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Aortic valve stenosis and exercise
kfitch06 posted:
Hi all!
To start, I'm a 23 year old guy and I have had aortic valve stenosis and a heart murmur since birth. I don't typically experience any kind of symptoms - in fact, I have a checkup every year with a cardiologist and little to no change are always the results (which is a good thing, I suppose). The doctor always said I most likely won't need a valve replacement until I'm middle aged. However, I have always had issues with exercise. For years (over 7 or 8 now, I supposed - ever since I've been old enough to care about self-image) I've never been able to work out for extended lengths of time without feeling abnormal heart rhythms, palpitations and other odd sensations in my chest. I'm always okay for, say, a couple to a few months into my routine...but like clockwork, it always seems to suddenly catch up with me and the abnormal rhythms and palpitations etc. attack, and always after exercising - never during. It's extremely scary for anyone, but considering I've always been fully aware of my heart condition, I especially stress out. I've talked to my cardiologist, and he says that people sometimes just have palpitations and they're generally absolutely harmless. Harmless or not, I just feel like a ticking time bomb as long as I'm working out...so I've stopped completely. This is where the problem at hand arises - I've been incredibly depressed for over a year now. I feel so lazy, unattractive and sad because I cannot be the person I want to be without working out. I'm a young man, and it's so disheartening (no pun intended) to feel like I'll never have an attractive body due to not being able exercise. I feel like I'm 80, instead of 23. Some 80 year-olds probably get in more exercise than I do. I just want to work out without being afraid, and without feeling like my heart just can't handle it (when it, apparently, can). Has anyone else gone through this? Would I benefit from a medication to suppress the palpitations and abnormal rhythms? I'm at my wits end by this point, and I just want to feel attractive...I look in the mirror and sickened at what I see. All I want is to be fit. Thank you for your support and help.
Kelly
To start, I'm a 23 year old guy and I have had aortic valve stenosis and a heart murmur since birth. I don't typically experience any kind of symptoms - in fact, I have a checkup every year with a cardiologist and little to no change are always the results (which is a good thing, I suppose). The doctor always said I most likely won't need a valve replacement until I'm middle aged. However, I have always had issues with exercise. For years (over 7 or 8 now, I supposed - ever since I've been old enough to care about self-image) I've never been able to work out for extended lengths of time without feeling abnormal heart rhythms, palpitations and other odd sensations in my chest. I'm always okay for, say, a couple to a few months into my routine...but like clockwork, it always seems to suddenly catch up with me and the abnormal rhythms and palpitations etc. attack, and always after exercising - never during. It's extremely scary for anyone, but considering I've always been fully aware of my heart condition, I especially stress out. I've talked to my cardiologist, and he says that people sometimes just have palpitations and they're generally absolutely harmless. Harmless or not, I just feel like a ticking time bomb as long as I'm working out...so I've stopped completely. This is where the problem at hand arises - I've been incredibly depressed for over a year now. I feel so lazy, unattractive and sad because I cannot be the person I want to be without working out. I'm a young man, and it's so disheartening (no pun intended) to feel like I'll never have an attractive body due to not being able exercise. I feel like I'm 80, instead of 23. Some 80 year-olds probably get in more exercise than I do. I just want to work out without being afraid, and without feeling like my heart just can't handle it (when it, apparently, can). Has anyone else gone through this? Would I benefit from a medication to suppress the palpitations and abnormal rhythms? I'm at my wits end by this point, and I just want to feel attractive...I look in the mirror and sickened at what I see. All I want is to be fit. Thank you for your support and help.
Kelly
3 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Aortic valve stenosis and exerciseHi all! <br /><br />To start, I'm a 23 year old guy and I have had aortic valve stenosis and a heart murmur since birth. I don't typically experience any kind of symptoms - in fact, I have a checkup every year with a cardiologist and little to no change are always the results (which is a good thing, I suppose). The doctor always said I most likely won't need a valve replacement until I'm middle aged. However, I have always had issues with exercise. For years (over 7 or 8 now, I supposed - ever since I've been old enough to care about self-image) I've never been able to work out for extended lengths of time without feeling abnormal heart rhythms, palpitations and other odd sensations in my chest. I'm always okay for, say, a couple to a few months into my routine...but like clockwork, it always seems to suddenly catch up with me and the abnormal rhythms and palpitations etc. attack, and always after exercising - never during. It's extremely scary for anyone, but considering I've always been fully aware of my heart condition, I especially stress out. I've talked to my cardiologist, and he says that people sometimes just have palpitations and they're generally absolutely harmless. Harmless or not, I just feel like a ticking time bomb as long as I'm working out...so I've stopped completely. This is where the problem at hand arises - I've been incredibly depressed for over a year now. I feel so lazy, unattractive and sad because I cannot be the person I want to be without working out. I'm a young man, and it's so disheartening (no pun intended) to feel like I'll never have an attractive body due to not being able exercise. I feel like I'm 80, instead of 23. Some 80 year-olds probably get in more exercise than I do. I just want to work out without being afraid, and without feeling like my heart just can't handle it (when it, apparently, can). Has anyone else gone through this? Would I benefit from a medication to suppress the palpitations and abnormal rhythms? I'm at my wits end by this point, and I just want to feel attractive...I look in the mirror and sickened at what I see. All I want is to be fit. Thank you for your support and help.<br /><br />Kelly
BillH99 responded:
Have you had an Holter or event monitor test or has the cardiologist seen the irregular heart beats during a stress test?
If not try to get such a test. That way you can know that the palpitations are harmless.
But accepting is a different matter.
Based on my experiences and the way that you wrote this I think that the biggest problem is your anxiety over the palpitations and not the palpitations themself.
Try working with a councilor. First he can work with you on learning relaxation exercises. Those help slow down the bodies flight or fight response.
Then work on breaking the cycle so that when you feel the palpitation that you can rationally work through then can continue your exercising.
You might also ask your doctor for an anti-anxiety med for a short period of time while you are also working on the counciling.
If not try to get such a test. That way you can know that the palpitations are harmless.
But accepting is a different matter.
Based on my experiences and the way that you wrote this I think that the biggest problem is your anxiety over the palpitations and not the palpitations themself.
Try working with a councilor. First he can work with you on learning relaxation exercises. Those help slow down the bodies flight or fight response.
Then work on breaking the cycle so that when you feel the palpitation that you can rationally work through then can continue your exercising.
You might also ask your doctor for an anti-anxiety med for a short period of time while you are also working on the counciling.
Report This| Share this:Aortic valve stenosis and exerciseHave you had an Holter or event monitor test or has the cardiologist seen the irregular heart beats during a stress test?<br /><br />If not try to get such a test. That way you can <i><b>know </b></i>that the palpitations are harmless. <br /><br />But <i><b>accepting </b></i>is a different matter.<br /><br />Based on my experiences and the way that you wrote this I think that the biggest problem is your anxiety over the palpitations and not the palpitations themself.<br /><br />Try working with a councilor. First he can work with you on learning relaxation exercises. Those help slow down the bodies flight or fight response. <br /><br />Then work on breaking the cycle so that when you feel the palpitation that you can rationally work through then can continue your exercising.<br /><br />You might also ask your doctor for an anti-anxiety med for a <i><b>short </b></i>period of time <i><b>while</b></i> you are also working on the counciling.
James Beckerman, MD, FACC responded:
Hi Kelly, thanks for posting!
I don't get a good sense of how significant your valve problem might be. If your doctor says that you likely won't need a valve replacement for several decades, I'm guessing that you have a bicuspid aortic valve without significant stenosis at this time. That should not be a barrier to exercising.
As far as the palpitations go, it would be helpful to you (and your cardiologist) to figure out what exactly is going on...an exercise treadmill test or event monitor could help determine what your heart is doing when you increase your heart rate.
Even if you do have a rhythm problem that rears its head at high heart rates, there are lower impact exercises that can burn calories and increase muscle tone without having as much of an impact on your heart rate.
Take care!
I don't get a good sense of how significant your valve problem might be. If your doctor says that you likely won't need a valve replacement for several decades, I'm guessing that you have a bicuspid aortic valve without significant stenosis at this time. That should not be a barrier to exercising.
As far as the palpitations go, it would be helpful to you (and your cardiologist) to figure out what exactly is going on...an exercise treadmill test or event monitor could help determine what your heart is doing when you increase your heart rate.
Even if you do have a rhythm problem that rears its head at high heart rates, there are lower impact exercises that can burn calories and increase muscle tone without having as much of an impact on your heart rate.
Take care!
Report This| Share this:Aortic valve stenosis and exerciseHi Kelly, thanks for posting!<br /><br />I don't get a good sense of how significant your valve problem might be. If your doctor says that you likely won't need a valve replacement for several decades, I'm guessing that you have a bicuspid aortic valve without significant stenosis at this time. That should not be a barrier to exercising.<br /><br />As far as the palpitations go, it would be helpful to you (and your cardiologist) to figure out what exactly is going on...an exercise treadmill test or event monitor could help determine what your heart is doing when you increase your heart rate.<br /><br />Even if you do have a rhythm problem that rears its head at high heart rates, there are lower impact exercises that can burn calories and increase muscle tone without having as much of an impact on your heart rate.<br /><br />Take care!
SloBeat replied to James Beckerman, MD, FACC's response:
Hi there, (arterialsclerosis & bicusp. valve stenosis)
Yes I too have this condition, and my symptoms are almost identical to Kelly's. I am a 42 yr. old male and had my first out of 4 heart attacks at age 28. Really looking for a support group for those closer to my age to deal with sometimes difficult depressive emotions. Seeing that I've almost used up half of my nine lives at such a young age, ha. But all kidding aside, its not been easy to relate to the more senior audience at times. The age gap is so wide and often times they don't know how to relate to me and vice versa? Any suggestions?
Thank you,
Texas Hick
Yes I too have this condition, and my symptoms are almost identical to Kelly's. I am a 42 yr. old male and had my first out of 4 heart attacks at age 28. Really looking for a support group for those closer to my age to deal with sometimes difficult depressive emotions. Seeing that I've almost used up half of my nine lives at such a young age, ha. But all kidding aside, its not been easy to relate to the more senior audience at times. The age gap is so wide and often times they don't know how to relate to me and vice versa? Any suggestions?
Thank you,
Texas Hick
Report This| Share this:Aortic valve stenosis and exerciseHi there, (arterialsclerosis & bicusp. valve stenosis)<br /><br />Yes I too have this condition, and my symptoms are almost identical to Kelly's. I am a 42 yr. old male and had my first out of 4 heart attacks at age 28. Really looking for a support group for those closer to my age to deal with sometimes difficult depressive emotions. Seeing that I've almost used up half of my nine lives at such a young age, ha. But all kidding aside, its not been easy to relate to the more senior audience at times. The age gap is so wide and often times they don't know how to relate to me and vice versa? Any suggestions?<br />Thank you,<br />Texas Hick
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James Beckerman, MD, FACC, is a cardiologist at the Providence St. Vincent Heart Clinic in Portland, Ore. He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard Co...More
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