A 90 year old with severe aortic stenosis can live on average of 1 to 3 years.
Although this outlook on the 90 year old's survival with severe aortic stenosis also depends heavily on whether the symptoms are present, as well as the 90 year old's overall frailty and if the 90 year old has received treatment for the severe aortic stenosis, like Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation or TAVI.
Once the symptoms of the 90 year old's severe aortic stenosis like shortness of breath, dizziness and chest pain develop in the 90 year old, with severe aortic stenosis, the 2 year mortality rate is around 50 percent to 68 percent without intervention.
Although if the severe aortic stenosis in the 90 year old is not causing any symptoms, the 90 year old can often live longer, but the risk of sudden onset of symptoms and death is still high, and few remain symptom free after 3 to 4 years.
The most common cause of death in aortic stenosis patients is heart failure.
Heart failure causes at least 25.7% of deaths in aortic stenosis patients, followed by infection, which causes around 13.0% of deaths in aortic stenosis patients and malignancy causes around 11.1% of deaths in aortic stenosis patients.
Infection is the most common non cardiac cause of death in aortic stenosis patients, while heart failure is the most common cause of death in aortic patients, especially for sudden death.
The reason why you can't fly with aortic stenosis is mainly a result of high altitude reduced cabin pressure, which lowers your oxygen levels and can lead to hypoxia and also due to it straining your heart.
Flying with a aortic stenosis can potentially lead to heart failure, arrhythmia or even ischemia.
Although sometimes mild asymptomatic cases of aortic stenosis can sometimes be safe to fly with, by people with severe aortic stenosis, often will face risks of reduced oxygen, increased heart rate and dehydration, if they fly with aortic stenosis.
So as a result it can make it dangerous to travel by plane when you have aortic stenosis, especially severe aortic stenosis.
Airplane cabins are pressured to altitudes of 8,000 to 10,000 feet, in which thinner air reduces your blood oxygen levels.
The narrowed valve of people with aortic stenosis, already restricts their blood flow, and the decreased oxygen also forces your heart to work harder.
And your heart when you have severe aortic stenosis, "which is a stiff, narrowed valve" cannot increase it's output to be able to compensate for the lower oxygen, which leads to dizziness, fatigue and or fainting.
And the stress and the physiological changes that are caused by reduced oxygen, at high altitudes also can cause myocardial ischemia "lack of blood to your heart muscle", in people with severe aortic stenosis.
Also the dry, air that is also pressurized in the cabin of the airplane, can cause dehydration, and long periods of immobility also increases the risks of blood clots, which are also dangerous, for people with already weakened heart function.
Before you decide to fly on an airplane, you should consult with your doctor, to ensure that it's safe for you to do so.
People that have severe symptoms of aortic stenosis, like dizziness, severe chest pain or fainting are usually advised to not fly and seek out alternative travel.
And some people with severe, but stable, Aortic Stenosis, may also require supplemental oxygen, when flying, which can be arranged through the airline as well.