Could someone tell me why heavy weight lifting is bad for valve problems? How exactly does that work? (I mean a scientific explanation)

And what is considered to be heavy weight lifting?

I’ve also heard conflicting opinions on holding your breath (Valsalva manoeuver) during lifting. Some say it’s dangerous, others say it’s the opposite. By holding your breath pressure would be higher in some areas, like abdomen, which would cause LESS pressure on the heart (so safer for the heart)

There is a medical warning high intensity strength training immediately and extremely elevates blood pressure that can exascerbate a heart problem with the immediate demand on the heart, and with age vessels stiffen and are vulnerable to damage due lack of elasticity. It is uncommon but not rare to tear the aorta (aortic dissection) with elevated blood pressure during heavy lifting.

Could you be more specific where valve problems are concerned? I'm young and my blood vessels are very healthy. I just have a very slight prolapse of a heart valve, and want to know the risks I'm taking by lifting weights. How exactly does high blood pressure make valve problems worse? What kind of weights are we talking about? And would the Valsalve manoeuver make it worse, or better?

I'm not aware of any specific physiological etiology that pertains specifically to MVP in the exercise of heavy resistance training.

Quote:I’ve also heard conflicting opinions on holding your breath (Valsalva manoeuver) during lifting. Some say it’s dangerous, others say it’s the opposite. By holding your breath pressure would be higher in some areas, like abdomen, which would cause LESS pressure on the heart (so safer for the heart) .

Your questions deal with sports medicine that expands the understanding of the body's integrated response to all forms of physical activity. I don't have a clue, but you raise interesting questions.

It raises BP on a short term basis. Overall, I'm certain that it is a net GOOD for anyone except those whose hearts are on their last legs/arteries?

Well, my cardiologist (which I don't really trust by the way) was more concerned about my heart rate than my BP and weightlifting. I'm not sure if he understood that I meant "real" strength training with heavy weights, maybe he assumed light weights because I'm a woman. Anyway, for some reason he said to keep my HR under 160 (I'm only 22!) but he didn't make a single comment about the weight lifting.

About the BP thing... Weight lifting causes BP to spike. But so does coughing, laughing and sneezing, no? Why is one dangerous and not the rest?
I founf a definition of coughing: "Compressive short sudden powerful expiratory movement against a closed glottis." Which sounds a lot like the Valsalva manoeuver, which, depending on the source, is dangerous or protective of the heart...


And I'm still not clear on what cardiologists consider to be "heavy" weight lifting...

Cardiologists consider "heavy" weight lifting anthing more than they can lift...perhaps the tire jack of a new Mercedes!

:D

I sure won't be lifting that in the near future :p