Can I train for and participate in triathlons if I have a bicuspid aortic valve?

Doctor's Answers 1

Wow - a tough one! Three questions spring to mind

1. What does your cardiologist say?

2. What level of exercise do you currently do?

3. Have you been for an exercise test?

So for number one, your cardiologist will know how your heart is functioning - whether the echos are looking normal and so on. If there is any concern that you might be decompensating, then best to check with them.

Number 2 - what exercise do you currently do? Triathlons take considerable training and it’s sensible to build upto this over a phased period. Remember, you’ll need to be able to swim, cycle and then run - all of which will stress your body in different ways. It’s good to start training early and if you develop symptoms then seek an urgent assessment.

Number 3 - there are different ways to undergo an exercise test, including on a treadmill or cycle. The best available currently is a cardiopulmonary exercise test. You might need to find a centre in Singapore that offers this - essentiallly if goes down to your basic physiology to see if your body can cope with the stress.

Ultimately, no body can truly say whether you will be 100% safe to take part, but we can try and make an educated guess based on a review of information from these different sources.

Hope this helps.

Bw

Dr Dinesh

Similar Questions

Can I still exercise and participate in triathlons if I have IgA nephritis?

I can completely understand your disappointment at being told to cut back on sports, being an avid sports person myself. I shall attempt to break down and explain the situation for you: 1. The evidence about whether IgA nephropathy patients should completely avoid strenuous exercise is equivocal, to my knowledge. Data has shown that even though significantly increased levels of proteinuria are noted after intense exercise (maximal treadmill Bruce test), this lasts for less than 120 minutes.

Photo of Human

Answered By

Human

What are possible causes of left hip pain in MMA practitioner?

I’m sorry to hear about your pain. For an active sportsman, that certainly can be quite distressing. I don’t think you have dislocated as that will really really be painful and will be hard to walk. But popping sounds can be a sign of other illnesses, perhaps you might want to see a doctor to get it properly diagnosed, there are some “childhood” diseases that can predispose patients to hip injuries.

Photo of Dr Paul Ang

Answered By

Dr Paul Ang

General Practitioner

Ask any health question for free

I’m not so sure about a procedure...

Ask Icon Ask a Question

Join Human

Sign up now for a free Human account to get answers from specialists in Singapore.

Sign Up

Get The Pill

Be healthier with our Bite-sized health news straight in your inbox