Yes, about 30% of people with bicuspid aortic valve disease develop complications.
They can be very serious, even life-threatening
. This is why people diagnosed with BAVD should be under the ongoing care of a specialist in heart valve disease who can monitor changes in the heart, valves and aorta over time.
How long can you live with a bicuspid aortic valve?
Many people can live with a
bicuspid aortic valve for their entire life
, but there are those who may need to have their valve surgically replaced or repaired. When people are born with a bicuspid aortic valve, the bicuspid valve typically functions well throughout childhood and early adulthood.
Can you die from a bicuspid aortic valve?
It's an infection of the heart valves. Your healthcare provider may give you special instructions about how to help prevent it. People with bicuspid aortic valve can also have abnormal heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation. In rare cases, such rhythms
can cause sudden death
.
Do all bicuspid aortic valves need surgery?
Approximately 80 percent of people with BAVD eventually require repair or replacement of the aortic valve. For patients with BAVD and regurgitation, our cardiac surgeons repair the aortic valve.
Valve replacement is recommended
for bicuspid aortic valve with stenosis.
Can you die from bicuspid valve?
People with bicuspid aortic valve can also have abnormal heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation. In rare cases, such rhythms
can cause sudden death
.
What should you avoid with a bicuspid aortic valve?
Most people with BAV can safely exercise without significant restrictions.
Strenuous isometric exercise
(e.g., weight-lifting, climbing steep inclines, chin-ups), should be avoided if there is severe valve disease, or moderate to severe aortic ectasia.
Can a bicuspid aortic valve fix itself?
Unfortunately,
heart valves do not tend to heal themselves
. It is true that some infants born with heart murmurs will eventually grow out of the murmur as the heart matures.
Can you drink alcohol with bicuspid aortic valve?
DON
‘T smoke or drink alcohol or caffeine. DON'T become dehydrated.
How often should a bicuspid aortic valve be checked?
For patients with mild aortic dilation, surveillance aortic imaging is usually performed
every 3-5 years
.
Does bicuspid aortic valve make you tired?
An untreated bicuspid aortic valve can eventually lead to symptoms of heart failure. These include shortness of breath,
fatigue
, and swelling.
What is the average age for aortic valve replacement?
Mean age was
71 years
, 40% were women, 58% had undergone isolated AVR, and 67% had received a bioprosthesis. During a median 6.8 years (maximum 19 years) of follow-up, the observed, expected, and relative survivals were 21%, 34%, and 63%, respectively.
Is coffee bad for bicuspid aortic valve?
Background and aims: Coffee contains many biologically active compounds with potential adverse or beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. Whether coffee consumption is associated with the risk of aortic valve stenosis
(AVS) is unknown
.
Does bicuspid aortic valve cause high blood pressure?
A person with bicuspid aortic disease may also
experience rapid changes in his or her blood pressure
during activity or stress. This disease runs in families, although it may skip generations.
How do you fix a bicuspid valve?
A bicuspid aortic valve may be
repaired by reshaping the aortic valve leaflets allowing the valve to open and close more completely
. Bicuspid aortic valve repair may be an option to treat leaking valves, but it can not be used to treat a stenotic or narrowed bicuspid aortic valve.
Can you play sports with a bicuspid aortic valve?
The general consensus is that
athletes with BAV with normal valvular function and no aortic dilation can participate in all athletic activities
. Those with mild aortic dilation should undergo annual screening, some more frequently than others.
What are the symptoms of a failing aortic valve?
- Shortness of breath with exertion.
- Shortness of breath when lying flat.
- Fatigue.
- Unpleasant awareness of your heartbeat (palpitations)
- Swelling in your legs, abdomen, and the veins in your neck.
- Chest pain or tightness with exertion.
