Physical limitations with Leaky Valve

I am sorry, forgot to mention that I have an Aortic Aneurysm and a partially blocked artery at my heart apex.

Lifting weights in the 30 lb. range will raise blood pressure. This puts a strain on the heart and on the major blood vessels. That's if you're fit and healthy and everything works as it should when you lift much over 10 lb. I tend to think and act conservatively about such things, so I would do what the more cautious doctor suggests.
https://angiologist.com/aortic-aneurysm-and-exercise/
This second reference discusses aerobic activity and doesn't specifically mention weight-lifting (which is odd), at least in my cursory reading of it. It does mention master-level rowing (and not 'elite' level?), though. Rowing is akin to lifting weights due to the requirement to gird one's mid-line and core musculature, press with the quadriceps, and to pull back on the arms:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11677462/

I had total of 4 hernia surgeries for lifting over 60 pounds. The last surgery was a recurrent inguinal hernia and the recovery is very painful and long since it is "recurrent". As we get older our muscles are not as strong as before so watch how much you lift.

Thanks for the reply's! Any thoughts on the altitude limitations?

https://southdenver.com/what-is-the-relationship-between-high-altitude-and-heart-conditions/
I have seen two different altitudes above which it is 'high altitude' , or rather 'not low altitude'. One site says anything above 8250' ASL, this one I site says just over 6300' ASL and under 9000'ish is 'moderate altitude'. Whatever the case may be, the sited reference makes it clear that altitude, with its drop in oxygen availability compared to at sea level, is going to cause the heart to work a little harder. For your condition, it might feel to the heart's valves like 'a lot harder.' It isn't necessarily the higher rate. It's the higher pressure that goes along with the heart's internal programming to 'do more' at altitude.
If I were deciding for myself, and if I had some sort of idea of how bad my valve(s) is/are on a Likert scale (1-7), and if my valves were less than 3.0, I don't think I would pass up a trip to 'moderate altitude', but I might tone back the demands I place on my heart with very low levels of activity. Walking, bowling, swimming slowly, skiing downhill....but I would do no hiking, very little stair climbing, aerobics at a gym...that kind of thing.
The other thing is that this is not going to be forever. It's for a limited time, short, and then you'll return to a much lower level. So, yes, it might strain things a bit, but I don't see that a short visit up there is going to compromise your health. Living up near 7000' and up is not something I would do.....and it's just me. Not until I was given a thumb up by whichever doctor I trusted the most.

Thanks, my new Dr. basically said there were not studies done on altitude!
His thoughts were to try camping at the higher elevation, 5000 feet, and see how I respond with blood pressure and my breathing. I'm not sure I want to go that route, so maybe we do a day trip up to wine country in northern California and see what happens!!

Hi @ficklefinn, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! It sounds like you are getting good information from your cardiologists. I wonder if sorta like here, it takes a little bit of back and forth to arrive at a good conclusion. I think if it were me, I would go back to cardiologist #1 and tell him what #2 thinks. A cardiologist at Mayo Clinic gave me an opinion in opposition to my local one, followed by “but if you ask 2 cardiologists the same questions you will get 2 different answers.” Food for thought, but I wouldn’t disregard what either says.

I found an interesting read you may find interesting.
- Mayo Clinic High Altitude and Harsh Environments Medical Clinic: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-establishes-high-altitude-and-harsh-environments-medical-clinic/

Are you having symptoms? What is your biggest concern?

I have two moderately leaky valves plus coronary microvascular disease, and my main arteries are 30% blocked. We were in the Sierras for a month, and 6,000 feet was fine. The only problem I had was at 10,000 feet on Mt. Lassen. I couldn’t hike more than about 200 feet & had to sit down.
Hope this helps.

Great information @susanejw! Thank you for sharing more about your experience, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

I am tagging @ficklefinn so they are sure to receive a notification, hopeful to come back and provide an update after creating this discussion.

It sounds like you are active and have a good handle on what your boundaries are.

If you are comfortable sharing more about your health, how long have you been dealing with leaky valves and coronary microvascular disease? What information or parameters did you initially receive from your health care provider(s) before feeling comfortable to push your limits? Do you have other health challenges? I ask because I am curious to know what brought you to Connect and if/how I can help you continue finding places to plug in.

@jlharsh Hi Janell, I’m a 73 year old woman, fit and thin. My issues have gradually increased over the past seven years or so. First labile high blood pressure, tachycardia, and partially clogged arteries, for which I used beta blockers and then statins. I noticed my diastolic blood pressure was usually low, even when the systolic was high, so a heart cat scan revealed the leaky valves. Then a stress test indicated a blockage, so I had a cardiac catheterization a few weeks ago, which showed my arteries are only 30% blocked, so they said I must have coronary microvascular disease. I’m very interested in talking with to others with CMD, and I have some specific questions. I live in a rural area, and I don’t know whether my cardiologists are up to snuff.
Is CMD caused by plaque, or by malfunctioning blood vessels?
And, does having CMD increase my chances of having a heart attack or stroke?
I try to walk slowly about 2 miles a day, but lately I’m often doing less, and I don’t know if I should push myself beyond my comfort zone. Hills are always a challenge, usually causing shortness of breath and faintness.
Is small vascular disease systemic? Could it be causing memory problems?
Thanks for noticing my comment. 🙂