World's most common heart valve disease linked to insulin resistance (Aortic stenosis)

A large population study of men over 45 indicates insulin resistance may be an important risk factor for the development of the world's most common heart valve disease—aortic stenosis (AS).

Aortic stenosis is a debilitating heart condition. It causes a narrowing of the aortic valve, restricting blood flow out of the heart. If not addressed, this can gradually cause damage that can lead to life-threatening complications, such as heart failure.

People living with AS can take years to develop symptoms, which include chest pain, tiredness, shortness of breath and heart palpitations.

Insulin resistance, which often develops years before the onset of type 2 diabetes, occurs when cells fail to respond effectively to insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood glucose levels. In response, the body makes more insulin to maintain normal glucose levels—leading to elevated blood insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia).

In the current study, researchers analyzed data from 10,144 Finnish men aged 45 to 73 years old, all initially free of AS, participating in the Metabolic Syndrome in Men (METSIM) Study. At the start of the study, the researchers measured several biomarkers, including those related to hyperinsulinemia and/or insulin resistance. After an average follow-up period of 10.8 years, 116 men (1.1%) were diagnosed with AS.

The team identified several biomarkers related to insulin resistance—such as fasting insulin, insulin at 30 minutes and 120 minutes, proinsulin, and serum C-peptide—that were associated with increased AS risk. These biomarkers remained significant predictors of AS, even after adjusting for other known risk factors, such as body mass index (BMI) and high blood pressure, or excluding participants with diabetes or an aortic valve malformation.

"This novel finding highlights that insulin resistance may be a significant and modifiable risk factor for AS," says Dr. Johanna Kuusisto.

I’m 56. At my weight, I should have diabetes, edema, heart disease....like other guys I know at my weight.

I think because I was an athlete until my late 20s, maybe that helped..or genetics.

But my luck won’t hold out.

I wonder though...I gained a lot of weight all at once and then didn’t gain or lose now for 15 years.

Does staying the same fat weight make things worse or just stay the same?

Like if a fat person like me doesn’t gain wight or lose for 5 years..does diabetes risk increase even if no weight was gained?

Something I ponder in my deep thoughts :)

Good Lord!!

My old man had a list like that minus the diabetes. Mom’s side had no issues.

I will definitely keep you in my prayers every single night. Already made a note of it.

What’s the A1C..well that’s not my business.

I guess the heart issues cause shortness of breath?

More heart surgery. Good grief.

The liver....let’s hope it’s not C.

Bro, I’ll but blunt with you beause you deserve it.

I’m 5’ 10”, 270 pounds.

Head injury 17 years ago and was home for several years...gained 100 plus pounds.

High was 430. Started losing it 8 years ago...got stuck at 270..

I was a boxer in my late teens and 20s....200 pounds but Solid.

Your post is a wake up call to me to be THANKFUL for what I dont have and to do things to make sure it doesn’t happen!

My kidneys aren’t so great...eGFR is about 70...should be in the 90s. Creatinine a little high.

Let us know how you fare as time goes on...and especially after the surgery.

And yes, no more beer. Please.

About 15 years ago I was told during a routine exam by my primary care doctor that I had heart murmur, which came as a complete shock to me.

After getting referred to cardiologist, I was told I had a Bicuspid Aortic Valve, which is genetic and passed down from one of my parents.

Fast forward to early March of this year, during a routine exam my primary care Doctor told me the heart murmur had changed based on what they were hearing and ordered an Electrocardiogram, when the results came back, I was diagnosed with Severe Aortic Stenosis, this set off a chain of events that lead to Open Heart Surgery on June 21, 2024.

I had my aortic valve replaced with a pig valve, the bicuspid valve combined with the stenosis caused an aortic aneurysm in the ascending part of the aorta, that had to be cut out and repaired, on day 2 of recovery in Cardiac ICU, I went into Stage 3 heart Block requiring a permanent pacemaker to be implanted.

The single best thing I did in recovery was Cardiac Rehab which started about 2 months after surgery, it was 24 1-hour sessions of supervised exercise at the hospital, my anxiety over the function of my heart went away and I realized the harder I exercised, the better I felt, at the end of the rehab, I asked for recommendations of a local gym to join, the YMCA was recommended, I joined at the nearest location to my home, I’ve been going 3 times a week and working out even harder than in Cardiac Rehab.

I say all this to bring up something about Aortic Stenosis not mentioned in the article, I was told before my surgery to think of someone putting their finger over the end of a water hose, the pressure of water coming thru the hose is increased a lot, this is what happens to someone suffering from Aortic Stenosis, this added pressure often times creates an aneurysm in the Aorta itself, which is what happened to me.

If you are suffering from any of the symptoms of aortic stenosis, get referred to a Cardiologist and have an Echocardiogram to determine if you have aortic stenosis and to what degree the stenosis has progressed.

You could also be suffering from a Bicuspid Aortic Valve which is causing the stenosis, Bicuspid Valves affect approximately 2% of the American Public, of the people with Bicuspid Valves, 80% will need surgery at some point in their lives.

Of the 80% who need surgery about half will need open heart surgery to repair everything.

The surgeon who operated on me, told me the story of John Ritter the actor from the 70s who was in the Sitcom Threes Company.

He had an undiagnosed Bicuspid aortic Valve his entire life which led to an aortic aneurysm which eventually dissected, after getting rushed to hospital for an apparent heart attack, when the doctors realized he wasn’t suffering from a heart attack but an aortic dissection, he died before surgery could be performed.

Aortic Stenosis is nothing to play around with, often times a person suffers from very mild or no symptoms, aortic aneurysms usually don’t produce any symptoms until it’s too late.

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