What lifestyle modifications should I advise for patients diagnosed with valvular heart disease?

Patients diagnosed with valvular heart disease should be advised on several lifestyle modifications aimed at managing symptoms, preventing complications, and improving overall cardiovascular health. Firstly, regular physical activity tailored to the individual's functional capacity is recommended to maintain cardiovascular fitness, but strenuous or high-intensity exercise should be avoided unless cleared by a specialist. This is important because valve disease severity and symptoms vary, and exercise tolerance should be assessed by a cardiologist ¹.

Secondly, patients should be counselled on maintaining a heart-healthy diet, including limiting salt intake to help control blood pressure and reduce fluid retention, which can exacerbate heart failure symptoms associated with valve disease. Weight management is also crucial to reduce cardiac workload ¹.

Thirdly, smoking cessation and moderation of alcohol intake are strongly advised to reduce cardiovascular risk and avoid exacerbation of valve disease progression. These lifestyle factors contribute to overall heart health and may influence disease progression ¹.

Fourthly, patients should be educated about the importance of regular medical follow-up and adherence to prescribed medications, including any beta-blockers or other heart failure treatments if indicated. This ensures timely detection of disease progression and appropriate intervention ¹.

Fifthly, for patients with atrial fibrillation secondary to valvular disease, lifestyle modifications such as weight loss, management of hypertension, and avoidance of excessive alcohol can reduce arrhythmia burden and improve outcomes, as supported by recent literature on atrial fibrillation management (Middeldorp et al., 2020).

Finally, women with valvular heart disease should receive tailored advice regarding pregnancy planning and risks, with referral to specialist cardiology care as appropriate, to manage the additional cardiovascular demands safely ¹.

Overall, lifestyle advice should be individualized, supported by specialist input, and integrated with medical and surgical management plans to optimise patient outcomes in valvular heart disease ¹ (Middeldorp et al., 2020).