Warning Signs Of Aortic Stenosis

Issues Gaining Weight

When the aortic valve opening is too narrow, the heart has to work much harder to pump enough blood around the body to meet its demand. The work burden on the heart requires more energy from the cells than it would otherwise. Energy is produced by the cells with nutrients and calories absorbed from the food an individual has consumed. Individuals who have a heart that is working very hard will require more calories and nutrients from their diet than they would if they had a healthy heart. Weight loss occurs when the individual's energy balance becomes negative, or when the calories being consumed does not exceed the calories being burned. Weight gain occurs when the individual's energy balance becomes positive, or when the calories they consume exceeds the calories they are burning. An individual will not gain weight if their energy balance does not become positive. Aortic stenosis patients tend to have a neutral or negative energy balance because their heart and body require more calories and nutrients than they would if they had a healthy heart.

Reduced Level Of Activity

Aortic stenosis causes a decrease in the amount of circulating blood in the body that is rich in oxygen. This malfunction occurs because the oxygenated blood returning to the heart from the lungs cannot flow into the aorta at a normal volume due to the valve opening being too narrow. A healthy individual who increases their level of physical activity requires a better and faster supply of oxygen to the tissues from the lungs and the heart. While it is good for a healthy individual to exercise their cardiovascular system, it can cause the heart and lungs of an individual who has a heart condition to become overwhelmed. Physical activity alone in a healthy individual is an increased burden on the heart, making it twice as much of a burden for the heart of an individual who already has compromised function. Aortic stenosis patients may experience lightheadedness, shortness of breath, and fainting upon physical exertion because their cardiopulmonary system cannot handle the increase in demand. Thus, they often have a reduced activity level because of this.