggest threat to my valve(s), you could be sure that I would completely stay away from it. However, if Power Lifting was just one more item on a huge list of risk factors, I think it becomes a lot easier to just begin to ignore the list and do whatever you want. (BTW, I quit power lifting as soon as I was told I had a valve problem )

Anyways, let me know what you think.

 

[Rush20]

That's an interesting starting list. Many of the items listed are probably good to have on any healthly lifestyle list, not just a heart valve patient's list. Items such as reducing salt, caffeine, alcohol, etc. is a good idea for all. Not being overweight and not smoking are also positive actions.

As to exercise, I think that is the biggest debate of all. Like you, I was a heavy weightlifter/strength training pre-surgery (started when I was 14). After my AVR surgery (age 40) I stopped lifting to exhaustion and now simply lift moderate weights and focus on form and cardio. (For some reason, I have a horrific image of my St. Jude valve blowing out while performing a squat or other heavy lifting exercise).
I know this might be an unrealistic fear, however I have no desire to win a bodybuilding or strength contest, so I don't push the weights like I used to.

The 75% of maximum HR capacity is an area that does intrigue me, because I know I have gone past that post AVR and noticed some palps as a result.

 

[Freddie]

Good list Mike,
Sorry I can't help you. I've got 4 out of your 8, so I might be dead soon . But I do hope you get some answers, could be very interesting

 

[Cooker]

I just got to wondering the other day, what is the relative severity of the risk factors for valve problems, both before and after surgery? In one place or another, I've seen each of the following listed as something to stay away from if you have valve-related heart disease (either before or after surgery):

1. Sodium Intake (sustained high blood pressure)
2. Power Weightlifting (acute high blood pressure)
3. Smoking
4. Caffiene Intake
5. Alcohol Intake
6. Being overweight
7. High-Intensity Exercise (over 70% of max HR for sustained period)
8. Stress

Not sure if I'm going to get any clear answers here, but I thought it would be interesting to know how damaging these can be in relation to each other. For instance, is smoking worse than weightlifting? Is high-intensity exercise more dangerous than having a high-sodium diet? Feel free to add in any others that you may have heard.

The reason why I think it's important to have an idea of the dangers of each of these is it helps people keep focus on what's the most important. If a doctor told me that Power Lifting was the single biggest threat to my valve(s), you could be sure that I would completely stay away from it. However, if Power Lifting was just one more item on a huge list of risk factors, I think it becomes a lot easier to just begin to ignore the list and do whatever you want. (BTW, I quit power lifting as soon as I was told I had a valve problem )

Anyways, let me know what you think.



The reason I ask is that I think it's difficult to look at a huge list of things to stay away from and not be overwhelmed.

#1...I try to limit salt just because it seems to make me retain fluid.
#2 and 7...I take a cab to the restroom so I can't really say
#3 and 5...I quit these for health reasons other than valve issues.
#4...I love my coffee
#6...Throw Down in progress. Decided to lose weight for many reasons most of which are not valve related.
#8...I can have fun in a two car funeral as long as I'm not in the first car although #8 can be a problem without #5

All in all I think I am trying to take better care of myself now. I think part of it is the surgery and part of it may be age and the tad of wisdom that comes with it.

 

[Nancy]

I'll answer what I know about some of them, this is just based on Joe's very long life with his valves and it's all anecdotal.

Smoking is a killer, no matter what your medical problems are. I think that's a no-brainer. Joe never smoked, and every one of his many, many doctors told him that it certainly would have cut his life short. He told me the one hospital heart surgery roomate he had who smoked, didn't survive more than a couple of days.

Sodium--If you have any degree of fluid retention, restricting your sodium will help a LOT. Many people who have valve problems develop CHF (congestive heart failure). Here again, I firmly believe that Joe's life was extended by many years just from keeping his sodium to the bare minimum. He had CHF, and later in his life very severe CHF. He ate only enough sodium to keep his system working. But for those with a less serious degree of CHF, more sodium can be used.

Alcohol affects your liver. You may not give this much thought, but your liver is an extremely important organ, especially if you are on Coumadin. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) can sometimes scar your liver if it goes into ascites, a condition called cardiac cirrhosis (aka in older times as "nutmeg liver"). Cirrhosis is not only caused by drinking. If your liver does not work well, you will have trouble with Coumadin, and many, many other systemic problems. In spite of all our precautions with sodium, Joe developed cardiac cirrhosis and liver failure and it contributed to his death. Liver failure along with kidney failure can also cause high ammonia levels in the blood which can affect your brain.

Not everyone will develop these problems, but by being prudent with the house you live in, your body, you can keep these serious complications at bay, and give yourself a much better chance of living to a normal lifespan.

Abusing your body will have the opposite result.

You may be tough and strong, but your body is delicate in its balance, and can't take years and years of abuse.

In addition to your heart, your kidneys and your liver need to have good attention from your doctor with periodic bloodwork to make sure there isn't anything changing there.

 

[Susan BAV]

Interesting list

Interesting list

Somewhere I read that pregnancy, for a woman with a bad valve, can exacerabate the situation. Does anyone know that for a certainty though? I thought I'd read it in a study posted here a few years ago but I'm not sure.

 

[Ambience]

As to exercise, I think that is the biggest debate of all. Like you, I was a heavy weightlifter/strength training pre-surgery (started when I was 14). After my AVR surgery (age 40) I stopped lifting to exhaustion and now simply lift moderate weights and focus on form and cardio. (For some reason, I have a horrific image of my St. Jude valve blowing out while performing a squat or other heavy lifting exercise).
I know this might be an unrealistic fear, however I have no desire to win a bodybuilding or strength contest, so I don't push the weights like I used to.

I've been instructed by my cardiologist and a few other sources that it's not a good idea to lift anything that would make you hold your breath. I also got a generic 50lb limitation, but I'm a big guy and can lift quite a bit more than that before the breath holding/grunt reflex kicks in.

 

[Bina]

1. Sodium Intake (sustained high blood pressure)
2. Power Weightlifting (acute high blood pressure)
3. Smoking
4. Caffiene Intake
5. Alcohol Intake
6. Being overweight
7. High-Intensity Exercise (over 70% of max HR for sustained period)
8. Stress

Anyways, let me know what you think.

I think that this list is very accurate for heart conditions and anyone else who is middle aged and health conscious.

1. Sodium.........tastes yukky, gives me high BP
2. Power lifting....huh? I'm only 105 pounds myself.
3. Smoking.........not even for medicinal purposes.....sad but true.
4. Caffeine.........yukky coffee breath....anyway gives me high BP
5. Alcohol..........sadly, we are not friends anymore......
6. Overweight....I'm too little to pig out.
7. Exercise........High Intensity---would require being nekkid, no thanks.
8. Stress..........Never a problem, as long as I get my way.