Pacemaker and Aortic Valve Stenosis

Pacemaker and Stenosis continued

by kari - 2024-02-29 15:23:34

I forgot to mention the doctor said this condition only gets worse.  Correct?

Try not to get stressed

by Gemita - 2024-02-29 17:44:51

Kari, 

Aortic valve stenosis is a type of heart valve disease. The valve between the lower left heart chamber and the body's main artery (aorta) is narrowed and doesn't open fully.  (See second link).  This reduces or blocks blood flow from the heart to the aorta and to the rest of the body.  Treatment of aortic stenosis depends on the severity of the condition. You may need surgery to repair or replace the valve. 

The cause of your aortic stenosis is stated to be mixed hyperlipidemia. 

You need to ask how severe your aortic valve stenosis is and what treatment you will need.

Hyperlipidemia means that you have high levels of fats in the blood (see first link) which include cholesterol and triglycerides.  A healthy diet and lifestyle changes can help enormously, but if levels of fats are too high, you may need medication too.  I cannot imagine a good doctor telling a patient that diet won’t "help" with a health condition.  A well balanced, healthy diet will always “help” to keep us well both physically and mentally.

The pacemaker will help with bradycardia, to keep your heart rate higher so that you will be able to be more active, symptoms permitting.  With higher levels of activity you should feel better and your health condition overall should improve.

Please try not to stress about your health condition.  Stress won't help at all.  Instead try to remain calm and ask your doctors what treatments they can offer to bring your fat levels down and to keep them down and what lifestyle changes you can make to help yourself (like getting more exercise, better diet).   You could ask for a referral to see a dietician for instance or to start a programme of cardiac rehabilitation to help optimise your chances of a better outcome.  Above all, remember stress is bad for all of us, try to find activities that help you to relax.

The condition of Aortic stenosis will only get worse without treatment but with treatment you will hopefully remain well enough to enjoy a quality of life.

If you wish to read the links provided, please copy and paste them into your main general browser to open:-  

https://www.healthline.com/health/hyperlipidemia

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aortic-stenosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353139

I wish you better health Kari

"condition only gets worse"

by USMC-Pacer - 2024-02-29 23:56:24

Probably true. Did your doctor give you any indication of the level of stenosis? Like mild, moderate, or severe? Are you having symptoms? You're in your 70's. A mild stenosis can go for decades and not need treatment. Moderate can go quite some time too. Severe typically will start to cause other issues such as aortic enlargement, left ventricular hypertrophy.. the list goes on. A lot depends on the level of stenosis.

Lipds and cholesterol

by piglet22 - 2024-03-01 05:45:53

Hello

Am I right in thinking that you are in your late 70s and have only now been diagnosed with elevated lipids?

Have you not had a blood test before?

It's pretty routine in the UK.

If your doctor says diet won't help, they are probably right.

What they really mean is that diet alone might not be effective enough to reverse your levels and I would go along with that.

It must be over 30 years ago I was told I had high levels but no amount of diet change and a ton of Benecol made a scrap of difference.

You might be offered statins which are safe, effective and well tolerated. I take 40 mg  Atovastatin daily and my lipids are low enough to only need very occasional checks.

Of course, it's sensible to have a good mixed diet with fibre and vegetables and it sounds as though you live in the right place for that.

Pacemaker and Aortic Stenosis

by kari - 2024-03-01 18:19:29

Thank you.  I will ask what level, mild, med or severe, my Aortic is, good answer.

Your answer is very helpful. Kari

Pacemaker and Aortic Stenosis

by kari - 2024-03-01 18:20:26

Forgot to mention, no I'm not having any symptoms.