AV Block 2nd degree and running

Hi

I'm a 75 year old 400/200 type with reasonably good times when 70, 65.76, 28.8.

I have had a steadily decreasing capacity to run over the last 4 years and required a heart pacemaker. My symptoms are AV node dysfunction and 2nd degree AV Block.

Clearly this means reduced oxygenated blood delivery to my body during aerobic running thus I can hardly run for more than 6 minutes even at a very slow pace. Only 50 to 200  metre reps with 2/3 minute rests (i.e. largely anaerobic running) are possible although these are very slow compared to 4 years ago.

I have had very good treatmen tfrom heart specialists but nobody seems to know at what level running and exercising is good for my heart condition or is actually increasing the damage.

Has anybody an experience like this?

 

   

4 Comments

running

by Tracey_E - 2024-07-27 09:41:08

If the only thing wrong with your heart is av block, the pacer should fix it completely. Av block is electrical, so the heart is structurally healthy so exercise is not going to cause additional damage. If the av block progresses (which is normal with av block), the pacer will simply kick in more often.  

If you are cleared for exercise, do what feels good. If you can talk but not sing, that's a good pace. If it's leaving you more tired than energized, it's too much. 

Do you know what your heart function (ejection fraction) is? If that has decreased, it will affect your ability to run.

I do better with run/walk intervals. I pass every test so there's no reason I shouldn't be able to run longer without a walk break, but no amount of training has gotten me there. 

We slow down with age. A pacer isn't going to fix that part of the equation. It's only going to make sure your ventricles beat every time the atria does. It can't turn back the clock. 

Decreased exercise tolerance

by Rch - 2024-07-28 00:32:10

Hi

If your PM is working fine and the Cardiologists have run all the diagnostic tests including Echo, stress tests etc and have found no definitive causes for your symptoms, I would suggest you talk to your primary provider to run some basic lab tests including a blood count and then possibly a referral to a Pulmonologist. I'm about 4 years older than you and try not to exercise to a level any higher than 80-90% of my maximal heart rate! 

Hope you will find some answers soon!

CROCKED

by piglet22 - 2024-07-28 10:08:47

Not far from you in East Sussex.

Some fairly ferocious hills near me which I used to cycle up but now can't.

No doubt you see the same team as me at RSCH and I will be seeing them shortly for the third pacemaker and second replacement.

I take it your times are for 400 yards and 200 yards.

When I walk, I sometimes get the urge to run, but it soon wears off.

Good advice from the others, and good to do some exercise that pushes you a bit. If you've had an echocardiogram, you can request the results, though getting another one is going to be a struggle unless it's indicated.

My last EF (Ejection Fraction) was 69%, so quite happy, and surprised, by that.

Of course we all slow up. Joints soon do that. Early running did my knees in, though better now, and arthritis has got one hip.

I aim for 4m steps a year and walk in the order of 2000-miles a year. Today, Sunday, I will walk from Lewes to Ringmer and back, about 7 miles.. The walk is through lovely countryside and does a lot for my spirit. I keep an eye on the progress of sloe berries for gin purposes.

I do some daft things like going through the NATO phonetic alphabet forwards and backwards and belting out some popular hymns and songs. The livestock think I'm mad.

Firm believer in use it or lose it. I stopped cycling because of safety issues and picking up too many injuries.

Keeping fit and active at any age helps you out when things go wrong. Doing tax returns keeps mental health exercised as well.

Not understanding

by Runsalot - 2024-07-29 09:12:33

I do not understand from your post if you are now having trouble post implant or prior to the implant. My pacemaker was a result of your similar conditions. I also had got to a point where I was suffering from lack of good blood oxygen levels while training. Especially running. 
 

Since the implant, I am building back my fitness for triathlons and have been running up to three miles off a 30 to 40 mile bike. Also I have going to the track once a week to work on my strides running the straights and walk/jogging te curves. 
 

I have competed in three races over the past three weeks. One 4 mile running race and two sprint triathlons. At almost 69, I am no where near my best racing times (20 minutes for 4 miles verses 40 minutes now) but I was competitive in my age group with 2 place in each race.

 

I don't think you should limit yourself unless there are other underlying issues that you haven't discovered. I just find that it has been at least 4 years of training and racing with bad ox levels and I need to build back smartly.

 

BTW my Medtronic pacemaker is set for 50 low/170 high with a 4 of 5 response rate.

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