- Joined
- Dec 5, 2020
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- 2,812
I am very happy to have found this forum- such a wealth of information and so helpful when others share their experiences.
About 18 months ago, at age 52, investigation into a murmur led to my diagnoses with bicuspid aortic valve with moderate aortic stenosis, near the severe threshold with aortic valve area of 1.0cm2. I have significant calcification, but no regurgitation. I was also diagnosed with LVH and very high Lp(a)- a very dangerous lipid, worse than LDL cholesterol. Aside from increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, elevated Lp(a) has been shown to accelerate valve calcification, as much as two-fold, not good- and, unlike other lipids, Lp(a) is about 95% genetically determined. I thought I was living a pretty healthy lifestyle, but was also diagnosed at that time with prediabetes, with a fasting blood glucose of 108. This is another factor that can significantly increase ones risk of heart related diseases, especially when you combine the prediabetes with high Lp(a).
A little about myself. I have always been very physically active, lifetime runner and combat sports. I’ve done Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at a competitive level for many years and in the last 5 years have started boxing, kick boxing and MMA. I’ve had two actual boxing matches. It was the physical exam for one of my fights that detected the murmur and led to the discovery of my condition. Many of my colleagues believe that my combat sport adventures are not wise and tell me that at my age I’m likely to get killed participating, but ironically, they may have saved my life, because its thanks to the physical exam that I now know about my condition and how I need to be closely monitored.
I have no symptoms and can still spar 12 hard rounds with my teammates, so I don’t feel that the narrowed valve has slowed me down at this point. I also briskly walk up a steep mountain with a 1,200 foot elevation gain 5 days per week and feel that my performance has not much changed from when I was in my 20s.
When I learned of my condition, I started a very anti- inflammatory lifestyle and lost 25 pounds. I have been able to reverse my prediabetes but will forever steer clear of processed foods. The BAV and Lp(a) are a genetic hand that I was dealt, which I must live with, but I put it upon myself to do everything that I can to control the things that I can control.
My cardiologist believed that my LVH was due to my aortic stenosis, but I had a hypothesis that my extreme athletic activities might be contributing to the enlargement- something known as Athletes Heart. Also, I’ve had borderline high blood pressure for 25 years, about 135/85, which can also lead to LVH. So, I cut back on the more extreme athletics, dropping the MMA and BJJ and just do boxing now. I also lost 25 pounds by dropping processed foods and doing intermittent fasting. With the weight loss and without medication I was able to bring my BP down to 115/75, where it has stayed for the past 12 months. I was also successful in reversing my LVH- bringing my LV wall thickness from 13mm to 9-10mm. Can’t say for sure if this was due more to cutting back on extreme physical exertion, or lowering my blood pressure, but I’m happy I was able to get this back to the normal range.
On a bright note, my last two echos measured my valve area a little bigger at 1.1cm2. It’s not supposed to enlarge like that, and I expect it is most likely due to measurement variance. I’ll put up a post about this at some point to discuss some thoughts on it.
I’m looking forward to learning and sharing here.
About 18 months ago, at age 52, investigation into a murmur led to my diagnoses with bicuspid aortic valve with moderate aortic stenosis, near the severe threshold with aortic valve area of 1.0cm2. I have significant calcification, but no regurgitation. I was also diagnosed with LVH and very high Lp(a)- a very dangerous lipid, worse than LDL cholesterol. Aside from increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, elevated Lp(a) has been shown to accelerate valve calcification, as much as two-fold, not good- and, unlike other lipids, Lp(a) is about 95% genetically determined. I thought I was living a pretty healthy lifestyle, but was also diagnosed at that time with prediabetes, with a fasting blood glucose of 108. This is another factor that can significantly increase ones risk of heart related diseases, especially when you combine the prediabetes with high Lp(a).
A little about myself. I have always been very physically active, lifetime runner and combat sports. I’ve done Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at a competitive level for many years and in the last 5 years have started boxing, kick boxing and MMA. I’ve had two actual boxing matches. It was the physical exam for one of my fights that detected the murmur and led to the discovery of my condition. Many of my colleagues believe that my combat sport adventures are not wise and tell me that at my age I’m likely to get killed participating, but ironically, they may have saved my life, because its thanks to the physical exam that I now know about my condition and how I need to be closely monitored.
I have no symptoms and can still spar 12 hard rounds with my teammates, so I don’t feel that the narrowed valve has slowed me down at this point. I also briskly walk up a steep mountain with a 1,200 foot elevation gain 5 days per week and feel that my performance has not much changed from when I was in my 20s.
When I learned of my condition, I started a very anti- inflammatory lifestyle and lost 25 pounds. I have been able to reverse my prediabetes but will forever steer clear of processed foods. The BAV and Lp(a) are a genetic hand that I was dealt, which I must live with, but I put it upon myself to do everything that I can to control the things that I can control.
My cardiologist believed that my LVH was due to my aortic stenosis, but I had a hypothesis that my extreme athletic activities might be contributing to the enlargement- something known as Athletes Heart. Also, I’ve had borderline high blood pressure for 25 years, about 135/85, which can also lead to LVH. So, I cut back on the more extreme athletics, dropping the MMA and BJJ and just do boxing now. I also lost 25 pounds by dropping processed foods and doing intermittent fasting. With the weight loss and without medication I was able to bring my BP down to 115/75, where it has stayed for the past 12 months. I was also successful in reversing my LVH- bringing my LV wall thickness from 13mm to 9-10mm. Can’t say for sure if this was due more to cutting back on extreme physical exertion, or lowering my blood pressure, but I’m happy I was able to get this back to the normal range.
On a bright note, my last two echos measured my valve area a little bigger at 1.1cm2. It’s not supposed to enlarge like that, and I expect it is most likely due to measurement variance. I’ll put up a post about this at some point to discuss some thoughts on it.
I’m looking forward to learning and sharing here.
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