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Heart Disease  (Expert Forum)
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Aortic Regurgitation
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MedHelp Member's Question

Aortic Regurgitation

by Sherri, Jan 18, 2000 12:00AM
I am a 38 year old female who was diagnosed with Aortic Regurgitation ten years ago.  At the time, I couldn't "feel" anything, but during a c-section, my heart began to skip beats and then others were coupled and sometimes tripled.  Today, I seem to "feel" everything. (skipped beats, chest pain, pressure and tightness) I teach martial arts and am otherwise in excellent health, however, I recently discovered the vitamin/min/herbs I was taking contained Ephedra.  Can Ephedra be dangerous or cause damage.  My blood pressure runs about 85/50 with a resting heart rate of 50.
Doctor's Answer

by CCF CARDIO MD JMF, Jan 19, 2000 12:00AM
Dear sherri,



It would be important to have the degree of regurgitation reassessed to make certain that your valve disease had not progressed. This alone may cause an increase in extra beats or ectopy.



Also, just because these are "health" foods they are not necessarily healthy. Ephedra or ephedrine is a stimulant that may increase heart rate and increase the liklihood of heart arrhythmias.  



Please review any medications including vitamin or herbal preparations with your physician.
Member Comments (18)

by Mario, Jan 19, 2000 12:00AM
HI THERE SHERRI I AM A 40 YEAR OLD MALE WHO HAD A HOMOGRAFT PUT IN MAY 99 AT 39 YEARS OLD. I HAD A LEAKY AORTIC VALVE BECAUSE OF A CHILDHOOD BOUT WITH RHUEMATIC FEVER. MY LEAK PROGRESSED TILL I WAS NOT ABLE TO FUNCTION AS A NORMAL 39 YEAR OLD. MY BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS THAT MY HEART WAS GETTING TO LARGE BECAUSE OF THE LEAK. THE BEST ADVISE IS TO HOOK YOURSELF UP WITH A GOOD CARDIO AND HE WILL DO HIS JOB IN MONITORING THE HEART SIZE WITH X-RAYS AND ECHOS DONE PERIODICALLY . YOU PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN ALL OF THIS AS WELL. KEEP THE DOC UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE SYMPTOMS YOU FEEL..EX..SWOLLEN ANKLES SHORTNESS OF BREATH CHEST PAIN AND INCREASE IN PALPITATIONS. REMEMBER TO STEER AWAY FROM ANY INFECTION AND TAKE ANTIBIOTICS FOR ANY INVASIVE PROCEDURES AS WELL AS AT THE DENTIST. BY THE WAY I AM INTO KARATE, AM A BROWN BELT AND I AM DOING ALOT MORE NOW AFTER SURGERY THAN BEFORE. TAKE CARE AND REMEMBER THERE IS A NORMAL LIFE AFTER HEART SURGERY...THINK POSITIVE...MARIO

by Sherri, Jan 20, 2000 12:00AM
Mario, thank you very much for your words of encouragement.  I was very glad to here about your success after replacement.  This forum is awesome for the information and personal testimonies provided to those of us who were living in "fear" because of lack of knowledge about our particular problem.  Glad to here you are a fellow martial artist as well.  I have been teaching for the past 4 years (2nd degree black belt in KitoRyu Jujitsu and 3rd degree black belt in Shotokan and Ryobukai Karate) and hope to continue.  Thanks to the information I have gathered from this site, I have scheduled an appointment with a doctor to have my valve checked for progression.  Thanks Again!

by Barry, Jan 20, 2000 12:00AM
Mario and Sherri

I am a 2 degree black belt instructor im 31 years old and was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve about a year ago. My valve is leaky and i am followed about every 9 months by my cardio.  At present i am asymptomatic but on a drug to lower my BP.  Its comforting to know that their are other young people to share this with.. Please feel free to stay in contact.. By the way mario... I have really enjoyed your comments on this board over the last year. Im glad to hear how well you are doing.. Keep up the Karate..Black belt is just the beginning of learning.

Barry

***@****

by Robert, Jan 20, 2000 12:00AM
Good comments all.



I have the same problem and I'm planning on surgery in March.  Mario, I'm also planning on the homograft and I was wondering about how you came to that decision?



I'm glad to hear you are doing well.  You could e-mail me at ***@****



Good luck

by Jodi, Jan 22, 2000 12:00AM
I am a 27 year old female.  I had an ultrasound on my heart and doctor said it was my bicuspid aortic valve.  She said people have 3 leaflet valve and my only has 2 leaflets.   If anyone knows any info on this, it would be great to know.



thanks jodi

by Gary, Jan 24, 2000 12:00AM
I, too, have a congenital bicuspid AV that needs replaced within the next few weeks to months depending on the outcome of a stress echo on the 28th at CC. However it is also scarred from two bouts of rheumatic fever at ages 6 and 13. By itself, a bicuspid valve can last a long time without replacement as evidenced by myself and others (I'm now 58) depending on many mitigating factors: load, other infections, conditioning, weight, cholesterol levels, etc.



As I understand it, the two leaflets of the bicuspid valve 'chatter' (as well as opening and closing rythmically as do tricuspid valves).



This chattering vibration causes much more movement on the leaflet surface and at the valve 'hinge' over a lifetime, much more than is normal on each beat in a normal heart, at rest or under load, creating eventual calcification to form on the valve surface.



Hope this helps a bit.  







by Charles Dittrich, Jan 24, 2000 12:00AM
I have a minor heart murmur(aortic insufficiency) and have been

prescribed Zestril .10 ... can you please give me info. on this drug

including possible side effects ... thank you ...





by Brigid, Jan 25, 2000 12:00AM
Hi to all.  I am 33 yr. old female. I had open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve in August.  I had aortic stenosis and regurgitation as well.  I opted for the Ross Procedure - so as not to need coumadin or further surgery to replace a pig valve.  I am feeling wonderful - Normal in fact!!  I jog, swim and play tennis.  Surgery is a scarry thing - but once it is allll over with - you will be glad!!  Hang in there to those of you facing open heart surgery.  Consider all options - especially if you are young and don't want further surgery later in life!  I wish you all a long and happy life!

by Mario, Jan 25, 2000 12:00AM
HELLO TO EVERYONE WHO COMMENTED IN RESPONSE TO SHERRI.FOR MANY YEARS I WANTED FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE WHO HAD AORTIC VALVE PROBLEMS AND WERE INTO MARTIAL ARTS. I FINALLY HAVE HOOKED UP WITH ALL OF  YOU AND I WILL CERTAINLY KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOU ALL. I AM INTO KYOKUSHINKAI KARATE AND HAVE MY BROWN BELT. MY LAST SHOWING FOR THE BROWN BELT WILL BE FEB 8TH AND AM VERY NERVOUS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE LAST SHOWING WILL MEAN 15 CONTINUOUS FIGHTS OF 30 SECONDS EACH, MEANING 7 MINUTES. I DO NOT KNOW IF I COULD MANAGE IT BUT I WILL GIVE IT MY BEST. TO EVERYONE LISTENING, I HAVE THE FULL STERNUM CUT AND I WEAR IT WITH PRIDE. NO TALK OF COVERING IT UP OR OF FEELING INSECURE ABOUT IT. I WENT THROUGH AORTIC HEART SURGERY AND DO NOT FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF AND FRANKLY WOULD NOT TRADE IT IN FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD. I MET MANY NICE PEOPLE ON THE NET AND BECAUSE OF THE SURGERY