EMAIL BAG - WEIGHT LIFTING, EXERCISE AND HEART VALVES
Heart Valves and Weight Lifting, Jogging, Exercise - Before And After Surgery
Hi everyone,
I just received an interesting email from Luis Ayala that I thought I would share with you. Luis raises a very interesting question about heart valves and exercise.
So, without further ado, here is Luis’ question:
EMAIL QUESTION FROM LUIS AYALA:
“The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery is a great book and I really appreciate you putting it together. I am 33 and was recently diagnosed with a defective aortic valve and an enlarged left ventricle. Currently, my cardiologist has suggested monitoring with an echo every 6 months. I am very active and love lifting weights and jogging. The cardiologist has asked me to lift weights for higher reps as oppossed to heavy weight and low reps. However, as I’ve read articles on the web, there are studies that say no weightlifting should be done at all! I am getting a second opinion but was wondering if you were familiar with any information on the web or articles regarding exercise activity when diagnosed with valve insufficiency?”
ADAM PICK (AUTHOR OF THE PATIENT’S GUIDE TO HEART VALVE SURGERY) RESPONSE:
Hi Luis,
Thanks for writing. And, thanks for the kind words about the book.
Hmmmm. That’s a great question….
As I wrote in my book, I went from diagnosis right into aortic valve replacement surgery (eight weeks later) given the severity of my bicuspid aortic valve. So, I didn’t really have the time to determine an alternative approach to exercise given my valve defect.
But, I can tell you that your cardiologist gave similar advice to my surgeon, Dr. Vaughn Starnes.
Dr. Starnes told me that lifting heavy weights puts additional strain on the valves, which over a long period of time could be problematic - both before and after surgery. That said, Dr. Starnes told me to lift for tone (repetition) not for muscle build-up.
I’ve taken his advice to heart (pun intended).
Jogging, however, should not be an issue. There are several stories of patients, like Katherine Scully, who went on to run marathons following her valve replacement. Katherine had a mechnanical valve from St. Jude Medical. However, Andy Karplus had a tissue valve from Edwards. Their stories are amazing and found in the new revision to my book.
However, one of the most incredible stories about exercise following heart valve surgery is Veronika Meyer. Veronika Meyer recently climbed Mount Everest after heart valve replacement (click here to read Veronika Meyer’s story).
Also, just be safe…Stay on top of your echos. Get one every 6 months to make sure that there are no sudden shifts in blood flow through the valve.
As for me, my passion post-surgery is surfing. To read about my return to surfing in the Pacific Ocean after double heart valve surgery, click here.
Keep on tickin,
Adam
Adam Pick is the author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery, a unique book which integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of an actual heart valve surgery patient. This special book was designed to minimize stress and enhance the patient’s recovery. To learn more about Adam’s heart valve surgery book, click here.
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