Valvers at greater risk?

[Barry]

This came up in a thread in the recipes forum, raising the question here to seek opinions from a wider audience and to avoid hijacking my own thread:

Are valve-replacement patients at greater risk from the effects of an unhealthy diet? Or is having a rasher of bacon at every meal just generally not a good idea, but no more risky for a person with valve-replacement than anyone else?

And what about smoking? Is it any riskier? On the other thread there was the opinion that it could be riskier because it narrows the blood vessels, increasing risk of clotting.

And I guess I should throw exercise into the mix: Is a sedentary lifestyle any more risky for a valver than anyone else?

 

[Wise]

This came up in a thread in the recipes forum, raising the question here to seek opinions from a wider audience and to avoid hijacking my own thread:

Are valve-replacement patients at greater risk from the effects of an unhealthy diet? Or is having a rasher of bacon at every meal just generally not a good idea, but no more risky for a person with valve-replacement than anyone else?

And what about smoking? Is it any riskier? On the other threat there was the opinion that it could be riskier because it narrows the blood vessels, increasing risk of clotting.

And I guess I should throw exercise into the mix: Is a sedentary lifestyle any more risky for a valver than anyone else?

Don't know about the bacon. Not a good idea generally is my bet.

Smoking. Weeelllll I definitely have an opinion there!! Smoking is definitely high risk for a valver. My brother had the Ross Procedure on September 7, 1995, at age 32. September 2002, at age 39, he had a second surgery to replace his aortic valve with a mechanical valve. After the first surgery, he was told stop smoking or he'd definitely have a second surgery within seven years. He tried to quit, but couldn't beat it. Lo and behold, seven years later, a second surgery. This time he also had an aneurysm. He quit for a bit after the second surgery. Our youngest brother died in March 2003 of a supposed heart attack. So, my brother, although knowing that continued smoking could kill him, due to grieving and stress of my brothers death, continued smoking after a short attempt to stop. He died in June 2003, suddenly.

There, I've had my say. I will never personally attack another person for smoking, but nor will I condone it, especially concerning someone with heart/valve disease.

Wise

 

[Ross]

It's in general for all, not just valve recipients.

 

[PapaHappyStar]

I think regular exercise is good for people after OHS -- brings down the heart rate, strengthens the heart-lung machinery and might help in recovery from repeat surgery. My philosophy is grab the chance you have to go as long as you can with your repaired heart, if you are at increased risk of repeat surgery take steps to give yourself a better chance to survive and recover from it.

I think there is a greater challange for us to keep ourselves in superior condition than the general population if we have been lucky enough to have the opportunity after OHS.

PS: I think I disagree slightly with the pictures of OHS, to me it looks like this: