VSD and Exercise

  I am a 37 year old male with a VSD and secondary pulmonary hypertension.
  I would like to know whether I should undertake any form of regular physical exercise.  If so what type of exercise would pose the least risk, aerobic, isometric or resistance?  Is there a 'safe' percentage heart rate increase that I should work to?
  Is physical exercise detrimental to a person with my condition, if so, why?

[CCF Cardio MD - MTR]

Dear Keith, thank you for your question.  As you probably know by now, a VSD
(ventricular septal defect) is a connection between the right and left
ventricles through the septum and causes shunting of blood from the left
side of the heart to the right side and thereby increases the pressure in the
normally low pressure right heart.  For patients with a VSD, isometric or
resistance exercise can increase the shunting and therefore is not recommended.
Since you already have secondary pulmonary hypertension (caused by the VSD), you
should be evaluated at a tertiary medical center that has experience in dealing
with patients with congenital heart disease.  At such a center, they could do
a functional/stress test to determine your exercise capacity and could evaluate
you for surgical repair of the VSD.  If your pulmonary hypertension is found
to be reversible (i.e. - is reduced with vasodilator drugs), then surgical
repair of the VSD could successfully cure the problem for you.  However,
pulmonary hypertension worsens with time so you should not hestitate to be
evaluated.  As far as exercise, you should be evaluated before you initiate
any exercise program.  I hope you find this information useful.
Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Specific
diagnoses and therapies can only be provided by your physician.