Fifty Plus (50+) - Heart Patients riding?

This has probably been covered somewhere in BF's long illustrious history, but I've not been around long enough to have read it. I've been wondering; how many people in the 50+ forum are either current or recovering heart patients?

I had angioplasty when I was 38 -- just a hop, skip, and a sharp stabbing pain, away from a full-blown heart attack. I'd had a full blockage that was not treatable with a stent, and so I went on a exercise program at a rehab place. It was mostly treadmill and walking (and diet). Within two years I was pronounced clear. My heart had basically built a natural bypass. So, now, 12 years later, I'm not in the best shape of my life, to be sure, but not the worst either. I've only been back in the saddle for four years, and I lost a lot of one season because of some respiratory problems. I can't help thinking that if I'd started riding sooner it would have helped.

So has anyone here had to deal with this? Since you've been riding, or as therapy as a result?

Started riding at 43 after a 10 year lay off from sporting activity. At 52 had a bypass and I really thought I was at the fittest I had been for 20 years. Didn't help though. At 61 now and still riding.

So has anyone here had to deal with this? Since you've been riding, or as therapy as a result?

In June, I was in for a heart catherization when my stress test showed abnormalities. Even though my EKG showed everything normal.

The Cardiologist found a completely blocked artery for which nothing could be done. He ordered a CT scan and had me in a week later for follow up.

When I went to the follow up, I asked "Ok, what now?", to which he responded, "Nothing, life as usual."

Of course, I thought that this could not be as I had a completely blocked artery. The Cardiologist explained to me that, like you, my heart had self replaired and formed new vessels to carry blood to the part of the heart that was served by the blocked artery.

Well, I wasn't real sure about this and neither was my personal physician so I was referred to a Cardio-Vascular Surgeon for a second opinion. Now, you have to understand that going to a Surgeon and asking if you need surgery is like walking into a Barber Shop and asking if you need a haircut. The answer is just about always going to be... YES.


However, the CV Surgeon had the same position as the Cardiologist. Told me that I should just continue on with things as usual and that my heart had, in fact, self repaired.

I asked about activities that were very physically demanding and about exercise that would raise my heart rate. "Life as Usual" was his answer. Both the Cardiologist and Cardio-Vascular surgeon told me that, other than the blocked artery, my heart is very healthy and that excercise would do not nothing but help.

I took up cycling about a month later.

I'm betting my life that they are both correct.

ciao`

Ed

I never had a heart attack, but 8 years ago at age 60, I was hospitalized with congestive heart failure. Heart catheterization procedure showed no blockages, but I have a leaky valve (a murmur) and hypertension. I'm taking beta blocker, ACE inhibitor, and calcium channel blocker medications. The cardiologists tell me to exercise but with limitations...I'm not supposed to get out of breath to the point where I couldn't carry on a conversation. I can comply with that by biking if I take it easy. So, I ride slowly on MUPs in the park.

I've had 5 stents and an angioplasty in the last 4 years. this is my first full season of riding with no problems. I can go full bore without hesitation. Average speed is up over 2mph this year and my recovery time is excellent. My cardiologist said I was in such good shape in September that he thought a stress test was not needed. Then he said the magic words, "See you in a year !!". I'll be 56 in November. I really believe riding is saving my life.

Atrial fibrillation repair (ablation) 3 years ago, well actually it was exactly 3 years ago - and never a problem since. Ride as long and as hard as I can.

HI,
try that vitamin c therapy, I take 3-4 grams of C a day and 3-4 grams of L-lysine a day,
The theory is this we are all exhibiting symptoms of a animal that can't make Vitamin-c, even our dogs that have blood lipids in the thousands rarely have heart attacks.
the reason is they make a natural vein repair called vitamin -C.
SOme people who were scheudaled for CAths have actually improved after a few months much to their DR's amazement.
The reason its so Hush Hush is most drug companies want us to take Statins instead of Vitamins and amino acids.
Visit the Vitamin C org.
Hey its your body, I can't take statins cause they depelete my Cq 10 to the point I can Barely walk.My Dr thought I was getting MS when it was only a drug reaction..
Funny how the Drug companies know this but are afraid to tell anyone.There's alot more thats not being told about medications and how some people react.
Doug


http://www.vitamincfoundation.org/news.htm




http://www.vitamincfoundation.org/

I had an heart attack at the age of 44 - 30% involvement of the heart. I started riding as part of my exercise program after the heart attack. 2-1/2 years ago, I had two stents put in. I am 58 now and still riding. I have been on the ususal meds and now I am on plavix.

My name is Dan and I live in central Oregon. I have had a lot of hart problems over the last two years. I just had my 70Th birthday. Now I want to get a bike to exercise on and I live in a rural town. Living 10 miles out of town I can ride to coffee each day. Some dirt road riding about 2 miles and the rest on the road.

I'm having a hard time deciding on a bike. I do feel better when I ride. If you can help with a type of bike please do.

Thank you
Dan

I'm having a hard time deciding on a bike. I do feel better when I ride. If you can help with a type of bike please do.

Thank you
Dan



Please read the especially written newbie sticky thread, which was written just for you.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=438160

For what it's worth, triple bypass July 2000, also type II diabetes. Bought a bike fall 2004 when it dawned on me that I enjoyed biking in my youth and it just might be a form of exercise I would actually do; since couch potato life style wasn't working. Four bikes later, no problems, pass annual check ups with flying colors. Hoping to pass at least 30 more annual check ups.

http://www.bikescor.com/

Hi,
Great and useful link DNVRFOX/
It deserves a sticky.
Doug


http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=438160

Have never had a heart problem but riding has made a substantial difference with my blood pressure.

Hi,
Great and useful link DNVRFOX/
It deserves a sticky.
Doug


http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=438160

I do believe it already IS a sticky!

Atrial Fib here. Had it since I was 50 (now 57). Flecainide, Atenelol, and healthy amounts Magnesium supplements keep the episodes down to once a week for 4 - 10 hours. Thats much better than it used to be (twice weekly for 24+ hours). Ablation will likely be in my future but, I'll put it off until it becomes intolerable. I'm happy with my performance as long as the heart doesn't go into A-fib during a ride, which it does do on occasion. Otherwise, a somewhat lower max heart rate is the only handicap and, frankly it doesn't seem like much of one.

Interesting. Thanks for your stories.

In 2001, about 3 years after I had my incident (a year after I got the all-clear from the cardiologist) the company I worked for went bankrupt. My savings were shot, so I couldn't afford COBRA, and I was out of work for nearly 10 months.The upshot was that I couldn't afford my meds any more. So, it's been nearly 7 years since I've been off of my cholesterol meds, etc. I seem to be doing OK. I can push a high heart rate for a fair amount of time without dying, so that is good.

I agree, with Kragg that riding is saving my life. Well, that and having quit smoking and not eating bacon and six-egg omelets every day.

http://www.bikescor.com/

Interesting site. It reminded me that i also occasionally suffer from gout. It is weird, but I can ride with gout (I just can't put my foot down!) I've noticed that if I am feeling an onset of a gout attack, especially one in my foot, I can head it off but going for a good ride. It seems to get the glands, or whatever, working and flushing the uric acid from my system.

I have gout, too, but exercise would initiate flare-ups, not prevent them. However, once I began treatment (colchicine and allopurinol), I have had no problems. I've now been off the colchicine for more than a year (allopurinol only, now), and still have had no more flare-ups.

Widowmaker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widow_maker)@ 43 years old. I have permanent damage (ejection fraction of 0.41).

The latest report said Blood pressure as 92/56 and no further cardiovascular symptoms. It also stated that I have no cyanosis, clubbing or edema and that I can continue exercising without restrictions. (yay!)

Most people I ride with have no idea...

HI,
I used to take atenol, but I asked my DR to change me to Lisinopril,
Many drugs are losing favor with the new cardiac Doc due to clinical studies. Its really hard for DR's
to understand the complex relationship of many types of med being prescribed at the same time.
remember most clincal trials are done on one class of med alone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atenolol

Doug

In July, 2007, I had open heart surgery to replace a congenitally deformed aortic valve and to repair an aortic aneurism. They gave me a cow valve and a long piece of dacron hose where my ascending aorta used to be.

I never had a symptom. I ran marathons. I played competitive basketball. I was averaging about 100 miles a week on the bike when they told me I need open heart surgery. It was pretty scary.

A year later, everything is good. I'm riding better than ever, at age 58, almost 59. I don't have to take any meds. Somewhere between 10 and 20 years, I will likely have to get another new heart valve, but until then, I'm going to do my best to wear out the one I"ve got now!

Screw all the doctor stuff. Do what you can, push it if you can, and don't let any of them tell you to take it easy!

John

I'm in a similar health position as many of you described. I think we should be pro-active in our own health issues and part of that is to be knowledgeable. Just for you all to digest, especially if there are beta blockers and/or specifically Atenolol in your past, present or future take a look at this article I just received from Medscape titled: "Reducing Heart Rate in Hypertension Is Harmful -- or Is It Just Atenolol? (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/582499?src=mp&spon=18&uac=45626AN) which concludes with these two "Pearls for Practice":


Heart rate lowering with beta-blockers in patients with hypertension is associated with a greater risk for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.
Heart rate lowering with beta-blockers is associated with an increased risk for heart failure, nonfatal MI, and stroke, with a linear inverse relationship."
Minor side effects - increased mortality (dying) and increased risk for heart failure etc.

NOT GOOD!

Obviously you should check with your cardiologist, and with another one if you don't like his answer, but most heart patients I know (except the ones who've kept on smoking and eating the diet that got them into trouble in the first place) are exercising and doing great. I haven't had serious heart problems, but I do have an abnormal rhythm they watch closely, and my cardiologist (a former marathon runner, now ultradistance cyclist) urges vigorous exercise for me and nearly all his other patients. "Vigorous" varies from case to case, of course, but he's told me several times that he wants everybody exercising every day: "Say you're going to get out every day, and you'll probably make it five times a week, which is about what you need."

Heart attack 2001, ventricular tachycardia 2002 (where I got my defibrillator) started bicycle riding in 2006 and lost 70 plus pounds. Rode without effect until May of 2008 when I had a little defibrillator incident while I was riding (only five or six shocks!). Took a couple of months REAL easy, then have been back at it again (100-130 mile weeks) and am now back to relatively normal. Of course, I could drop dead right now, but here I am and here I ride.

BTW, I'd have been dead in 2006 if I hadn't started riding.

I'm now 64 years old and had bypass surgery at age 55. Was overweight, out of shape - couldn't walk up stairs without breaking a sweat. Started riding about 6 years ago, did 3,000 miles each of the last two years and have 3405 so far this year with a goal of 4,000. Also, I have ridden a century on each of my last 5 birthdays and am by far the oldest in the groups that I ride with. My Cardioligist said he wished all his patients would do what I do. My BP is 120/60, resting heart rate 60, only Rx is a baby aspirin and half of the prescribed cholesterol medicine. Wish a thousand times I would have started my biking at 30 years old.
One thing that I have found with cardio patients is that every individual has had different symptons and cures. Do what the docs say, eat right, and exercise.

In 2000 i weighed 216 at 5'8" and smoked lightly. My identical twin brother came into the ER having a heart attack and had emergency bypass surgery. The cv surgeon, a friend of mine, said, "get a stress test". I did, it was abnormal, had the catheterization which showed 3 vessel disease and had bypass surgery. Today, at 60, I no longer smoke, i weigh 158#s and bike about 120-150 miles/week. I no longer need medicine for hypertension. I eat lots of healthy food and sleep 8 hours/night. My life is in balance. I had a goal of riding 60 miles this year as a birthday present and despite having knee replacement surgery last September not only did this but several other metric centuries and a 100+ miler as well.
As a physician, I believe that the biking life-style combined with a good diet and adequate sleep is essential in maintaining health and can even reverse years or decades of neglect/ abuse. I haven't had a stress test on a treadmill in the cardiologists' office in a while though I have one on my bike almost daily.
Keep riding!
Paul

sounds like a decent hybrid/fitness bike would do you well. Trek or Specialized make many.

Double Bypass 11/02/07 (64yoa)
I vividly remember the nurse and the dead silence followed by a lecture that grew in volumn wiht each word, after I explained I'd walked a full mile 11 days after the surgery.(apparently I was supposed to limit my walks to inside the house)in Buffalo in December weather.
This past season I climbed hills that had me getting off in seasons past. (Not Lance Armstrong climbing mind you)and found myself able to stay with the 18mph crowd (at least untill they hit 22/24)for most rides.
Scary part was: Because I have moderate COPD, I thought the shortness of breath and acid reflux style pain I was getting climbing hills was from the COPD. More like angina attacks was what the cardio surgeon said.
There's a Cardiac Cycling Club (SCOR) with some pretty good info (and a great cycling jersey!)
Stay in touch with your cardio doc on your progress.
Glad to hear from a fellow heart patient!

An old thread, but close to home. I had a heart attack at age 60 (2005) resulting in two stents. At the time, I was working too much exercising too little and had my event while trying to catch up on exercise. My chlosterol at the time was 180 and bp was a little higher than normal. After the stent event, i was placed on a cocktail of meds (lisinopril, coreg, niaspan, vytoren, and plavix). Wife and tweaked our diet and I started an exercise program on my own and cut back significantly on work (self employed). At 45 I had left knee problems with a near total removal of the meniscus so running was out, but despite that, I progressed to an aggressive walking program and weights. I was plagued with knee problems constantly, but my rationale at the time was living with knee pain is better than not living. With diet changes and meds, my total chloster was routinely less than 100, although the hdl/ldl ratio was less than desirable. Stress tests every six months showed me to be in the top 1% of persons for my age.

This past January, I had a second event, not a total blockage and heart attack, but it was significant and resulted in two additional stents and resteting of one of the originals. My chlesterol at admission was less than 100 and bp normal. I did a slow recovery exercise program and then injured the meniscus in my right knee -- the knee doc advised me to never put my feet on a treadmill again, but cycling was fine. Eventually, I bought a used bike and have about 8 rides under my belt and going 30 miles today with a decent headwind was not too much of a strain. I still have trouble with tiredness from coreg, but I am hoping to build stamina, loose more weight, and do what I can do. The bike seems like the most useful exercise for me at this point and when I reach some personal goals, I will buy another one as a present to myself.

Anyway, we all have a story and some relate to heart stuff andcycling this is mine

Add me to the list
Double bypass back in 2007
The lopressor (which keeps the HR lower)comes with it's own issues sence I also have oxygen transfer issues and the lower the HR the lower the oxygen transfer.
That said: My average speed is up 3mph
I've discovered (enjoyably so) snowshoeing and ridgerunning in 'snowshoes
Hill climbing is do-able (where before bypass I was getting off and walking )..but I'm no lance.
Amazingly, I'd thought the 'heart burn' was caused by the oxygen situation..never immagined the heart.
At 68 I'm heading into my 10th year back in cycling.

I have stayed in pretty good shape over the years. I have type 1 diabetes. So I eat more protein than carbs. I should have been eating more complex carbs and better protein food. I did 1/2 marathon 5 years ago and have done many 10km runs. Bought a bike in 2009. I put 3200 miles on that bike in 2009. Had a routine stress test done Oct 29th 2009. I failed it. Had a cath done Nov 19th. It showed that I was 100% blocked in my right, 85% in my left and 95% blocked in my circumflex in 2 places. What saved me was my collateral growth because I worked out. So I had quadruple bypass Dec 11th. 2009. I put 4200 miles on my bike in 2010. The key to a better heart is more diet than exercise. If I had been on this diet I would not have had coronary artery disease. I am now on a total vegan diet. Check out this study. http://www.heartattackproof.com/resolving_cade.htm
You will see the change in the coronary artery. My cholesterol was never high. It was 190. But now it is 102. My HDL is 54 and my LDL is 46. It is an easy diet to follow. During the winter I have been spinning hard. Last weekend I did the spinerval Tough Love. A 3 hour spin!!

I had a heart valve replaced about 6 years ago. Was born with an aortic valve with two instead of three flaps. I didn't realize how much this was impacting me or how serious the effect on thinning the wall of the aorta. At almost 60, I'm pleased with what I am able to do, physically feel great and very grateful to my docs. Good luck everyone.

My wife and i moved to a new town in 2008, and we got a new family physician. After my first complete checkup in 2008, and his receiving my biking history, he had concerns about my angina situation. He advised me to keep the bike-mileage down, until I got checked out by a cardiologist.

The cardiology bad news: My circumflex artery is 100 percent blocked and un-stentable. The cardiology good news: After a thorough stress test and angio-fluoroscopy, it's apparent that my body has somewhat created its own natural bypass to compensate for the blocked circumflex.

My family physician initially had reservations about me cycling too much, because of coronary artery disease. However, it is the cardiologist's opinion, that my cycling was probably a very contributing factor for my body generating a natural bypass of sorts. If that's not incentive to stay healthy and ride, I don't know what is.

I've had congenital hypertension for about 10 years but it's been under control with a minimal level of medication. Sincey yy weight kept creeping up my wife told me that I'd better start on some sort of exercise program. At the time, they gym wanted an medical all-clear before they would issue me a membership. I'd had to have a full cardiac workup done before I could start exercising and between, stress tests, CT scans, tracer tests, you name it, it was a wonder that I wasn't glowing green. Once I had the all clear it still took me another 18 months to get off my butt. I never used the gym.

The weight started piling on, and my cholesterol levels started rising. Being prescribed Lipitor was the last straw that got me back in the saddle. Heart problems are nonexistant in my family and I certainly wasn't about to be the first.

Started cycling again on a hybrid that previously sat in the garage and being and old roadie, hated it, used it as a training bike and stuck it out. Once I started going on longer riders, I got really sick of the upright riding position because of the constant winds we have around here and really, really wanted to get back on a road bike.

Now that I'm back on what my wife refers to as a real bike, I feel so much better being able to do what I love. With all the funky weather we've been having I've only managed to log in about 300 miles this month over about 3 weeks (I was pretty much bikeless for a week this month and the weather was terrible anyway).

My physical is coming up in a couple of weeks so it will be interesting to see what the results are.

The safe advice, and smart, would be to consult your physician.

J.

Two heart attacks,one stent, one total blockage, gout, neuropathy, Type II diabetes, I ride and lift weights. I haven't felt better in years. I can't speak for anybody but myself but it has worked for me.

I had 5 stents placed in 2005-2006. Actually was riding when the first blockage surfaced, suffered from chest burning and shortness of breath. Took one season off and still ride 1000-1500 miles a season to this day at 58+ years old. I ride for exercise and I enjoy the hell out of it. Just wish I was retired so I could get more miles in. Some day ..... : )

Joined up with SCOR for a season.
These folks CAN ride!
Great Jerseys as well (yeah, I got one and everyone asks 'what does SCOR stand for' when I wear it on rides)

The journey tops the destination every time

Aortic valve replaced and double bypass 1.5 yrs. ago, and I'm just starting to ride again. I actually stopped riding 6 years ago after a staph infection and abscess in my brain. It's been a long road back, but I just purchased a new comfort bike, and I'm looking forward to getting back into shape.

Not long after I started this thread, I had to stop riding for a while due to some health things. Now I'm jumping back in. Just shy of my 53rd birthday and 15 years after my first angioplasty, I'm going off on a ride with a buddy. We're riding north from Santa Fe, NM for 50-60 miles. Then I'm turning back (work calls) and he's heading on alone to Colorado.

Should be interesting. I reckon I'll either ace it or have a massive coronary. :)


Rick