My opinions might not make me any friends amoung the weightlifters. I am 50 years old, and have been an avid weight lifter and fitness enthusiast my entire life. I also hold a graduate degree in exercise physiology, and from 1981-1984 I worked as a strength and conditioning specialist for a major southeastern university athletic powerhouse.
In december of 2005 I was diagnosed with a bicuspid AV, as well as significant dilation of the ascending aorta, with severe AV regurge. My only symptoms were that I noticed that I was not recovering from my own workouts as I used to. I attributed it to age--isn't everything the result of growing older?
Anyway, I am now in the waiting room after being informed that I do not yet fall into the Cleveland Clinic's criteria for AV replacement.
My workouts consist of walking, easy biking, stair stepper and very light weights with reps in the 15-20 range. No straining, no limit or near limit attempts.
You need to be carefull that you do nothing to cause a sudden spike in BP. Any strain will result in a sudden high spike in BP. Repeated BP spikes like this can hasten the further degeneration of your already compromised valve and/or aorta.
It's time for a change of mindset. For me I had to realize that I "don't live to exercise", I exercise to live. And in the grand scheme of things, who will care what I benched in 1980, 2000, or 2006?
I feel blessed to have received this diagnosis when I did, before more serious harm could have occured. I am also greatful that we live in an age where the surgery for our condition is now an everyday occurance. I plan on doing nothing that will speed me into surgery any faster then the natural progression takes me.
After surgery I will also do nothing that will contribute in anyway to the deterioration of my surgical correction.
If it is necessary to adopt a new mindset, please do. Continue to exercise--intelligently, to insure a better quality of life, but please do nothing to harm yourself.
A persons life is defined not by the amount of weight they can lift in a fleeting moment of time, but by the impact they leave on all those around them.
(I now step off my soap box).