Lynn's got some good points.
The reason I suggested that Kathy talk to med professionals (not just a cardiologist) was to determine whether the calcium generated by osteo drugs is the same type that is found on calcified valves.
I thought that valve calcification was due to cholesterol, rather than the calcium found in milk, cheese, generated by osteo drugs, etc.
But I'm not a med professional, so I could be wrong.
I agree this is definately something to ask all the docs on your team and not just the cardiologist.
I think it depends on what kind of stenosis, like plaque or calcification this was the quickiest easiest answer I could find,
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Heart-Cardiology-964/Cholesterol-vs-Calcification.htm
Question
Speaking of Aeortic Stenosis, and spinal stenosis. What is the differenct between Cholestrol and Calcification.
If your arteries fill with Cholestrol; what fills the Aeortic valve and spine. Cholestrol or calcium?
Thanks, Carole
Answer
Carole,
Cholesterol, Calcification, Aortic Stenosis and Spinal Stenosis are all more different than the same.
Cholesterol is a substance that is produced by the liver and found in foods from animals (plants do not have cholesterol). About 85-95% of the cholesterol in our bodies comes from our liver and 5-15% comes from the foods we eat. Cholesterol is vital for the manufacture of cells and other important uses. Low density lipoproteins, "LDL cholesterol", can "oxidize" and get embedded in the lining of artery walls. This is the beginning of atherosclerosis, or artery disease. As this disease progresses, calcium can move into the blockages, called "plaques", and the plaque can become "calcified", or harden.
Aortic valve calcification is a somewhat different type of process where calcium deposits form on the aortic valve and can cause the valve to not function properly.
By the way, calcification can happen weather you eat a lot of calcium or not - do not restrict or avoid eating or drinking foods that have calcium. Low-fat, or skim, dairy products have just as much calcium as high-fat dairy products. Skim dairy products are a great option.
( ME-lyn THIS makes no sense, it doesn't make a difference, but it is a good option?)
Spinal stenosis is a collective term that covers several different conditions that have many causes. Cholesterol has nothing to do with spinal stenosis, and calcium is not responsible for most forms of spinal stenosis. Since I'm not a spine expert, go here to learn more about spinal stenosis:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spinalstenosis.html
the mayo has an interesting article explaining how the 3 different things can cause aortic stnosis, which finally helped me understand why rhuematic fever caused problems.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aortic-valve-stenosis/DS00418/DSECTION=causes
Aortic valve stenosis is narrowing of the aortic valve. Many things can narrow this passageway between your heart and aorta. Causes of aortic valve stenosis include:
Congenital heart defect. Rarely, some babies are born with an already narrowed aortic valve. Others are born with an aortic valve that has only two flaps (leaflets) — not three. Known as a bicuspid aortic valve, this deformity may not cause any problems until adulthood, at which time the valve may begin too narrow or leak and may need to be repaired or replaced. Having a bicuspid aortic valve requires regular evaluation by a doctor to watch for signs of valve malfunction. In most cases, doctors don't know why a heart valve fails to develop properly, so it isn't something you could have prevented.
Calcium buildup on the valve. With age, heart valves may accumulate deposits of calcium (aortic valve calcification). Calcium is a mineral found in your blood. As blood repeatedly flows over the aortic valve, deposits of calcium can accumulate on the valve's leaflets. These deposits may never cause any problems. However, in some people — particularly those with a bicuspid aortic valve — calcium deposits result in stiffening of the leaflets of the valve. This stiffening narrows the aortic valve. This cause of aortic valve stenosis is most common in people older than 65, and symptoms often don't appear until age 70.
Rheumatic fever. A complication of strep throat infection, rheumatic fever may result in scar tissue forming on the aortic valve. Scar tissue alone can narrow the aortic valve and lead to aortic valve stenosis. Scar tissue can also create a rough surface on which calcium deposits can collect, contributing to aortic valve stenosis later in life. Rheumatic fever may damage more than one heart valve, and in more than one way. A damaged heart valve may not open fully or close fully — or both. While rheumatic fever is rare in the United States, some older adults had rheumatic fever as children.
Thinking about this MY GUESS is IF the meds would affect any valves, it would probably affect native valves, more than it would the newer tissue valves that have the anticalcification treatment in it